New Delhi, June 12: Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn believes that in T20 cricket, players experience more failures than successes. He noted that the game has evolved significantly compared to the past. According to Steyn, batsmen today do not face criticism for getting out after playing poor shots as they once did.
In a conversation with a media outlet, Steyn discussed the transformations in cricket over the years. Citing Virat Kohli as an example, he mentioned that players used to strive to improve their skills annually. However, with the continuous evolution of T20 cricket, players, team management, and coaches now understand that success is less common in this format.
Steyn pointed out that some seasons in T20 cricket may not go well for players, while others can lead to outstanding performances. He addressed the rising economy rates for bowlers, explaining that in the past, commentators and coaches would judge bowlers based on their economy rates. Now, they recognize that taking wickets is more crucial in this format.
The former fast bowler emphasized that batsmen no longer fear being criticized by commentators or coaches for poor shots. He recalled that a decade ago, a batsman who got out after a bad shot would be discussed for a week. That is no longer the case. Steyn noted that the game is evolving in this manner.
He added that the synergy and relationships between commentators, coaches, cricket experts, and players allow batsmen and bowlers to play without fear. This change has enabled players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi to hit sixes on the very first ball they face. Steyn remarked that previously, only a few players like Sanath Jayasuriya and Virender Sehwag could accomplish such feats. Now, bowlers are encouraged to focus more on taking wickets than on maintaining their economy rates.
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