lkdood
04-21-2008, 08:43 PM
Sri Lanka spinner Muttiah Muralitharan believes one-day cricket is in danger of being eclipsed by the Twenty20 format of the game.
The veteran bowler is in India participating in the inaugural Indian Premier League as the bowling spearhead for the Chennai Super Kings.He claims the short length of Twenty20 and IPL games will increase the sport's popularity.
"This is going to be the future of cricket," Muralitharan told the News.
"I think Test cricket will stay. All players and cricketers love to play Test cricket but one-day cricket will fade a bit.
"I think because of the IPL and Twenty20 more people will watch cricket. It is the 21st century and people do not have the time to watch five-day and one-day matches."
Muralitharan, the world record holder for most Test wickets, says he is well adapted to the multicultural nature of his IPL team.
The Kings beat Kings Eleven Punjab in Mohali at the weekend and Muralitharan posted figures of one for 33.
"When I play for Lancashire I play with many cricketers," he said. "I have learnt how to cope with these things in the dressing room. It is a happy dressing room with youngsters."
The spinner also expects further battles with Kumar Sangakkara, his Sri Lanka team-mate who was his prized wicket on Saturday.
"It was not easy to bowl to him as he knows what I do," Muralitharan added. "Still, I have to bowl and he has to hit the ball.
"I think in this battle I won. It may be in future that he might win."
FOX SPORTS (http://msn.foxsports.com/cricket/story/8054350/Murali:-One-day-cricket-will-fade?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=232)
The veteran bowler is in India participating in the inaugural Indian Premier League as the bowling spearhead for the Chennai Super Kings.He claims the short length of Twenty20 and IPL games will increase the sport's popularity.
"This is going to be the future of cricket," Muralitharan told the News.
"I think Test cricket will stay. All players and cricketers love to play Test cricket but one-day cricket will fade a bit.
"I think because of the IPL and Twenty20 more people will watch cricket. It is the 21st century and people do not have the time to watch five-day and one-day matches."
Muralitharan, the world record holder for most Test wickets, says he is well adapted to the multicultural nature of his IPL team.
The Kings beat Kings Eleven Punjab in Mohali at the weekend and Muralitharan posted figures of one for 33.
"When I play for Lancashire I play with many cricketers," he said. "I have learnt how to cope with these things in the dressing room. It is a happy dressing room with youngsters."
The spinner also expects further battles with Kumar Sangakkara, his Sri Lanka team-mate who was his prized wicket on Saturday.
"It was not easy to bowl to him as he knows what I do," Muralitharan added. "Still, I have to bowl and he has to hit the ball.
"I think in this battle I won. It may be in future that he might win."
FOX SPORTS (http://msn.foxsports.com/cricket/story/8054350/Murali:-One-day-cricket-will-fade?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=232)