Sixes losing their lustre in a T20 world
With bigger bats, stronger cricketers and boundaries being brought in, the six has seemingly lost is impact in the malaise of sixes that have rained down in T20 series/competitions around the world. The National's Osman Samiuddin explores this general tre
13-May-2013
The advent of T20 cricket has brought about the need for big hitters and hits into the crowd. With bats improving, the boundaries being reined in, and more cricketers hitting the weights, it comes as no wonder that sixes are an ever-increasing part of the cricket word, almost as ubiquitous as taking catches or hitting fours. In The National's, Osman Samiuddin recalls his most vivid examples of sixes, and what T20 cricket has done to dilute its significance in the modern era.
The first mis-hit six I actually saw on television was another top-edged hook, by another Pakistani batsman in Australia. This was authored by that little dynamo of a batsman, Qasim Umar, no height but all cut and hook, and affectionately nicknamed "Disco". He was beaten for pace by the West Indian Tony Gray in Perth, so much so that though the ball described a high arc, it went only a little to the left of the wicketkeeper in angle. Umar kissed the edge of his bat, smiling acknowledgment to being beaten, but being alive