Symonds wary of Twenty20 appeal

Andrew Symonds: another reluctant participant © Getty Images

Andrew Symonds is the latest Australian to give Twenty20 a lukewarm response the day after Adam Gilchrist said he wasn't enjoying the format too much as a player. Australia face a must-win match against Sri Lanka at Newlands to stay in the tournament, having already been beaten by Zimbabwe and Pakistan.

The team moves on to India for a seven-match one-day series following the World Twenty20 and the feeling persists that the Australians are not seeing this tournament as a major part of their season. "It's probably like a sort of conditioning for us," Symonds said. "We've had a four-month lay-off period and it has been a good way to move back for the seven matches in India."

For a team used to ruling the roost, Australia's advantage has been shrunk in the shortened game, something that has affected their mindset. "It's a frustrating game because you can be beaten by the lesser sides and they have to be good for a shorter period of time," Symonds said. "That's why he [Gilchrist] is probably finding it frustrating and I'd probably have to agree with him as well.

"We realised early on that the shorter the game is the bigger chance of the lesser sides beating the bigger sides. So I suppose it means you have to play well for your full 20 overs. Over the course of three or four overs the game can turn on its head which is why people are enjoying it so much. It doesn't become such a one-sided affair and the underdog can [come out on top]."

Asked whether he was enjoying the experience, Symonds paused before adding: "It's a different type of enjoyment. At least in one-day cricket you have a chance of working your way back into the game and in Test cricket over a much longer period. I'll have to play more of it to see how much I really enjoy it."

Symonds was expected to be well-suited to Twenty20 with his awesome striking power, useful bowling and sharp fielding, but he hasn't quite hit the heights so far. In three innings he has made 64 runs (although his strike-rate is a handy 142) and he's bowled 8.1 overs for 76. "Any ball can go out of the park so you need a bit of luck and it makes bowling quite difficult," he said. "Your skills are really put to the test, especially for a part-time bowler."

He is realistic enough to realise that Twenty20 is rapidly growing and is only going to expand over the next few years. But although the manner in which he plays may suggest otherwise, Symonds remains a traditionalist and hopes that, however powerful Twenty20 becomes, it doesn't detract from the other formats.

"With the other bodies coming in it is going to make the cricketing world very competitive and the best players are going to be heavily sought after. Hopefully we don't lose the purist's side and traditional side but by the same token I think it will be healthy if cricket goes into the echelons of where soccer is going. But Test cricket is the ultimate challenge."