Twenty20's revolutionary skills rip up the rule book

The Guardian's Mike Selvey is of the opinion that Twenty20 has found its place courtesy of phenomenal athleticism and invention. Since Twenty20 began as an ­English midsummer diversion, says Selvey, its rise has been little short of remarkable.Explosive hitting had started to permeate the game, but it was the ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 that was a major landmark.

In the Independent Stephen Brenkley says England are ill-equipped to make a lasting impact in Twenty20 as India await.

If the players are not skilful enough – and they are not – what does that say about the original Twenty20 championship? The oldest and not the best. None of this will have much bearing on the Ashes but England have missed the opportunity to captivate a new audience. No heroes have been made so far and two of the so-called T20 specialists Rob Key and Graham Napier, have barely had a look in.

Richard Hobson writes in the Times that given the emphasis that England are placing on the value of IPL experience — or lack of it — the absence of Graham Napier so far is surprising.

Also in the Guardian, Paul Weaver questions Sachin Tendulkar and Graham Gooch about how special Ravi Bopara actually is. In Tendulkar's words, Bopara "has the talent to do something special" and Gooch, who spotted Bopara eight years ago at an indoor nets, says he has always been a bubbly character, a cocky, confident outgoing lad and that he is far from the finished product.