On the Front Foot: T20 in danger of becoming a dying beast as Surrey admit to overkill

Just a week to go now before the Twenty20 season is over. Or at least the first stage. The shortest, sharpest, breeziest form of the game, a breath of fresh air when introduced in 2003, seems to have gone on and on this year. And on some more yet because after the final round of group matches next Sunday there are the quarter-finals on the following Monday and Tuesday. Not to mention the Finals Day itself on 14 August, which happens to coincide with the start of the Premier League season. T20 remains a perfectly valid game but to ask a county such as Northamptonshire to stage five home games in 17 days is plain daft. It is overkill and Paul Sheldon, chief executive of Surrey, has now said so. "Our crowds for this year's T20 have been disappointing with total numbers for the eight home games being the same as those for five home games in 2009," he said. "We have evidence that the number of matches in this year's competition has not increased interest. We are looking for a shorter, punchier competition. The quality needs to be stronger and the quantity fewer." Surrey are one of the clubs who have been involved in talks about a city-based franchise format. Sheldon would like a competition lasting a maximum of four weeks featuring England and overseas stars. This year's competition began on 1 June and televised games have been desultory affairs. No crowd, no atmosphere, no sense of occasion. In 2003 there were 45 matches, this year there are 147. It was small but perfectly formed; it is in danger of becoming a grotesque, dying beast.

Knight's tale shows up 3D

It has been difficult to tell if the debut of 3D cricket last Thursday at Nottingham was successful because it has been impossible to find anybody who watched it. Anecdotal evidence suggests fans did not exactly flock to see history being made. Like so many technological innovations it will take time (was television itself not doubted, were not the talkies?) though it would have helped if the business bit of the operation, the bowler bowling and the batsman batting, had also been in 3D. Not everybody has grasped the concept. Nick Knight, the affable Sky commentator, was overheard asking what it was that 3D stood for.

Good call to turn to Parry

Perhaps the most unexpected international selection of the season so far was that of Stephen Parry. Not as stunning as the selection of the English-born Australian Darren Pattinson two years ago, but surprising none the less. Parry began the season as Lancashire's third-choice left-arm spinner, not usually a platform for international selection. But he was drafted into the England Lions squad after some sterling T20 performances, and in his first game he distinguished himself by taking 3 for 48. It was a hunch but that is what selectors are for, and it should not be forgotten that this country was partly built on left-arm spin.

Grrreight if Murali does it

Muttiah Muralitharan has announced his retirement from Tests. Having taken 792 wickets, he begins his 133rd and final match for Sri Lanka next Sunday in Galle. He needs eight wickets, something he has achieved 66 times – half his appearances – to become the first to reach 800. Should he fail, will he be persuaded to give it one more go?

s.brenkley@independent.co.uk