New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham has given his take on the debate around T10 being the format of cricket to be played at the Olympics – but said “no thanks” to a suggestion of Super Overs.
Given even the T20 format could take almost twice as long as a game of football, for example, England limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan recently said T10 was the ideal format of the sport to be played at the Olympics, simply because “you can play a whole tournament in the space of 10 days”.
Neesham has now seemingly given his nod to the suggestion, retweeting a social media post referencing Morgan’s suggestion, saying: “When are we gonna stop talking about it and actually do it?”
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He wasn’t simply being facetious, though. Asked if the shorter format takes tactics out of the game, Neesham conceded it did, but also said it made it more exciting and suitable for the Olympics. “The 11 or 12-over game we played against England at Eden Park last season was one of the most exciting all year,” he said on Twitter.
“Yes, the shorter game makes the momentum swings wilder, and brings less talented teams into it but that’s probably exactly what you want in an Olympics style tourney.”
The 11 or 12 over game we played against England at Eden Park last season was one of the most exciting all year.
Yes the shorter game makes the momentum swings wilder and brings less talented teams into it but that’s probably exactly what you want in an olympics style tourney https://t.co/ea9V5Ob0O4
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) May 6, 2020
When a cheeky fan the suggested making the games just Super Overs – a reference to New Zealand’s painful defeat to England after a tied Super Over in the World Cup 2019 final – Neesham response was trademark.
“No thanks,” he said. “Both for the humour of me saying that, and also in reality.”
