Twenty20 cricket was introduced by the United Kingdom in 2003. Since each team bats for a maximum of 20 overs, the game is called Twenty20. The match is completed in about three hours, each team playing for about 75 minutes. Each bowler may bowl a maximum of 4 overs per innings. This form of cricket was invented for the professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The ECB did not want to replace any other form of cricket with Twenty20. The short duration of the game has made it possible for children and their families to watch the sport in person or on television, without any major time commitment.
The first Twenty20 match was played on July 15, 2004 between Middlesex and Surrey at Lord’s and attracted a crowd of more than 26,000 people. Australia played it’s first Twenty20 on January 12, 2005 at WACA. The match was played between Western Warriors and the Victorian Bushrangers.
The Twenty20 International was first played between Australia and New Zealand on February 17, 2005 at Eden Park, Auckland. Australia beat New Zealand quite decisively but the match was played in a light-hearted spirit. The first Twenty20 international in England was played between Australia and England on June 13, 2005 at the Rose Bowl in Hampshire. England defeated Australia by 100 runs.
Filed under: Cricket | Tagged: 20 Overs, Auckland, Australia, Cricket, ECB, Eden Park, England, England and Wales Cricket Board, February 17th 2005, Hampshire, January 12th 2005, July 15th 2004, June 13th 2005, Lord's, Middlesex, New Zealand, Rose Bowl, Surrey, Twenty20, Twenty20 Cricket, Twenty20 International, Uncategorized, United Kingdom, Victorian Bushrangers, WACA, Western Warriors | 1 Comment »
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