Cricket’s latest format to take the game by storm

KARACHI: While ICC is introducing different innovation to make cricket, and specifically Test cricket, more colourful and broadcast friendly, local organisers in the USA have introduced a totally new format mixing the excitement of T20 cricket with the essence of Test cricket.

The 2XCricket, or Two 10 Cricket, is basically a T20 game but will be played in a span of four innings with all basic rules of Test cricket applying to it.

Starting from 9th November, the USA 2XCricket Cup will have eight teams participating in it, teams will feature international players from all the top cricketing nations.

Explaining the format, an organiser told Geo.tv that 2XCricket has got the magic of oldest format – the Test cricket and excitement of T20 cricket and it is going to spice the game further.

“Of the two contesting teams, one would bat for the first ten overs followed by the other team for next set of ten overs, and then first and the second team will follow the second innings respectively,” the organiser explained.

“Each of these four sets of 10 overs will be considered as an innings, and will include all the flavours of Test cricket, from follow-on to innings defeat,” he explained.

But, unlike Test cricket, where one need at least 200 runs lead to enforce the follow on, in 2XCricket the follow-on margin would be 50% of the runs scored by the team in the first innings.

The organisers have also roped in former Pakistan captain Aamir Sohail as chairman of the rules’ committee of the tournament.

The tournament, 2xCricket, will be played in Houston, from 9th to 13 November and each team will have players from USA, India, Pakistan, Nepal, England and West Indies.

“The total winning prize of the tournament is $60,250”, said the organiser.