Twenty20 questions

Just when Twenty20 appeared to be overturning crickets every certainty,there comes an odd reminder that some things will never change. The thread that cruelly runs through South Africas shots at the games big titles revealed itself again this week. At Trent Bridge,they stumbled yet again and failed to reach the final. The loss to Pakistan may not haunt them like the semi-final defeat to Australia in 1999 continues to,when Steve Waugh imperiously told Herschelle Gibbs,Youve just dropped the World Cup. This time they need only puzzle over the unexpected return to form of Shahid Afridi. And perhaps wonder: did the Pakistanis long exclusion this year from distractions like home games and IPL contracts keep them fitter and cohesive for an international outing?

Indias coach,Gary Kirsten,would certainly be thinking about that. His thoughts on the disorienting effect of the IPL are worth engaging with. It is not just that the tournament created irrational exuberance about the Indian team,by obscuring the possible shortcomings of the squad with the induction of class overseas cricketers. There is also the difficult time lag,with the India XI perhaps struggling to so quickly fall into place after each one playing to different gameplans for their club sides in the IPL. The rigorous schedule in the IPL also took a physical toll,with many of Indias first-choice T20 cricketers physically under-par,because of injury or simply exhaustion.

Kirsten has started a debate. Because,as crickets calendar leaves fewer spaces for recuperation,squads will have to be more inventive in finalising national teams for the three versions of the game. And more assertive in having their players commit adequate time for practice before tournaments and major series.