Test Twenty’s Mixed-Gender Games Could Redefine Cricket’s Future

Test Twenty
Test Twenty (PC: Test Twenty/X)

A week ago, it was announced that cricket’s newest format, Test Twenty, will feature mixed-gender games in its very first season. For me, this is a hugely welcome development for two reasons. First, it is trying to practise what it preaches. Men and women – or rather boys and girls – playing together from the very first season is a statement. Second, it helps build on the momentum the women’s game currently has in India.

What I would like to see the organisers do is tap into the education domain in India and beyond. The biggest problem in Indian sport is the disconnect between sport and academia. This is the reality at the very top. The sports and education ministries do not engage with each other, and right down to schools, sport remains largely disconnected from education. There is a major opportunity here. There are hundreds of co-educational schools in India, and therein lies an opportunity for Test Twenty.

Let me give an example to illustrate the point. I had travelled to Bhubaneswar with Abhinav Bindra a couple of years ago for an Olympic Value Education Programme (OVEP) event. As we were en route, Abhinav suggested that I should look out for some mixed-gender events. The truth is, the passion was exceptional. In some cases, the girls were the leaders within the set-up, not the boys. Clearly, they had used the opportunity to push themselves, and we were witnessing something special.

Test Twenty can do the same. While boys and girls will play separately, the captain and vice-captain in each team should be chosen on merit. There should be one captain and one vice-captain. This means a woman can indeed captain the mixed team if she is good enough. The same applies to the vice-captaincy. The decision should be based purely on merit and effort, and it could send a strong message going forward.

The reason I say this is because having two sets of captains and vice-captains will mean the teams act and play separately, despite being part of one larger unit. Much like in mixed-team events, the endeavour should be to encourage collective planning and decision-making. I have seen this happen in OVEP, and that is where I felt Abhinav and his team did a commendable job.

It has not been tried in cricket, and that is where Test Twenty has an opportunity. Collective decision-making will bring out leaders and help the format in the process. If Gaurav Bahirvani and his team can implement this, they can make a meaningful contribution to the story of women’s empowerment. And there has never been a better time.

The post Test Twenty’s Mixed-Gender Games Could Redefine Cricket’s Future appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.



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