Ben Stokes probably won’t appreciate the sentiment, but watching Carlos Brathwaite blast four consecutive sixes to see the West Indies snatch the T20 World Cup from England’s grasp was one of the great sporting moments of modern times.
It also underlined just how far the shortest form of the game has come since being launched as an inter-county competition in 2003, quickly pulling in football-sized crowds to grounds more used to having less life than your average library throughout the regular season.
The sport has not been afraid of cashing in with a World Cup, and despite a feeling the domestic matches here lag behind those in India and Australia, it has given county players a platform and recognition they never previously enjoyed.
A classic example is Jason Roy, whose talent was clear when he didn’t even play second fiddle when Kevin Pietersen spent a couple of years in Surrey’s T20 team.
The 25-year-old was key to England reaching the final with his violent 78 off 44 balls in the semi-final win over New Zealand.
Among Roy’s repertoire are shots you would never have seen in any form of the game before 2003. The ramp, the scoop and the switch hit may make cricket’s traditionalists wince, and plenty will turn their noses up if he goes onto be an England Test regular and gets out playing any of those shots.
Former Surrey and England all-rounder Alex Tudor, who now teaches young players at Kimbolton School in Bedfordshire, last week suggested T20 was taking over some of the sport’s traditional skills.
The increase in Test matches failing to last five days is evidence of that, but surely that’s a price worth paying as cricket’s appeal continues to grow.
Twenty20 is box office which is why Surrey can pay big money for the likes of Aaron Finch and World Cup winner Dwayne Bravo to wear The Feathers in this summer’s Big Blast.
The question should be how the longer form of cricket can change to take advantage of Twenty20’s appeal – not the other way around.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here