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Gilchrist sceptical about Twenty20 format

Source: Rediff.com - January 13, 2005

Despite its success in England, Autralia's vice-captain Adam Gilchrist says he is not sure if Tewnty20 format could be awarded official status at the international level.

"I'm not too sure on an international scale, one-off international maybe," Gilchrist was quoted as saying in a local daily in Sydney on Thursday.

He, however, said that a round-robin tournament without an official international status could be a considered in this format.

"I certainly feel as a result of that, there's scope for it to be incorporated somewhere into the programme," Gilchrist said.

Western Australia and Victoria played the abridged form of one-day cricket in front of 20,000 people at the WACA ground in Perth while Australia 'A' defeated Pakistan in another Twenty20 match at the Adelaide Oval today.

The concept, which began in England two years ago and has also been played in South Africa, involves a 20-over-a-side match with modified rules that encourage quick over rates and even quicker run rates.

Among the unique rules is a 90-second deadline for incoming batsmen to arrive at the crease and strict run penalties for teams which fail to bowl 20 overs in 90 minutes.

Batsmen are awarded a free hit for the delivery following a foot-fault no-ball.

Australia and England are scheduled to play the first-ever Twenty20 international in Hampshire on June 13 this year.