Players who gave up T20Is for Tests

The favourite cricket debates that usually come up during opinionated fans’ discussions are regarding the DRS or the game-revolutionizing T20s over Tests. Everybody has an opinion and the discussions are endless; the pros, the cons, the fan’s perspective, the mass opinion, the expert’s opinion, etc. With regards to the T20 Internationals vs Tests, there is always speculation about the short and glamorous format being the reason for Test cricket’s death, but there have been players who had their priorities sorted.

Here are some of them:

Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke was one of the few to have opted out of the shortest formats of the game after having been captain of the T20 International side since 2009. He believed that concentrating on the longer format would help him regain his touch with the format he loved.

“For me, I’ve always said Test cricket is the ultimate for me. This gives me that opportunity. In saying that, obviously my T20 performances haven’t been that great, which made the decision that much easier.”

Clarke played 34 T20 Internationals and scored 488 runs in 28 innings, at an average of 21.21 with a strike rate of 103.17.

Ricky Ponting

While he was still playing international cricket, Ricky Ponting decided to step down from participating in T20 internationals. His decision came after he felt the need and desire to spend more time and focus on ODI cricket and Tests.

“The last 10 or 12 days for me have been a lot about reflection, looking back to the Ashes and looking forward to my playing future,” Ponting said. “As of today I`ve decided to retire from international Twenty20 cricket. The decision I’ve made is all to do with my longevity in the game.”

Ponting played 17 T20 Internationals and scored 401 runs in 16 innings, at an average of 28.64 with a strike rate of 132.78.

Sachin Tendulkar

In 2010, Tendulkar decided to give up on the shortest form too and did not get on the flight that carried the Indian team to the West Indies for the T20 World Cup.

“I respect his decision, whatever he says because he has done well, given his services to Indian cricket for the last 20 years, if he decides something then we should just respect it,” Dhoni said on his retirement.

Daniel Vettori

In 2011, Daniel Vettori decided to retire from T20 International cricket following New Zealand’s ouster from the World Cup. That was when he decided to step down as captain from all the formats too.

“I’ve played my last Twenty20 match … (but) it’s about six months to the next one-dayer so I have a lot of time to sit down and think about it and talk to my family,” he said.

“Tests are a big part of why I play the game, for team and myself, because there is no better feeling than winning a Test.”

Vettori played 33 T20 Internationals and has taken 37 wickets, at an average of 19.45.

However, he did come out of retirement in 2012 to make himself available for selection for the World T20 after his retirement from the format in 2011 and made a comeback in the tournament.

Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla is the latest cricketer to have stepped up and opted out of T20Is, but only for this year at present. Given the hectic international schedule, he has opted to give it a rest for this year.

“I’ve requested to take a sabbatical from International T20 cricket for the year,” Amla said. “My decision was influenced by the hectic international schedule and this will give me more room to manage my time between the formats more constructively. T20 cricket remains a format that I enjoy, and I hope I can make meaningful contributions domestically when I have the opportunity while continuing to harness my T20 game. I still have hopes of playing for South Africa in the future and will re-visit the decision at a later stage.”

Amla till date has played 15 T20Is and has scored 269 runs at an average of 20.69.