The T10 Debate: It may help players improve but it's an awful spectacle

The quality and viewing spectacle of the Abu Dhabi T10 League has caused plenty of debate in recent weeks. Here, THOMAS BLOW argues that the standard left plenty to be desired

Bold, erratic and just a bit pointless. And no, I’m not talking about my club career.

This year’s T10 League has been a poor watch. Littered with long hops, full tosses and endless slogs, moments of real quality have been few and far between.

The competition, which began in 2017, has been praised for improving players’ skills and providing short-lived, unoffensive fun.

But the standard, of this year’s tournament at least, does not deserve to be televised.

Batting is not easy on the eye. Although there are some nice shots, batters aren’t allowed to build an innings and are forced to play with immeasurable risk. And 60 balls shared between four or five top players is hardly enough for them to show their best.

Bowling, however, is much worse. Many are incapable of producing 12 half-decent deliveries, despite their impressive CVs. The likes of Imran Tahir, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Wayne Parnell all have an economy rate above 11, while just a handful are going at less than nine an over.

The alternative view: Nick Friend argues that T10 could show T20 batsmen quite how hard they can afford to go

Top players are being made to look like amateurs – and the format, not to mention the stage, is to blame.

The pressure of having just 12 deliveries, a dozen chances to impress cricket’s richest, cannot be understated. A poor showing will not end a franchise career, but it may stop it from blossoming.

Others, meanwhile, may lack drive. Many are seasoned pros, guaranteed to get another gig regardless of performance. The pressure felt by 19-year-old Yorkshire spinner Sam Wisniewski will not be reciprocated by Chris Gayle.

There’s also the county conundrum. Countless players have travelled to Abu Dhabi, yet some, with limited opportunities in franchise cricket, are right in the middle of their off-season. If they’re not trying to get a big-money contract, they’re trying to get some much-needed practice.

And it isn’t just county favourites that are doing this. “I use it as an opportunity to work on my skills and challenge and see how I can still compete at the highest level,” said Dwayne Bravo before this year’s tournament.

^{Sam Wisniewski was a surprise signing for Pune Devils}

Some will argue that’s fine, identifying the benefit it will have on the sport. Few, though, want to watch a glorified net. Franchise cricket in Abu Dhabi will never prosper if remains an exhibition.

The professional game should not be fewer than 100, 120 balls. T20 has annoyed traditionalists but it’s hard to deny games ebb and flow as they should, as well as replicate dramatic finishes. The 2016 World T20 final and Carlos Brathwaite comes to mind.

T10, though, fails to do that in most instances. It’s a race up the scoreboard, with teams posting illogical totals and professional attacks conceding far more than they should.

The format certainly has a place in cricket but, based on what we’ve seen this year, it doesn’t have a place on television.