The Windies way and World T20

INEVITABLY, the shorter the game, the more frenzied the tempo, the more exciting the action, the more unpredictable the outcome.

In less than a decade, such elements have transformed Twenty20 into the most popular of cricket’s three formats. It has spawned world championships every two years since the first in 2007 and lucrative domestic tournaments just about everywhere.  

It has proved ideal for the West Indies of the 21st century for there is no more erratic, thrilling or exasperating side. Over the coming fortnight, in the fifth tournament in Bangladesh, they defend the World title they won in Sri Lanka just over a year and a half ago. In their finishing build-up, they clinched a brief series against England in Barbados that ended on Thursday, winning the first two matches before falling just five runs short in the last after tinkering with the XI.