Virender Sehwag agreed that Test cricket is a tough format, on a day when he was named captain of a T-10 competition in the United Arab Emirates. He will lead the Maratha Arabians in the T-10 Cricket League, a 10-over-each side event featuring six sides. Wasim Akram will be the team's head coach and mentor.
Expressing his views during the Maratha Arabians launch, the former India opener – who has two Test triple tons to his credit – felt Test cricket needed more fitness than 50-overs, based on experience of 104 Tests and 251 ODIs for India.
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“You need to develop the mindset to play Tests. I remember after fielding two days, I batted two days. We lost wickets quickly, fielded on the fifth day, so I was on the ground all five days. I cursed myself and cursed my team also. You need more fitness in Tests than one-day cricket,” quipped Sehwag.
Sehwag will lead a squad featuring players such as Kumar Sangakkara, Mohammad Amir, Alex Hales, Lendl Simmons and Renee Roussow to name a few.
The right-handed batsman pointed out that players develop fitness levels necessary for Test cricket by playing four-day games right from the junior level. “We play four-day cricket from U-14 days, so get used to and when we work on fitness, it lasts for a couple of hours. Bat for half an hour, field for half an hour and do bowling.”
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When asked if there are any differences between 10-overs a side game and popular T20 version, he said, “Cricket is the same, does not matter you are playing 10 (overs), 20 or 50. You play the number of overs and try to score as much as you can. After the first league, we will get to know whether this format is liked by people or not.”
Maratha Arabians will play Pakhtoons in the second game on the opening day, after Bengal Tigers face off against Kerala Kings. Punjabi Legends and Team Sri Lanka complete the line-up and the final will be held on December 17. The T10 Cricket League is being held under the aegis of Emirates Cricket Board and recognized by the International Cricket Council.
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