Udal warns of Twenty20 overkill

Shaun Udal, the captain of English Twenty20 champions Middlesex, has warned of an overkill of Twenty20, especially since there will be two English domestic competitions in that format from next year. Udal said county players needed to play three and not four tournaments - one each for 20- and 50-over cricket and one in the four-day game. Udal's thoughts echo the concerns of some international players who feel the packed schedule, now with the IPL and the Champions Twenty20 League, will lead to more injuries and burn-out.

"It's typical of English cricket, you get something that's right and it gets overdone," Udal said. "We've got two Twenty20 competitions next year, the County Championship is starting on a ridiculously early date." The first-class season began in early April and the Twenty20 Cup, starting today, will be played on either side of the World Twenty20, with the Finals Day on August 15. Next year the England board plans a second two-divisional, Twenty20 tournament, called P20, to provide their version of the IPL including extra international players

"It's daft, it's just being greedy. It's not good for the players - the strain on your body is too much - and it's not good for the spectators, who want to see the best players but won't because they're injured." Udal said he expected his side, which had lost players to injury and international calls, to do better in the second half of the Twenty20 Cup.

Sachin Tendulkar stressed on the need for adequate rest for India's openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag before they played the World Twenty20, while Gary Kirsten also said mental fatigue would be India's biggest challenge in the World Twenty20.