David Leggat: T20 dollars are too attractive for it to get the axe

Former Australian captain Allan Border admitted his concern also related to the threat of ODI cricket being squeezed out. Photo / Getty Images

In a couple of weeks, New Zealand will play two T20s against Pakistan in Dubai.

A World Cup is three months away. The point of, and value in, these two 40-over slogs in the United Arab Emirates? Absolutely zero.

Yesterday, former Australian captain Allan Border called for international T20 cricket to be abolished, and more emphasis placed on the 50-over game.

This is a funny old merry-go-round of opinion. Remember it wasn't so long ago many were calling for 50-over cricket to be the format to be stuck in the cupboard.

T20 was it, baby - bells, whistles, razzmatazz. Certain sections couldn't get enough of cricket's burger-and-fries game.

Border was speaking after three T20s against South Africa, which featured weakened teams and modest crowds.

He isn't suggesting the 20-over game should be completely done away with, simply concentrated within the proliferation of domestic leagues, with the exception of a biennial world tournament.

Border argues this should be enough to slake the thirst of those whose cricket interest starts and stops at 40 overs, and it's a good point.

New Zealand and Australia played the first T20 international at Eden Park in 2005. And the third, and the fifth.

Altogether New Zealand have played 77 T20s. In how many of those can you remember specific details? Then again, if you've enjoyed the occasion, does that matter?

There's nothing wrong with the game, but the question is more whether it's really needed.

Border admitted his concern also related to the threat of ODI cricket being squeezed out as T20 threatens to swallow the limited-overs component of international cricket.

"I'd hate to see the 50-over game wither and die. I think the 50-over game is a superior game to 20-over cricket," he said.

Border likes the ebb and flow of the longer format, the fact the bowler has more chance of succeeding and that it allows teams to bat or bowl their way back into a contest far more than in 20-over cricket.

In all those points, he's 100 per cent right. Will his voice be heard around the game's board tables? Yes.

Acted on? Doubt it, especially if there are plenty of dollars to be made from the likes of the Dubai fixtures.