5 batsmen with sleek old-school techniques who have succeeded in T20 cricket

Twenty20 is supposed to be the version of the swashbucklers. They come. They hit. They get out. There is no room for players with sound defensive technique iced with vintage modus operandi of batting. Or, at least, that is what most opined.While the sayings turned out to be partially true – T20 is dominated by hard-hitting batsmen – the rest of it, the ‘no country for old men’ talk was anything but.As the format grew popular and, hence, more important, players who were never considered a serious threat in the format turned out to be the most efficient exponents of the game.And the best is that these players didn’t compromise with their class or technique in order to succeed in the fast and furious version of the game. Their shots ooze the transcendental calmness that we so often see in Tests – the complete antithesis of the norm in T20.And here are 5 players who succeeded in T20s with their sleek old-school batting techniques:

#1 Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla has a strike rate of 123.

An obvious name. Hashim Amla is one of the best batsmen not only of our time, but in the history of the game. He can do just about anything with the bat and in any given format.

One would think that he is not cut out for the shortest version of the game given his technique is best suited for an elaborate and steadily paced innings, like we see in Tests. However, the human race is known for its ability to evolve and Hashim Amla did just that to forge himself as one of the best players in T20 as well.

With an average of a respectable 28.89 in 80 innings supported by a healthy strike-rate of 123, he has established himself as a dangerous figure in this format as well. And that, too, without losing his amazing batting style.

#2 Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara scored 4668 runs in this format.

A list like this without Kumar Sangakkara is no list at all. The legendary Sri Lankan is the best batsman of his era and his class has not been conclusive to Tests and ODIs only as his vintage technique has messed with the sleep of many T20 specialist bowlers.

It is not right to make divisions among humans as that has been the cause of the insane chaos all around the world. However, if one makes classes of batsmen, then Sangakkara would top it for his ability to adapt alone.

His numbers speak for themselves. An average of 29.54 in 176 innings, scoring 4668 runs in the process, with a honourable strike-rate of 124.77 runs per 100 balls—he is among the maestros of this version like he is in the other versions.

And the best part? His shots are just as exquisite—he never slogs his way up.

#3 Brad Hodge

Brad Hodge has a hitting rate of 131.53 runs in 100 balls.

Many regard him as a legend in the T20 circuit – and his stats show just why. An astonishing figure of 6812 runs in 248 games and a 37.22 average with a hitting rate of 131.53 runs in 100 balls, he is one of the most prominent figures in the history of this format.

One can only wonder how he never played more than 11 innings in Tests, scoring 503 runs with an average of 55.88, his batting style oozes patience. It is as if he never slogs, even if he tried. All the shots he plays are classic stroke-work and one can only wonder how his strike-rate is among the hard-hitters in T20.

He is an epitome of the opinion that you don’t have to be a slogger to make it big in the T20 circuit – classic batting style works just fine.

#4 Virat Kohli

Kohli has an average of 35.37 in T20s.

What would happen to the Indian cricket team once Sachin Tendulkar retires became the primary concern among the fans of the team. While he can never really be truly replaced, Virat Kohli has certainly eased the pain of Sachin’s absence a little bit.

Kohli’s fine technique and even better execution, coupled with his insane consistency, has made him one of the best players in the game.

And it is not only in the ODIs that he has excelled as his stats in T20 is even better considering the short nature of the game. At first, his average at 35.37 is incredible and only a very few batsmen can boast such a figure.

Secondly, in the 164 innings, he has played, 4847 runs have flown from his bat—and a very few of them have been slog shots. His batting style is almost symmetrically balanced, like a clockwork and this is why he is a joy to watch.

#5 Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardebe has a strike rate of 133.18 in T20s.

When T20 first hit the shores of cricket, many took to it like the duck takes to water. Many great players, however, weren’t expected to have an easy time in this gung-ho version of the game. I, personally, thought Mahela Jayawardene would struggle.

At times, his slow and steady turtle-like sheet-anchor innings became very difficult to watch, but they defined his class and astute technique that so many youngsters lack these days.

However, he was among those ducks who loved the new waters. What stood out was the way he accelerated his innings in this format. From a mere strike rate of 78.96 in ODIs to a mammoth 133.18 in T20Is, he really pushed it a notch up in the new format.

Concluding the slide with his numbers, his average in T20 is 28.85 and has 4790 runs in just 190 innings, making him another Sri Lankan to become a pioneer in this format.