FORTRESSES BREACHED - IPL'S NEW NORMAL

IS A STEP TOWARDS A LEVEL-PLAYING FIELD

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Tennis and football have a rich history of home and away format; cricket, T20 in particular is unique in this regard, presenting visitors with challenges; the most popular T20 league in the world has taken a move which is directed at reducing home advantage with neutral curators

Back in the days when tennis' Davis Cup was played exclusively on the home-and-away format right until the final, it was one of sport's grander spectacles. The sheer energy and electricity of playing at home almost erased the gulf between nations and between players. Tennis history is replete with stirring deeds in the country vs country tournament; underdogs found a way to overcome players and teams they had no business competing with on even terms.

The host nation had the prerogative of choosing the surface and oftentimes, instead of plumping for one that might suit their strengths, they turned to the one that would trouble their more illustrious opponents the most. If both of these were in sync, nothing like it. That's why in the days of John McEnroe, for instance, most European and Latin rivals opted for clay, the American's least favourite and productive surface.