A DECADE after being a guinea pig in Australia’s first Twenty20 match, Adam Voges was sitting in the dugout at a packed Manuka Oval with his body filled with as much tension, and ultimately elation, as it had at any time during his career.

Admitting the game’s shortest form began as “hit and giggle’’, the Perth Scorchers captain says the Twenty20 format is now as legitimate as any other.

A battle made up of 120 individual contests each innings where tactics, technique — and most of all the ability to withstand pressure — all play a part.

Voges is regarded as one of Twenty20 cricket’s most astute thinkers.

Not just for having led the Scorchers to a second Big Bash League crown last summer, but for having done it by repeatedly finding ways to defend scores that appeared indefensible.

For a veteran who has played more cricket in his 36 years than even he can remember, there are two Twenty20 matches that stand out above most.

One was last season’s thrilling last-ball Big Bash League final triumph over the Sydney Sixers in Canberra.

The other was 10 years earlier on January 12, 2005, when WA defeated Victoria in a groundbreaking Twenty20 exhibition match at the WACA Ground.

The novelty proved so popular the gates had to be shut and fans turned away. It was the first time the WACA Ground had sold out for a cricket match since 1981 and cricket had changed forever.

“I still vividly remember that first game,’’ Voges said.

“I remember we got a wicket first ball and we actually didn’t know what to do. Do you run in and celebrate or do you run straight back to your position? How quickly do you have to do it all? We were learning on the job basically.

“It was just a hit and giggle, sort of slogathon for 20 overs that was just a new idea. Not a lot of thought or planning went into it in the early stages.

Camera Icon Perth Scorchers star Yasir Arafat celebrates victory over the Sydney Sixers in last season’s Big Bash League final at Canberra’s Manuka Oval. Credit: Getty Images

“But I think probably one of the biggest things you see now is how serious a competition it is and how much time and effort goes into the planning side of things. It’s certainly progressed and developed over the 10 years or so the game’s been around.

“As a format in its own right, I certainly think it’s legitimate. And it’s the one that draws more and more people to the games and that can only be a good thing.’’

January’s BBL final Canberra, regarded as one of the best Twenty20 games played in Australia, will be remembered for Brett Lee’s final over heroics.

Lee, who was on a hat-trick as he bowled the final ball of his career in an attempt to force the decider into a super over, was denied a fairytale finish as Perth import Yasir Arafat scampered through for a single.

Sixers skipper Moises Henriques, who top-scored with 77 off 57 balls and bowled four tight overs, spilt a return at the bowler’s end with Arafat well short of his ground.

For Voges, who was dismissed in the 17th over of the tense run chase in pursuit of the victory target of 148, the final over was gut-churning as he watched from the sidelines.

“I’d gone from getting ready to run out and celebrate with the boys, to then sitting back next to JL (coach Justin Langer) working out who was going to bat for the super over,” he said.

“It was just an incredible feeling. It was a perfect final in that it ebbed and flowed the whole way through.’’

For Voges, captaincy in Twenty20 cricket is a series of contradictions.

It’s the game’s shortest format, yet makes for the longest days.

Planning is vital, but thinking on the run a must.

It requires thinking at a million miles an hour, while always looking calm on the outside.

You worry about every single ball, but must not dwell on them once they have gone.

Tactics can be complex, but for the bowler they must be kept simple.

While Voges keeps a little black book of tactical notes ahead of every game, usually focused on plans for each opposition batsman, he often doesn’t share them with his bowlers.

“I might with one or two at different times during the game, but a lot of the time they are just plans for me that I might need at some stage during the game,’’ he said.

Camera Icon Perth Scorchers bowler Brad Hogg celebrates taking the wicket of the Sydney Sixers’ Jordan Silk during last season’s Big Bash League final. Credit: Getty Images

“The most important thing for a bowler at the top of the mark in Twenty20 cricket is to be very clear about the ball that they are going to bowl. We try and keep the plans relatively simple for the bowlers.’’

Voges described captaining the Scorchers during games as “hectic”.

“You can have the best laid plans in the world going into the game, but you really have to think on your feet a lot of the time,’’ he said.

“For me personally, it’s just trying to be one step ahead of the game. Trying to work out where the batsmen are trying to score, or who they are going to try and target.

“It’s just trying to get a feel for what’s happening out there and just trying to stay one or two balls ahead.

“And then trying to get your own match-ups with certain bowlers to certain batsmen that you think can have an impact as well.

“At the end of the day, the easiest way to slow the run rate down is to take wickets, so I still try to be as attacking as possible.’’

Voges said while in the field he was aware that both the TV cameras and teammates’ eyes were constantly on him.

“The cameras are always on you and the players themselves will look at you to see how you’re reacting as well. So even if you are panicking, try and keep a calm demeanour about yourself,’’ he said.

“You’ve definitely got to be calm and you’ve got to be able to laugh at yourself and make light of situations when things aren’t quite going your way. Because if you worry about them too much, they will get the better of you eventually.

“There’s times when things aren’t going to go right or a bowler is going to bowl a ball that didn’t go where you were expecting it to. It’s just about understanding that that’s gone now and focusing on the next one.

“It’s 20 overs but it’s 120 different contests and that can actually be a lot. And people don’t realise that. You’ve just got to worry about the next ball.’’