For those of us who still prefer test cricket, all this t20 stuff is quite funny. Professional cricketers throwing themselves at the biggest bucks anywhere in the world. Can’t imagine Geoffrey Boycott doing that in his day, mind you his scoring rate wouldn’t have cut it. I truly believe that t20 will diminish once local crowds realise that there is no loyalty from these players who just follow the money. Let’s hop test cricket can survive long enough to outlast these leagues and bring back to ‘real cricket’!
I would be extremely optimistic about the future of test cricket were it not for the ICC appearing to be hell bent on reducing it to a shadow format. Right now in the UK we have a cracking series against South Africa - albeit that two tests barely covered 5 days total play.
I refer anyone to the ICC future tours programme (2023-2027). That makes for a depressing read.
Excellent piece. This whole T20 leagues debate is set to run and run and I for one love it. I would offer the following in support.
The Hundred, into its closing stages, has revealed three notable things:
1) Teams are about local affiliations to their cities or, in the case of Welsh Fire, their country. Spectators at the grounds wear their sides colours. Matches between Oval Invincibles and London Spirit bring with them a real sense of a local derby. Same for The aforementioned Welsh Fire, who unfortunately lost 8 out of 8 games, with barely a welshman in the playing side. This no doubt a consequence of a draft system. In fact, were it not for his taking leave to rest before the SA test series, a Yorkshireman (Bairstow) would have captained the side.
2) Big name overseas players have not lived up to their big name billing. When WI players rushed off to join the CPL, people moved on very quickly. When Aus players were called away to international duties, we got over it. As for those staying, with the exception of a handful (e.g. Shamsi - top man!), few have set the tournament alight. The real big names are Hales, Malan, Morgan, Buttler, Ali, Salt et al. Basically, the local heroes. And plenty of others seen at county level in the T20 Blast. But gee, how the Welsh Fire would have loved David Miller’s A-game.
On the flip side, there must be some good that comes from county players sharing changing rooms with these big names. And in fairness, Kieron Pollard did turn out to a local outreach programme.
3) Tournaments have an optimum time limit of a month. Hopefully, leaving the spectatosr wanting more.
I wonder if there will be soon be a commentator draft. SA v UAE. Bring it on. But who will commentate?
Yes, these are two of the vital questions that seem to be ignored. If these franchises get a real supporter base that cares, then they should rightly want their stars to stay, or at least for most of them to stay most of the time, otherwise it's farcical. If they remain sporting wallpaper, then occasional guest appearances work just fine. Who's playing, what are the stakes? Don't know, just watch the action.
And the question of which leagues will survive is really interesting. I suppose the subject is quiet because predictions are for the brave, and ultimately don't matter that much. There is an audience for leagues of local players as well as superstar ones. I take it to mean we shouldn't yet worry that T20 leagues will fill every inch of the schedule, even if it looks like that now. Some leagues will fail, or settle into being local leagues, and leave space.
I amuse some of my friends by refusing to speak about "T20 cricket". There are two different games. There is T20 and there is cricket. Remember that prior to 1845 (I think) there was just "football". Now there are Association, Rugby Union, Rugby League, as well as American and Australian varieties. My fervent hope is that cricket develops along similar lines, and that the money-obsessed spin off on their own orbit, and leave true lovers of the game of cricket to continue along their serene way. Don't see it happening in my lifetime, though.
How long Manners b4 the Indian IPL brand eg Mumbai Indians build stadia in US offer counties( Uk) & States(Oz) a buy in to T 20 own 5/6 leagues w/wide & offer millions to contract players to them Tests are downgraded with secondary players… death knell…!!
Sorry to go back to the last subject but forgot to ask. I’m English and live to tour SA and am sad that there is no tour until ‘25. Are SA fans making any noise about this? I lived in Durban for a few years and I know that folks there loved it when the barmy army were in town. So is there any chat?
For those of us who still prefer test cricket, all this t20 stuff is quite funny. Professional cricketers throwing themselves at the biggest bucks anywhere in the world. Can’t imagine Geoffrey Boycott doing that in his day, mind you his scoring rate wouldn’t have cut it. I truly believe that t20 will diminish once local crowds realise that there is no loyalty from these players who just follow the money. Let’s hop test cricket can survive long enough to outlast these leagues and bring back to ‘real cricket’!
I would be extremely optimistic about the future of test cricket were it not for the ICC appearing to be hell bent on reducing it to a shadow format. Right now in the UK we have a cracking series against South Africa - albeit that two tests barely covered 5 days total play.
I refer anyone to the ICC future tours programme (2023-2027). That makes for a depressing read.
Excellent piece. This whole T20 leagues debate is set to run and run and I for one love it. I would offer the following in support.
The Hundred, into its closing stages, has revealed three notable things:
1) Teams are about local affiliations to their cities or, in the case of Welsh Fire, their country. Spectators at the grounds wear their sides colours. Matches between Oval Invincibles and London Spirit bring with them a real sense of a local derby. Same for The aforementioned Welsh Fire, who unfortunately lost 8 out of 8 games, with barely a welshman in the playing side. This no doubt a consequence of a draft system. In fact, were it not for his taking leave to rest before the SA test series, a Yorkshireman (Bairstow) would have captained the side.
2) Big name overseas players have not lived up to their big name billing. When WI players rushed off to join the CPL, people moved on very quickly. When Aus players were called away to international duties, we got over it. As for those staying, with the exception of a handful (e.g. Shamsi - top man!), few have set the tournament alight. The real big names are Hales, Malan, Morgan, Buttler, Ali, Salt et al. Basically, the local heroes. And plenty of others seen at county level in the T20 Blast. But gee, how the Welsh Fire would have loved David Miller’s A-game.
On the flip side, there must be some good that comes from county players sharing changing rooms with these big names. And in fairness, Kieron Pollard did turn out to a local outreach programme.
3) Tournaments have an optimum time limit of a month. Hopefully, leaving the spectatosr wanting more.
I wonder if there will be soon be a commentator draft. SA v UAE. Bring it on. But who will commentate?
Yes, these are two of the vital questions that seem to be ignored. If these franchises get a real supporter base that cares, then they should rightly want their stars to stay, or at least for most of them to stay most of the time, otherwise it's farcical. If they remain sporting wallpaper, then occasional guest appearances work just fine. Who's playing, what are the stakes? Don't know, just watch the action.
And the question of which leagues will survive is really interesting. I suppose the subject is quiet because predictions are for the brave, and ultimately don't matter that much. There is an audience for leagues of local players as well as superstar ones. I take it to mean we shouldn't yet worry that T20 leagues will fill every inch of the schedule, even if it looks like that now. Some leagues will fail, or settle into being local leagues, and leave space.
I amuse some of my friends by refusing to speak about "T20 cricket". There are two different games. There is T20 and there is cricket. Remember that prior to 1845 (I think) there was just "football". Now there are Association, Rugby Union, Rugby League, as well as American and Australian varieties. My fervent hope is that cricket develops along similar lines, and that the money-obsessed spin off on their own orbit, and leave true lovers of the game of cricket to continue along their serene way. Don't see it happening in my lifetime, though.
How long Manners b4 the Indian IPL brand eg Mumbai Indians build stadia in US offer counties( Uk) & States(Oz) a buy in to T 20 own 5/6 leagues w/wide & offer millions to contract players to them Tests are downgraded with secondary players… death knell…!!
Sorry to go back to the last subject but forgot to ask. I’m English and live to tour SA and am sad that there is no tour until ‘25. Are SA fans making any noise about this? I lived in Durban for a few years and I know that folks there loved it when the barmy army were in town. So is there any chat?