IPL: English Premier League Planned?
Cricket has always been a more reserved sport, played by gentlemen. The sound of bat on ball and hopeful cheers of ‘Howzat’ is a sound many relate to a typical English Summer - that along with rain! Cricket was a game to enjoy while sipping on a cold beer over a chat in the sun.
Along came Twenty20 cricket. A format played by county teams who each had 20 overs each to score as many runs as possible. Cricket changed - and attracted a new audience, a much younger audience some might say. Ferocious batting skills were being freely demonstrated by the ‘big-hitters’ and the new format provided constant entertainment. Something for which cricket had not been known for before - arguably.
Twenty20 became ever more popular, drawing large crowds and a new buzz.
The IPL (or Indian Premier League) launched on Friday. This new league has attracted some of the best players in world cricket - no doubt lured by the big money that in the past was reserved for football stars or Formula 1 drivers.
Now, it seems, the English & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are considering the same format to be played in England. According to BBC Sport, intensive talks have been held with an American backer with regards to starting the EPL.
Hampshire’s county chairman encourages the possibility, saying;
“We invented Twenty20, but India reacted fastest to its commercial potential.”
Fair point. While it would be interesting to watch the EPL, something doesn’t seem right. It’s as though cricket is being changed for good - never to be the same again. The words above strike a cord - especially the word ‘commercial’.
While I’m a big football fan, it’s been my opinion for years that it is far to commercialised, with far too much money involved. This leads to players holding clubs to ransom with contract demands and much worse. Do we really want cricket to follow this route? Do we really want to lose our game?
What are your thoughts? The original article can be found by clicking here (opens in a new window).
