Not quite cricket...

otyikondo · Post by **otyikondo** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:03 pm

"Something is happening here, but you don't know what it is...

...do you, Mr. Bradman?

BBC

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Salopian · Post by **Salopian** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:39 pm

I heard noises being made that Twenty20 could take over as the world's 'number one' sport within a decade. And so THAT'S how they're going about it.

But certainly, the IPL is going to change everything. And as with football, there are now Yanky backers looking for a way in...

otyikondo · Post by **otyikondo** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:50 pm

This Stanford guy has a "knighthood" from Antigua and Barbuda (who are allegedly able to give such things), and you can just guess how he got that.

"Thank you very much Mr. Stanford, the cheque will come in very handy. Is there anything we can do to flatter your ego?"

By the by, Antigua and Barbuda apparently means "ancient and bearded", which probably means this bloke.

** W.G. Mieto (Fin) **

Salopian · Post by **Salopian** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:15 pm

"Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation"? Strewth. How big was that cheque?!? I see the ECB has enlisted Stanford to help prevent everyone buggering off to the IPL.

I wonder what the Doctor would have to say about all of this...

TampereOwl · Post by **TampereOwl** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 10:24 pm

Haven't they just banned English players from participating?

I'm not sure it'll be a success, as the fans don't yet identify with the teams and that process may take a while. The 'draft' does not seem designed to inspire continuity either, but maybe Indians will be attracted by the soap opera qualities of it.

Salopian · Post by **Salopian** » Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:13 pm

TampereOwl wrote:Haven't they just banned English players from participating?

The idea was to ban the centrally-contracted (core England) players from playing, but have since gone back on that. There's too much money on offer - it would cause too many conflicts.

TampereOwl wrote:but maybe Indians will be attracted by the soap opera qualities of it.

Off topic, but one a similar note, that's why La Liga on a Sunday evening is entertaining. Some attacking football (at least from one team) followed by a degeneration into short drama piece for the last twenty minutes or so - fouls, cards, 'platoon' re-enactments, vicious timing-wasting and, if we're lucky, a goal or two. And the off-pitch goings-on are another thing all together...

The forming of the IPL and its possible repercussions are fascinating - will have to follow this as it develops.

Good point about the fans and allegiance, but cricket is cricket. A nigh-on religion.
Or maybe money can ruin it, like it has football (too few see/admit it...)?

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