posted Apr 24, 2008

I think the way to make it work would be to tap up a few of the Australian State sides to join the party in England. They are of a similar quality to most other test sides. Add a couple of All-Star teams from the subcontinent, a West Indian XI, and a couple of South African sides, and I think you have the makings of something incredible. The IPL is fabulous in its own right and I hope the average players dont bring it down. The ECB is a different idea with a lot of legs if they get it right. How many English teams would you have?? One really good one, maybe 2. At the same time, get rid of half the county sides and watch England get stronger.

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posted Apr 24, 2008

ramilas, if you're suggesting that the EPL be played in March before the county season starts, then you don't know much about English weather!

The county season has jsut started, and it's mid-April. This season, the month of July seems to have been put aside for 20/20 cricket. The EPL could easily be held during that time, with little or no disruption to the current schedule this year....

And there would be no clash with the IPL.

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posted Apr 24, 2008

Are you stupid or something?

lets face the facts:

india - slow low wickets, which has nothing in it for bowlers apart from spinners.

England - fast, hard pitches with grass, which means that bowlers and batsmen can play on it - which means more exciting matches.

Your just using a stereotypical view on England (i.e the weather), because you know that an english ipl would work.

FACE IT - If England had an IPL, all the retired players and the current international players would be signing up in a flash, hence fans from other countries would also come over here to watch it.

So yes an English IPL would work, and I hope it does.

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posted Apr 24, 2008

Both the IPL and the EPl will work. They will work for different reasons in each case. Sledging one in favour of the other is pointless. Lets just see how it pans out. Both will do cricket a lot of good.

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posted Apr 24, 2008

One thing that is super important here is that the BCCI has got a headstart in getting this league accepted by ICC and all the major cricket playing nations. It is weird how they had an apprehension towards T20 all this while, and then the ICL rebel league starts. And to everyone's shock, India wins the T20 World Championships and theres this huge interest in India that BCCI had a pulse on, and immediately cashed in.

I feel sorry for the ICL - the rebel league that has somehow lost its sheen in all this hoopla. BCCI has bulldozed its way in world cricket and the ICL was a good alternative to create a cricketing league outside the purview of the BCCI.

For any other league to get acceptance is very difficult. If at all, I think it is the ECB alone who can pull it off. But with the FTP already in a crisis with scheduling and IPL taking away a month and a half off the calender, it would be a hard battle for ICC to bless both the IPL and an ECB T20 leagues. Ultimately, it is the players who need to decide.

With the injuries with the current scheduling already, I think players will have to make a choice, and I am afraid that it would be with the IPL. Note that the stadiums are not full at the IPL either, but they've played their cards well with the television rights and the sponsorship deals and they should come out doing good at the end of the season.

It is finally the amount of money that a player makes, and I think the IPL has the potential to outbid and push their way thru when it comes to compensating truly world-class players. This is just the first season and there are quite a few mediocre players ending up playing in the final XI. I think over the next couple of seasons, there will be some truly star studded players and we can soon see teams of galaticos.

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posted Apr 24, 2008

I dont Understand Why , BBC dont write about IPL , may be they are jealous of IPL for not having one in England. Wake up BBC, your not in colonol age any more. English cant Match India in cricket. We are the Super powers of cricket,, Please dont delete this comment . This is a fact.

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posted Apr 24, 2008

Consultation with the players:

ECB: Right chaps what do you want?

Players: Lot's of money please Guv

ECB: OK then...

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posted Apr 24, 2008

Dear rkmetta,

How are India the superpower of cricket? They arent number 1 in either test or one day cricket? How do good opinions and lack of BBC coverage for the IPL constitute colonialism? Thats just such a weird statement. What logic did you follow to come to such an irrational conclusion? Setanta has the rights to IPL in the UK.

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posted Apr 24, 2008

Dear trevorbarker,
what is say is, I always follow BBC for cricket updates, there is noting about IPL, scores or pictures.BBC is always talking about EPL, which dosent exists. ( does it makes any sense ). Yes India is superpower of cricket. ( India contributes 70% of Cricket Revenue ).

BBC cheer up .!

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