Having brought the game of Twenty20 cricket to a wider audience, cricket administrators in England must now be concerned that this form of the game may be about to change the entire landscape of the sport. What does the future hold?
When cricketers are paying paid more than a million dollars to play for a few weeks of the year then we know that times are changing. The launch of the Indian Premier League, backed with plenty of finance, is changing things at a rapid pace.
Many note that India has quickly become the centre of the cricketing world, although it's been noticeable that the English authorities have been keen that England players should not compete in the new competition in India.
Despite this, there can be no doubt that Twenty20 has captured the public imagination. What changes can we expect here in England?
There's been a lot of talk about a similar competition to the IPL being created in England, with teams being founded in 8 British cities.
Such a competition would appear to be a real threat to the cricketing establishment. For years, organised cricket in this country has had the county sides at its heart.
Hints that they may not be so central to its future will offer concerns to some and opportunities to others. Are we about to see the County Championship, for instance, coming to an end?
With many forms of the game struggling to attract spectators, it would be no great surprise if the popular Twenty20 version continues to push things in a different direction.
Some would suggest that the sport cannot survive unless it embraces change. They wonder whether it can continue when so few spectators are to be found at some domestic matches.
Cricket fans are left to wonder about the direction in which the sport is heading.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Keith_Barrett
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