Former England captain Andrew Strauss forecast on Wednesday that the Indian Premier League would eclipse American soccer’s NFL to change into “the biggest domestic sporting event in the world” as he praised it for sparking one among cricket’s “great steps forward.”
He additionally stated the latest creation of a ladies’s IPL would “accelerate” the expansion of the feminine sport in spectacular vogue.
A extremely profitable franchise T20 occasion backed by rich enterprise figures and leisure stars, the IPL has additionally led to the creation of comparable competitions, corresponding to Australia’s Big Bash and the Caribbean Premier League. In the method, gamers on the worldwide T20 circuit earn a very good residing from cricket with out having to symbolize their nations.
This has led to fears about the way forward for worldwide cricket, specifically five-day Tests, however Strauss stated problems with “overkill” had existed earlier than the arrival of the IPL in 2008 and had been nonetheless evident at worldwide and county stage.
Strauss, delivering the annual Cowdrey lecture at Lord’s, urged his viewers to embrace the IPL regardless of fears it meant the sport had “sold its soul.”
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“As the Indian economy grows, it is expected that by the time it reaches parity with the size of the USA in 2040, the value of the IPL is likely to be six times what it is today — this is going to be the biggest domestic sporting tournament in the world, bar none,” Strauss stated.
‘Earth-shattering sum’
“If you allow yourself to keep bound up in the thesis that the purpose of the game is to bring diverse people together, whether playing or watching, and to allow cricket to educate and connect, then surely the rise of franchise cricket is one of the great steps forward.
“More players are playing in different parts of the world, experiencing new places and meeting new people, more and more people around the globe are engaged with the great game that we all love so much.”
Turning to the brand new five-team ladies’s IPL, Strauss stated it will “accelerate” the expansion of ladies’s cricket.
“The first IPL franchises have just been sold for an earth shattering sum of GBP 465 million (USD 572.5 million),” the 45-year-old former opener added.
“Women’s cricket is truly standing on its own two feet and is likely to be in the top three sports for earning potential for any young girl with talent and an ambition to play sport professionally.”
Strauss, in the meantime, stated the attacking means during which England red-ball coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes had overseen 9 wins from 10 Tests since taking cost in May, in comparison with a mere one in 17 earlier than they joined forces, augured properly for the way forward for the five-day sport.
“I firmly believe that the Test series that capture our imaginations today — the ones that we really look forward to — aren’t going anywhere,” Strauss insisted.
Source web site: sportstar.thehindu.com
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