Cricinfo has news of an interesting development in the world of cricket. A group of teams from India, the UK, South Africa, the West Indies and (hopefully) Australia is planning to form a global alliance and a single brand for Twenty20 cricket. I can see the economic benefits of this, but while I’m all for cricket looking for ways to boost audiences, I can see this one running onto a few rocks.
Firstly some supporters are going to get very confused. As a Rajasthan Royals fan I should presumably sign up to the global group. But their UK team is Hampshire, not Somerset. I can just about manage that, having spent five years in Southampton, but what if they pick NSW for their Australian side?
Then there’s the team names. The Cricinfo story says that the teams in the alliance will play under the Royals brand in all Twenty20 competitions, but there’s already a team called the Royals in the UK, and it isn’t Hampshire. Worcestershire are not going to be happy. And I suspect that a bunch of proud Cape Town fans will want to keep the Cobras name.
Finally this rather blows a hole in the idea of the Twenty20 Champions’ League, which is supposed to showcase the best teams from each country. There was quite enough fuss in UEFA over Roman Abramovitch having an interest in both Chelsea and CSKA Moscow. At least three of the proposed Royals teams were in last year’s Champions’ Trophy (probably four when they announce the Australian side). It would make a nonsense of the competition if those teams were all under the same ownership.
*waves from Southampton*
I take the point about Worcs, but Hampshire Royals would still be an improvement on Hampshire Hawks, which we’ve had to put up with for the last ten years… at least royals have actually done a few notable things in Hampshire. Mainly in the way of building castles, oppressing peasants and general offwiththeirheadsery, but hey.