Virender Sehwag has signed for Northamptonshire for the T20 Cup this summer. Alright, it's a bit like Robert Plant joining Saxon, but it confirms an undeniable trend: There's no IPL in England, but there's an approximation of it, built by stealth.
The rosters aren't complete yet, but joining Viru will be Shahid Afridi, Abdul Razzaq and Ajantha Mendis [Hants], Adam Gilchrist [Middx], Shaun Tait [Glamorgan], Cameron White and Keiron Pollard [Somerset], Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dwayne Smith and Yassir Arafat [Sussex], Herschelle Gibbs [Yorkshire], Kumar Sangakkara [Lancs], David Hussey and Dirk Nannes [Notts] and little Brad Hodge [Leicestershire].
Wonder how long it will be before Giles Clarke starts taking the credit?
My Gloucestershire side might be able to afford one of these Bangladeshi spinner-batsmen who can't spin or bat very well.
ReplyDeleteI heard on twitter today that Dilshan has joined 5 club/county sides this year... lucky SL have a rather empty cricket calendar, but have to wonder if it would make a difference. How soon before the entire FTP is changed to allow just marquee test series and the ODI and T20 World Cups... maybe even chop out the ODI WC...
ReplyDeleteBtw, was it Giles in charge when T20 was first proposed by the ECB?
Really looking forward to seeing Sangakara playing for Lancashire, think he is going be be a huge hit!
ReplyDeleteI can't decide whether you're being harsh on Saxon or Northants.
ReplyDeleteSean Tait? Does bowling six feet wide of the wicket have an advantage in T20?!!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing Herschelle Gibbs playing, he is wonderful to watch.
achettup - think he was something like marketing director at the time, so he's probably frantically claiming it.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I did think about it, but I think Northants are the Saxon of county cricket. Was thinking of doing a list of the rest. Hampshire - Poison; yorkshire - Black Sabbath etc. All contributions welcome!
Have to bow to your superior NWOBHM experience OB, but I'd humbly suggest that Kent are the nearest thing cricket has to Prog Rock. Nutured in the late 60's, and then were at their peak in the 70's, whilst being loathed by all except true afficionados, right up until 1977.
ReplyDeleteFollowing the theme, that makes Somerset (IVA Richards, Beefy and Big Bird et al) cricket's punk rock.