| It is common knowledge amongst cricket followers | | | | organise its own version of the IPL based on the |
| that the Stanford Millions could revolutionise the sport | | | | current County structure, with flexibility in mind to |
| in a way that five years ago was unthinkable. The | | | | perhaps allow teams being made up from City's and |
| offer from the Texas Billionaire, Alan Stanford | | | | Franchises. The ECB already sanction its own 20/20 |
| guarantees a million dollars for each player in the | | | | League and 20/20 Knock out cup, but Stanford's |
| winning team of an invitational match arranged | | | | financial input would benefit the players on a scale |
| between a team of Caribbean Super Stars and an | | | | that a year ago even they could only dream of. The |
| England Xl that that is to be played in Antigua on | | | | bottom line might well come down to whether or not |
| November 1st; there will be nothing for the losers. | | | | a county or test match player would rather play for |
| The offer from Stanford is part of his proposal to | | | | a million pounds a year in front of raucous, |
| the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to launch | | | | enthusiastic crowds or for peanuts in a half empty |
| their own version of the Indian Premier League of | | | | county ground. |
| Cricket that has attracted players from all over the | | | | There are some who think that all forms of the |
| world on highly lucrative contracts. Stanford is | | | | game can still be accommodated and test cricket |
| prepared to invest billions into the project but its | | | | betting in particular has no need to suffer. This of |
| success is dependant on hasty decisions by the ECB. | | | | course is true provided firstly that the county's and |
| The 20/20 game has brought cricket into the real | | | | franchises make that contractually allowable for the |
| world of commerce and media and has captured the | | | | players and secondly that the International Cricket |
| imagination of a previously uninterested audience. It is | | | | Board (ICC) can make test cricket as financially viable. |
| easy to see why, the big hitting, blood and thunder | | | | However ask a player if he would rather play for |
| style of the game is hugely exciting that even the | | | | England in a test match at Lords for a modest fee or |
| most ardent anti-cricket fans have become | | | | a 20/20 game on a Wednesday night at the Rose |
| interested. Domestic and International 20/20 matches | | | | bowl for a million pounds a year, for most there is |
| are usually sold out well in advance and the game is | | | | only one answer. |
| still only in its infancy. Stanford wants the ECB to | | | | |