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