For the good of the game: A modest proposal for the EPL

Doubles and indeed trebles all round as the ECB and the counties finally agree a form for the inaugural English Premier League Twenty20 competition although why they have to wait until 2010 is anyone’s guess.

Just one question: Won’t everyone have got bored and be demanding a shorter form of the game then?

Ladies and gentlemen we give you World of Spurt’s Five5! (Copyright World of Spurt 2008)

Still timely it might not be, but at last it’s a rival and a counter balance to the morale sapping power of the IPL. So for these small mercies we should at least be grateful.

But if the ECB are serious about using Twenty20 as a shop window to publicise cricket, attract young athletes into it and naturally making it a gateway to the ultimate form of the game Test cricket and not just about making it a rampant cash-in, here’s two modest proposals that they can adopt from day one to prove they have the best interests of the game at heart:

1. Make it compulsory for each team to field a minimum number (say four) of English qualified players under the age of say 24 to blood young talent amongst the established stars and prove that cricket is a career every bit as exciting and financially rewarding as football.

2. Guarantee to sell the TV rights to a terrestrial broadcaster to maximise exposure and audiences for this most exciting and TV-friendly form of the game.

You’ve already sold cricket’s soul to the highest bidder by taking Tests off terrestrial TV following that memorable Ashes 2005 series.

Now redress the balance by committing to do some good for a change, don’t just flog it to Sky or Sentanta because they bid the most cash.

So do the right thing. The eyes of English cricket lovers everywhere are upon you.