BY NIGEL REED,
sportsnet.ca
Judging a book by its cover is never a wise move.
What may appear a tedious, stodgy read may, in fact, turn out to be an unputdownable, thrill a minute, page turner. Despite its dour appearance, it is full of unexpected plot twists and an explosive final chapter revealing the hero’s true identity.
So it is in the world of sport.
If the word ‘cricket’ leaves you cold, that’s OK. You’ve heard all you want to hear. It’s too complicated, it drags on for days, they have lunch and tea breaks and when it’s finally all over no one wins. Who in their right mind is going to take cricket seriously in this neck of the woods?
Cricket was listening and has changed out of all proportion.
Forget all those preconceived ideas. To heck with tradition and cucumber sandwiches. This is Twenty20 cricket, a game so far removed from its roots the purists would ban it in a heartbeat. But they can’t because the fans won’t let them. They love it just the way it is.
This is Vegas-style, to coin a term. It’s about showbiz and multi-million dollar contracts. It’s about blaring music and dazzling fireworks. But mostly it’s about hitting the ball as far as possible as often as possible. Welcome to the all-singing, all-dancing world of the Indian Premier League.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Nigel Reed will blog on the wide world of cricket for sportsnet.ca going forward. Check back regularly to read his insight and observations.
Entering its fourth season, IPL has taken off with more power than the space shuttle. IPL’s brand value is estimated to be worth $4 billion (US) and is, on a pro-rated basis, the second highest paying professional sports league on the planet.
Wealthy owners are getting wealthier. In South Asia where cricket and Bollywood are a way of life, rich celebrities have jumped in with both feet. Their backing has allowed the IPL to tempt the best of the best to sign on for a season which is come and gone in 50 days.
The party is in full swing. A week after India celebrated its first World Cup triumph in nearly 30 years, many of its heroes are now on the IPL payroll. The names will not be familiar to those without an interest in the sport but that’s irrelevant.
See what these players can do with a bat or ball in their hand. This condensed three hour version of the game forces the participants to take risks. There’s no hanging around in Twenty20. The mentality is simple – hit out or get out.
I dislike the baseball analogy for many reasons, but imagine this: Instead of a home run every hour or so, imagine a ‘dinger’ every five minutes – or quicker as the batting team desperately tries to boost its total as the clock ticks down.
Every big hit is greeted ecstatically. Every wicket that falls is cause for celebration. There are no second chances in the IPL. A swing and a miss usually means you’re walking back to the dugout, head bowed, as the successful bowler receives a team’s worth of high fives.
It is fast, it’s furious and it’s fascinating. Here are the house rules: only put the kettle on between overs or you will miss something. Make the investment, give it a chance, and you will be rewarded. Trust me, this is not to be missed.
Forget what the book said; this is no game for gentlemen.