Franchise cricket’s evolving impact on the game

It is tempting to report that the international cricket franchise season has just opened. In reality, it has never gone away, establishing itself as a permanent feature in cricket’s evolving landscape. More pertinently, it should be reported that it is heading for peak activity. The final of Australia’s Women’s Big Bash League was played on Dec. 2, whilst the final of the Abu Dhabi T10 league on Dec. 9 saw the New York Strikers beat the Deccan Gladiators. On Dec. 7, the first match of the Men’s Big Bash was played, with the final scheduled for Jan. 24, 2024. New Zealand’s Super Smash starts on Dec. 19 and concludes on Jan. 28.

Three days earlier, England is set to start the first of five Tests against India in Hyderabad, the series ending on March 11. A number of players who would have been in contention are not in the touring party because they are involved in franchise tournaments. Both England’s current and former captains have decided to eschew franchises to focus on the Test series. The same is not true in the spin bowling department. England’s response has been to select three young, inexperienced spinners, clearly looking not only to Indian conditions but also to the future.

Identifying, developing and promoting young talent is one strategy to adopt in the ever more difficult environment of ensuring that Test and short-format cricket can coexist. This landscape is about to get more difficult. On Jan. 10, the SA20 league will open in Cape Town and conclude on Feb. 10. The DP World ILT20 will run from Jan. 19 until Feb. 10. On Jan. 19, the Bangladesh Premier League also opens and will run until March 1. Into this mix, the Pakistan Super League is set to be played between mid-February and mid-March.

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