Stanford Super Series

Stanford 20/20 gimmicks

It was only a matter of time before they introduce BIGGER and therefore BETTER balls.

But the Miami Vice style attire? That’s a step too far.

20/20 for $20million – what is that in pounds?

What will the victors in the Stanford 20/20 for 20 match become?

They will become “dollar millionaires” or ‘not real millionaires’ to you – because of course we don’t have dollars in this country.

It really brings it home that this isn’t really about you, the supporter and it isn’t even about the teams taking part, because the whole marketing of the event revolves around it being ’20/20 for 20′ and about each winning player earning a million.

If you’re English, those things aren’t true. At the time of writing it’s 20/20 for £12,622,279 and each winning player will earn £631,114.

That marketing is not aimed at England, yet the national side is one half of the on-field spectacle.

Cricket prizes should never be in US dollars, whatever the event.

Low scores in Stanford Super Series

Thus far scores in the Stanford Super Series have been heading south faster than Boris Johnson after being offered chips and gravy by a whippet in a flat cap. Scores, in order, have been 146, 124, 121 and 109.

These aren’t the scores Twenty20 marketers want. They want sixes to all parts and bowlers getting humiliated.

The pitch appears to be made out of plasticine and one man who’ll be happier than most will be Graeme Swann, who didn’t look like getting a game before the series started, but who must be increasingly confident of a spot with the pacemen’s bouncers only endangering the batsmen’s ankles.

No win no fee cricket

No win, no fee cricket starts today in the shape of the Stanford Super Series, which culminates in a $20million winner-takes-all match between England and the Stanford Superstars next Saturday.

We ordinarily support England, so we suppose that we’re supposed to follow them here as well. But why?

They won’t be facing a genuine international side. They’ll be facing ‘the Stanford Superstars’ who feature internationals, but are really just a contrivance. Do we really care if England win or lose to the Stanford Superstars? Are England going to win respect from the world if they win? Not really. It’s all a bit inconsequential.

Are we meant to care more because there’s $20million at stake? Why should we give a toss about that? It’s not like we’ll see any of the money. The only people for whom the money makes any kind of difference are the players.

That money might draw in non-cricket fans too, but they won’t be interested in the game. They’ll be interested on a purely voyeuristic level; not caring who wins, just how that win comes about. This match isn’t for cricket supporters. There’s no supporting going on here.

It might be good for the players to remember that fact. People say there’ll be more pressure on them for this match, but the pressure that comes from having other people’s hopes resting on your actions is greater than the pressure that comes from doing something for yourself.

Don’t sweat it, lads. No-one really cares.