Warnie's plan for a global cricket club Print E-mail
Category: Features
Written by Luke Tagg   
Monday, 08 February 2010 20:30
Shane Warne and the Rajasthan Royals unveiled a plan today to form a global T20 cricket club under the "Royals" brand involving Rajasthan, Hampshire, Trinidad & Tobago and the Cape Cobras, with Victoria's Bush Rangers reportedly close to signing as well.

Described as "the first global sport alliance" the new brand means all the franchises involved will take the name of their new master, adding "Royals" to their titles.

Hampshire, therefore, becomes Hampshire Royals. I mailed the Cape Cobras to find out what their name would be changed to and how it would affect the naming rights of sponsors, but hadn't heard from them by the time I published this article.

My guess is Cape Royals, which must be a big blow to the dudes who have been marketing them as Cobras. So much rebranding work. Bonus though: at least they're done with the snakes. Nobody likes snakes. Except the inevitable grizzled Outback Jack who lovingly fondles one and goes: "Ah he's a beauty, mayte".

No, he isn't, mate. He's a freakin' snake.

Under Warnie's new plan for global cricket domination the franchisees will play regular Royals 2020 "festivals", in different countries. The organisers are planning to launch the new global club with a festival in July at Lord's, with matches to follow in either South Africa or Australia at the end of the year.

The idea is to fit in with the narrow windows of opportunity that currently exist in the cricketing calendar, which admittedly are few and far between. The organisers don't want their festivals crossing over with international matches, naturally, because the big name players will be a major drawcard.

The new brand also wants to facilitate player-sharing and transfers between franchisees, which should give wonderful exposure and experience to players who get to play in other countries.

It's no wonder the franchises involved have leapt at the opportunity - it's like having your product in all the shops in your town, only for it to get into a major international franchise. Cricket is a business and it's a businessman's wet dream come true.

The tagline of the South African domestic List A competition is "From the Backyard to the Big Time" - that's about as appropriate as it gets.

I have no problem with people making money from cricket as long as it benefits me. Admittedly this giant club smacks of financial opportunity, marketing, branding and eager-to-impress-the-sponsor commentators, but as long as I get more cricket I'm the last to complain.

It's no surprise that this sort of thing is happening more frequently - the IPL turned world cricket on its head as administrators and sponsors discovered a whole new world of magic and jewels.

Some say it's bad for the game. I'm not sure. In the words of Marvin in Pulp Fiction: "Man, I don't even have an opinion."

I'll get back to you in 2020. No pun intended, nor endorsement implied.

I've long since come to accept the stench of marketing that hangs like an ever-darkening pall over cricket, although to my dying day I will never call a six a DLFfer. That's selling the game out a little too far, I'm afraid. No names necessary nor mentioned, Danny Morrison.

As long as I get to watch the game grow worldwide - which these sorts of competitions do - I'll take what I can get, no matter what the format.

I'll confess to being pretty excited at this development, not least because I am a faithful Cobras and Rajasthan devotee. Living in Cape Town means I support any Cape franchise and I decided to support the Rajasthan Royals before the first edition of the IPL began, simply because the side contained two of my favourite players: Shane Warne and Graeme Smith.

The exposure the IPL has given to unheralded talent is unprecedented and competitions like the Champions League Twenty20, the Olympics (potentially, fingers crossed) and now this über-club can only help.

My goal is the same as Warnie's: to make cricket a giant global sport. The sport cannot be sustained by a mere 10 or 11 nations who get all the airtime - it has to get bigger and attract new audiences.

I suspect we're seeing just the tip of the iceberg here with Warne's Big Plan - this stuff is going to explode in years to come, almost exclusively in the 20-over format.

I'm happy to see it all happen. There will be hits and misses but by and large there will be more opportunity and ultimately more cricket.

And if more cricket is a bad thing then get the hell off my blog, hater.
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I've long since come to accept the stench of marketing that hangs like an ever-darkening pall over cricket, although to my dying day I will never call a six a DLFfer. That's selling the game out a little too far, I'm afraid. No names necessary nor mentioned, Danny Morrison.

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