Really enjoyed watching the final yesterday, having not paid any great attention to T-20 domestic stuff before. It was actually driven by having had the kids of some Valencian friends staying with us for a couple of weeks, ostensibly to improve their English. My selfless contribution to this endeavour was to educate them in rugby, cricket and golf by volunteering to watch as much as possible with them and my son. From the obvious standing start on cricket in particular it’s been brilliant getting to the point where they were gutted to be going home this morning as they’re going to miss the decider in the India series. The final ball mayhem last night was a great conclusion to their induction.
Anyway, this year I made an effort to follow a couple of things I’ve been aware of but never really followed - IPL and Rugby League. Trying to keep an open mind Ive enjoyed the League - mainly through the BBC highlights but the odd full game. Plenty to like about it and I reckon I’ll go to a match next year. The IPL though… dearie me. I’m sure there’s plenty of nuance that’s escaping me but the quality just seems shocking. Lots of (often ageing right?) pie chuckers chucking pies in the gloaming. T-20 for me was all about the festival feel yesterday seemed to have and a great way to get kids into the game - even ones who have had zero exposure to it before as I’ve just seen. Months worth of nothing else and lending it a seriousness it can’t support? No thanks. As for the Hundred, hopefully we’ve just got to endure it until those responsible for dreaming it up have left the exec and we can put it down without them being embarrassed. Maybe easier now that clown Harrison is leaving the ECB?
Quick read back of all that - yep, I sound like a right boring old fart. Oh well, clicks ‘post’…
