"For cricket to become a truly global sport, more nations need to come to the fore": Ravichandran Ashwin
New Delhi, August 13
With the inaugural edition of the European T20 Premier League set to begin on August 26, momentum continues to build around the tournament, which is backed by some of the biggest names in world cricket.
Dublin Guardians captain Ravichandran Ashwin reflected on the Ireland-India series and why it was refreshing to watch from the perspective of surfaces and tactics, according to a press release from ETPL.
Meanwhile, Rahul Dravid, Co-Owner of the Dublin Guardians, shared his thoughts on working with Ashwin, while Jonty Rhodes, Co-Owner of the Rotterdam Dockers, spoke about how the ETPL could be a step in the right direction for the growth of cricket across the continent.
Ravichandran Ashwin, Captain and Mentor of the Dublin Guardians, reflected on Ireland's 2-0 series win against India and said, "Two things made me very happy. One was that a team ranked 10th could beat a team ranked first. I think the sport should be like that. It is also a lesson that the FIFA World Cup has taught us. For this game to become a truly global sport, with more nations coming to the fore and with cricket set to feature in the Olympics in the next couple of years, I see it as a huge positive."
He added, "The second aspect is that if there is something in the pitch and there is a balance between bat and ball, bowlers are going to come into play, which Ireland proved beyond any doubt. To have a left-arm spinner like Humphreys bowl to Shivam Dube and get him caught at square leg is a lesson for people who ask me what has happened to the art of finger spin. The pitches have reached a point where any bowler can go the distance on a given day. I think you need a lot of luck to survive, apart from having plenty of plans in place in modern T20 cricket."
He further added, "So, it was a refreshing pitch to watch, and it was even more refreshing to see Humphreys being trusted with the 18th or 19th over against a left-hander. The pitch had enough in it and did not allow the left-hander to hit through the line. So, on both counts, it was very, very pleasing to watch."
Rahul Dravid, Owner of the Dublin Guardians, opened up about working with Ravichandran Ashwin said, "I'm glad that we got Ashwin on board. He is obviously a legend of the game and a world-class performer, but he is also a really good captain and leader. He is someone who has a very clear idea and vision of how, at this stage of his career, he wants to focus on developing and working with young talent."
Jonty Rhodes, Co-Owner of the Rotterdam Dockers, shared his thoughts on growing the game in European markets through ETPL and said, "In Rotterdam specifically, we have a great opportunity because it is the gateway to Europe. We want people to come and experience something slightly different because Europeans are very outdoorsy and active. They play ball sports and participate in Olympic sports. With cricket now part of the Olympics, it presents a very compelling case. If you want to represent your country, here is an opportunity."
The inaugural season of the ETPL will run from August 26 to September 20 in Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands.
Amsterdam Flames: Curtis Campher, Kyle Klein, Tim Pringle, Aryan Dutt, Jordan Neill and Max O'Dowd
Irish Wolves: Matthew Humphreys, Fred Klaassen, Tim Tector, Paul Stirling, Zainullah Ihsan and Alexander Roy
Dublin Guardians: Benjamin Calitz, George Dockrell, Matthew Hollard, Craig Young, Noah Croes and Chris Greaves
Edinburgh Castle Rockers: Gareth Delany, Ross Adair, Jack Jarvis, Charlie Tear, Safyaan Sharif and Finlay McCreath
Glasgow Cosmic: Brad Currie, Matthew Cross, Paul van Meekeren, Michael Leask, Oliver Davidson and Chris McBride
Rotterdam Dockers: Jai Moondra, Michael Levitt, Ryan Klein, Jasper Davidson, Vikramjit Singh and Saqib Zulfiqar.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As much as I love seeing India win, I have to agree with Ashwin here. The sport becomes boring when the same teams dominate. Ireland's performance was inspiring, and it shows that with better opportunities, more nations can compete. Dravid's involvement as an owner also shows that our legends genuinely care about global cricket growth.
The point about finger spin is spot on! Humphrey's bowling to Dube was old-school cricket - watching a left-arm spinner dominate in T20 was a treat. Ashwin has always been a thinking cricketer, and his analysis about pitches being too batsman-friendly is valid. We need more balance between bat and ball for the sport to grow.
Love seeing Dravid as a team owner! The man gave everything to Indian cricket, and now he's helping grow the game elsewhere. Jonty Rhodes is right - Europeans are athletic and love ball sports. If we can get them hooked on cricket, the Olympics will be a game-changer. More teams, more rivalry, more excitement! 🏆
Respectfully, I have a different view. While I agree more nations should compete, we also need to protect the quality of cricket. If India loses 2-0 to a lower-ranked team, it raises questions about our preparation. That said, Ashwin's broader point about global expansion is valid. Just hope the ETPL has the right infrastructure and doesn't become another money-making T20 league with no substance. 🤔
Ashwin talking about Ireland's win and the FIFA World Cup analogy - brilliant
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.