by Last month, Shamar Joseph took a call that changed his life. You will have heard the story of the kid from Guyana who left behind the world of logging or security transfers to follow his dream of cricket. In January, a wildly fanciful fantasy was achieved, with Joseph ripping through a storied Australian batting line-up to beat the West Indies in Brisbane for the first time since 1997.
The Baracara boy had arrived well. And yet it says a lot about the modern cricket landscape that in the moments after watching the West Indies come up with another fast bowling gem, former seamer Ian Bishop was concerned. They were worried that the Windies would soon lose his rare talents, and worried for Joe too, with the wealth and austerity about to come his way.
“[It is] It is important for the board, the Guyanese government and partner bodies to find a way to allocate funds to compensate Shamar Joseph and one or two other speedsters to keep them in the Caribbean and control the amount of cricket they play,” Bishop posted on X/Twitter. “His speed is everything. Don’t let him quit.”
Bishop knew what was coming – in February, Mark Wood was withdrawn from his contract with the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL), leaving them looking for a speedy replacement. Joseph, who is not even a month old on his international career, was identified and recruited. In a seam attack without an established international option, the Lucknow opener against the Rajasthan Royals on Sunday is likely to be the 24-year-old’s third professional T20 outing.
Markets elsewhere will follow. Joseph’s sheer speed, as the Bishop noted, will make him a very valuable commodity. One could, if so inclined, trace a three-year course in franchise cricket starting in Australia with the Big Bash in January, continuing into the SA20 or ILT20, on to the PSL and IPL and on to The Hundred or Major League Cricket. . Reports suggest the IPL are in talks with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) – yes, them – over the autumn version of their commercial concern. Welcome to the T20 traffic mill, Shamar – good luck getting out.
Picking and choosing the leagues are in their very essence the main decisions that modern cricket has to make. Increasingly, there is pressure from IPL franchises to play for their trade in other leagues around the world – a Kolkata Knight Riders player could be involved in four different competitions in 2024 all wearing one badge. chest
The Independent aware of one leading cricketer who turned down an offer to appear in the SA20 earlier this year to ensure they kept their central national contract in their country because of the one-year benefits it offers – but if, as you would expected, 12 months. Franchise contracts are soon put on the table, there will be plenty of temptation to sign them.
Some have already made a valid choice to prefer the shorter format. Trent Boult has not featured in a Test for New Zealand since he stepped down from his national contract in August 2022, but he will once again spearhead Rajasthan Royals’ seam attack as one of the world’s most popular new left-ball bowlers . Nicholas Pooran is perhaps the purest batsman the West Indies have produced in the last 10 years but he has only played five first-class matches.
The proliferation of T20 leagues is not necessarily a bad thing. The opportunities available provide jobs for more players each year, increasing the breadth and depth of the sport. There are more professional cricketers than ever before, including within the women’s game, where franchise leagues are accelerating the rate of change.
The IPL, for all the glitz and glamour, can be a place for the unlikely hero. It was here, of course, that an Afghan teenager named Rashid Khan learned the tricks that made him the leading international man of mystery. Or how about the story of Pravin Tambe, proof that life begins at 40 after picking up an IPL gig after working in obscurity for two decades.
Joseph himself is not yet your typical T20 success story, his two appearances for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in last year’s Caribbean Premier League saw just one wicket.
So Joseph’s tour is a reminder of the platform that Test cricket can provide. While T20 cricket is highly data-driven, some franchises still seem to place significant value on pressure-game performances – a World Cup promotion, like the one Rachin Ravindra enjoyed last year, or an impressive Test series, such as which Sam Curran showed against India in 2018 before earning a big deal, still counts for something.
But these chances are not always available. Wanindu Hasaranga, the great leggie in Sri Lanka, reversed his retirement from the red ball last week after reaching exactly one Test in the seven months since he made the decision to retire. Litton Das, one of Bangladesh’s best T20 batsmen, is 39 Tests into his career but has yet to play in England or Australia. Ireland’s Josh Little was “rested” out of England’s encounter at Lord’s last summer after his IPL efforts.
In a crowded calendar, it is certainly the duty of major boards to work together to provide fixtures that sustain and enrich the longest format. But while the overall cash pot has grown, franchise owners can be reluctant to share their wealth – something the ECB will be all too familiar with as it courts private investment into The Hundred.
Oddly enough, India may be leading the way in this direction. Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were recently disciplined after ignoring the BCCI’s directive to play domestic red ball cricket, instead prioritizing preparations for the IPL. While more domestic stars will be revealed in the next two months, it is only after they have proven themselves in the Ranji Championship and with India A that they will be promoted in the Test. It is a model that could be followed.
“I will always be here to play Test cricket for the West Indies,” Joseph said at the Gabba in January. of the West Indies no matter how much money comes to me.”
It is up to the game’s administrators to ensure that Joseph fulfills that promise.
