Graham Thorpe

There's no Des O'Connor in our game

Wed Oct 21 08:23AM

Somerset chairman Andy Nash described England's running of the Twenty20 format as like watching Des O'Connor, while in India it resembles an Elvis Presley concert. I vehemently disagree with that kind of assessment.

Nash has obviously come back from India on a real high after being there with Somerset, but he is wrong when he says cricket in India is business and in England it is flat and uninspiring. I do not know what he has been watching.

He may describe his experience in terms of its 'Bollywood' nature but you cannot judge a format on its cheerleaders. Every country has different tastes and I think we do it very well in England.

The format was invented in this country and I simply do not agree with him that it's lacking an edge. I am very sure that the Twenty20 Cup has been a huge success in actual fact.

It is certainly not the case that cricket is entirely business in India - in fact, it's quite the opposite. Cricket in India is about sheer passion and enjoyment and that is clear for everyone to see.

Nash uses terms such as 'customer experience' and 'business targets' which reflects the angle he's coming from. Twenty20 cricket has been a big boost to county cricket and the fans love it, just the way it is.

Nor do I agree when he compares the English version in derogatory fashion to the Indian one, as they are very unique and attractive in their own right.

There are certainly challenges facing the ECB - such as how to compete with the IPL, how to attract overseas players, and how to judge how many matches the public want - but I think the format is in rude health in this country.

From 2010, the Twenty20 tournament will be expanded, named P20 and played over a longer period of the season, which is about right I think.

There is a problem with having too many businessmen in the game: the balance has got to be right with who is running cricket in this country.

What we are lacking is more ex-players in positions of authority and influence within the domestic game, and that presence is definitely required.

There are probably not quite enough people at the top of the game who have played at the highest level and that means tournaments are not being run in the way they should be.

Of course business has an important part to play in the management of the game, but the balance has to be found whereby the cricket comes first.

To look at everything in the English game in terms of razzmatazz and "creating experiences" is not a healthy way to run, let alone judge it.

In England, we are often very slow to react to change and we were in the dark ages when it came to central contracts. Australia had had them for years.

Chairmen such as Nash should learn from the Australia set up where the domestic schedule is spread out much better and the players are fresh throughout the season with a quality over quantity approach.

Performances are improved as the number of matches decreases and it affords coaches more opportunity to work with their players.

I am very happy with the way Twenty20 cricket is played in England and we should not keep trying to please everyone and replicate a model found in other countries.

The best thing about cricket being played on such a global level is that different cultures and styles are thrown into the mix and incorporated into the running of the game.

England should not try to copy India, just as India does not try to run its competitions the way we do in this country.

Twenty20 Champions League semi-final LIVE at 3.15pm on Wednesday 21 October on British Eurosport 2 (Sky 411 / Virgin Media 525). Also available on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe

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