Re: IPL Thread 2011

by skully Sun 29 May 2011, 06:24

Nath wrote:...did the teams receive their cash from last year's comp yet?

Nath, Nath, Nath. This is business in India. Clearly the answer is "NO". Cool

by Zat Sun 29 May 2011, 23:37

I've heard they're due to get their money once the Commonwealth Games contracts have been paid out.

by skully Sun 29 May 2011, 23:38

Zat wrote:I've heard they're due to get their money once the Commonwealth Games contracts have been paid out.

by Red Mon 30 May 2011, 09:41

Tharanga has alleged to have tested positive to a banned substance.

by skully Mon 30 May 2011, 10:07

Prolly worth its own thread, Red, but one wonders what an opening batsmen needs performance-enhancing drugs for. Maybe it ws a decrabbing drug?

by Big Dog Mon 30 May 2011, 10:08

Henry wrote:I did not watch one single game this year.

Ditto..in fact i have never watched a game of IPL. It has as much interest to me as watching Gillard try to justify a Carbon Tax.

by skully Mon 30 May 2011, 10:11

Phurt. The Vulture squirming under the weight of a democratic nation saying "Oy, you biatch, let us vote on this" is way more entertaining than any IPL game.

by spangler Mon 30 May 2011, 11:04

I watched a bit of IPL.

Some decent stuff. A lot of sh!t stuff as well mind you. Not totally unwholesome. I don't feel like I'd give up Test cricket for it.

I'd give it a C.

by taipan Mon 30 May 2011, 11:11

spangler wrote:I watched a bit of IPL.

Some decent stuff. A lot of sh!t stuff as well mind you. Not totally unwholesome. I don't feel like I'd give up Test cricket for it.

I'd give it a C.

I have to admit I saw a bit.

Only because it was on in the pub I frequent as I wend my merry way homewards.

by Zat Tue 31 May 2011, 22:54

Worth a read: http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/517189.html

Possibly the first fair and seemingly unbiased appraisal of the IPL I've seen on cricinfo, whihc has become a suckling at the teat of the BCCI in recent years.

Some highlights:

Is 2011 to be remembered for the fireworks on the final night at the Yellow Sea of Chepauk? Or the acreage of empty stands at the Wankhede three nights in a row, representative of the general spectator turnout of six weeks?

there's much about the IPL that ain't broke. It still remains cricket's golden goose, with generous salary packets for over 200 overseas and Indian players. The IPL's largest financial deals, starting with franchise ownerships and TV revenues, are tied in for another six years. It features the involvement of some of India's largest corporate houses, men and women with deep pockets and both a love of the limelight and a nose for profit. The IPL can still produce several moments of eye-catching cricket - individual blinders, crafty bowling plans, impossible catches, delicious UltraMotion replays of on-field action.

2011 will still be Moving Season because it also put under direct light the IPL's own flaws: that the existence of 10 teams has sucked out the talent pool to a level close to shallow. Even the trimmed number of games - 74, down from a gluttonous dream of 94 - are far too many. It has all led to too few close games, a certain distancing even by India's TV audience from its beloved "cricketainment", and most damningly, empty stands during the playoffs. Even Ravi Shastri found himself all hyped-out when, before the Mumbai-Bangalore qualifier game, he asked one of the captains at the toss, "Your last game was a good, tight one against ... whom did you beat?"

The IPL, though, is not all that concerned about that whole "future of cricket" argument. It was built around bling and bottomline. Part of that bling comes from Bollywood stars, the other from its packed stands and manic fans. By season three, escalating ticket sales had turned grounds into heaving party venues, adding to returns off television, the oxygen tent of the event. All that bellowing on TV is actually the medium sending out a message: See! Movie stars! Cricket stars! Thousands! All packed in! Fours! Sixes! Dancing! This is where it's at! Keep watching! It's like being there!

Shah Rukh Khan waving at Eden Gardens' empty stands doesn't send out that message. Nor does a live band or cheerleaders in a studio do that. Doubling the price of tickets, as was done for the better part at the Wankhede Stadium during playoffs, most certainly won't.

by skully Wed 01 Jun 2011, 02:12

Cheers, Zoggy. Indeed a good read. The beginning of the end, can we dare to hope?

by Zat Wed 01 Jun 2011, 04:42

I for one am advocating massive expansion of the IPL for next year. Another 2 teams should add another 40-odd matches to the whole shebang.

by doremi Wed 01 Jun 2011, 08:51

Sharda Ugra is one of the better cricket writers, especially when it comes to Indian cricket. Used to buy a mostly sh!t magazine only to read her articles. Excellent that she's moved on to cricinfo.