Saturday 21 April 2018 10:43, UK
"Fresh, bold, innovative."
That's just some of the initial reaction to the announcement that the ECB are to introduce a radical 100-balls-a-side competition into the English domestic cricket calendar from 2020.
The proposed format for the new eight-team tournament would see each team face 15 six-ball overs followed by an additional 10 deliveries. The new concept will also align the competitions for both men's and women's teams, with matches played in a five-week window in the middle of the summer.
Here're what the Sky Sports Cricket pundits have made of the news...
MICHAEL ATHERTON: "I'm somebody who has been in favour of a change. Having travelled around, seen the Big Bash and IPL, I felt that we needed something to emulate that in our own domestic competitions.
"I like the fact that there's an attempt to give the women's competition equal standing - a huge growth area for the game over the last few years, which must continue to be pushed. All of us were blown away last year by the Women's World Cup final at Lord's - the kind of audience that was attracted to that game, is the kind the ECB are looking for; a family-friendly day out at the cricket.
"In terms of the shortening of the game; I'm going to stay open-minded. I've never been someone to say, 'this is the way cricket has been and is how it should always be'. But, the one thing I would say, is originally T20 was fit into three hours. The game can be speeded up, not necessarily shortened.
"There is no reason why the new comp shouldn't attract the big overseas names, though whether India will let their star players come and play remains to be seen. Clearly, our franchises are not going to be privately owned like in the IPL. They'll be owned by the ECB, so the amount of cash you can wave at the greatest players in the world certainly won't be what you get at the IPL.
"But, England is a very attractive place to come and play in high summer - don't discount that. It should be a very attractive proposition."
DAVID LLOYD: "It's very timely news because I'm just on my way to the IPL, which has been going for some time and is a massive success story. Like the Big Bash in Australia, it's short, sharp and concise - and I think that's what our new competition needs to be, and fun for all the family; it needs to be a brilliant experience for anyone who goes to the game.
"It's absolutely terrific that men's and women's games will be played in the same venue - that's how it should be, of course. The other thing that I hope happens, is that it's all done and dusted by 9pm, and then it's a real family day.
"I'm massive on community and having an experience at the game. When I've been and worked on the Big Bash in Australia, it is exactly that; it's great fun, fabulous entertainment and I can go with people who say 'this is not cricket, it's great entertainment'. It's very, very, very popular."
NICK KNIGHT: "Fresh, bold, innovative. That's what comes across, most importantly, to me.
"In two years' time, the concept of Twenty20 cricket will have moved on a little bit and so the danger for the ECB was we're going to have another competition to mirror the IPL, and the Big Bash. And perhaps they would have moved on in a couple of years' time.
"I guess there will be people saying: 'it's another format, do we need it?' Test cricket, one-day cricket, 20-over cricket and now 100-ball cricket. Is it all getting a little confusing? I, personally, don't see it that way. I like the fact that these games will be done by 9pm in the evening - the youngsters are going to be able to be there till 9pm at night, watch their heroes.
"We don't know quite yet how the concept will evolve? How many overseas players will there be? How many England players will be made available? All of these things are really important in the next announcement as, while it is a very good idea, I still think the product needs its star players of the day."
