Bazball or Bust

Welcome to Twenty Two Yards, a weekly newsletter celebrating cricket's culture and characters.

In this issue:

• Bazball Pros / Cons

• Cricket finally lands in America

• New schedule for 2023 World Cup

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Bazball or Bust

Pour a pint for former cricketer Mitchell Johnson, who must have thoroughly enjoyed the Aussies' two-wicket victory in the first Test of the 2023 Ashes series - he called it. "England's new obsession with attacking at all costs could actually play right into Australia's hands and backfire spectacularly during the Ashes," he wrote for The West Australian.

Trust the Process
When you've won 11 of your last 14 Test matches playing Bazball, and you've inspired the England national football team with your style of play, you're doing something right. When Bazball is working, ignoring why it's so captivating is impossible.

Pros

• Fans are watching: Power-hitting and aggressive running between the wickets keep fans in "leaned in" mode. No matter the side, you're exhilarated or feeling the pain.

• Power-Hitting Mastery: Stars are created when batsmen aim for the stands or improvise in the crease. It feels like watching Ronaldo taking a PK, a Stephen Curry behind the arc. Bazball creates its own moments.

• Mind Games: Bazball demands strategic adaptation from bowlers and fielding teams. Bowlers vary their pace and use all deceptive methods for the world to see. Meanwhile, fielders must be agile, swift, and precise, making the game more dynamic. Whether on the field or in the stands, everyone is playing chess.

Cons

• Diminished Technique: Bazball's focus on aggressive stroke play neglects the foundational skills (e.g. patience, technique). This could compromise the quality of cricket in the longer formats.

• Limited Bowler Influence: Bowlers may feel marginalised, throwing off the risk/reward between bowlers and batsmen.

• Reliance on Big Hits: Big hits may discourage skill development in shooting placement. Compared to golf, it's nice to have a wicked drive, but not if you're 5-putting.

A season of injuries
Will we see a generation of injuries like Major League Baseball has with Tommy John surgeries stemming from the popularity of throwing curveballs? It's too early to tell, but regardless of how you feel about Bazball's sustainability, Ben Stokes isn't wavering in his belief:

Cricket Finally Lands in America

Shhh… if you listen closely, you'll hear the yawns of a sleeping giant waking in America to the launch of Major League Cricket's inaugural season.

Darth Vader at Edgbaston? That's child's play, mate. Have you ever seen a militiaman gobble a deep-fried Snickers?

Consider the following a fair warning. America will either livin' cricket up or smother the beautiful game with a pillow. The gentlemen's game, ha! In Texas?

Don't be soft
In America, sledging is the pastime. And that's part of the appeal, right? America is the beautiful person you quietly adored in school but never dared to approach until now.

You see, America is dangerous, vulgar and fun. Is cricket ready for this?

We've scribbled a quick SWOT analysis for fans and owners to take into careful consideration:

Strengths - Money and South Asian Diaspora
If there is one thing cricket loves these days, it's money, and nowhere on Earth will you find a better place to print cash.

MLC has focused on cities with large populations of the South Asian diaspora. If they can tap into these audiences and earn their trust, they'll have a clear audience to win over. However, this assumes that the South Asian diaspora loves cricket; that's a bold assumption, even if a wise strategic initial move.

Weakness - Branding
To the MLC owner's credit, they've brought in a decent crop of players with a few more overs in their knees, including Faf Du Plessis, Kieron Pollard, and Aaron Finch. Also, the players don't seem to mind the nearly £200,000 more.

However strong the player name I.D. is, MLC has placed these players on teams whose names were apparently generated by a McKinsey analyst with an Open A.I. subscription. You can understand the Seattle Orcas and Washington Freedom, but the San Francisco Unicorns isn't a cricket brand; it's a drag show and petting zoo in The Castro. 

Opportunity - Exposure
While Willow TV has made a great effort to capture the cricket fans of North America, they're still tiny among the behemoths of the American media. If MLC is to grow, it'll need broader exposure.

If Willow TV opens its walled garden to the public, fans can taste the fruits of its labour. This might also significantly boost America's fledgling gambling market when it inevitably rears its head.

Threats - Vulgarity
Cricket still positions itself for the tea-sipping crowd(s). That's cute and all, but America is not that. You even mention Earl Grey in Texas; just pack up and quit.

America is set to expose and exploit cricket in its full glory. The game needs to get comfortable with this reality quickly because MLC arrives in July. The cricket world will never be the same.

The Slip Corden

• Coming this week - The World Cup Schedule
  Many have been waiting, and we can finally report the ICC 2023 World Cup schedule is set to release this week. If you’re looking to book tickets, move swiftly, as the world is going to rush to India for what may be the most streamed event in world history.
  

• Windies in trouble
  Zimbabwe dug deep and pulled out a win by 35 runs over West Indies. While West Indies are set to move forward in the qualifiers, there is great concern in the Caribbean that this could be the first World Cup that the West Indies miss since they won the first World Cup in 1975.
  

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