Rumours...

[nat]

...that foreign (i.e. American) investors are sniffing around the franchises with a view to takeovers. We can see where this will lead, franchises will supercede the counties in all professional formats of the game relegating the counties to semi-pro/amateur status much like the minor counties are now.

It is even possible that counties will be taken over to act as 'farm' clubs like the baseball setup in good ol' USA. Members will be bought out (not that it would take much dosh to do that).

Say goodbye to county cricket folks. Goodness only knows what the Yanks will do with Test cricket.

[dazedpenguin]

A private equity company offered £400 million for 75% of the Hundred last year and were turned down. It's inevitable that the franchises will be sold off, and probably to some of the owners of the IPL franchises. Get used to London Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Birmingham, MI Manchester, Southampton Super Giants…

Some of those owners have talked about international cricket being played in a dedicated window- a month or so where they graciously allow for there to be no franchise cricket. I don't know what will happen to the counties if this happens. But franchise cricket only works if they have a supply of players and they have to come from somewhere.

[nat]

They will own the whole supply chain, franchise teams, counties etc. They will directly employ the players.

[Valentines Park]

Can't see Surrey wanting to give up a revenue stream.

Or there being any realistic takers for Welsh Fire.

[vim]

Watching American sports coverage, a few people on your TV may need to buy some brown trousers. Americans do not tolerate inarticulate, childish and inaccurate presentation on their coverage.

[Andy]

Watching American sports coverage, a few people on your TV may need to buy some brown trousers. Americans do not tolerate inarticulate, childish and inaccurate presentation on their coverage.

Yet they tolerate that with their Presidents?!