The development of limited overs cricket: London’s loss of power

Many sporting practices are being developed by large international sporting federations based generally in the West. For the continued success of their hallmark sporting events both the International Olympic Committee and FIFA have targeted Africa and Asia as important markets. However in the sport of cricket significant changes are being led by Asia. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) based at Lord’s in London, is the home of first-class cricket in all its forms. The position of the MCC and ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) in world cricket has lost some significance with the rise of the subcontinent (Winder, 2005) and the development of limited overs cricket over the past 30 years. Since 2003 the development of a particular form of limited overs cricket, called Twenty-20 has seen a proliferation of new leagues entering the cricket market. To become official a league needs to be sanctioned by the national governing authority and the International Cricket Council (ICC). This piece of work intends to form a critique of the developments in international cricket focusing particularly on limited overs cricket and discusses some of the ramifications for the games’ governing authorities.