T20 timeline: Revolution to uncertainty
ESPNcricinfo charts the major developments of the T20 format since it was conceived in England more than a decade ago
Alan Gardner
13-Jan-2015
April 2002
Responding to dwindling gates at county matches, the ECB conducted extensive market research into whether a shorter form of the game would attract a new audience. The results of numerous focus groups were overwhelmingly positive, although not all of the counties were convinced. Ahead of the 2002 season, it was put to a vote at the first-class forum - by a margin of 11-7 (with MCC abstaining), the Twenty20 format was officially sanctioned.
Responding to dwindling gates at county matches, the ECB conducted extensive market research into whether a shorter form of the game would attract a new audience. The results of numerous focus groups were overwhelmingly positive, although not all of the counties were convinced. Ahead of the 2002 season, it was put to a vote at the first-class forum - by a margin of 11-7 (with MCC abstaining), the Twenty20 format was officially sanctioned.
June-July 2003
The new Twenty20 Cup, replacing the 50-over Benson and Hedges competition, launched on Friday 13 but the luck was with the innovators. Ideas such as a "golden over" in which runs would score double were shelved, with the focus on fours, sixes and completing the game inside three hours; although there was plenty of additional entertainment laid on, in the form of pitch-side Jacuzzis, fairground rides and performances by pop groups such as Atomic Kitten. On Saturday July 19 2003, Surrey became the first T20 champions anywhere in the world and a phenomenon had been born. Overall attendances of 240,000 were around four times as many for the previous year's B&H Cup.
The new Twenty20 Cup, replacing the 50-over Benson and Hedges competition, launched on Friday 13 but the luck was with the innovators. Ideas such as a "golden over" in which runs would score double were shelved, with the focus on fours, sixes and completing the game inside three hours; although there was plenty of additional entertainment laid on, in the form of pitch-side Jacuzzis, fairground rides and performances by pop groups such as Atomic Kitten. On Saturday July 19 2003, Surrey became the first T20 champions anywhere in the world and a phenomenon had been born. Overall attendances of 240,000 were around four times as many for the previous year's B&H Cup.
September 2007
India had been reluctant participants in the inaugural World Twenty20. Without a domestic T20 league and committed to the proven lucrative properties of 50-over cricket, the BCCI was set against the idea - only for the course of history to be changed by administrative bungling. In early 2006, having failed to complete its share of a joint Asian bid for the 2011 World Cup and needing to buy further time, the BCCI conceded to give T20 a try. The following year, Rahul Dravid's India crashed out in the first round of the World Cup and MS Dhoni's India became the first side to lift the World T20 trophy.
India had been reluctant participants in the inaugural World Twenty20. Without a domestic T20 league and committed to the proven lucrative properties of 50-over cricket, the BCCI was set against the idea - only for the course of history to be changed by administrative bungling. In early 2006, having failed to complete its share of a joint Asian bid for the 2011 World Cup and needing to buy further time, the BCCI conceded to give T20 a try. The following year, Rahul Dravid's India crashed out in the first round of the World Cup and MS Dhoni's India became the first side to lift the World T20 trophy.
April 2008
The wheels of the IPL's creation were already in motion by the time India were crowned kings of the new format, thanks to the entrepreneurial zest of BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi. The rebel Indian Cricket League had actually got there first but would quickly be squashed by Modi's monster. Selling rights to the eight franchises raised more than US$700m; players were bought and sold at auction, with Dhoni the most expensive; and the tournament began in April. With cheerleaders from the Washington Redskins on the sidelines, Brendon McCullum hit the then record T20 score, 158 off 73 balls, to open the IPL with the biggest of bangs. T20's potential was about to be realised.
The wheels of the IPL's creation were already in motion by the time India were crowned kings of the new format, thanks to the entrepreneurial zest of BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi. The rebel Indian Cricket League had actually got there first but would quickly be squashed by Modi's monster. Selling rights to the eight franchises raised more than US$700m; players were bought and sold at auction, with Dhoni the most expensive; and the tournament began in April. With cheerleaders from the Washington Redskins on the sidelines, Brendon McCullum hit the then record T20 score, 158 off 73 balls, to open the IPL with the biggest of bangs. T20's potential was about to be realised.
July 2008
Proposals for an IPL-style franchise system in England are leaked ahead of an ECB board meeting to discuss the subject. Drawn up by MCC chief executive, Keith Bradshaw, and Surrey's chairman, David Stewart, the tournament, dubbed "The New T20", was envisaged as featuring teams based at England's nine Test grounds, with 57 matches played over 25 days. Their influence was clear: "We strongly believe that the idea of an English Twenty20 tournament, taking the best from the Indian Premier League and combining it with the strengths of the English game, is worthy of considerable debate and discussion."
Proposals for an IPL-style franchise system in England are leaked ahead of an ECB board meeting to discuss the subject. Drawn up by MCC chief executive, Keith Bradshaw, and Surrey's chairman, David Stewart, the tournament, dubbed "The New T20", was envisaged as featuring teams based at England's nine Test grounds, with 57 matches played over 25 days. Their influence was clear: "We strongly believe that the idea of an English Twenty20 tournament, taking the best from the Indian Premier League and combining it with the strengths of the English game, is worthy of considerable debate and discussion."
For the majority, however, this was too radical a step. A week later, the ECB announced plans for an English Premier League of two divisions to begin in 2010 and expanded to feature 20 teams - the 18 counties, plus two overseas sides, one provided by Allen Stanford, who had been bankrolling West Indian T20, and the other from the IPL. Elements of the Bradshaw-Stewart blueprint were incorporated but the central thrust - franchises - was rejected. Such was the perceived appetite for T20 that a second competition, to run on Friday nights, was also mooted.
November 2008
In its attempts to forge a separate path to T20 riches, the ECB had already reached an agreement with the "billionaire" Stanford - who would later be found convicted on 13 counts of fraud and sentenced to 110 years in prison - to contest the Stanford Super Series annually for five years, with a prize pot of US$20m. In the end, only one "20/20 for 20" match ever took place. The Caribbean islands provided players for the Stanford Superstars and the WICB took a cut of their winnings, after they beat England by 10 wickets; but within six months, Stanford had been indicted and both boards were left tainted by their association with the disgraced financier.
In its attempts to forge a separate path to T20 riches, the ECB had already reached an agreement with the "billionaire" Stanford - who would later be found convicted on 13 counts of fraud and sentenced to 110 years in prison - to contest the Stanford Super Series annually for five years, with a prize pot of US$20m. In the end, only one "20/20 for 20" match ever took place. The Caribbean islands provided players for the Stanford Superstars and the WICB took a cut of their winnings, after they beat England by 10 wickets; but within six months, Stanford had been indicted and both boards were left tainted by their association with the disgraced financier.
July 2009
The effects of a global economic slowdown struck another blow for a T20 revolution in England. The idea of two extra teams competing in the "P20" had already been dropped by the time the ECB decided to shelve the idea of two separate competitions and focus on restructuring the T20 Cup. The 18 counties would be split into two rather than three regional divisions, meaning an increase to the number of matches each would play, with the retention of a knockout stage and Finals Day.
The effects of a global economic slowdown struck another blow for a T20 revolution in England. The idea of two extra teams competing in the "P20" had already been dropped by the time the ECB decided to shelve the idea of two separate competitions and focus on restructuring the T20 Cup. The 18 counties would be split into two rather than three regional divisions, meaning an increase to the number of matches each would play, with the retention of a knockout stage and Finals Day.
October 2009
The Champions League, originally conceived as a four-way venture between the boards of India, England, Australia and South Africa, had also suffered a troubled genesis. Disagreements about whether players with ICL connections would be allowed to participate reduced the English involvement and then the Mumbai terror attacks led to it being postponed. The tournament eventually made its debut in October 2009, with New South Wales Blues claiming the title and a US$2.5m prize fund. Its positioning in the calendar would continue to prove problematic for county cricket and, despite the rewards on offer, English teams have not participated since 2012.
The Champions League, originally conceived as a four-way venture between the boards of India, England, Australia and South Africa, had also suffered a troubled genesis. Disagreements about whether players with ICL connections would be allowed to participate reduced the English involvement and then the Mumbai terror attacks led to it being postponed. The tournament eventually made its debut in October 2009, with New South Wales Blues claiming the title and a US$2.5m prize fund. Its positioning in the calendar would continue to prove problematic for county cricket and, despite the rewards on offer, English teams have not participated since 2012.
March 2010
Attempts by Modi to increase the IPL's reach led to a meeting in Delhi with the representatives of three counties: Stewart Regan and Colin Povey, the chief executives of Yorkshire and Warwickshire, and Lancashire treasurer David Hodgkiss. "Project Victoria" would have seen IPL owners bid to control franchises in England, again based at the major international grounds, with counties offered a cut of the profits. The subsequent allegations made by ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, resulted in a libel case and out-of-court settlement but were included on the rap sheet that led to Modi being expelled from the BCCI in 2013.
Attempts by Modi to increase the IPL's reach led to a meeting in Delhi with the representatives of three counties: Stewart Regan and Colin Povey, the chief executives of Yorkshire and Warwickshire, and Lancashire treasurer David Hodgkiss. "Project Victoria" would have seen IPL owners bid to control franchises in England, again based at the major international grounds, with counties offered a cut of the profits. The subsequent allegations made by ECB chairman, Giles Clarke, resulted in a libel case and out-of-court settlement but were included on the rap sheet that led to Modi being expelled from the BCCI in 2013.
May 2010
England claimed their first global limited-overs title with victory at the World T20 in the Caribbean. This was the third time the tournament had been staged since 2007, confirming the format's growing importance. Coming immediately off the back of the third IPL, however, India underperformed, finishing bottom of their Super 8s group.
England claimed their first global limited-overs title with victory at the World T20 in the Caribbean. This was the third time the tournament had been staged since 2007, confirming the format's growing importance. Coming immediately off the back of the third IPL, however, India underperformed, finishing bottom of their Super 8s group.
December-January 2011
Australia's revamped T20 competition, the Big Bash League is launched. Moving away from the traditional state structure, teams were rebranded as city franchises, with Melbourne and Sydney given two apiece to bring the numbers up to eight. Private investment was invited but in the end state associations retained control. Played during a dedicated window that encompasses the Christmas period and with matches scheduled almost every night, the formula proved a huge success, particularly for television. In 2013, Channel Ten agreed to pay approximately Aus$20m a year for the broadcast rights, bringing the BBL to free-to-air TV for the first time.
Australia's revamped T20 competition, the Big Bash League is launched. Moving away from the traditional state structure, teams were rebranded as city franchises, with Melbourne and Sydney given two apiece to bring the numbers up to eight. Private investment was invited but in the end state associations retained control. Played during a dedicated window that encompasses the Christmas period and with matches scheduled almost every night, the formula proved a huge success, particularly for television. In 2013, Channel Ten agreed to pay approximately Aus$20m a year for the broadcast rights, bringing the BBL to free-to-air TV for the first time.
August 2014
Warwickshire, competing in T20 as the Birmingham Bears, prevailed in NatWest Blast, which was relaunched as a two-division league to be played from May through to August, with the majority of matches on Friday nights. The shift from playing the competition in a block came in response to surveys suggesting fans would prefer a regular weekly offering; however, although overall attendances broke the 700,000 mark, the average per game fell 11% from that achieved in 2013.
Warwickshire, competing in T20 as the Birmingham Bears, prevailed in NatWest Blast, which was relaunched as a two-division league to be played from May through to August, with the majority of matches on Friday nights. The shift from playing the competition in a block came in response to surveys suggesting fans would prefer a regular weekly offering; however, although overall attendances broke the 700,000 mark, the average per game fell 11% from that achieved in 2013.
Alan Gardner is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @alanroderick