Originally Posted by
Mibbes Aye
I think that's undoubtedly a contributing factor. Centrally-contracted players for England aren't on bad salaries and sponsorship and media deals all add on, but the value of a two-month contract in one of the T20 leagues can boost earnings exponentially.
Interestingly, Rashid knew he wasn't getting an IPL or Pakistani Super League contract. I think someone said previously, might have been you, that essentially Tests and limited-overs are two different sports now. Yes, it's 11v11 with bats, stumps and a ball, but the strategy, tactics and decision-making are so far removed from each other that it becomes pointless to compare.
To an extent that's becoming true about the difference between ODI and T20 now as well. It's no surprise that players are starting to opt for white ball only, just on those grounds, let alone for financial reasons, as trying to successfully adapt your play to three different approaches on a month-to-month or week-to-week basis must be supremely challenging.
There was a humorous article earlier today, in F365, that suggested football should emulate cricket with its Test - ODI - T20 approach of different degrees of instant thrills. The suggestion was football could have football, as we know it - futsal or fives - and what we used to call 'World Cup Willie', but also goes by the name of 'cuppies' or 'Wembley Doubles'. Someone goes in goal and then everyone else, either singly or in pairs has to try and score. Once you score you're in the next round. Last one (or two) standing gets eliminated, then you do it again and again until you have a victor.
If you had that featuring a player or a pair from say every Premiership or EPL team, then it could be quite entertaining. Sort of Brian Jacks' Superstars meets T20 but with a football and a set of goals.