My predictions for the future of cricket

Franchise cricket is filling the vacuum left by uninspired national cricket boards. Ben Stokes was appointed England’s Test captain and began his mission to revive Test cricket. The county championship will follow suit and cease to be a war of attrition for bonus points in high-scoring draws. The IPL and its imitators are growing. Test matches are played to a high tempo over a few days. A cricket match played at high pace is more dramatic than one lasting a couple of hours. Indian fans will always go to watch Virat Kohli. If other Test-playing nations follow the example of England in scoring at more than a run a ball, they will be more entertaining.

The challenge is to spread cricket beyond the south Asian communities of non-Anglophone countries.