“The reason for England’s recent desire to link up closely with West Indies cricket is twofold. There is a genuine wish to regenerate cricket in the West Indies. In reply the ECB would like to have the West Indies Cricket Board’s vote at ICC meetings, a ticket that could potentially reduce India’s control over the world game” – analysis in The Independent of why a West Indian side is more likely to be touring England in May 2009 than a Sri Lankan one.
“The actual cricket is quite unimportant, apart from financially. Of course, money does talk and a lot of the players are excited about playing it but in terms of cricket, we know it’s not that important” – Essex and England opener Alastair Cook on the upcoming Stanford match.
“I’m sure there’s 22 players jumping about right now at the news the game is going ahead, 11 here and 11 in the West Indies. I’ll be cheering them on, probably from a beach bar in Barbados. I’ll be glued to the game, there’s so much hype and it should be a great spectacle. The whole world of cricket and many, many others will have their eyes on this game… I’m just hoping Ravi [Bopara] might buy me a beer” – Michael Vaughan on the news that the Stanford Twenty20 match is due to go ahead after its recent legal entanglements.
“It’s a matter between the two of them and I’m sure that everybody is seeking to find a sensible solution to enable this very dramatic and extremely exciting game of cricket to go ahead” – ECB chairman Giles Clarke on the chances of a rights row being resolved in time for the Stanford Twenty20 match to go ahead on November 1.
“A million dollars apiece is not to be sniffed at so you won’t find me crossing the road with my eyes shut” – Kevin Pietersen’s not-so-secret views on the upcoming Stanford All-Stars contest.
“I’d buy Luton Town Football Club” – Monty knows exactly what he’d do with five hundred grand.
“I can’t guarantee you I slept particularly well – I’ve got a lot on my mind – but I can’t even use that as a reason. I was sleeping, missed the bus and was late for work. It would be cooler if I had a better story” – Australia’s Stuart MacGill after he overslept before his final Test appearance in Antigua.
“As a cricket traditionalist, I hate this whole business of money and financing dominating cricket” – Jonathan Agnew. More here.
“Twenty20 came from Test cricket, but Twenty20 is the future and will make you money” – Sir Allen Stanford