How does Major League Cricket Work?
The newest competition to hit the international cricket sphere is Major League Cricket. There is enormous excitement around its inaugural season, with organizers hoping to engage with what they believe to be an untapped market.
But how will the competition work? Why will it be different to the Indian Premier League? Do the teams play each other once or twice?
We aim to answer all those questions and more with our complete guide on how Major League Cricket works.
What is the Major League Cricket Tournament Format?
The Major League Cricket tournament will occur across a Round Robin format, seeing six teams go toe to toe with each other just once.
Winning teams will get points for a league table while losing teams will get no points. The more points a franchise gets, the higher they are likelier to climb in the standings.
The top four positions in the final standings will participate in the playoffs, with the team at the top of the table taking on fourth place and the team second facing up against third.
The winner of each playoff will face off in the final, with one captain being the first skipper to lift the treasured trophy.
How Many Games are There in Major League Cricket?
There will be 19 games across the 18 days, with each franchise playing the other at least once, with the possibility of facing a team twice in either the playoff spot or the final.
The full schedule will be released closer to the start of the tournament.
How is Major League Cricket Different from the IPL Format?
Only six teams are scheduled for the first season of Major League Cricket, whereas in the Indian Premier League (IPL), there are ten city-based franchises.
Moreover, the IPL format means there are many more games than the 19 penned in for Major League Cricket. There are two group stages, with five teams per group. A single franchise will play a team in their group twice, four teams from the other group once, and the remaining team from the other group twice. That comes to 14 group games per franchise in total, and that's before you go into the latter stages of a tournament.
The IPL, though, remains the standard-bearer for short-format, T20 franchise competition in world cricket. It has been running since 2008 and has grown from strength to strength. It's one of the richest sporting events in the world and has some incredible viewing figures to back it up.
Major League Cricket has a long way to go before it is capable of hosting a more extended short-format tournament. Still, organizers will hope it captures the American sporting imagination on its first outing to inspire the start of something special.
How Long does a Major League Cricket Game Take?
In the modern game, Twenty20 captains must ensure they bowl out their allotted overs within a set period or face the risk of punishment, whether in-game or retrospectively. In T20Is, for example, the 20 overs must be through within 1 hour 25 minutes, which equates to a minimum over rate of 14.11 overs per hour. Failure to adhere to that timescale will mean the skipper must bowl the final over with only four fielders outside the circle, allowing for the greater possibility of the batting team scoring boundaries.
Major League Cricket will follow the same internationally accepted guidelines. Therefore onlookers can expect games to last for around three hours, with an additional 10-minute break in-between innings.
What is so Fun About a Day Out at the Cricket?
A day out at Major League Cricket will prove to be an experience like no other, especially for new US-based cricket fans.
Much like baseball, it's a great way to spend time with friends and family, enjoy some of the best food and drinks around, and be immersed in the thrilling atmosphere of a live cricket match.
The unique set-up of a cricket game makes every play exciting and unpredictable, adding to the day's excitement. Plus, there's nothing quite like watching a batsman aiming for a six or a bowler going all out to take that crucial wicket! A great day out at the cricket can be anything you make of it, with plenty of options to do before and after the match, including shopping, sightseeing, or simply exploring the beautiful grounds.