How will the MLC Tournament Benefit USA Cricket?
Investors are taking a punt on the USA with Major League Cricket for many obvious financial reasons. Still, there are some enormous potential sporting positives to be drawn from the project, too.
Organisers will hope the competition can inspire an entire generation of talent and propel the sport into the front and centre of American sporting minds in time for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, where cricket could be back on the agenda.
The U.S. is no stranger to fastballs and big hits, with Major League Baseball so ingrained into its collective psyche that it is often referred to as America's National Pastime. With vast swathes of the country having picked up a bat and swung for a ball, some transferrable skills are waiting to be honed.
Here are three ways in which the introduction of Major League Cricket could prove advantageous to the USA Cricket governing body, whose ultimate goal, according to their website, is to "achieve sustained competitive excellence and inspire the US cricket community at all levels."
Improve Coaching
Stephen Fleming has been announced as the new head coach of the Texas Super Kings,
It's not just the best players from around the world who are gearing up for three weeks of the Texan sun. Stephen Fleming, one of the Indian Premier League's most successful cricket coaches at the helm of the Chennai Super Kings, has agreed to take over at the franchise's new acquisition, the Texas Super Kings.
He is renowned for an unmatched tactical know-how, an inspiring and unmistakably-Kiwi ability to motivate players, and razor sharp decision-making - all qualities that have helped mold him into one of the world’s best strategists.
Other head coaches are yet to be announced, but by attracting some of the game's brightest minds, USA Cricket will have access to new methods, mindsets, and perspectives. Hopefully, these ideas will filter through to Minor League Cricket (MiLC) and the rest of the USA's cricketing landscape.
More Investment = More Facilities
The Atlanta Cricket Fields are to get a significant slice of funding for development.
At the time of writing, there are currently at least 34 cricket stadiums in the USA, two of which are certified by the International Cricket Council (ICC). There are also 24 grounds currently in use by MiLC.
There are a minimum of five more stadiums in the works, too. But should Major League Cricket take off as organisers envision, there will be plenty more money in the bank to develop world-class training facilities for grassroots level upwards.
We have already seen the impact of Major League Cricket since the concept was realised in January 2019. In 2021, a Memorandum of Understanding between the founders of the Atlanta Cricket Fields, MiLC outfit Atalanta Fire, and the MLC, will see the 56-acre Atlanta Cricket Fields become the second MLC National Cricket Center. Work is well underway at the facility, with upgrades including turf practice nets and wickets, an indoor practice facility, and "significant upgrades to the existing cricket facilities on the main oval to meet the ICC One Day International (ODI) requirements."
The first MLC National Cricket Center is based outside of Houston at the Prairie View Cricket Complex, a three-hour drive from the Grand Prairie Stadium. More funding fronted up by the MLC will see the development of eight new turf practice nets and wickets, an additional upgrade of three high-quality natural turf wickets, and a state-of-the-art cricket pavilion catering to both male and female players.
New US-based Talent
The USA is a hotbed of different cultures, hobbies, and athletes, and millions of people have not had the kind of access to developmental facilities in cricket that other countries have been blessed with.
The presence of Major League Cricket could act as a catalyst to inspire young American cricketers, who may otherwise have been deterred by the lack of a professional cricket league in the US. This could help to create a generation of stars and household names, who can compete and flourish on the global stage.
In a country as obsessed with sports as the USA, it wouldn't be a surprise to see some generational cricketing talents sprouting up from an engaged grassroots level.
Conclusion...
Major League Cricket (MLC) will bring tremendous economic benefits to the United States. By creating job opportunities for players and coaches, helping to fund local and regional infrastructure improvements, expanding the sport's fan base and bringing in significant revenue from TV rights and sponsorship deals, MLC looks set to be a major success story for American cricket fans.
MLC will also increase the popularity of cricket in the USA, with a more extensive fan base likely to result from increased exposure and better access to games. As more people attend games, watch them on TV or follow their favorite teams online, this will generate further interest in cricket and create even more growth opportunities. Furthermore, the teams taking part in MLC will have a better chance of competing internationally, which could help boost American cricket's legitimacy on the world stage.
Finally, MLC can bring much-needed reforms to the game itself in America. With more resources and improved infrastructure, we can expect MLC to foster greater consistency and quality in the game, which will benefit players and fans.
Overall, MLC promises to be a great boon for the United States regarding economic growth, increased popularity for cricket and much-needed improvements to the sport. With its potential to bring about positive change, there's no doubt that Major League Cricket will benefit the USA in more ways than one.