'It's a Lot More Attractive': Maxwell Asserts Major League Cricket's Appeal Over England's T20 Blast
MLC has attracted a lot of international stars
Australian batter Glenn Maxwell, who is currently playing for Warwickshire in England's County Championship, has asserted that the United States' Major League Cricket (MLC) may have a stronger pull on global cricketing talent than T20 Blast. According to Maxwell, MLC's shorter schedule and larger crowds make it more attractive.
Maxwell pointed to the lure of MLC over T20 Blast
Maxwell, who represented Birmingham Bears in this year's T20 Blast, experienced the intense pace of the competition first-hand. The tournament features nine teams each playing a minimum of 14 games. In contrast, the MLC is structured as a leaner, six-team event where each side plays each other once during the group phase, followed by the playoffs.
The 34-year-old shared his insights during a BCC radio interview, expressing apprehension about the future appeal of the T20 Blast, given the rising popularity of the MLC. He contrasted the demanding, travel-heavy English schedule with the compact two-week period in the US, suggesting that the choice could be becoming increasingly clear for some players.
"I think now the Major League Cricket tournament's come in, that's going to affect the Blast really badly. When you've got an opportunity to go over to America for two weeks, compared to 14 games here with a stressful schedule where you're travelling all over the place,” said Maxwell.
The explosive batter highlighted a particularly gruelling week in the T20 Blast where his team faced three games in four days in Durham, Leeds, and Birmingham, with only single-day intermissions for travel. He candidly admitted to the strain he experienced during this season, both physically and mentally.
Maxwell further underscored the potential advantages of the MLC - its shorter span, larger crowds, the inclusion of six international players per team, and the buzz of a fresh tournament. These factors, he suggested, could make the MLC a more manageable and exciting prospect for overseas players.
“I think with the Major League being a lot more attractive, bigger crowds, I think there's eight [six] overseas players per team, the excitement of a new tournament, it's only two weeks long. Less of a burden on your schedule. I think it's going a lot more attractive to some overseas players," added the Australian cricket dynamo.
Meanwhile, Maxwell's recent season in the T20 Blast was a touch below his usual standards. He accumulated 248 runs across 14 matches at an average of 17.71 and a strike rate of 153.08.
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