It's perhaps a sign of the perceived importance of the Champions League T20 that it's being broadcast in the UK on Eurosport 2. The key point of that sentence is the appearance of the number 2 at the end of it. Eurosport 2. Not even on Eurosport's main channel. So it was something of a surprise when, surfing the channels, I happened across the opening game between Bangalore and the Cape Cobras. Thinking that watching some cricket is always infinitely better than seeing none, I settled in to watch.
The grotesque amounts of money being bandied about is a definite turn-off, as are commentators reduced to being product spokespeople. It's not as bad as the IPL, but by christ it's still irritating.
My attention drifted, briefly brought back by Ross Taylor's blistering 50 off sod all, until one moment that suddenly made the whole thing worthwhile. The Cobras were in trouble having lost a couple of early wickets, including Herschelle Gibbs first ball, when JP Duminy strode to the crease. A few balls later and he marched down the wicket to slap the ball way back into the crowd. The bowler: Jacques Kallis. And did he not like that. The verbals came flying and suddenly I realised - this matters to them. And if team-mates are willing to get nasty in the pursuit of glory, I could see myself to following this through to the end.
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