Shane Warne, the greatest leggie the world has ever seen, and Usain Bolt, the greatest track sprinter the world has ever seen, teaming up to play for the Melbourne Stars for next season’s Big Bash League.
What a hoot, what a brilliant marketing concept kickstarted at the London Olympics by broadcaster Eddie Maguire, the Melbourne Star president.
And there’s every chance Bolt will accept, commitments allowing.
And with Warne on the case drumming up business to cement the deal, it’s almost game, set, and match.
Ever since he burst onto the track scene like a bolt of lightning, cricketers the world over knew of Bolt’s genuine love for the game. He’s a Jamaican, why wouldn’t he love cricket and follow the West Indies?
The great Windies teams of the past were calypso cricketers, just as Bolt is a calypso athlete. Everything is fun.
Importantly, Bolt can play the grand old game, something that concerned Cricket Australia’s Mike McKenna, project manager of the BBL.
“We hope he’s being picked on merit and not just a novelty inclusion to attract spectators and television viewers,” McKenna chirped.
Hello, what planet are you on pal?
But McKenna proved he was “switched on” when he imagined Bolt would be pretty quick between the wickets.
Hello, hello, hello.
Which begs the question: why didn’t the Sydney Thunder think of Bolt with Chris Gayle a marquee player in the squad?
Bolt was captain of the Trelawny All Stars X1 in a 2009 charity game in Jamaica, when he smacked his good friend Gayle for a monster six, scoring 13 off 10 deliveries.
Trelawny made 6-124 off 15 overs.
Bolt in reply, bowling off a long run and pretty quick, greeted Gayle with a bouncer first ball, then bowled him neck and crop to complete a very different, but as usual, highly successful day out for the then triple Olympic gold medallist.
The mouthwatering thought of Bolt and Gayle playing together would have made the SCG split at the seams.
But like everything else in NSW sport, nothing happens. Before I go on, I’m a New South Welshman and proud of it, but in despair.
NSW Origin played some super rugby league, but still lost the series 2-1 to Queensland for the seventh successive year.
The Waratahs and Sydney FC are basket cases, so too NSW cricket and the Sydney Kings.
The NSW Swifts haven’t won the ANZ Championship netball title since 2008.
Bleak.
The sole saving grace for this once great sporting state are the Sydney Swans, but only for those who follow the AFL. The Canterbury Bulldogs may yet be our salvation.
Usain Bolt would have brightened our lives across the board no end. But no, Melbourne has beaten us to the punch yet again.
And if it’s not Victoria, it’s Queensland rubbing our noses in it.
It’s high time something was done about correcting those wrongs.
Usain Blake
Guest
I get the feeling if Bolt and Blake wanted to play AFL or League the response would be significantly different.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The BBL is in the same league as WWE or the harlem globe trotters for me. It's pure marketing driven entertainment that one one really treats as a contest. Signing Bolt or Blake will just confirm this.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
A terrific overview of this issue was provided by Richard Rae, who is is a freelance sports writer, who has covered cricket, football and rugby of both codes for the Guardian since 2001. Towards the end of his article about the possibility of Bolt playing T20 cricket in Australia, Rae says: "And I have to say I'm all for it. If you're running a circus you want people to come and watch, and headline acts are a must. Bolt being the star attraction will confirm the show to be exactly that, a circus, an entertainment without meaning." Read full story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2012/aug/16/world-cricket-forum-usain-bolt?
Vic
Guest
The concept needs a gimmick to be honest. It appears to be stillborn like the ARC.
ak
Guest
There would be a big problem when Bolt gets to bat. Coz he would run two before his partner at the crease completes one. Ha Ha !!!
jameswm
Guest
Larry you're as entitled to your say as anyone else is. I sometimes agree with Lordy and sometimes don't. Tim Prentice coming in for moreal support is a bit odd. Tim, play the ball and not the man. Larry's trying to move back to the topic and you're dragging it back down to a personal level.
jameswm
Guest
Agree guys. I watch test cricket to satisfy my hard core love of the game. T20 is about having fun and entertaining. I think it'd be a fantastic gimmick and let me tell you you wouldn't be able to keep my two sons away.
AussieBokkie
Roar Rookie
Great article. Short and to the point. We'd all totally love to see Bolt make a cameo....his calypso, happy-go-lucky attitude is totally infectious and the Aussie crowds would lap him up! I don't like Eddie as a person but he sure is an astute sports administrator/businessman
Larry
Guest
Sorry for upsetting the establishment on here, won't do it again.
Don Corleone
Guest
It's amazing how many people think cricket (unlike other sports) should be like a government-run enterprise like the ABC. No corporate sponsorship, appealing to a niche market, not too much of it, unsustainable, poor audience, can't be too flashy or too popular...yet existing in case we want to watch it.
David Lord
Expert
Milz, I probably will retire in the 90s, but I've got a bit to go yet.
Titus
Guest
Why is Sydney FC a basket case, they have won as many titles as the swans in the last 7 years.
Titus
Guest
I was thinking, whack a helmet on him and get him to field silly mid off.
Australian Rules
Guest
Agree with that. T20 is unapologetically about entertainment. It you want genuine, purists cricket, go to a Test match.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Why Mr Milz? You need someone new to bag?
Milz
Guest
Prentice, you and Lord should finally announce that retirement which was due in the 90s.
David Lord
Expert
Big deal Christo .... the Sydney Sixers. WOW. In the same league as Sheffield Shield, Origin, Waratahs, Sydney FC, Sydney Kings, NSW Swifts etc? Ace it up.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Not at all, but its what T20 has been since its inception - an occasionally entertaining marketing feast with a loose connection to the sport of cricket. That said, its no different to the 50 over form, not relevant to the real thing but it helps pay the bills for actual cricket.
Tim Prentice
Expert
Larry, old cock. You had nothing to begin with and you have not improved. Suggest you only come on this site when you have something worthwhile to say. And make sure it is 100 per cent, grammatically correct. Or you will be sent back to Sour School.
NFS
Guest
isnt T20 mainly an entertainment. i am a big cricket fan but not a big T20 fan because in my opinion test cricket is the only real form of cricket both ODI's and T20 are purely enteetainment. and you cant deny bolt would be great entertainment!