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John Arlott was the first to assess the potential power of television when the BBC began broadcasting Test cricket in 1946.

With all the shrewdness of an H.G.Wells, the Basingstoke Boy predicted that, by bringing the game into the nation's living rooms, the goggle box would irreversibly deplete ground attendances and could ultimately become a monster that would control the game.

As he uncorks a long forgotten vintage on his ethereal plain, he will no doubt treat his many fellow imbibers to that maniacal grin as he reveals what has happened in the cricket world during the past week.

First the much vaunted Indian Premier League (IPL) was launched in true Bollywood fashion with an avalanche of fireworks and dollars. Then came the more subdued introduction of pink balls in a minor limited-overs skirmish between the MCC and Scotland at Lord's.

Without television neither event would have been conceived. The IPL is the Indian Board's repost to the rogue formation of the rival Indian Cricket League (ICL), itself a television magnate's retaliation for being denied the broadcasting rights for India's major matches.

Pink balls have been invented because the white ones used for limited-overs games don't show up on the screen when they become scuffed and revert to the colour of their natural leather.

The IPL launch, between the red-clad Bangalore Royal Challengers and the jet-black Kolkata (Calcutta) Knight Riders produced a one-sided mismatch of seismic proportions.

It was dominated by New Zealand's Brendon McCullum. With his gold helmet and pads, he could have stepped straight out of a Harry Potter epic.

Whirling his bat like a scimitar, he took full advantage of a flat pitch and shortened boundaries to post a record Twenty20 score of 158 off only 73 balls with 13 sixes and ten fours.

Facing a mountainous target of 223, the home team were vaporised for a pathetic 82.

Extras top-scored with 19 and only their number nine attained double figures. That's entertainment?

Now that Adam Gilchrist has left the international stage, McCullum is one-day cricket's main batting attraction but he is no Donald Bradman.

In 51 Test match innings he has averaged a modest 30 with just two centuries and eight fifties.

This inaugural game, attended by an estimated crowd of 40,000, 60 per cent of whom had been given free tickets, merely confirmed that India would swiftly take to fast-food cricket.

Once the novelty wears off and the franchise holders realise it may take a decade to recoup their outlays, the league could be under much pressure. A threat to Test cricket the 20-overs frolic most certainly is not but it could well see the end of the 40 and 50-overs varieties.

Meanwhile, it was a great honour to represent the Lord's Taverners at Devizes Sports Club last Saturday and see the delighted smiles of their young cricketers as they received a generous array of bats, pads, helmets and gloves.

The Taverners have donated millions of pounds to clubs in the form of equipment, nets and even all-weather pitches, gifts that have helped many youngsters develop into accomplished players.

Perhaps I met one who will represent Wiltshire, or England, or even keep his family in riches by appearing in an Indian league.

5:31pm Wednesday 23rd April 2008

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