INTERVIEWS

Dean Jones

We are in conversation with one of the premier Australian batsmen in the contemporary era and a member of the ICL executive board, Dean Jones.

How has the ICL has experience been so far Dean?
I think we have been lucky. The weather has been chilly at night and we have had rains but luckily when there aren’t any matches. We have had a few hiccups here and there but overall it has been a very successful event so far. I think everyone has been blown away by the quality of cricket, the size of the event, the bollywood entertainment along with it, some wonderful matches, some big hitting and the standard of television production.

Are you of the belief that 20:20 is the future of the sport?
I believe that the format will definitely surpass the others. We are going to have to coach the players differently. 20:20 is attracting new spectators to the sport. It is bringing women and children into the action. The ratings have gone through the roof. Our ratings have been most impressive as well. Especially, if you throw a musical performance in the middle of two matches, like we have been doing, there is all the more reason for the spectators to thoroughly enjoy themselves.

Could you tell us a little more about the role of the talent scouts in the ICL and the plans the league has pertaining the academy?
The best time to coach children is when they are between the ages of 13 to 16. Once they go past that age, it becomes difficult to coach them. The idea is to groom the young talent and give them the best possible facilities. We want to produce the best young cricketers in the country and believe that nurturing them in the grass root level will help the cause.