Master blasters: Twenty20 Cup unleashes a new breed of big-hitting heros

Durham and Kent may be able to participate in the Champions League in October despite fielding players from the “rebel” Indian Cricket League (ICL) today. The ECB, driving a reworked model, believes that a compromise can be reached as plans for the event in the Middle East near completion over the next fortnight.

The halfway house, which has been glaringly obvious all along, would allow counties to compete in the lucrative event but without their ICL players — Dale Benkenstein, of Durham, and the Kent pair of Justin Kemp and Azhar Mahmood. After confusion this year, regulations should be much clearer for the 2009 event.

For Middlesex and Essex, two of only three counties “clean” of ICL links, and Durham and Kent, the finals day at the Rose Bowl offers a potential route to cricket’s goldmines. The problem, as with all such rushes for wealth, is the absence of a clear letter “X” to mark the exact spot they want.

The ECB is still keen to have India on board for the inaugural Champions League because the event would be devalued without its best teams. Broadcasters, conscious of the biggest market, will also be happier to have an input from the Indian Premier League (IPL) alongside teams from Australia, South Africa and England.

But the ECB is clear that Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, cannot be allowed to dictate terms over issues such as ICL involvement. An Essex versus Middlesex final would simplify matters on one level. On another, the ECB could be quite happy to be seen to be standing up to Modi if Durham or Kent come through.

One source of “new” money was confirmed yesterday when representatives of Sir Allen Stanford — the man himself decided to stay in Antigua on business — unveiled another winner-takes-all game to be held at the purpose-built ground on the island, between the winners of the English and West Indian domestic events.

The successful county today will meet Trinidad & Tobago, who won the 2008 Stanford 20/20, on October 27, five days before the $13 million (about £6.5 million) contest between England and the Stanford Super Stars. As with the main event, the commitment is for five years, but the pot is considerably lighter.

A breakdown of the $400,000 on offer will see $100,000 go to each of the teams, $180,000 for the winners and $20,000 for the man of the match. The winning team will be able to divvy up roughly £150,000, at £12,500 per player if the twelfth man is in on the deal.

Clearly that is not the same as the $5 million prize-money that was available for the Indian version of the Champions League, and which the ECB hopes to be able to match. Players as well as administrators today will be keeping fingers, toes and anything else crossed that negotiations succeed.

The showpiece today also provides a stage to flaunt before IPL franchises who are looking at squads for their next commitment in April and May 2009. Some of the owners were in England for the quarter-finals and those who are not present in person today will be monitoring events on television.

Quite how many English players will be involved, and for how long, is unknown and the matter is complicated because creating spaces would mean franchises having to pay up contracts of players. But the names of Owais Shah and Graham Napier are among those on view who have received shows of interest.

Players can also make a point to the England selectors before the richest of all Stanford matches on November 1. Shah has become an effective one-day performer and ought to be assured of a place, but Napier will provide a test of the adventure of Geoff Miller, the national selector, and his colleagues after their fingers were burnt over the selection of Darren Pattinson against South Africa last week.

Kent, who face Essex in the first semi-final, emerged from being outsiders to champions in 2007 and will be stronger for the return of Darren Stevens from a thigh strain. Middlesex probably remain the unfancied team and there will be plenty of neutral support for a strong-looking Durham after they were horribly messed around over their quarter-final.