Give it some big-name stardust Attract the best to compete with IPL,

Better overseas players

Yes, Covid-19 complicated the situation this year, but the tournament lacked stardust. To be honest, it was just the Blast with fewer teams and a concentration of county talent. It did not matter much this summer, but in future years it will have to attract the biggest names to really stand up against the Indian Premier League. The England and Wales Cricket Board believes it is a long way from persuading the Board of Control for Cricket in India to release its male cricketers, but it is different for the women’s game, so expect more India players next year, which is great news.

But if the men’s game wants to attract the best it will have to pay bigger salaries to tempt the likes of AB de Villiers to commit to more cricket in their schedule.

Take women on tour

The women’s tournament was the big success. The Hundred elevated it above any other domestic women’s tournament in this country, the men’s competition less so. The women’s teams attract a family audience and are great role models for boys and girls, so why not take them on the road to all the first-class grounds, spreading the word?

It would be politically difficult to do that for the men’s game because it would rival the Blast, but the women’s matches would not have that problem. Also, standalone women’s games at the Test grounds in the latter stages can work, too, it just needs confidence in the product.

Player awards

It happens at the IPL so why not here? A cap worn by the leading run-scorer, leading wicket-taker and six-hitter. Why not have a big financial reward for the batsman who hits the most sixes and a big bonus for anyone who hits five in a row off the same bowler (from balls one to five) and even 10?

Also, it would be nice to hear from the players on the field. How about wiring up the captains so they can talk us through their decisions? Yes they will moan it is too quick, but this tournament is about fun. Let us try to delay the stattos and the seriousness of it all from sucking the joy out of the competition for as long as possible.

Alcohol-free sponsor

Would it help to change the culture if there were more alcohol-free options at grounds? There is a lairiness to the atmosphere for the men’s matches later in the evening that does scare some children. One dad spoke to me after a game at the Oval about his son: “He has had a great time, but learnt a lot about life tonight.” It is hard to change societal habits and the tournament does not want to become a nanny state telling people how to behave, but perhaps subtle changes to what people can buy in the grounds could make a difference.