FROM LORDS TO BOLLYWOOD: CRICKET ECONOMICS, THE RISE OF T20 AND THE INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE

This chapter describes the economics of cricket. Although it is played in relatively few countries, cricket is the second most popular sport in the world after football (soccer) (Swartz 2016). Cricket has undergone some dramatic changes, arguably the most important being the introduction of shorter match formats and the emergence of India as the dominant financial power in the game. Traditionally slow-moving, with matches lasting several days, the sport has introduced new shorter match formats aimed at attracting new audiences. An obvious question is whether the shorter game formats, originally regarded as a financial saviour, may actually herald the demise