Cricket, not glamour, must be the show stopper

Harsha Bhogle, in the Indian Express, gives a lowdown on what teams can expect from the conditions in South Africa as compared to last year's frenzy in India. He says the switch in venues is a bold, daring one that could either end up making it far stronger or leave it insipid in the absence of home crowds.

I have a sneaking suspicion that spin will become even more important than it was at IPL 1 in India. In that same Australia-South Africa Twenty20 game, the home side bowled 10 of their 20 overs with spin; in fact of the 40 overs they bowled in all 18 were bowled by the spinners. But this was a different kind of spin (if that sounds political blame it on the way language evolves!). Peterson, Botha and van der Merwe were pinging the ball in at some pace on a middle and leg stump line. Speeds upwards of 95 kmph were routine and I swear I saw Botha bowl one at 104!