Mohali: The Australian cricket team is one of the best sporting units in the world, but strangely, they are unable to attract the kind of sponsorship that the Indian cricketers enjoy.
In India, even domestic cricketers can make a killing today. Australia, however, finds it extremely difficult to rope in a sponsor for its domestic competitions.
Peter Young, Cricket Australia's general manager, Public Affairs, admitted that for the first time in the 41-year-old history of their domestic competition, they may have to do without a title sponsorship. Young attributes the absence of sponsors to the prevailing global economic situation.
On the other hand, India tells a different story. The craze for the game is so much here that sponsors are literally queuing up to offer support to teams and players.
According to Young, the feedback from the market is that things are a bit tight.
Australian cricketers, except those who play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), are not even as rich as an ordinary Indian cricketer playing in domestic competitions.
Four players in the current Australian playing eleven are yet to play in IPL. They are keen to put up a good show in this series, hoping to get a call from one of the IPL teams next season.
Tim Paine, following his fighting knock, has proved that he is a rising star. Marcus North, Nathan Hauritz and Benjamin Hilfenhaus are the others who will be looking to grab spots on the IPL teams.
With Kochi and Pune being added to the event next season, there are chances that by the time the fourth edition of the competition begins, almost all the rising youngsters from Down Under may be on the IPL gravy train.
Cricket Australia is now hoping that at least their one-day competition -- to be played with the a new set of rules, separating each innings into 20 and 25-over sections -- turns out to be popular enough to attract sponsors.teams next season.
Tim Paine, following his fighting knock, has proved that he is a rising star. Marcus North, Nathan Hauritz and Benjamin Hilfenhaus are the other three who will be looking for that call from any one of the IPL teams.
With Kochi and Pune being added to the IPL event, there are chances that by the next season all new youngsters from the Australia team may be part of the IPL event.
Cricket Australia is hoping atleast their one-day competition that is to be played with the new rules separating each team's innings into 20 and 25 over sections turns out to be popular and is able to attract sponsors.
Do you think sponsorships help or hinder Indian cricket? Is the Indian Cricket Board investing enough of their sponsors' money back into the game?
