Unbelievable atmosphere: Major League Cricket takes off in the USA | Cricket News

Fans at the purpose-built stadium in Texas will enjoy the familiar big cube and non-stop action.

Major League Cricket started in Texas, and the most serious attempt yet to establish a domestic competition in the United States provided all the ingredients for a modern Twenty20 league.

On Thursday, at a purpose-built cricket stadium just a 15-minute drive from Dallas Fort Worth Airport, fans donned the yellow jerseys of the victorious home team, the Texas Super Kings, and were treated to a familiar big sight. firs and non-stop operation.

Super Kings won by 69 runs after scoring 181 for six and then bowling out Los Angeles Knight Riders for 112.

Any worries that cricket in the US might not be real disappeared when the action started and the crowd started cheering for the home team’s big knock.

The stadium was previously owned by the now-defunct Texas Airhogs baseball club, but since taking over the site, MLC has spent over $20 million to make it cricket-specific.

Viewers watching the telecast would have found it difficult to distinguish the MLC from other T20 tournaments that have sprung up around the world.

Such a great event

With international players competing alongside the homegrown talent of the US national team, the level of play was clearly professional and the field and goal looked empty.

This was a stark contrast to the many previous, short-lived attempts to crack the American market with one-off events in inappropriate venues, and it was also light years away from much of domestic cricket, which had been played on carpet tracks for years.

What an electric atmosphere The fans turned out in droves and we celebrated the biggest day in US cricket history #MajorLeagueCricket pic.twitter.com/I2IxXLfJ60

Major League Cricket (@MLCricket) July 14, 2023

Texas South African bowler Rusty Theron was stunned by the success of the opening match.

I’m actually a little emotional, to be honest. This is such a great event. It was an incredible atmosphere and I want to thank every person who came out here, he said.

Super Kings batsman David Miller, who was awarded man of the match for a hard-hitting 61 off 42 balls, including four sixes, also impressed.

It’s fantastic to see such a great turnout and the facilities have been fantastic. “I think a few guys have been asked what it’s going to be like, but it lit the lights up here,” said the South African, one of several players with a background in the world’s top Twenty20 competitions. Indian Premier League (IPL).

MLC has the backing of four IPL franchises, including Mumbai Indians, whose New York side started play on Friday.

England opener Jason Roy, Australian Aaron Finch, South African pace bowler Kagiso Rabada and West Indies spinner Sunil Narine are among the foreign players drafted by the six teams.

The remaining games will be played in Morrisville, North Carolina before the playoffs and the final return to Texas.

In addition to the involvement of IPL teams, Australias Cricket Victoria has a high-performance partnership with the San Francisco Unicorns, and Cricket New South Wales plays a similar role with the Washington Freedom.

The league has inked deals with streaming service Willow TV, whose owners are also MLC investors, and also with Viacom18 in India.