After the huge success of the T20 format, cricket boards from seven Test playing nations came together, advocating the need for an international tournament featuring domestic cricket teams.
And that’s how it all started.
The Nokia Champions League T20 brings the domestic champions from these seven Test playing nations to lock horns against each other. Structured as an inter-continental championship, the tournament gives domestic teams an opportunity to prove their mettle in the international arena.
The inaugural edition was to be hosted by India, but was cancelled due to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008.
The first Champions League T20 finally kicked off on October 8, 2009 and after two weeks of high drama and entertainment, Australian side New South Wales emerged champions by defeating West Indian outfit Trinidad & Tobago by 49 runs in the final.
However both finalists failed to qualify for the subsequent tournament in 2010, showing how unpredictable the shortest format of the game can be.
English teams were absent too, due to their players being tied up with previous commitments. Thus the second edition, held in South Africa, saw only 10 teams in action.
While the quantity may have dropped, the quality of players on display was top-class. Smarting from their failure to progress to the semi-final stage in 2009, Indian teams roared back in spectacular fashion.
Chennai Super Kings, in particular, were superb – treating the packed crowds in Johannesburg, Centurion and Durban to some great cricket. Helmed by MS Dhoni and turbo-charged by Suresh Raina, the reigning IPL champions conquered the world domestic title as well.
But it was not just the men in yellow who caught the eye. Warriors’ Davy Jacobs, South Australia’s Callum Ferguson and Michael Klinger and Victoria’s Aaron Finch all shone with the bat – bringing the crowd to its feet with some superb hitting. Meanwhile Ravichandran Ashwin from Chennai Super Kings, Rangana Herath from Wayamba and Dan Christian from South Australia were the pick of the bowlers.
The cocktail of superb cricket and great music, food ensured the tournament was an astounding success. For all those who thought, cricket was only meant to be played between international teams, CL T20 2010 was an eye-opener.
