The European T20 Premier League (ETPL) could become the most important development in European cricket, according to Australian great Steve Waugh, who believes the competition will accelerate the growth of players from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands by exposing them to some of the world’s leading cricketers.
Speaking after the inaugural ETPL Player Draft, which saw six franchises select 36 players from the three European nations, Waugh said the new league arrives at a time when cricket across the region is gaining momentum.
“We’ve just seen how strong European cricket is. Ireland beating the world champions, India, 2-0 in a T20I series shows the potential for cricket in Europe. There are some excellent players in the Netherlands, Scotland, and Ireland, and they’ll showcase their skills in this league alongside world-class players. I know our side has Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, and Tim David. They’re world-class players, and they’re going to be rubbing shoulders with these guys for five to six weeks. They’re going to fast-track their development through the knowledge they gain, their mental application, and the way they go about things. This will be the best thing that has ever happened to European cricket, and it’ll be fantastic for the players, the supporters, and cricket in Europe.”
Waugh, co-owner of Amsterdam Flames, said the league’s focus was firmly on developing players from emerging European cricket nations, while leaving open the possibility of English players joining in future editions.
“It’d be nice to have English players there, perhaps sometime in the future. But we’re looking at developing players in Europe who haven’t had the big opportunities in the past and haven’t really been able to showcase their skills. That’s what this tournament is about, bringing some of the best players in the world together with these players. We’ve got that across all the teams. It’d be good to have England have more of a presence in the league. Hopefully, once it’s established, everybody will see how great this competition is going to be, the quality, the players, and the standard. We definitely want to see more English players involved further down the track.”
He said regular, high-quality competition would help bridge the gap faced by players from Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, who have fewer international opportunities than established cricket nations.
“ETPL provides a great opportunity for the 36 players selected from Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands, as they’ll be playing alongside some of the best players in the world. It’s the best thing possible for these players because they have a shortage of international matches and international competition. Ireland recently played New Zealand in a Test match and had no red-ball preparation leading up to it. The more cricket these players are exposed to, especially alongside better players and under pressure, the more quickly they’ll improve. The ETPL will ensure that all three countries get much better, much faster.”
Belfast Wolves co-owner Glenn Maxwell said the long-term success of the competition would be measured by the progress of local players.
“I think the success of the inaugural edition will probably be the growth of the local players. The local talent will be able to learn and grow from the amazing overseas talent and the world-class names littered throughout the teams in the league. It’s hard not to pick up tips that can help improve your game in a competition like this. We’ve seen it all around the world, when a T20 league comes to a country or a region, cricket goes from strength to strength. That’s certainly the aim with this competition as well, for these three countries to grow and develop as the tournament gets bigger and bigger.”
Former South African international Jonty Rhodes said the fast-paced nature of T20 cricket had reshaped fielding standards, with players continuing to redefine what is possible.
“For a long time, I felt like the father of fielding, but now I certainly feel like the grandfather of fielding. Every aspect of T20 cricket has evolved, and that’s what I love about being a fielding coach in T20 cricket, because every ball counts. It was fascinating because guys like Kieron Pollard and Glenn Maxwell, when I was working with the Mumbai Indians, started showing us what was possible. Pollard, especially, taking those catches on the boundary and bringing the ball back into play, that was something I didn’t bring to the game. The players themselves did. They’re constantly evolving. It’s incredible to watch the practice sessions where they put themselves under pressure on the boundary ropes to take those incredible catches and sometimes just save the ball from going for six. I know fielding, just like batting and bowling, will continue to evolve.”
India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who will captain and mentor Dublin Guardians, said the tournament could strengthen cricket’s global reach ahead of the sport’s return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028.
“There is an Olympics that’s going to happen in a couple of years and, if cricket as a sport is serious about becoming a truly global game, I think the teams in this league will play a crucial role in making that happen. This is a really exciting opportunity where we not only believe we can build a team capable of doing well in this tournament but also create an environment where these players can get better and leave a lasting impact on the competition. We also believe we have a responsibility to the Dublin franchise and to Irish cricket to provide the right exposure and opportunities.”
The ETPL is a joint venture involving Cricket Ireland and Rules Global, developed in partnership with Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association. The league will feature six franchises representing cities across Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands, with international stars joining emerging European talent in its inaugural season.
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