I think we all now know Twenty20 is here to stay.
London, UK - Feb 13, 2008

In just a week's time, a live auction will take place for 88 players who will take part in the Indian Premier League.

And, as we have seen, there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the IPL - today's international players' involvement, sponsorship concerns, TV rights, the amount being paid and the effect on the world game at all levels.

So what does all this mean? To me, it's quite simple - it's an exciting time for the sport and to market the brand.

We should all be embracing the IPL, not fighting it.

From the international board's point of view and the bosses around the world at County clubs and in domestic competitions, I understand there may be issues about players going missing or a clash of sponsors.

But here in Australia, each state has cricket sponsors that differ from our national ones, so I don't buy that argument.

This issue can be overcome.

Future tours are another issue and a complicated one.

International cricket for your country must be the No. 1 priority, but commonsense says the IPL is not going anywhere, and it's a wonderful opportunity for players, spectators and fans.

Let's make it part of the schedule and the ICC and the boards can create a new tours program.

Let's find a way for it to work rather than ways it can't.

Imagine how good it would be seeing Glenn McGrath bowling to Adam Gilchrist, and M. S. Dhoni behind the stumps. Exciting, I reckon.

When I signed a three-year deal with the IPL, I was offered more money by the Indian Cricket League.

But I really liked the IPL concept and the fact that it involves the winners of domestic competitions around the world. Ex-players playing against old teammates has a fun edge to the game.

I have been involved as captain of Hampshire in County cricket for four years and have seen Twenty20 evolve into a wonderful, entertaining form of the game, with a new demographic coming to watch.

I have only played a couple of Twenty20 games, so I am looking forward to the next three years.

I believe it's going to be a huge success; the TV rights have already been sold for more than $1 billion and it's only going to grow.

There is an argument saying what about the amount of cricket being played, and won't this just be more cricket?

True, but this is entertainment and a great way to grow the game.

People love Twenty20, so it will have a flow-on effect to the other forms of the game.

Make it work, I say.

Anytime you get to see the best playing the best, it is what players and fans want to see.

And the make-up of teams - Australian, Indian, English - all playing together is unique and exciting.

Personally, it has affected my County contract, but I have a meeting this week in the UK with Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove to sort through it all.

On another note, my role as ambassador for Cricket Australia has not been affected by my IPL interest. On my return from the UK, I will visit several states to work with their spinners and captains.

It's been fantastic to see some of the spinners around the traps and talk to them and chat with the captains.

I am enjoying putting something back into the game.

And let's hope in the near future we have spinners performing consistently well at first-class level.