Players might prefer MLC to T20 Blast in the years to come: Maxwell

Glenn Maxwell, who featured in 14 T20 Blast games in the 2023 season, representing the Birmingham Bears, is of the opinion that, going forward, overseas players might end up ditching the Blast for Major League Cricket (MLC) due to the latter’s lenient schedule and the allure of spending two weeks in United States.

While the six-team MLC consists of only 19 matches in total and lasts for 17 days, the T20 Blast lasts nearly two months. The 2023 edition of the Blast witnessed a total of 133 games being played, with teams playing matches on consecutive days on multiple occasions.

Talking to BBC radio, Maxwell outlined the drawbacks of the structure of the Blast and claimed that more and more overseas players will flock to the MLC in the years to come.

“I think now the Major League Cricket tournament's come in, that's going to affect the Blast really badly," Maxwell said on BCC radio. 

"When you've got an opportunity to go over to America for two weeks, compared to 14 games here with a stressful schedule where you're travelling all over the place. There was one week where we played on a Tuesday in Durham, Thursday in Leeds and then Friday here in Birmingham - that's three games in four days with a day's travel in between.

"It can really drain you, your body and mentally," Maxwell added. 

"I found that very tough this year and I think with the Major League being a lot more attractive, bigger crowds, I think there's eight [six] overseas players per team, the excitement of a new tournament, it's only two weeks long. Less of a burden on your schedule. I think it's going a lot more attractive to some overseas players."

The inaugural MLC edition kicked off on Thursday, July 13th. Maxwell is not a part of the ongoing edition, but the first season has plenty of Australian participation, with Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Matthew Short and Adam Zampa among those featuring in the competition.