MARTIN JOHNSON

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of an event so ground-breakingly historic it’s still talked about with awe and wonder. The year was 1969, and whilst the Americans made a gallant attempt to steal its thunder, landing the first man on the moon was a pretty humdrum effort by comparison with the launch of a new cricket competition called the John Player League. One small step for man, one enormous leap for the ugly hoik to cow corner.
It’s hard to believe now, but the 40-over Sunday bash was initially thought to be so revolutionary as to threaten the very...