Is cricket financially healthy?

One of world sport's biggest rivalries gets underway this week, with England and Australia going head to head in the Ashes. Most matches will last around four or five days, but it's actually the short form of the game that is growing the fastest - and bringing in big audiences and revenues.

The IPL or Indian Premier League, has recently been valued at $18.5bn - that's a T20 format played over a few hours.

So has the sport now changed irreversibly? And does the longer form of the game have a future?

Presenter: Will Bain
Producer: Matt Lines

(Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, along with his former teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, celebrate with the trophy after winning the Indian Premier League T20 final in June 2025. Credit: Getty Images)