Cricket Equipment - Bats, Balls and a Band

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Next time you're digging out the cricket equipment for a game, make sure you take your iPod with you to check out the Ivor Novello nominated concept album - on cricket!

Cricket may not have the same rock 'n' roll image of sports like football but that could all change in light of the recent Ivor Novello Album Awards. Football may be where the big money is with huge brands like Adidas and Nike making a fortune with branded balls and t-shirts featuring hot celebrities - but could cricket be the next big thing?

Cricket Equipment has always been more about playing the game rather than a branding opportunity - although the sport does have the biggest brands producing the cricket equipment ranges including Puma, Nike and Slazenger. But the profile of the game could be reaching a whole new demographic thanks to a bizarre nomination at the Novellos. Neil Hannon, the frontman of the Divine Comedy, was shortlisted for the Ivor Novello Album Award for his concept album on cricket that he created with Pugwash lead singer, Thomas walsh. The band and the album are called The Duckworth Lewis Method and were up against the likes of Paolo Nutini and Dizzee Rascal.

Bowled Over by Cricket

The album has been discribed by the pair as "a kaleidoscopic musical adventure through the beautiful and rather silly world of cricket". The Ivor Novello awards are the most coveted in the music industry, celebrating the achievements of songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The album has no doubt bowled over many fans, generating a wealth of media coverage for being one of the most bizarre concepts at the award ceremony; cricket doesn't always inspire the world of rock 'n' roll! Neil Hannon explained to the BBC that the cricket album was "just a drunken gag...But then strange things started to happen and it actually materialised." The pair released the album ahead of the Ashes series in the summer of 2009.

A 'Good Innings'

As Hannon said of his nomination for best album, "I'm absolutely stunned. We had a good innings (if you'll pardon the pun)." The pair had invites to plenty of cricket matches as well as selling quite a few records on the back of the publicity and success of the album. Hannon even joked about collaborating with fellow nominee Dizzee Rascal. But why cricket? As Hannon told the press: "We've thought about football but its too tribal and its too narky - there's so much arguement provoked by football. Cricket seems to be a game where you can truely admire and applaud the team that you're trying to beat."

Shop for Cricket Equipment at Talent Cricket

Talent Cricket prides itself on delivering the most comprehensive range of cricket equipment online. For all your cricket equipment needs, Talent Cricket can't be beaten. To find out more, or if you have a query about any of the cricket equipment we sell, call us on 01509 266666.