‘Don’t call it cricket’: Ricky Ponting’s bold rebrand to woo US fans to sport

Former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting has suggested dropping the term "cricket" altogether when marketing the sport in the United States. Instead, he proposes rebranding the game simply as "T20" to better appeal to American audiences. Ponting, speaking to The Athletic, noted that people unfamiliar with the sport often associate "cricket" with its traditional five-day Test matches, which could deter potential fans.

"If I was bringing it here wholly and solely to sell and promote the game, I wouldn’t call it cricket, Ponting begins. “It’d just be rebranded as T20 only. Leave the cricket thing aside." He believes that by emphasizing the shorter, more entertaining format of T20 cricket, featuring high scores and many sixes per game compared to baseball, the sport can gain traction in the US market.

Ponting is actively involved in Major League Cricket, coaching the Washington Freedom, and supports the ICC's broader initiatives to expand cricket's global reach, including its return to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.