London: Cricket in Europe is about to enter an exciting new phase as the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL) gets underway on August 26, bringing together seasoned international stars alongside some of the continent’s most promising young talent. Ahead of the season, Amsterdam Flames wicketkeeper-batter Scott Edwards, Belfast Wolves co-owner and captain Glenn Maxwell, and Dublin Guardians captain and mentor Ravichandran Ashwin spoke to ETPL about their new franchises, the challenge of building teams from the ground up, and what this league could mean for the sport going forward.
Scott Edwards on joining Amsterdam Flames:
Edwards admitted the offer caught him completely off guard. He was out at dinner with his partner when he got a call from Amsterdam Flames co-owners Jamie Dwyer and Steve Waugh, who didn’t waste any time laying out their vision for the franchise and making it clear they wanted him on board. He described being genuinely excited by how thoughtfully the franchise had been structured, and said he has real confidence it’s going to succeed. Having grown up watching Steve Waugh, a legend of the game, and with Jamie Dwyer being an equally iconic name in Australian hockey, Edwards said it was a special experience just talking through their plans with them. What stood out most, he said, was how prepared they were — they knew exactly what they wanted from both the team and the players — and that clarity made his decision an easy one. He signed on almost immediately and says he’s now looking forward to representing the Amsterdam Flames in the ETPL.
Glenn Maxwell on building Belfast Wolves from scratch through the draft:
Maxwell said he came away thoroughly pleased with how the draft unfolded for the Belfast Wolves. Being this deeply involved in building a franchise from nothing — going through the entire list management process — was a new experience for him, and not an easy one. Still, he said the team went in with a clear plan: to assemble a squad capable of competing right from the start. He found real value in the process of selecting players, balancing the squad’s strengths, and making sure every department had adequate cover, calling it a valuable learning curve. Maxwell said the Wolves managed to land the picks and the playing skills they were targeting to round out their roster, giving them solid depth across both batting and bowling — something he believes will matter a great deal over the course of a long tournament. On the whole, he feels they’ve built a side that’s both strong and well balanced.
Ravichandran Ashwin on his bond with Rahul Dravid and his vision for Dublin Guardians:
Ashwin spoke warmly about his relationship with franchise owner Rahul Dravid, built over the past five years. Having played under Dravid during his time as India’s head coach, Ashwin said he learned a great deal about leadership from him — and interestingly, the dynamic had once been reversed, with Ashwin captaining Dravid in a club championship final in Chennai around 13 years ago. Now reunited for the Dublin Guardians, Ashwin feels Dravid has come to understand his game deeply over the years, and that the two share a rapport he considers special. Together, he said, they’re focused on building a tight-knit team centred on daily growth and improvement. He also pointed to a shared enthusiasm for Irish cricket and the wider European circuit, saying both he and Dravid see enormous potential there and want to take a collaborative approach. Recognising Ireland’s strong cricketing culture, Ashwin said the goal is to embrace it and contribute in whatever way they can. He did admit it was a little disappointing that Irish players were snapped up early in the draft, as the Guardians would have liked to pick up a couple more — but stressed that the team remains fully committed to making a genuine impact on Irish cricket.
