It's the same cricketers using the same cricket gear in a cricket ground, as the last blast to " improve the reach" of cricket, T20 ( I'm old enough to remember when it was called Twenty20, kids ask your older brothers/sisters ). It's not much different, they've added more RAZZZZ and upgraded the MAAATAAZZZZ, given the commentators extra Red bull and espresso coffee. The B.B.C. are trying to make it a Summertime Cricket Special Spectacular. If you like/don't like T20, you'll feel similar to the Hundred ( once the HYPE boil has burst) : )
As for the future of football, if the halfway line sideways shuffle takes hold, crowds will drop, marketing will get involved to protect owners "investments" and broadcasters "best interests", a "greater reach" will be needed.
So WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME, to the SOCCER 80. 4 quarters of 20 minutes, 5 minutes between quarters and 20 minutes at half time. This allows for half time " entertainment" maybe Ollie Murs singing Sweet Caroline. Each goal counts 2 points with a chance to earn a "penalty point", bring on your penalty taker to "shoot the ball" past the opponent's PenStopper, etc, etc, etc. Plenty of in match music, we'll all know when to look up from our mobile devices, to watch a " net moment" on the Jumbotron TV in each corner.
Everyone's a winner, the broadcasters get 80 mins of "soccahh" in a 3 hour show, hello corporate friends. The owners get a return on their investments and we are all made to feel privileged to pay twice the value of anything connected to the club : )
Meanwhile........
In Firkin Sheds up and down the land, middle aged men are clasping their body temperature real ales, reflecting on how "it all began to go wrong, when Whitbread started to serve Heineken in their pubs" : )