Two decades of connecting fans with cricket through technology and award-winning journalism

World’s leading digital cricket brand and India’s digital sports leader kick-starts multi-faceted content initiative

Pioneering internet site now paving way forward online, on mobile and via social media

ESPNcricinfo, the world’s largest single sport website, kick-starts its 20^th anniversary celebrations today. To commemorate the last two decades, ESPNcricinfo’s digital platforms (mobile and Web) have a compelling line up that traces the brand’s  and crickets journey as it unfolded over the last 20 years.

Founded in 1993, the original website Cricinfo was one of the earliest examples of a community-driven online enterprise at a time when websites were unheard of. Led by Dr. Simon King and a group of like-minded volunteers, it began with a simple objective:  to deliver cricket scores and updates to an audience of passionate fans that yearned for them. It was conceptualized at a time when the consumer internet was in its infancy, and its popularity grew exponentially as it pioneered the path-breaking technology behind live scoring of matches and ball-by-ball commentary, while simultaneously developing one of the most credible and comprehensive sports journalism platforms to deliver award-winning news, commentary and analysis from many of the world’s top cricket writers, reporters and editors.

Today, ESPNcricinfo is not merely the world’s most-preferred destination for cricket’s news and information, but also the game’s leading global voice.

“While Cricinfo was born out of incredible enthusiasm and passion for the sport of cricket, it is sustained by innovation. At the heart of our success is a keen understanding of the cricket fan, an intuitive approach to changing trends in the engagement with content on digital media platforms, and the commitment to be at the forefront of technology and journalism. As we look forward, we will remain grounded in the values that have held us in good stead all these years, while simultaneously playing to our strength – which is to celebrate our collective love for cricket and  bring fans the world over even closer to this amazing game.” said Ramesh Kumar, Head of ESPNcricinfo and ESPN Digital Media

At the dawn of the internet revolution, Cricinfo was established by a group of cricket enthusiasts who began updating a, now seemingly-primitive, level of cricket information through Usenet. The portal proved to be way ahead of its time by publishing quality discussions and compelling pieces of analysis and commentary on cricket. The website continued to evolve, including adding and maintaining an exhaustive information and statistics database. At the time, the creators used tools similar to blogs or Twitter to gather and distribute scores online, long before the advent of social media. Soon it became the one-stop-shop for all things cricket.

Sambit Bal, Editor, ESPNcricinfo said, “Over the years, we have earned the reputation of being the most comprehensive, trusted and incisive voice on the game of cricket. We have stayed absolutely committed to the founding spirit of Cricinfo which was to cover as much cricket as possible, and we have set ourselves the highest of journalistic standards and editorial integrity.  We’re also very excited about the next two decades in front of us, the emergence of mobile and social media that allow us to engage with cricket fans in so many new ways and locations and the continued and growing passion for cricket that we see from fans around the world.”

Going forward, ESPNcricinfo’s focus will be to continue delivering the best experience to fans, wherever they are and on whatever digital devices they use, by making available the depth and range of content from the website and ensuring the best user experience on every device.

To kick-start the 20^th anniversary celebrations, ESPNcricinfo has today launched a special section that features a range of content, tracing the evolution of the sport and of ESPNcricinfo over the last two decades. A host of video content will also feature on the special section, including documentary interviews and stories, as well as photo galleries and other illustrations of the journey that both cricket and ESPNcricinfo have taken in the past two decades.

At launch, the 20^th Anniversary section will feature:

A special column from Editor Sambit Bal discussing the landmark, the sites unique history and its mission

A to Z of ESPNcricinfo – A glossary about ESPNcricinfo, its history and features

Cricinfo/ESPNcricinfo Timeline:  1993 – 2013

Andy Zaltzman’s love letter to Statsguru

My life with Cricinfo, by Siddhartha Vaidyanathan

In the weeks ahead, the site and section will feature at least 20 pieces examining aspects of the site’s two decade history and 20 of the very best stories and features from its unmatched archive. The section will feature two stories a week – one from the archive and one new 20^th Anniversary feature. Among the stories planned are:

?         The birth of ball-by-ball commentary

?         ESPNcricinfo in numbers

?         A cricketer’s perspective of the site — by Iain O’Brien

?         Cricket journalism circa 1993 – by Sharda Ugra

?         ESPNcricinfo as a media phenomenon — by Rob Steen

The section will also feature special video interviews and features including series like Cricketers on Cricinfo – interviews with players such as Mahela Jayawardene, John Wright and others; A Day in the Life of ESPNcricinfo – Sydney to Seattle via Bangalore, Birmingham, London; and other special documentary style interviews and features including interviews with some of the sites early developers and founders.

Over the coming months, ESPNcricinfo will also host a series of special cricket roundtable summits in some key cricketing nations, where some of the top voices in the industry will join together and discuss some of the most significant topics in the sport today and what the next 20 years of cricket may bring.  Additionally, there will be region-specific activities in several top cricketing markets.

To discover and share exclusive ESPNcricinfo 20 years content and see today’s introduction to the 20^th anniversary initiative and celebration by Bal, go to www.espncricinfo.com/20.

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About ESPNcricinfo

With 20 years of heritage, ESPNcricinfo is the world’s leading digital cricket brand and is among the top five most-visited single-sport digital brands in the world.  Founded in 1993 and part of ESPN’s leading global collection of sites since 2007, ESPNcricinfo is committed to delivering an independent voice for comprehensive coverage of the sport and is available to cricket fans online and across mobile platforms.

Globally, ESPNcricinfo leads its top competitors in average minute audience, unique visitors, page views, average minutes per visitor, and total visits.  Despite that leading position, it continues to grow.  Across online, mobile and tablet devices (Web and apps) fans log more than 141 million visits and nearly 2 billion minutes of time spent each month with ESPNcricinfo globally and log millions of video views.

In India, ESPNcricinfo is the #1 digital sports destination and the #1 cricket brand, leading all competitors in both unique audience, total time spent, visits, page views and average minutes per visitor. It has an average minute audience that is nearly double its nearest competitor – meaning that during any average minute of a month, nearly twice as many fans are on ESPNcricinfo as any other sports destination.

ESPNcricinfo to provide the latest news and highlights on multiple platforms worldwide

The excitement of the World Twenty20 Championship breaks new ground this year, as ESPN3 will present exclusive live coverage of the cricket tournament in the U.S., making it available to 73 million households nationwide at no additional cost to fans.  In addition to delivering all the action on the pitch live from Sri Lanka, ESPNcricinfo will provide extensive coverage throughout the event from a team of seasoned experts and analysts globally and across platforms.

Damon Phillips, Vice President, ESPN3, said: “The World Twenty20 Championship is the biggest major cricket tournament we’re carrying exclusively on ESPN3 in the U.S. this year.  Removing the traditional pay per view barrier to this event and delivering it to a nationwide audience through the network is right in line with our mission to serve fans whenever and wherever they are.  In this case, we’re superserving passionate fans of the second most popular sport in the world.”

Arne Rees, Vice President, Digital Media, ESPN International, said: “ESPNcricinfo is preparing for one of its most comprehensive tournament packages to date around the World Twenty20. Our line-up of analysts, writers and services, plus enhanced services on multiple devices, is another step in ESPN’s bid to serve cricket supporters on multiple devices with the very best sporting content.”

Live Exclusively on ESPN3

ESPN3 will carry complete coverage of the World Twenty20 Championship in the U.S. exclusively live from Sri Lanka.  The multi-screen sports network – available online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members – will feature every match of the tournament, as well as the warm-up match between India vs. Pakistan on Monday, September 17.  ESPN3 will also carry studio programming from ESPN Caribbean in between matches on the same day as well as 30-minute wrap and highlight shows hosted by Mike Haysman with analyst Ricardo Powell at the conclusion of every match.  The entire tournament will be available for replay shortly after the conclusion of each match, with highlights from every match available on ESPN TV On Demand.  Additionally, the championship final will re-air on ESPN2 Sunday, October 7 at 1 p.m. ET.

England looks to repeat its first ever ICC tournament win from the 2010 World Twenty20 Championship, where they defeated Australia by 7 wickets in the final.  They will compete against a strong field of national teams, including West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India.  The group stage includes:

• Group A: England, India, Afghanistan
• Group B: Australia, West Indies, Ireland
• Group C: Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe
• Group D: Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh

ESPN3 delivered exclusive coverage of six World Twenty20 Qualifier Tournament matches in the U.S. in March.  The tournament was carried live from the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates, where the top two teams – Afghanistan and Ireland – advanced to the World Twenty20 Championship.  In addition, ESPN last year signed two four-year agreements with the ICC and Champions League Twenty20, adding more than 1,000 additional hours of cricket coverage to ESPN3’s programming slate through 2015.  Previously, ESPN3 carried Bangladesh home matches against top-tier visiting national teams, Sri Lanka Premier League, the 2010 Asia Cup, the Caribbean Regional Twenty20 Tournament and more.

Events from the ICC represent some of the most prestigious cricket matches in the world, sanctioned by the international governing body of cricket.  The complete World Twenty20 Championship schedule on ESPN3:

Date	Time (ET)	Match
Mon, Sep 17	4:15 a.m.	World Twenty20 Warm Up Match: India vs. Pakistan
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Tue, Sep 18	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 1st Match, Group C: Sri Lanka vs. Zimbabwe
		Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota
Wed, Sep 19	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 2nd Match, Group B: Australia vs. Ireland
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 3rd Match, Group A: Afghanistan vs. India
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Thu, Sep 20	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 4th Match, Group C: South Africa vs. Zimbabwe
		Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota
Fri, Sep 21	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 5th Match, Group D: Bangladesh vs. New Zealand
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 6th Match, Group A: Afghanistan vs. England
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sat, Sep 22	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 7th Match, Group C: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
		Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 8th Match, Group B: Australia vs. West Indies
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sun, Sep 23	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 9th Match, Group D: New Zealand vs. Pakistan
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 10th Match, Group A: England vs. India
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Mon, Sep 24	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 11th Match, Group B: Ireland vs. West Indies
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Tue, Sep 25	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 12th Match, Group D: Bangladesh vs. Pakistan
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Thu, Sep 27	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 13th Match, Super Eights, Group 1: TBC v TBC (C1 v D2)
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 14th Match, Super Eights, Group 1:  TBC v TBC (A1 v B2)
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Fri, Sep 28	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 15th Match, Super Eights, Group 2: TBC v TBC (D1 v C2)
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 16th Match, Super Eights, Group 2: TBC v TBC (B1 v A2)
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sat, Sep 29	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 17th Match, Super Eights, Group 1: TBC v TBC (A1 v D2)
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 18th Match, Super Eights, Group 1: TBC v TBC (C1 v B2)
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Sun, Sep 30	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 19th Match, Super Eights, Group 2: TBC v TBC (B1 v C2)
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 20th Match, Super Eights, Group 2: TBC v TBC (D1 v A2)
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Mon, Oct 1	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 21st Match, Super Eights, Group 1: TBC v TBC (B2 v D2)
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 22nd Match, Super Eights, Group 1: TBC v TBC (A1 v C1)
		Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Tue, Oct 2	5:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 23rd Match, Super Eights, Group 2: TBC v TBC (B1 v D1)
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
	9:45 a.m.	World Twenty20 24th Match, Super Eights, Group 2: TBC v TBC (A2 v C2)
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Thu, Oct 4	9:15 a.m.	World Twenty20 Semifinal #1: TBC v TBC (Super 8 Group-1 1 v Super 8 Group-2 2)
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Fri, Oct 5	9:15 a.m.	World Twenty20 Semifinal #2: TBC v TBC (Super 8 Group-2 1 v Super 8 Group-1 2)
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sun, Oct 7	9:15 a.m.	World Twenty20 Final: TBC v TBC
		R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Extensive Global Multiplatform Coverage from ESPNcricinfo

Online, ESPNcricinfo will provide a specially dedicated tournament section with the latest news, match previews and reports, plus in-depth features. Expert analysis will come from Ian Chappell, the former Australia cricket captain, Sanjay Manjrekar, the former India Test batsman, and, Ian Bishop, the former West Indies cricketer. Its writing team will include writers from five leading countries competing in the tournament: India (Sambit Bal), England (David Hopps), Australia (Daniel Brettig) and South Africa (Firdose Moonda).

ESPNcricinfo will cover the tournament comprehensively. ESPNcricinfo will also run a travel guide for those attending the tournament in Sri Lanka including information on where to stay, eat and drink. Sri Lankan internationals including Mahela Jayawardene and Muttiah Muralitharan will also contribute their tips and local knowledge for fans travelling to watch the competition.

For fans looking to engage in debate around the tournament, the ESPNcricinfo Fan Network provides the opportunity to comment on issues, vote in polls and interact via social media. ESPNcricinfo also offers a wide range of video content including press conferences, interviews and a daily video update that will include selected video highlights from each day’s matches, plus discussion and analysis presented by Harsha Bhogle, the leading Indian cricket journalist. Sam Collins and Jarrod Kimber take ESPNcricinfo’s video blog Two Chucks on a trip around Sri Lanka as they attend matches, analyze the action and provide a humorous glance behind the scenes with the fans and media.

On mobile, ESPNcricinfo will offer fans refreshed versions of its mobile apps on Apple and Android devices, with an enhanced user interface allowing for personalisation by users’ own favourite teams and players. The enhanced app, which will launch during the tournament, offers a “Full Screen” mode which delivers content on a full screen, and, a new “specials” section featuring content specially highlighted for the app. The app, alongside the mobile Web, features all the key content that sports fans expect from ESPNcricinfo including comprehensive live game coverage, up-to-the-minute match pictures and commentary and match stats.

About ESPN3

ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members.  It is currently available to 73 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider.  The network is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

About ESPNcricinfo

ESPNcricinfo is the world’s leading online destination for cricket and among the top five most-visited single-sport online destinations in the world.  Founded in 1993 and acquired by ESPN in 2007, ESPNcricinfo is available to cricket fans through online media and on a host of mobile platforms and handheld devices. ESPNcricinfo continues to grow, averaging more than 9 million unique users monthly in the past 12 months (up 22 percent year-on-year). Across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa the site averaged more than 2 million monthly unique users during the same period.

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