While there surely is too much cricket, it's caused when there are so many leagues competing with each other for more or less the same players. When we have these leagues operating together rather than independently, we'll see the same players playing a lot less, as it's only one team they'll play for, not more than one, like one per league.
While franchise ownership is a touchy issue, cricket needs to move away from the national pride that exists. That's doing far more damage to the game than good. People just don't enjoy the game anymore; they root only for their country, and that was mentioned by many columnists, from Shashi Tharoor to Sir Viv Richards. Just recently, Michael Clarke scored a 50 but there were no cheers, and he had to force the issue by hitting a four just a little later. That's diametrically opposite to Kolkatans wildly cheering Shoaib Akhtar as he got Sehwag out cheaply and blitzed through the Delhi team.
While there is a feeling of emptiness to some watching Delhi Daredevils against Mumbai Indians, there's a lot less tension to some others. You don't break down and shut shop when one team loses; you just enjoy the game. Frankly, this congregation of cricketing greats for a league of teams owned by franchises would be a lot better than the numerous ODI tournaments played for Pepsi rather than national pride, with no great cricket on show.
While I'd still love to see Tendulkar smash Warne or Lee around the park, I'd still love to have at least one of them in my team. They can't play for India, so at least they'll play for a franchise I support.
Good points but I tend to disagree with the overall tone.
International Test Cricket is supposed to be the toughest form of cricket. It involves ultimate test of skill, temperament, and stamina. So, representing one's own national teams mean the ultimate scenario, because, unlike in the case of club-based competition, here there are no second chances. If you perform a bit badly in a top club, you may get transferred to a weaker one, and still play at the same level. But in Test cricket, you perform badly and you're dropped, then you've to toil hard in the First class level to come back again.
So, it's the ultimate challenge for a sportsperson, and involves playing in difficult conditions, including places where crowd support is next to zero. And that is when you become completely "rounded" as a cricketer. Like in life, in test cricket also you have to expect the worst and experience the best.
I am not against Club cricket. It is just that, entertainment. And do not mind it as long as it does not affect test cricket. It may eat up the ODIs. Test cricket, as Kevin Peitersen said, "Is what seperates men from the boys".
And again, take the example of football. Even though EPL attracts humoungous attention, it never can emulate a World Cup in terms of passion, viewership and following. It offers a chance to re-identify ourselves with our nation-states, and be proud of it.