“He sang The Young Ones … It was great. People were disappointed when the rain stopped and the tennis could begin! That’s the sort’ve thing we need to get involved in one-day cricket.

“Anyway, let’s say a wicket is taken. The bowler claps his hands … and out comes THE WALL OF DEATH! This is a giant sheet of cardboard standing on the pitch at the point of delivery. It’s about three metres-square and is basically an aluminium frame which the umpires can erect very quickly.

“It’s doused in petrol and is at the point of total combustion. Should he choose this option, the bowler can burst through the flames with that first delivery at the incoming batsman!

A music megastar like Delta belting out the anthem would help get the ODI crowds back. (Photo by Getty images)

“Imagine the cheers of delight! Imagine the thrill! Imagine betting on when THE WALL OF DEATH is going to be produced: will he go for it? Will he won’t go for it?

“Then we come to the question: what happens when we don’t get a wicket, a four or a six off every ball?

“My great innovation, and this is something Roy and I have been talking about for years, is this: if the batter fails to score a four or a six, he or she has to remove a piece of apparel. All of a sudden, a string of dot balls, and you’re standing there nude with a bat!

“How could you not want to see that? Imagine kids having memories they share with their grandkids: I was there the day Steve Smith was nude except for a bat, but he kept on scoring sixes!

Not quite like HG's 'Wall Of Death', but close enough. (Photo by Getty Images)

“Whatever worries the television broadcasters had about ODI cricket ratings would all disappear. Once those tickets went on sale, within half an hour they’d be gone.

“People have a fair idea about what they’re getting in a one-day match now; a bit of a lively start, then it settles down, they’re knocking the ball around and there’s a bit of a burst at the end. That’s all they get.

“But with this, every ball is magic. Every ball is theatre. Every ball is cricket.”