Foreign investors have been googly-eyed about English soccer for decades.
Now, they are buying into an even more quintessential English sport - cricket.
Auctions of franchises in a tournament called The Hundred have attracted investors from India, Silicon Valley and New York over the past few days.
The competition, similar to the lucrative and popular Indian Premier League , features flashy uniforms and NFL-style player entrances through smoke plumes.
It was a change of pace for traditionalists when it debuted four years ago - in part to attract younger fans and more women. Each franchise has a men's and women's team.
