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Mike Young, the American assistant coach of the Deccan Chargers, believes cricket can become “extremely successful” in his homeland if the current administration could “embrace change”.

A former baseball coach, Young became Australia's fielding coach under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting before a stint with India and then a move to the IPL.

"What most people involved in cricket in the USA don't know is that I've followed the progress very closely,” he told On Drive. “The difficulties have been there for many years but I have always believed, and still do, that cricket in the USA can become extremely successful quickly.”

IPL boss Lalit Modi has already announced plans to take the league to the US and Young added: "With the surge in interest for Twenty20 exploding worldwide, my belief has increased many times over. It will only happen, though, through the implementation of creative and futuristic coaching programmes and leadership.

“With all due respect to those hardworking coaches in the USA at present, they are not in the position to take the sport to the next level. This is no fault of their own – it's just a lack of professional background and resources.

“The bottom line is if the USACA [United States of America Cricket Association] truly wants to have an impact on the world scene and wants to grow its label in the USA, then it needs outside professional input in order to do so.

"The future for the USACA can be exceptionally bright but only if the willingness is there from their end to embrace change and accept the challenges with a positive and proactive mindset."