KEY POINTS:
Where's Red Adair when you need him?
Mind you, even the crusty old Texan, renowned as the most celebrated douser of out-of-control oil fires, would have his hands full sorting out the flames licking around the legs of world cricket.
In years to come, 2007-08 will sit alongside 1932-33 and 1977 as pivotal years in the game.
First there was the Bodyline row, when England's bowling tactics drew Australia's fury in an Ashes series and threatened a break in diplomatic relations between the countries.
Then came World Series Cricket and Kerry Packer's breakaway competition run in opposition to the official game.
Now there's a bad mix of flavours in the alphabet soup - ICC, IPL, ICL, BCCI - and no immediate sign of anything other than an unsettled stomach.
This week's announcement that Lou Vincent had breached his contract with New Zealand Cricket to join the rebel Indian Cricket League, moved things on a stage.
The first batch of New Zealand players to sign up were retired or on the outer in terms of national selection. Those on NZC contracts went through the correct procedure before moving to India.
Not Vincent, who took a course of action which reflected poorly on him. Mention his name to the NZC and the national players' association and a dark cloud forms above their heads.
Throw in the Board of Control for Cricket in India - take a deep breath after that, by the way - and its organisation of the officially-approved Indian Premier League, and the ramifications for national teams, starting with New Zealand, and it's an unholy mess.
What might have seemed like a little local Indian difficulty - an unhappy media organisation miffed at missing a substantial contract to screen Asian cricket starting its own competition - has turned into a mushroom cloud enveloping the game. No one will escape. The game will survive, but in what shape?
It seems no one under the International Cricket Council umbrella is willing to argue the toss with the Indians as they take the seat of dealer at the big table.
All sports need governing bodies with a mix of pragmatism and muscle.
And what about the England Cricket Board? Presumably being leaned on from Mumbai, they have suddenly whipped out something called a "No Objection Certificate" from their back pocket, which overseas players with a rebel contract must have before being cleared to play county cricket.
It sounds like something thought up in a pub car park with the cellphone up to the ear and an Indian dialling code on the small screen.
There's the small matter of legally binding contracts between counties and players but the ECB and Indian boards seem to have ignored that, or they're not too bothered about them.
You'll hear people talk about the changing landscape of cricket. It's not over yet, not by a long shot.
