The Lancashire captain and wicketkeeper-batsman was hopeful of being picked up in the inaugural draft for The Hundred on Sunday night. And with his knowledge of Old Trafford, and his close relationship with assistant coaches Glen Chapple and Mark Chilton, the Manchester Originals were his natural home.

Nonetheless, it was something of a surprise when Vilas was chosen as one of the Originals’ two first-round picks.

Not least to the man himself – which is why he hadn’t started watching yet.

The Originals’ overseas contingent consists of spinners Imran Tahir and Mitchell Santner and all-rounder Dan Christian, whom Vilas captained for the Jozi Stars in the Mzansi Super League, South Africa’s T20 franchise competition.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good squad,” says Vilas. “We’ve got lots of experience and some exciting youngsters as well.”

The future for Kolpak cricketers like Vilas is a little uncertain at present. Brexit is quite complicated enough on its own, without trying to work out what impact it might have on South African cricketers plying their trade as domestic players in England.

But Vilas’s vision is focused entirely on 2020 – both for his newly minted franchise, and for his old-fashioned county.

“It’s just going to make us a stronger team. Also in terms of leadership, I’ll be away, Livvy will be away, a lot of the senior players will be away, so it’ll be nice to get some fresh perspective from the younger players.”