Thursday April 04, 2024 at 6:59 am
The Earth has once again revolved around the Sun. Cricket’s County Championship resumes tomorrow (45 per cent chance of rain in Durham at 11am; rain expected later in Hove).
We are almost 12 months away from acknowledging that English cricket is institutionally racist and appear to be getting closer to an influx of private equity money. However, the game remains broken if it is not broken.
I spent part of the Easter weekend reading Batting for Time, a lively account of the state of English county cricket today. Published last week, Ben Bloom’s book made headlines with a quote from Durham’s CEO, Tim Bostock, in which he described county members as Luddites – not once, but four times.
Bloom’s description is timely, and very much of the moment. It’s a snapshot at the cusp of a potentially revolutionary change in the economics of gaming.
A book to read now, and then to marvel at in five or 10 years time at how much things have changed, or perhaps to be intoxicated with confidence at cricket’s inability to take advantage of the opportunity presented by investors. There may be mathematics of IPL. It was implemented globally – including cities in England.
cricket calendar glitch
This year’s cricket calendar is as chaotic as last year’s, with the Championship making way for The Hundred in August and a number of meaningless England white-ball matches at the climax of the domestic season in September.
England and Wales Cricket Board points finger at counties for standing in the way of rationalisation; The salaried members, who ultimately control most of the counties, blame the governing body for pursuing greed at the expense of cricket’s domestic heritage.
And yet it is the England team whose commercial success promotes counties, and reduces the contribution of membership fees.
Bloom projects a total of 69,000 full county members in 2022. Almost a quarter of them were in a single county, Surrey. Lord’s has a capacity of 31,180. It fills up for international matches, but has smaller numbers of spectators for Middlesex’s red-ball home matches., An attendance of 61,534 attended Saturday’s Tottenham vs. Luton match, the highest attended Premier League game of the weekend.
Top-flight English football is in a league of its own, and perhaps an unfair comparison. Where other sports have struggled to retain their leading clubs – think both rugby codes – cricket has used the national team to keep its 18 counties alive despite its small paying membership.
County Games vs Hundred
The Hundred should be seen as an attempt to reduce this dependence on the England team, The tragedy is that a worthy cause has been pursued so badly, pitting county against county and alienating cricket’s staunchest supporters. This is symbolized by a cameo in Batting for Time, starring a cricket lover who takes a traditional scorebook to the matches in The Hundred, and uses it for the five-ball overs of the competition in place of the traditional six-ball overs. Adapts to fit overs.
In the last year, the Golden Goose England team has played 11 Test matches, winning only four. White-ball cricket has seen a more balanced return, but the competition that mattered – the World Cup in India – was a glaring failure.
It is appropriate, then, that the debate about the future of first-class counties largely revolves around their role in developing cricketers for the national team.
Perhaps in time the private owners of franchises in The Hundred will set up fantastic academies in England, providing a conveyor belt of talent for both the England team and the network of white-ball teams competing in franchise tournaments around the world.
words of wisdom
However, for now, the ECB would be wise to avoid undermining the county-based pathways that attract and nurture promising youngsters into the cricket infrastructure.
The largest counties – those that operate Test grounds and host franchises in The Hundred – may believe that their own academies are sufficient to meet England’s international needs. But their geographical spread is very narrow, even though they operate from more densely populated areas.
The concentration of power in already wealthy countries seems certain to increase, possibly to a great extent.
The ECB should focus on using the influx of outside investment to ensure that the eight to 10 counties outside the guild circle have enough resources to deliver a vibrant red-ball competition in the second phase of the game, which has never been possible. -Try sometimes. white-ball cup upsets, and maintaining a thriving local grassroots game capable of developing talented professional cricketers.
I have heard all sides of the debate within cricket in recent months. Some are deeply ingrained and increasingly bitter. What baffles me is that so many heroes want it all, when the solution is for everyone to have their own share of the action.
No one needs to give up ambition, but everyone needs to embrace reality – and each other – and share the spoils accordingly.
and then there were nine
During the snooze-fest that was the Premier League’s much-publicized goalless draw between Manchester City and Arsenal, my eyes remained glued to the intrusive digiboard surrounding the pitch. Specifically Sky Sports advertises for nine golf majors.
nine? Last time I checked there were four. I know global inflation has risen again recently, but really? Fool me further for such a male-centric explanation.
The Men’s Masters begins next Thursday. The first of five women’s major championships, the Chevron Championship, sees the first golfers tee off a week later at The Woodlands, Texas. The Old Course, St Andrews is the final venue for the women’s major event in late August.
Are you sure?
City fans unfurled a banner at an Arsenal match in protest against the rise in season ticket prices. DigiBoards tells the story of their club today.
I counted 25 ads on rotation, which surprisingly included CFD, crypto and betting companies, UAE-focused businesses ranging from telecoms to hotels to real estate, US appliance and water solutions companies, South Korean tyres, a Hong Kong direct marketing business , Japanese beer and. Cars and an Australian antiperspirant brand called Rexona.
Turns out this last one is owned by Unilever and branded Sure in the UK. But perhaps British armpits weren’t the most attractive target market for personal items on Sunday.
“I’m excited to be working with Rexona again, especially as it helps bring me and the club closer to home through this global partnership.” Julian Alvarez, Man City forward and Rexona brand ambassador. Then it’s clear.
Ed Warner is President of GB Wheelchair Rugby and writes his sports column on sportsinc.substack.com
