No 136, Sept 9 - The Grumbler's County Cricket Newsletter

🟢 H*ndred franchise sales begin despite Essex rejecting agreement 🟣 Time for you to do your bit 🔴 Surrey sign spinner for one game? 🟤 Two head coaches to leave 🔵 Durham, Worcs, Lancs moves

Sep 09, 2024

UPDATE: I have edited the section of this intro on the revenue split. I made an important confusion. Apologies.

We are in the last-chance saloon, so why not roll the dice?

For me, there is no point looking within cricket to ask serious questions about the governance of the game and specifically the issues surrounding the sale of franchises in the tournament-that-shall-not-be-named.

This week, the agreement over the ‘direction of travel’ started to splinter with Essex revealing they had informed the ECB of their unanimous vote to reject the framework of the deal ($).

But a couple of days later, the governing body announced the sales process had started as planned anyway.

If the ECB had ever been prepared to listen, put these fundamental, far-reaching changes they are enacting to rightful votes at county or member-level or truly consider opposing views then we would not be in this mess.

Broadly, the non-hosts are so skint they will do anything for a short-term cash injection while the hosts are impatiently waiting to sell having used their existing strength to slice off the vast majority of this pie.

Write to them if you like but, for me, neither group are going to be much use here.

So if you disagree with the route English cricket is taking regarding the sale of the franchises in the tournament-that-shall-not-be-named then write to your MP and Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, asking for scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority or maybe yet another Select Committee session. Or Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Sport.

Contact your MP - UK Parliament

I’ll be putting together some guidance about what to say and how to say it in the next week or so. Send me your email if you would like to receive it. Add it to this spreadsheet

But I have seen a couple of you are already on the case:

kelvinlockwxyz

A post shared by @kelvinlockwxyz

Kelvin Lockway’s letter (@kelvinlockwxyz) to Lisa Nandy, above. Click to view
Letter from Somerest fan Dan Kingdom to his club. He’s going the club route, see this tweet.

The fiasco of the European Super League was stopped days after it was announced only via government action, fuelled by significant fan protests and media pressure. Remember Man United v Liverpool being called off due to fans breaking into Old Trafford?

No one wants that nonsense and, let’s be honest, no one cares that much about county cricket. For various reasons, the cricket media has been largely lily-livered throughout this saga, which is partly how the ECB have managed to create and push the event down this path without having to adequately deal with the disinfectant of open scrutiny.

That is why it all stinks so badly.

This is a permanent decision with huge ramifications being rushed through with undue haste and little or no proper discussion. You can’t talk of ‘missing opportunities’ and say act ‘now, now, now’ and then trumpet 200 solid indications of interest.

Why not accept that you will receive 100 and spend time getting everyone happier with the deal? Or at least a fairer long-term distribution.

If you write these letters you may be told you are selfish, endangering the future of the sport and, most certainly, will cause counties to go out of business.

I have had some of that flak this week.

Please DO NOT write a word if you believe the ECB have acted with integrity and for the good of the whole of cricket in their words and actions throughout the past eight years regarding county cricket and the tournament-that-shall-not-be-named. And you trust them with the future of the game.

However, I remember when those £1.3m payments were the answer. Back then, all 19 bodies (the 18 counties and the MCC) owned this venture equally. That was 5.6 per cent each.

Clearly, those numbers do not apply anymore.

Here’s how the 49 per cent supposedly being sold in the next few months would be distributed:

A Telegraph article in May said “the first £275 million will be split equally between 19 clubs, the next £150 million will go only on the non-hosts and anything above that divided between the 19 again”. And that “if the ECB raises £400 million a non-host will receive a cash injection of £22 million. A host ground will land £14.5 million but with the power to sell its own 51 per cent stake.”

In a webinar to members this week, here’s how Essex broke down the distribution of a £50m sale for 51% of a franchise owned by host clubs. Which can be sold, in part of its entirety, at a later date.

Selling hosts get £40m (80 per cent of revenue)
Recreational game gets £5m (10 per cent of revenue)
All 19 stakeholders take an equal share of the other £5m, £263k (10 per cent of revenue)

Very importantly hosts also retain:

Ongoing revenue from hosting games. I have read this can be £1m per year but, clearly, it depends.

There is short-term equity in the distribution. The ECB can argue that the non-hosts are the greater beneficiaries from the 49 per cent sales. But, in the longer term, the hosts take most of the pie, especially if overall franchise value goes up. Then there is the ongoing revenue.

For the non-hosts, this cash injection is ‘one and done’. You can only sell the family silver one.

Am I reading too much into Notts being able to freeze membership prices but Leicestershire having to raise theirs significantly? If I have it right the difference between their standard single membership is £91 while Notts offer international ticket privileges and, more often than not, a higher standard of Championship cricket. Once again the distress signals coming out of Leicestershire this week were worrying. But they have to do something.

And yet, in stereotypical fashion, here’s how the ECB’s press release described the distribution.

“The proceeds from the sale will be shared across the recreational and professional game, securing its long-term financial sustainability across England and Wales and upholding the growth of women’s cricket and the grassroots game.”

If you look at the above calculations, they clearly have a different definition of ‘shared to me. The rich are only getting richer in the current scenario as the real value will be seen in the later sales. The powers-that-be are not only locking in inequality but bitterness and resentment. And the interest compounds very quickly on the latter over time.

Remember, speaking to Sky recently, ECB CEO Richard Gould as good as admitted external investment was the goal all along and his predecessors would have been “more honest” but for the fact they would not have got the acquiescence they wanted.

And nothing has happened as a result of this bombshell revealing fundamental deceit from a governing body to its major stakeholders creating far-reaching inequality.

Nada.

Zip.

Personally, I am tired of the genial, kindly-uncle demeanour in the old battalion tie while toeing the line. I am sure both Richards are good people but that does not mean they are good for cricket. History will judge them extremely harshly for u-turning and buckling under despite being appointed to handle a horrible situation not of their making. The tournament-that-shall-not-be-named will be cemented into cricket’s foundations while they stood around in hard hats waving the trucks onto the site.

Their acquiescence and inaction are in many ways worse than the skullduggery of the previous lot because they arrived with our best wishes and highest hopes.

It is possible to quit a job on principle if you do not agree with the direction of your organisation. I did it, halving my salary and partially ruining my career in the process. I have never regretted that decision but I wrote a book about many of the issues it created.

(NB: For personal reasons and linked to the above, I need a proper, decent-paying job very soon now. This issue, on top of my utter despondency with and contempt for the governance of English cricket, means The Grumbler may be retired over the winter. If these sales go through, I am not going to spend hours and hours each week whistling in the wind. Maybe I create some sort of AI thing to produce a set of links for you but if, as I predicted long ago, franchise cricket all but consumes county cricket, there is no point writing about the crumbs).

I remember when the franchises and counties were going to be entirely separate. Now the latter have been gifted 51 per cent and retaining the very significant, annual revenue as hosts. They will take responsibility for running them going forward. There is risk in this but it is not commensurate with the potential reward

God knows I am no Tory (though in fairness John Major was a class above the shower they have now). But he is the type of influential politician we need batting for county cricket.

This is another bait and switch that makes huge fundamental changes. Those of us on the outside cannot be sure of how much was deliberate and planned from the start.

And again, no one has been held to account. At least, not without banking a big bonus or being allowed back in the sport at a later date.

So why should we believe the current situation, which already impoverishes half of the counties, will not screw them over even more going forward?

In a few years, the story will change. A set of new suits will arrive, subtlely blaming the old suits for the problems and, buoyed up by broadcasters and consultants, will look to squeeze the last few drops of integrity out of the sport. Because they are going to need more and more money.

County Championship - previews

Click on a different team name for a different preview

Division One

Durham vs Lancashire

Essex vs Nottinghamshire

Kent vs Hampshire

Somerset vs Surrey

Worcestershire vs Warwickshire

Division Two

Leicestershire vs Yorkshire

Middlesex vs Gloucestershire

Northamptonshire vs Derbyshire

Sussex vs Glamorgan

News from Previous Matches

Farhan Ahmed, 16, eclipses WG Grace’s record with ten wickets on debut | Times

Farhan Ahmed emulates WG Grace as Surrey's title charge is slowed | ESPNCricinfo

Gloucestershire stun Bears in low-scorer to book Finals Day spot

Banton, Kohler-Cadmore make the difference as Somerset overpower Northants

Player and coaches - signings, contracts, departures

Surrey confirm Shakib Al Hasan move for Somerset fixture | ESPNcricinfo

Shakib Al Hasan set to play one County Championship match for Surrey | ESPNcricinfo

Surrey have lost a lot of players as usual. But adding a star spinner for one, very big game? Hmm. Still, signing players for the short-term is common. One example I remember was Somerset taking Murali Vijay for the final three games of the 2019 season.

Essex had lost Peter Siddle and then Mohammad Amir so they played those last three games without any overseas at all, promoting young players like Aaron Beard and, for the decider at Taunton, Aron Nijjar. It was probably linked to money and at the time I would have been very happy if they had brought in someone but, all the same, I was proud of that.

It all depends on your definition of short-term, I suppose.

As some act of balance here, Essex’s one-off signing of Dwayne Bravo for T20 Finals day in 2010 is seen as the pinnacle of short-term stupidity. It failed, wiped out much of the prize money they had earned and lead to a rule change.

Durham sign Chemar Holder for Championship run-in | ESPNcricinfo

Ben Allison: Worcestershire sign Essex all-rounder permanently - BBC Sport

Will Rhodes: Durham sign Warwickshire all-rounder on three-year deal - BBC Sport

Martin Andersson & Jack Morley join Derbyshire on loan - BBC Sport

Chris Wood: Hampshire seam bowler signs new one-year contract - BBC Sport

Felix Organ: Hampshire all-rounder signs two-year contract extension - BBC Sport

Matt Walker: Kent head coach to leave role after eight years at end of season - BBC Sport

Matt Walker stepping down as Kent head coach, Matthew Mott in frame as replacement | ESPNcricinfo

John Sadler sacked as Northamptonshire coach after Vitality Blast exit | ESPNcricinfo

News, Views and Interviews

ECB fires starting gun on £500m sale of Hundred teams | Times

Private equity firm CVC in talks over buying Hundred cricket franchise | The Hundred | The Guardian

ECB attempt to brush off latest setback in The Hundred sell-off | The Cricketer ($)

CVC were always going to get involved.

But has anyone been looking at rugby union recently? If I was Surrey I would not go near. Then again, when you swim with sharks do not complain if you get bitten.

Here’s what the Guardian article says about their role.

“CVC’s involvement in British sport has been less successful, with a £700m investment in rugby union yet to deliver a return. CVC paid £230m for 27% in Premiership Rugby six years ago before spending £120m on 30% of Pro14 Rugby 12 months later, investments which have not delivered the desired results.

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“The CVC money was largely squandered on player costs, and Worcester Warriors, Wasps and London Irish have since gone bust. There were also problems in CVC’s relationship with the clubs on an institutional level, with their recommendation of Darren Childs as Premiership Rugby chief executive backfiring and leading to his departure after less than two years.”

Here’s the view of Owen Slot. Remember if Wasps and Worcester Warriors can go bust then so can Middlesex and Worcestershire.

CVC deal has sucked the life out of the Gallagher Premiership | Times

Here’s another interesting line from the Guardian

“The ECB is hoping to raise about £500m by selling 49% of the eight franchises, with insiders saying the London teams are valued at about £300m between them.”

So 60 per cent of the value comes from two franchises, both in London?

Clearly, history plays a major part. However, the capital brings a premium in football sales too and the big northern teams have London offices.

If Durham and Somerset (and any others) have all been brought onside with the promise of getting one of the two much-discussed expansion franchises then they are naïve. Ditto, ‘the expansion of the game across the country’ nonsense. The ECB have created a football-style beast that will need constant feeding. Remember Premier League teams lost a combined £800m last year and some of the Champions League side are state-funded.

I predict the desire to create a third London franchise will overcome all the logistical issues. Arguably the biggest cricket game of the year was played in a pop-up stadium and franchises do not need permanent homes.

This would leave bitterness and regret at a couple of counties. But it will be too late by then.

Same old story.

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Owners may show same loyalty as fans if they faced 10-year commitment clause | Football | The Guardian

On the flipside of this, here’s a piece by the Grimsby Town vice-chair on flushing out the charlatans in football ownership. And the different types of money you need.

English cricket seems to be wandering into this world with a naive smile and pound signs in its eyes expecting the experience to be different.

If we are linking team ownership to a Netflix show (Ryan Reynolds) what happens when it is cancelled? If you link it to local football clubs (Nottm Forest) what happens if the team gets relegated or the owner over-reaches financially?

Or was just a wrong un to start with?

Leicestershire: County Championship club seeks investment under mounting financial pressure - BBC Sport

What Should India's Role Be in the World? An Essay on Cricket’s Spiritual Battle with Itself | Broken Cricket Dreams Cricket Blog

Private Equity Targets $30 Billion Youth Sports Industry | Bloomberg

Top women teams to play T20 Blast and One Day Cup from 2025 | ESPNcricinfo

Shake it, Break it, Make it Bounce! – Rain Stopped Play, inspection at 3

Field of dreams? How some professional cricketers continue to pay the price for sporting excellence | The Conversation

Yorkshire hire ex-Saracens financial officer who left after salary-cap scandal | Telegraph

Anyone for cricket? Pubs boss switches to competitive socialising | Times

Gloucestershire v Northants Abandonment | Chair's Update | Gloucestershire CCC

All these disciplinary issues take too long. This sort of abandonment is rare but not unprecedented. We are at the end of the season, there could be promotion, prize money and contracts at stake.

Why has a framework not been worked up over this? So a decision can be streamlined leaving, if necessary, the appeals process to bear the delay.

Same with Feroze Khushi’s bat in the opening weeks of the season.

Rob Key ‘frustrated’ as light fiasco robs booing fans of play on day one | Telegraph

More bad-light farce at The Oval as Chris Woakes is forced to bowl spin mid-over | ESPNcricinfo

I am tired of the talk of disruption in some areas. Those involving ownership, players and money.

But when it comes to anything involving supporters, we just see shrugging shoulders.

They are paying top dollar to sit all day in Autumnal weather under expensive, state-of-the-art floodlights that ARE NOT USED when it gets a bit dark.

These may be ICC regulations and safety is critical but compromise must be possible. Just bring pressure to bear.

And finally…

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