No 23, July 28 - The Grumbler's County Cricket Newsletter
All the Royal London Cup information | Mike Hendrick obits | Sedbergh and Scarbados videos | Cricket Supporters' Assoc survey results | All change at Middlesex | Cricket sprouts in Brussels
So, how are you feeling? Has the past week changed your views on cricket in this country?
Taking the temperature on social media, it seems doubtful that the events of the past seven days have led any cricket fans to change their outlook over the tournament-that-shall-not-be-named. If anything, most seem to have entrenched their position.
Personally, I am trying to take a longer and quieter view, hence I am off cricket social media for a while. The Sky deal in 2005 was initially hailed as a huge success. Its effects, both positive and mostly negative, were not seen for years. Then there are the unintended consequences for which no-one can account. So it is best not to pronounce hit or miss after a few games. Open minds are few and far between right now on both sides. But always remember, you can want change in English cricket and not want this tournament.
The only things I feel sure about at this stage are the same points I made in Last-Wicket Stand, which was published a year ago this week. 1) It has been engineered and funded to be portrayed as a success, 2) there will be losers somewhere, almost certainly in county cricket, 3) the process of development, collaboration and introduction has been shameful to such an extent that I no longer have any trust in the sport's governing body.
And, regarding the age issue. Remember if you are 51 like me then you are the same age as Sanjay Patel, who conceived the idea, Stephen Lyle, who leads the BBC’s coverage, and a couple of years older than Tom Harrison, the ECB's chief executive. The ex-chairman Colin Graves is 73. Then there are the cheerleaders, Messers Tufnell, 55, and Vaughan, 46.
Of course, if you look at the Royal London Cup games this week, the difference is stark. Much older, much quieter. But the T20 Blast is similarly raucous, with bigger crowds and capable of raising much more money. There is already talk of contracting that tournament next season in the wake of the new event.
It would be akin to stepping on the windpipe of the county game while it gasps for air.
Royal London Cup
All the Royal London Cup reports
Royal London Cup podcasts from the chaps and chapesses at County Cricket Natters
Durham CCC to offer free tickets to key workers for One Day cup fixture (CricketWorld)
50 and out? Why one-day cricket may fall through the cracks (The Cricket Paper)
My piece from The Cricket Paper at the weekend. I am enjoying the Royal London Cup but I fear for the product (sorry) of 50-over cricket.
Tom Westley and Essex have their sights set on Royal London Cup silverware
I have put my money where my mouth is - £5 on Essex to win the Royal London Cup at 8/1.
In a momentous week for domestic cricket, one match stood out (Guardian)
A recap on the past week from the Guardian. Sedbergh looked incredible, see video below. Paul Edwards certainly thought so.
News, views and interviews
OK, here are some stories about the tournament-that-shall-not-be-named. I’m trying not to be one-eyed but totally failing.
A brilliant piece by David Hopps, one of the best cricket writers around. It nails the guilty, the lazy and the weak-willed in this sorry tale. And, like the best whodunnits, no-one gets off without a stain on their reputation. But, overall, what comes across is the sadness and bemusement at the realisation that, despite the best intentions, British professional sport now exists in a world that knows the price of everything and value of nothing.
A fair-minded piece in the Cricketer. The television audience and website metrics show that the tournament has gained some interest. Then again, with my cynical hat on, the World Cup final was the first free-to-air game for 14 years and the audience was huge despite a fraction of the hype and twin attractions of the Wimbeldon men’s final and the British Grand Prix on the same day.
Want the truth about the Hundred? It's smoke, mirrors and gimmickry (Cricinfo)
But, like George Dobell in this magnificent piece, the spin and half-truths told in the build-up of the event mean I have no faith in the figures I am being told. Also, how much of the success is simply down to the cricket being… well cricket.
Middlesex appoint Andrew Cornish as CEO (Middlesex CCC)
Middlesex needed to make changes. Firstly, they required a new CEO after the unfortunate illness of Richard Goatley. Secondly, they had to do something about their alarming form in all areas of the game. Stuart Law now reports directly to the CEO after Angus Fraser was moved last week. The word "streamlined" is used here. Make of that what you will.
"Our club was established in 1866, but we believe that cricket was first played 30km outside Brussels by the Duke of Wellington’s foot soldiers days before the Battle of Waterloo in 1815."
And they fielded 100 players in various teams over a weekend recently.
Mike Hendrick: Former England, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire bowler dies aged 72 (BBC Sport)
Mike Hendrick: an obituary (Peakfan Blog)
A great pace bowler from yesteryear and sitting next to Ian Botham in this picture taken less than two weeks ago.
Let’s interrupt this newsletter for a game of county cricket
OK, so this is only a week old. Not my usual vintage. But just scrub through this for the views of Sedbergh School. What a marvelous setting. The game saw a great finish and the day’s stream received 187,000 views.
Links I like…
Join the Cricket Supporters Association, it’s free
Here’s Becky Fairlie-Clarke talking to Guerilla Cricket about the results of the recent survey. She presents clear views from a sample of 3,000 fans, a quarter of whom were under 25 years-old.
Here’s my interview with them last year when Last-Wicket Stand came out.
County Cricket Matters - Buy the magazine direct or on Kindle
County Cricket Natters podcast on the Royal London Cup in conjunction with The Cricketer
Tweet of the Week
What a picture of the 🐐. That jacket. That upturned collar. That famous gasometer. That faded 60s colour palette. Oh and the numbers are decent too.
Finally…
So this chap went to Scarborough last week to see his first ever cricket match. Made a little film on his phone and put it on YouTube. It’s handheld, wonky and not that crickety. But it has made me utterly determined to go to Scarbados the next time Essex play there.
Finally, finally…
Yes, I am still plugging my book on county cricket and midlife.
Buy through Amazon or through me for an autographed copy
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