🟤Masood & Mike to Yorks 🟢Are Sky running English cricket? 🔴Members meetings over Strauss review 🔵Botham has his say 🟠Lancs fans are 'awkward' 🟣What did you do in cricket's civil war?
Lovely stuff as ever! I missed one day of our (Hampshire) opening Championship match (v Notts) for a prior, interesting event but I keep making the point that not only was I following intently on my phone but as a Member (since 1961) my seat is paid for whether I make it or not. Some football clubs publish attendances including all season-ticket holders. Cricket should do the same.
Hello, I totally agree with you that it’s a very warped look at cricket. I especially agree that all the franchise cricket is just so that tv has some live sport to show. I’m a Northamptonshire season ticket holder and love all styles of cricket, but I need to be invested in it to get real enjoyment. Either at club or international level.
The current Test match is a case in point, that test cricket is alive and kicking and in an exciting way. Yet, on the 8-40 BBC Breakfast sport bulletin this morning all that was mentioned was the proposed Takeover of Manchester United, not a word about Stuart Broad’s remarkable spell. The BBC also think that they know best what viewers want. They are also, mainly wrong. Keep up the good work
Mike Atherton's recent article on the Strauss Review and the need for counties' voice to be heard was excellent. He mentions two fears felt by counties: 1] The proposed reduction of championship matches per season. 2] The proposed structure of the championship with a premier division of six counties and a second division of 12 counties [in two equal 'conferences' of six counties. Only one county would be promoted and one demoted each year.
It is the second fear which in my opinion is the crucial one. By this the very existence of up to 12 counties is threatened. The second division counties will be 'feeders' to the top division. With such a minimal up/down movement annually there will be an 'Us' and 'Them' separation. 'Us' will be the 'big and rich' counties, typically with Test grounds; 'Them' will be the other counties which could gradually wither away. The movement of promising youngsters from second division counties to the first division counties - a process we already see - will be hastened. The counties either side of the dividing line - counties 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 - are likely to employ short-term stars to boost their chances of staying up in Division One or of escaoing from Division Two: something that is the opposite of developing home-grown young players.
The first fear MA refers to -- the proposed reduction of championship matches -- is possibly a decoy thrown in by Strauss to divert attention from the second fear, which is the Main Menace: the existential threat to all but six 'top' counties.
It is for this reason that it is imperative for the counties to reject this destructine review.
Many thanks for the newsletter and the comments related to the demographic profile of the crowd. A lot of really important points on diversity (which comes in many forms) and exclusion (ditto) Too many for a glib comment BTL. Keep doing what you are doing and I will reflect on the fact that my fantasy team has six players on a bye week. Sack the selector
Encouraging to read Richard Gould's comments that the Strauss review is dead in the water (thanks Bazball!) but if the Hundred is going to continue to occupy the school summer holidays, we should expand the County Championship to 16 fixtures (so last season's first and second would actually have played each other twice!)
These two matches - plus maybe one or two more of the others squished into April - would be played in August. So fans get to watch Sir Alastair, Jimmy, and many other fabulous red-ball exponents who will not ever be involved in the Hundred. Having some "below strength" sides will be better than having an unfair fixture list, depending on who you play once. It still makes the CC a fairer contest and more worth winning. And if one adds in the need to bring players back from injury, and maybe trial substitutes in these August games, they could be really useful, as well as entertaining in a month of virtual cricket drought for county fans of all shades.
I don't have a dog but I get the point. For me it's a lifetime playing music with other people. No-one outside bits of Pompey has heard of me, I've lost as much money as you have on the dog (times 55 years!) but (a) there's no season, it's all year round and (b) even as a normally stiff 73-year-old I'm still fit enough to gig (not sure I could still throw a ball back to Sir Alastair). But the like the dog thing and loving county cricket it's not rational, it's emotional.
John Major would be absolutely the worst choice for the role, we need somebody who can bridge across differences of opinion and bring about consensus in a way that Major proved many times that he can't over our relations with Europe.
By referring to 'English rugby' I think you have fallen into Rugby Union's deliberate and obvious trap of attempting to convince everybody that there is only one code of rugby (and to a large extent they are being successful as evidenced by your use of the above phrase). I'm sure you will wish to amend your phrase so that Rugby League is not linked with your observations......
Lovely stuff as ever! I missed one day of our (Hampshire) opening Championship match (v Notts) for a prior, interesting event but I keep making the point that not only was I following intently on my phone but as a Member (since 1961) my seat is paid for whether I make it or not. Some football clubs publish attendances including all season-ticket holders. Cricket should do the same.
Hello, I totally agree with you that it’s a very warped look at cricket. I especially agree that all the franchise cricket is just so that tv has some live sport to show. I’m a Northamptonshire season ticket holder and love all styles of cricket, but I need to be invested in it to get real enjoyment. Either at club or international level.
The current Test match is a case in point, that test cricket is alive and kicking and in an exciting way. Yet, on the 8-40 BBC Breakfast sport bulletin this morning all that was mentioned was the proposed Takeover of Manchester United, not a word about Stuart Broad’s remarkable spell. The BBC also think that they know best what viewers want. They are also, mainly wrong. Keep up the good work
Just to thank you for your efforts on publishing the letter.
Mike Atherton's recent article on the Strauss Review and the need for counties' voice to be heard was excellent. He mentions two fears felt by counties: 1] The proposed reduction of championship matches per season. 2] The proposed structure of the championship with a premier division of six counties and a second division of 12 counties [in two equal 'conferences' of six counties. Only one county would be promoted and one demoted each year.
It is the second fear which in my opinion is the crucial one. By this the very existence of up to 12 counties is threatened. The second division counties will be 'feeders' to the top division. With such a minimal up/down movement annually there will be an 'Us' and 'Them' separation. 'Us' will be the 'big and rich' counties, typically with Test grounds; 'Them' will be the other counties which could gradually wither away. The movement of promising youngsters from second division counties to the first division counties - a process we already see - will be hastened. The counties either side of the dividing line - counties 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 - are likely to employ short-term stars to boost their chances of staying up in Division One or of escaoing from Division Two: something that is the opposite of developing home-grown young players.
The first fear MA refers to -- the proposed reduction of championship matches -- is possibly a decoy thrown in by Strauss to divert attention from the second fear, which is the Main Menace: the existential threat to all but six 'top' counties.
It is for this reason that it is imperative for the counties to reject this destructine review.
Stewart Francis
Forty years ago playing with my son's on the outfield at Northampton.
Both devoted to the game now.
Having been to Lords and Chelmsford it’s been great to see lots of us ladies attending this year
Many thanks for the newsletter and the comments related to the demographic profile of the crowd. A lot of really important points on diversity (which comes in many forms) and exclusion (ditto) Too many for a glib comment BTL. Keep doing what you are doing and I will reflect on the fact that my fantasy team has six players on a bye week. Sack the selector
Encouraging to read Richard Gould's comments that the Strauss review is dead in the water (thanks Bazball!) but if the Hundred is going to continue to occupy the school summer holidays, we should expand the County Championship to 16 fixtures (so last season's first and second would actually have played each other twice!)
These two matches - plus maybe one or two more of the others squished into April - would be played in August. So fans get to watch Sir Alastair, Jimmy, and many other fabulous red-ball exponents who will not ever be involved in the Hundred. Having some "below strength" sides will be better than having an unfair fixture list, depending on who you play once. It still makes the CC a fairer contest and more worth winning. And if one adds in the need to bring players back from injury, and maybe trial substitutes in these August games, they could be really useful, as well as entertaining in a month of virtual cricket drought for county fans of all shades.
I don't have a dog but I get the point. For me it's a lifetime playing music with other people. No-one outside bits of Pompey has heard of me, I've lost as much money as you have on the dog (times 55 years!) but (a) there's no season, it's all year round and (b) even as a normally stiff 73-year-old I'm still fit enough to gig (not sure I could still throw a ball back to Sir Alastair). But the like the dog thing and loving county cricket it's not rational, it's emotional.
Please keep up the marvelous and supportive newsletter. We have to make sure we keep a minimum of 14 CC games.🤓
John Major would be absolutely the worst choice for the role, we need somebody who can bridge across differences of opinion and bring about consensus in a way that Major proved many times that he can't over our relations with Europe.
By referring to 'English rugby' I think you have fallen into Rugby Union's deliberate and obvious trap of attempting to convince everybody that there is only one code of rugby (and to a large extent they are being successful as evidenced by your use of the above phrase). I'm sure you will wish to amend your phrase so that Rugby League is not linked with your observations......