No2, Jan 20 - The Grumbler's County Cricket Newsletter

Notts membership boost, Edgbaston development, new bowling coaches, Kyle Jamieson to Hants?, confessions of a Phil Edmonds fan and the best county podcasts

Jan 20, 2021

Hi,

Here’s county cricket newsletter No 2 and, if you don’t know, here’s why I am producing it. If you would like to help, please forward this edition to a cricket-loving friend using the share button below and encourage them to subscribe. Unlike some people, when I say “we are in it together”, I really mean it.

Early signs encouraging as Trent Bridge membership passes 4,000 (Trent Bridge)

If Notts are making a story of this and including the numbers that suggests they are pretty happy. This figure is just over 50% of last year's figure but, remember, they had a terrible Championship season despite their success in the Blast. Many members leave it late to join, let alone when we are in the middle of a pandemic and seeing any play is far from guaranteed. The biggest plus - 900 new members.

Works begin on £93 million Phase 2 of the Edgbaston Stadium Masterplan (Edgbaston.com)

Property development has been part of the story of county cricket in the last 20 years. On balance, it can only be a good thing. As long as the development is sensitive to its surroundings, it brings in revenue, people and upgrades facilities.

ECB secure LV= General Insurance sponsorship deal for England Tests and County Championship (The Cricketer)

This is by far the biggest news of the last fortnight. An old friend returning to sponsor English cricket, including the domestic game, for three years. Despite the pandemic, failing to find a replacement for Specsavers would have been a huge blow. I would urge all county fans to thank their club sponsors at any opportunity. They are not polluting the game, they are helping to keep the lights on right now.

Cricket and mental health: A healing at Lord’s – Almanack (Wisden)

This brilliant piece was in last year's Wisden Almanack and on their website in August. I re-discovered it this week. I entered the writing competition for the Almanack with this piece. I consoled myself after failing to win with two facts a) the winning article was better than mine b) surely Mark Lawson's piece had already been commissioned. It is no surprise that Ian Ridley and myself would write books on the therapeutic and palliative qualities of county cricket in 2020. They should be a reason for its continued existence however the very conditions that create its soothing mental balm are, in the modern world, reasons for redundancy. (I got to the end of that sentence and started humming this song, go figure)

Will Steve Kirby fill the missing piece of the Somerset puzzle? (The Cricketer)

As one door closes, Graham Onions starts out on his coaching journey (The Cricketer)

Lancashire and Somerset have appointed their bowling coach positions with familiar names.

Hampshire plot audacious coup of signing Kyle Jamieson with giant New Zealand fast bowler impressing on Test match stage after man-of-the-match display against Pakistan (Daily Mail)

Not confirmed but, for me, this would be the most exciting signing of the upcoming county season.

If you want the latest signings and contract news have a look on the BBC county page. Northants have extended deals on a couple of youngsters including the exciting Emilio Gay

Phil Edmonds Ruined My Teenage Years (CricketNetwork)

This is a marvellous, affectionate piece from yesteryear penned by a self-confessed "Edmondsologist".

Northants mulling over marquee nets for pre-season (Northampton Telegraph)

Surely everyone will be doing the pre-season on the ‘Costa del Canvas’ beside the square this year.

Cricket stalwart Mark has grounds for pride after 40-years work (Hastings Observer)

Nice piece on the groundsmen at Hastings, one of Sussex CCC’s many former out- grounds.

Leicestershire CCC announce new global network (The Business Desk)

The new Leicestershire CEO is determined to shake things up at Grace Road. He has also employed the highly-regarded Fan Experience Company. Watch this space.

The Making of Jack Leach (Somerset CCC)

I am a huge fan of the way Jack Leach plays his cricket and the respect he has for the game. His Test exploits last week gave Somerset an excuse to republish an ECB video on his backstory. It's very good.

2.7m views on live streaming service (Somerset CCC)

Speaking of Somerset. They published detailed metrics on their streaming service last season. Very impressive. As a digital specialist, I am being told this live audience lacks sufficient scale to truly monetise. I think there is a solution but it should be run and sold to advertisers by the ECB. But I don’t think they are interested or, at least, have their eyes on promoting another tournament.

Tweet of the fortnight

The response, not the original

George Dobell @GeorgeDobell1

Might as well hire Donald Trump to lecture in democracy. This is the man that turned circa £80m reserves into a deficit. And these guys are parasites feeding on a sick animal. They must be resisted.

Vithushan Ehantharajah @Vitu_E

"Colin Graves former Chairman of the ECB, has today joined Oakwell Sports Advisory" Same Oakwell Sports Advisory that circulated a proposal in April recommending turning central payments to counties from the Hundred into equity stakes and opening comp to private investment 🧐

We interrupt this newsletter for a game of county cricket…

Forget T20 or even T10, here’s a T5 game between Essex and Surrey from 2005

Podcasts I like…

The Essex League Cricketer podcast

Going Upstairs - The Opening Up podcast

YouTube videos I like…

A collaboration between two of the younger cricket YouTube channels

Nice piece with the Northants skipper on Cricket Life Stories.

Both videos represent decent content on YouTube but their viewership is very low. Given YouTube is the world’s second most popular search engine after Google, this is concerning. How do we connect domestic cricket with a young audience without destroying all the history and heritage that makes it so special? Comment below

Basic info

All the official county cricket "ins and outs" this winter

Structure of County Championship season 2021 and the BWT groups

All the county fixtures in one place. There is a link to add the fixtures of your team to your online calendar (Google, iCal etc) but it is not working anymore. C’mon ECB!