Cricket Thread

Surrey on (flat) track for their third draw of the season. To date, the three matches have generated 3,693 runs from 9 innings and only 68 wickets.
 
Surrey on (flat) track for their third draw of the season. To date, the three matches have generated 3,693 runs from 9 innings and only 68 wickets.

So many draws in the CC compared to modern Test Cricket. They should split the league into three divisions and play 5 day games imo. That means the season isn't any longer (in terms of days), you do get less games but I think less is more with 5 day games.
 
Surrey on (flat) track for their third draw of the season. To date, the three matches have generated 3,693 runs from 9 innings and only 68 wickets.
Can points be deducted for below par pitches that are too good for batting on?

Not suggesting it needs to be done here; merely wondered if it were possible.
 
Can points be deducted for below par pitches that are too good for batting on?

Not suggesting it needs to be done here; merely wondered if it were possible.
Could just be that the winter and spring has produced dead pitches. Players are understandably filling their boots, but it’s making for long days of tedium.
 
County cricket is almost dead with or without paywall, enjoy it whilst you can as I can see its full demise within 10 years
My prediction is County Cricket will survive but the 50 over game and the hundred will both be gone inside the next decade. It will just be the County Championship and the Blast. The latter I think will be expanded to bring the money in.
 
My prediction is County Cricket will survive but the 50 over game and the hundred will both be gone inside the next decade. It will just be the County Championship and the Blast. The latter I think will be expanded to bring the money in.
Let’s hope so. I miss the Sunday league games though
 
My prediction is County Cricket will survive but the 50 over game and the hundred will both be gone inside the next decade. It will just be the County Championship and the Blast. The latter I think will be expanded to bring the money in.
The hundred us here to stay
It's a huge cash cow


The Hundred has generated over £500m in investment through the 2025 sale of team franchises

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
+1
, marking a major valuation of nearly £1 billion

ESPN
+1
. While the tournament claimed small annual profits initially, independent analysis suggests early operational losses

Forbes
+1
. The competition is now shifting to a private ownership model to drive further revenue

Sky Sports
+1
.
Key Financial Aspects:
Team Sales: In 2025, the ECB finalized deals for team partnerships with a total valuation exceeding £975 million, bringing in over £500 million to be distributed to first-class counties and the grassroots game

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
+2
.
Operating Profitability: Debate exists over profitability; early reports suggested an £11.8m profit by 2022

Wikipedia
, though some analyses indicated a £9m loss over the first two years once all costs were factored in .
Player Salaries (2025): The competition increased salaries for 2025 with top men's players earning up to £52,000 and top women's players up to £65,000, with total salary pots rising significantly to roughly £2.05 million per men's team

The Hundred
+2
.
Future Value: The tournament is considered "here to stay" with revenue expected from high-value sponsorship and broadcasting rights
 
The hundred us here to stay
It's a huge cash cow


The Hundred has generated over £500m in investment through the 2025 sale of team franchises

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
+1
, marking a major valuation of nearly £1 billion

ESPN
+1
. While the tournament claimed small annual profits initially, independent analysis suggests early operational losses

Forbes
+1
. The competition is now shifting to a private ownership model to drive further revenue

Sky Sports
+1
.
Key Financial Aspects:
Team Sales: In 2025, the ECB finalized deals for team partnerships with a total valuation exceeding £975 million, bringing in over £500 million to be distributed to first-class counties and the grassroots game

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB)
+2
.
Operating Profitability: Debate exists over profitability; early reports suggested an £11.8m profit by 2022

Wikipedia
, though some analyses indicated a £9m loss over the first two years once all costs were factored in .
Player Salaries (2025): The competition increased salaries for 2025 with top men's players earning up to £52,000 and top women's players up to £65,000, with total salary pots rising significantly to roughly £2.05 million per men's team

The Hundred
+2
.
Future Value: The tournament is considered "here to stay" with revenue expected from high-value sponsorship and broadcasting rights
I don't think it's financially sustainable personally. Where are these new large sponsors and broadcasting deals coming from? Do fan's have any real connection with the teams in the way they do with the County's? It's a house built on sand.
 
I don't think it's financially sustainable personally. Where are these new large sponsors and broadcasting deals coming from? Do fan's have any real connection with the teams in the way they do with the County's? It's a house built on sand.

I had an email from The Hundred asking why I hadn't bought any tickets this year. I replied with the following:

"The new ownership of several of the franchises and the issues they bring are certainly an off-putting factor.

(This was in relation to them looking like they would block Pakistani players because of India's ongoing political situation with them. That didn't turn out to be the case and a few Pakistani players were signed but I'm not convinced. I don't we've seen the end of it)

With the obvious links to the IPL now I also worry about the wickets being made excessively batter friendly which has turned me off watching the IPL altogether. We have replaced our usual Cricket trips to The Hundred with trips to the T20 Blast at counties that don’t have grounds in The Hundred. I’m open to returning to a Hundred game but will be watching with a wary eye on the issues mentioned."

Thing is we're lucky in this country because we have the choice. If you don't want to go to the Franchise tournament then you can still see a high quality tournament in the form of the T20 Blast. So I'm making the most of it this year.
 
I had an email from The Hundred asking why I hadn't bought any tickets this year. I replied with the following:

"The new ownership of several of the franchises and the issues they bring are certainly an off-putting factor.

(This was in relation to them looking like they would block Pakistani players because of India's ongoing political situation with them. That didn't turn out to be the case and a few Pakistani players were signed but I'm not convinced. I don't we've seen the end of it)

With the obvious links to the IPL now I also worry about the wickets being made excessively batter friendly which has turned me off watching the IPL altogether. We have replaced our usual Cricket trips to The Hundred with trips to the T20 Blast at counties that don’t have grounds in The Hundred. I’m open to returning to a Hundred game but will be watching with a wary eye on the issues mentioned."

Thing is we're lucky in this country because we have the choice. If you don't want to go to the Franchise tournament then you can still see a high quality tournament in the form of the T20 Blast. So I'm making the most of it this year.
I think it was just the one Pakistani player chosen and that was by the team based at Headingley, whatever they are now called. What a Derby that will be, the Yorkshire wotsitsnames, vs the Manchester elephants.

The hundred was never needed. Play the CC from April until the end of July. Play the international cricket May, June and July. Then play an expanded Blast in August and the first week or two of September to bring in the money. With all the international players available and allow 3 or 4 overseas players per team.
 
Oh Glammy, Glammy.
Second win in a row after being 125 runs on first innings and batting last.
Got three excellent young talents in Asa Tribe, Tom Norton and Ben Kellaway.
Could do with a top class opener still.
 

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