******Cricket Thread******

[jimharri]

A century off 59 balls. Not too shabby.

 

[Alan Harper's Tash]

There are many issues with county cricket if you look upon it as mainly to produce test cricketers. Two big issues for me:
1. There are too many counties, spreading the talent too thin.
2. The middle part of the season is filled with limited overs stuff, fine for income but not so good for 4 day cricket.

Problem is, which counties do you get rid of?

How do you fund 4 day cricket when all the money is in the shorter format?

 

[liamctid]

A century off 59 balls. Not too shabby.

What an incredible game it was too

 

[Corky]

There are many issues with county cricket if you look upon it as mainly to produce test cricketers. Two big issues for me:
1. There are too many counties, spreading the talent too thin.
2. The middle part of the season is filled with limited overs stuff, fine for income but not so good for 4 day cricket.

When England were dominating test cricket it wasn't much different.

If you reduce counties less people get the chance to play and get coached at a decent youth level. Test cricketers rarely play 4 day cricket.

 

[KS55]

When England were dominating test cricket it wasn't much different.

If you reduce counties less people get the chance to play and get coached at a decent youth level. Test cricketers rarely play 4 day cricket.

I can’t remember a time when England dominated, tho we have had periods of very good sides. But it was different. There were more first class matches and the high season was not dominated by limited overs. 4 day cricket in July and August on hard dry pitches is essential.
Sheer numbers are of no benefit to creating test cricketers. Australia used to pick from 24 full time pros.
We currently have 300 to 400 full time pros, which is ridiculous.
I am not suggesting reducing the counties, merely the numbers of those in the championship div1. Those in other counties who are good enough will move up.
It is true that test cricketers play little 4 day stuff but it is in the learning curve that it is essential.

 

[Cricket Blue]

What an incredible game it was too

Yes it was an excellent game

 

[mat]

There seems to be a lot of negativity over Rob Key's appointment. I think he spoke a lot of sense on TV and anyone who has the guts to leave the comfort of being a pundit to try and make a difference gets my thumbs up.

I believe there is an awful snobbery towards County Cricket. How do you attract new fans and improve the standards if people within the game and existing fans look down on it. If it is not fit for purpose to produce test cricketers then our grassroots game is unfit for purpose too. Lets fix that instead of going for half-measures all the time. A lot of us do want the longer formats to survive and be better than before but up until now the ECB seems more interested in gimmicks.

I think the snobbery about country cricket stems from the club's themselves.

Certain clubs have the whiff of public school type archaic management.



could relate to it at one time because despite the posh boy mentality about it. Notts would play the odd home match as far away as Skegness which would get numbers in their ground. Mainly lots of fellas who wanted a rest from their wife and kids holiday demands for the day.

 

[Protein Junkie]

Lancs home to Gloucestershire today. Jimmy is playing but good start by the away team batting first.

 

[Corky]

The Burnley Express out of steam, good economy but no wickets.

Wickets starting to tumble 151/6 Hasan Ali with 3 and Salty has taken 3 catches with the gloves as only the openers managed double figures.

 

[Protein Junkie]

Gloucs 252 all out with Hassan getting a sixfer but Balderson bloody run out before close ffs. 11 for 1.