County Cricket 2018

[Deleted member 15344]

I don’t know what he ECB or ICCC can do - County Cricket doesn’t pay the bills - counties can’t survive on County Cricket unfortunately not enough people watch the format with many games have nearly zero spectators , obviously going to be hard with the games on during the week. Even the 40 over comps where being played in front of empty stands. The popular format now is T20 - that’s what brings the crowds and the money - the IPL and Big Bash took the format a step forward and those comps are worth millions. The T20 in the UK needed rehashed but it’s all a mess now - the new format is one Comp too many - they should have looked at adjusting the current one.

I know some aren’t fans of T20 but it’s a necessary now with the level of funds it brings into the game

 

[Tongo]

I don’t know what he ECB or ICCC can do - County Cricket doesn’t pay the bills - counties can’t survive on County Cricket unfortunately not enough people watch the format with many games have nearly zero spectators , obviously going to be hard with the games on during the week. Even the 40 over comps where being played in front of empty stands. The popular format now is T20 - that’s what brings the crowds and the money - the IPL and Big Bash took the format a step forward and those comps are worth millions. The T20 in the UK needed rehashed but it’s all a mess now - the new format is one Comp too many - they should have looked at adjusting the current one.

I know some aren’t fans of T20 but it’s a necessary now with the level of funds it brings into the game

Back the tournaments that they already have. Early ticket sales for the Blast are again on the up for some counties and have been for the last 2 or 3 seasons. The Blast works. Maybe the ECB should be trumpeting how an 18 team comp is working rather than looking enviously elsewhere.

Also, reports of 2,000 plus spectators at the Oval and Taunton today so the county championship actually attracts more people than a lot of people like to admit.

Perhaps the biggest travesty of this whole farrago is that the Kia Super League is being dumped. A decent, growing tournament giving the women's game its own identity thrown under the bus in favour of homogeneity and matches probably played before the men's game as nothing more than aperitifs.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Back the tournaments that they already have. Early ticket sales for the Blast are again on the up for some counties and have been for the last 2 or 3 seasons. The Blast works. Maybe the ECB should be trumpeting how an 18 team comp is working rather than looking enviously elsewhere.

Also, reports of 2,000 plus spectators at the Oval and Taunton today so the county championship actually attracts more people than a lot of people like to admit.

Perhaps the biggest travesty of this whole farrago is that the Kia Super League is being dumped. A decent, growing tournament giving the women's game its own identity thrown under the bus in favour of homogeneity and matches probably played before the men's game as nothing more than aperitifs.

The Blast does work and it’s very frustrating that a county that does sell out its T20 most times like Somerset didn’t get a “franchise” - the franchise Comp basically just adds more games at the main test venues which need to pay the stupid fees they need to host a test match

But a good number of the blast games aren’t all a sell out and 2000 at Taunton that’s under 20% of the ground and about 10% of the Oval - nowhere near enough to sustain the county

The Blast is the Comp that they could look to change - play it over a 4 week period with no other comps on at the time - add in an auction for the counties etc

At least the new Comp is on terrestrial telly I guess

 

[Tongo]

2,000+ at Headingley as well.

 

[Tongo]

The Blast does work and it’s very frustrating that a county that does sell out its T20 most times like Somerset didn’t get a “franchise” - the franchise Comp basically just adds more games at the main test venues which need to pay the stupid fees they need to host a test match

But a good number of the blast games aren’t all a sell out and 2000 at Taunton that’s under 20% of the ground and about 10% of the Oval - nowhere near enough to sustain the county

The Blast is the Comp that they could look to change - play it over a 4 week period with no other comps on at the time - add in an auction for the counties etc

At least the new Comp is on terrestrial telly I guess

No, it isnt going to sustain a county but its a lot more than some people would have us believe. And its mainly played during the week. How many sports could sustain themselves by playing their matches during the middle of the day during the week? Cricket has unique challenges from that point of view.

For me the ECB have lost the balance as a governing body between finance and what is good for the game. They seem intent on simply making money. All the while they are alienating their current fanbase. Not sure that makes good business sense.

Cricket has an image issue in this country. Its a Marmite sport that is stereotyped. So rather than attempting to change peoples perceptions the ECB seem intent on trying to sell the game without actually telling people its cricket. As someone on Twitter said, if people think a 20 over game is too long then why are they suddenly going to be interested in a game that's half a dozen overs shorter?! If people aren't enamoured with T20 cricket then maybe Cricket should just accept that they aren't going to be interested in the game. Instead the ECB are searching for this mythical new audience that previously have shown no interest in the game.

 

[Deleted member 18588]

No, it isnt going to sustain a county but its a lot more than some people would have us believe. And its mainly played during the week. How many sports could sustain themselves by playing their matches during the middle of the day during the week? Cricket has unique challenges from that point of view.

For me the ECB have lost the balance as a governing body between finance and what is good for the game. They seem intent on simply making money. All the while they are alienating their current fanbase. Not sure that makes good business sense.

Cricket has an image issue in this country. Its a Marmite sport that is stereotyped. So rather than attempting to change peoples perceptions the ECB seem intent on trying to sell the game without actually telling people its cricket. As someone on Twitter said, if people think a 20 over game is too long then why are they suddenly going to be interested in a game that's half a dozen overs shorter?! If people aren't enamoured with T20 cricket then maybe Cricket should just accept that they aren't going to be interested in the game. Instead the ECB are searching for this mythical new audience that previously have shown no interest in the game.

Could not have put it better!

T20 is not my cup of tea but I readily acknowledge that it's proving vital for the counties and is a success story.

So why devalue it with the introduction of this franchise tournament?

Far better to promote and further develop the Blast.

 

[Tongo]

Could not have put it better!

T20 is not my cup of tea but I readily acknowledge that it's proving vital for the counties and is a success story.

So why devalue it with the introduction of this franchise tournament?

Far better to promote and further develop the Blast.

Dont mind T20 personally. Like the fact that in the Blast you can go and watch it in big stadiums or somewhere a bit more chilled like Richmond or, in previous years, Arundel.

Looking forward to seeing Rashid Khan and Jofra Archer when Sussex come up to the Rose Bowl later in the summer.

My big beef with the ECB is their seeming lack of interest in the county championship. There's some serious talent on show this season. Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn will be having stints at Hampshire, Kane Williamson at Yorkshire, Ross Taylor at Notts, Morne Morkel at Surrey and it looks likely that Virat Kohli may well play at some point. That's a great foundation on which to promote the Championship. Sadly such promotion isnt really forthcoming from the ECB.

 

[shagster]

ecb haven't a clue
100 ball format for 8 teams - what the hell is that about
15 overs and 10 balls left to bowl - couldn't make that up unless you are on drugs
total cock up stick with t 20 and 18 teams

 

[fundy]

Good to see the ECBs puppet confirms Im not the target audience.

Of course a new format with uneven over lengths makes it as easy as possible to understand!!!! If you really meant that it would be 10 a side, 10 overs of 10 balls! Or was that too radical for your marketeers lol

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/43854924

 

[HomerJSimpson]

ecb haven't a clue
100 ball format for 8 teams - what the hell is that about
15 overs and 10 balls left to bowl - couldn't make that up unless you are on drugs
total cock up stick with t 20 and 18 teams

Totally agree about the ECB not having a clue. Haven't had a clue for many years now. There has to be a shake up of the county format but the game needs a longer format

 

[patricks148]

Totally agree about the ECB not having a clue. Haven't had a clue for many years now. There has to be a shake up of the county format but the game needs a longer format

it certainly does, i'd imagine most of the ECBs money comes from test match TV rights and the major counties who host test matches would also get a fair chunk.

The UK is unique in that test matches are well attended and on the whole sell out the venues, esp ashes. Missed at trick of making more of the longer format, rather than trying to attract people who have no interest in the game to a short format .

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Good win by Surrey to start their county championship campaign and a decent century by Pope in the second innings. And Derbyshire win their first county championship home game since September 2014!!!!!

 

[drewster]

Good win by Surrey to start their county championship campaign and a decent century by Pope in the second innings. And Derbyshire win their first county championship home game since September 2014!!!!!

Not to mention Essex continuing where they left off and the criminally underrated Jamie Porter continuing to wreak havoc. Perhaps if he gets 100 FC wickets this season he might get a look at Test Cricket over the likes of Jake Ball , Mark Wood, Roland-Jones and the Overtons ? Hopefully the new regime headed by Ed Smith might take notice.

 

[Tongo]

Cracking weekend of action just gone with some serious drama. Yorkshire winning after being skittled out for 50 in the first innings, Durham winning after following on. Has been a good start to the CC.

I took a trip down to Hove last Friday. Lovely ground, really enjoyed it. I've written a few words about the experience is anyone fancies a read:

https://yahooovercowcorner.wordpress.com/2018/05/06/gosbts/