The Cricket Thread

[The Squirrel]

That was UNBELIEVABLE. Amazing drama in front of dedicated passionate fans in a sold out ground who, unlike the 16.4, REALLY care. Shows yet again what county cricket is all about. Dickson take a bow you legend. Ticket for finals day booked about 5 seconds after winning run scored .

Somerset have now been to the last 5 finals days in a row, which for a “small” non-test-ground County is an almost unbelievable achievement.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

That was UNBELIEVABLE. Amazing drama in front of dedicated passionate fans in a sold out ground who, unlike the 16.4, REALLY care. Shows yet again what county cricket is all about. Dickson take a bow you legend. Ticket for finals day booked about 5 seconds after winning run scored .

Somerset have now been to the last 5 finals days in a row, which for a “small” non-test-ground County is an almost unbelievable achievement.

It’s still imo the best T2O comp - it may not have the riches but it’s got the drama

There is a reason why Somerset fans don’t like the hundred , its just a comp that gets the test counties richer but you will never get the atmosphere or drama with the fans truely engaged

Been to a few finals day but it’s too late in the year now

 

[Neilds]

It’s still imo the best T2O comp - it may not have the riches but it’s got the drama

There is a reason why Somerset fans don’t like the hundred , its just a comp that gets the test counties richer but you will never get the atmosphere or drama with the fans truely engaged

Been to a few finals day but it’s too late in the year now

Careful with all this “no one like Somerset” stuff, you are beginning to sound a bit like a certain Forest fan

 

[RichA]

It’s still imo the best T2O comp - it may not have the riches but it’s got the drama

There is a reason why Somerset fans don’t like the hundred , its just a comp that gets the test counties richer but you will never get the atmosphere or drama with the fans truely engaged

Been to a few finals day but it’s too late in the year now

The non-host counties like Somerset are due to get about £25 million from The Hundred this year.
So they all get richer, even if they opted not to bid to be a host.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

The non-host counties like Somerset are due to get about £25 million from The Hundred this year.
So they all get richer, even if they opted not to bid to be a host.

Which is nothing compared to what the test nations get as well as the disruption to the county game which you can’t put a number too

It’s a joke of a competition- they have a superb T20 comp - enhance that instead of bowing down to cricket mercenaries looking for a payday

 

[D-S]

I can see both sides of this argument.
It is a great shame that this part of the world, with a strong County one day heritage, has no representation in the Hundred and as such I have no natural allegiance to any franchise which is an enormous drawback for me.
However the Hundred has brought a lot of money into the County game which was greatly needed and hadn't been forthcoming from the Blast thus far.
It has shown live cricket on a regular basis on terrestrial TV - which has to be a very good thing.
It has brought a lot of kids and families into the game, something that was missing from the Blast which at some grounds had become a drunken singalong.
It has really accelerated the development of the Womens professional game, showcasing and financing it - one of its best features.
To describe it as a 'joke of a competition' given all the benefits seems unduly harsh.

 

[Grizzly]

Whilst I recognise that some of the benefits you mention are real - the money that is temporarily flowing into the game and the exposure that some younger children are given to the game - I think Phil is right that the competition itself is a bit of a joke. T20 didn't need shortening, nor are any the supposedly radical innovations changing the broad canvas of a short form cricket match one jot, and the artificial franchises just alienate supporters in those areas, at least as much as those in counties that did not or could not bid to host. The biggest reason though, for me, is the squads - there is simply no way those are the best 90 available players!

 

[The Squirrel]

I’d agree it’s a mixed bag.

Definitely a good thing for the women’s game where there isn’t the depth of talent or support to sustain 18 teams.

Terrestrial telly showing cricket is also good even though I hate the 16.4 so will never watch it. The Blast should have done this years ago - would have made it a far stronger product even if there was some short-term revenue cost.

I’d also never begrudge a good-county-but-not-quite-international player the chance to make good money in what, away from the IPL, is not an amazingly well paid career.

If the 16.4 has to stay, still think it’s over-long and there has to be a way to get the best county players who might be sniffing international honours playing 50 overs at some point before international level (they play none at all at the moment as they’ll be in the 100) unless you simply want to give up completely on being competitive internationally in that format.

Anyway, still absolutely buzzing from last night - couldn’t sleep until about early hours thinking about Sean Dickson dragging that match back from the absolute dead. Don’t tell me anyone EVER felt that way about the Wotsits Warriors or whatever they’re called.

Worth noting Dickson has also been man of the match in 3 of the last 4 finals-day matches Somerset have played, including both the semi and final when they won it 2 years ago, so he takes over and decides knockout. matches again and again and again: under the most pressure to win the biggest games.
Is he moving into the category of best T20 batsman in England not to have been near the international team?

 

[Arthur Wedge]

I’d agree it’s a mixed bag.

Definitely a good thing for the women’s game where there isn’t the depth of talent or support to sustain 18 teams.

Terrestrial telly showing cricket is also good even though I hate the 16.4 so will never watch it. The Blast should have done this years ago - would have made it a far stronger product even if there was some short-term revenue cost.

I’d also never begrudge a good-county-but-not-quite-international player the chance to make good money in what, away from the IPL, is not an amazingly well paid career.

If the 16.4 has to stay, still think it’s over-long and there has to be a way to get the best county players who might be sniffing international honours playing 50 overs at some point before international level (they play none at all at the moment as they’ll be in the 100) unless you simply want to give up completely on being competitive internationally in that format.

Anyway, still absolutely buzzing from last night - couldn’t sleep until about early hours thinking about Sean Dickson dragging that match back from the absolute dead. Don’t tell me anyone EVER felt that way about the Wotsits Warriors or whatever they’re called.

Worth noting Dickson has also been man of the match in 3 of the last 4 finals-day matches Somerset have played, including both the semi and final when they won it 2 years ago, so he takes over and decides knockout. matches again and again and again: under the most pressure to win the biggest games.
Is he moving into the category of best T20 batsman in England not to have been near the international team?

Agree when it comes to the women’s game

And Dickson is South African and whilst he could have played for England due to residency rules I think there have been a few better that haven’t played for England - Abell and Hildreath from Somerset alone

 

[Neilds]

"If I'm honest, when I wasn't playing in those Tests, I should probably have played a bit more [in domestic cricket]," Bethell told Sky Sports.

 

[Grizzly]

And Dickson is South African and whilst he could have played for England due to residency rules I think there have been a few better that haven’t played for England - Abell and Hildreath from Somerset alone

Its hard looking at those unluckiest when it comes to the shortest form given how freely caps are handed out, especially compared to the five day game where we have tended to have a mostly settled side for the last couple of decades. Wracking my brains, amongst currently players I'd mention Adam Lyth, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Daniel Bell-Drummond as being particularly unlucky.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

"If I'm honest, when I wasn't playing in those Tests, I should probably have played a bit more [in domestic cricket]," Bethell told Sky Sports.

In fairness to him he has done it today , great knock with lots of crisp hitting

 

[Neilds]

In fairness to him he has done it today , great knock with lots of crisp hitting

Agree, great knock.
Root has also done it again, only 6 fours but a century at better than a run a ball - what a player.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Archer has woke up as well

 

[Arthur Wedge]

Tight win

 

[Billysboots]

Hats of to Leicestershire, promoted to Division One after years in the doldrums. It wasn’t that long ago that they hadn’t won a red ball game for the best part of two years, but the last couple of seasons have seen a huge turnaround.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

So because of the Finals Day being a long way after the group stage multiple top players won’t be playing

All the England players won’t be there for any time

Also a number of the contracted Aussie players have gone back now

The way they have treated the T20 blast is a disgrace

Finals day should be on a Prime Saturday during the summer

 

[RichA]

So because of the Finals Day being a long way after the group stage multiple top players won’t be playing

All the England players won’t be there for any time

Also a number of the contracted Aussie players have gone back now

The way they have treated the T20 blast is a disgrace

Finals day should be on a Prime Saturday during the summer

But it does mean that the county guys who got their teams to finals day in the absence of their centrally contracted national or Hundred franchise colleagues should get to play, which is surely a great thing.

 

[Arthur Wedge]

But it does mean that the county guys who got their teams to finals day in the absence of their centrally contracted national or Hundred franchise colleagues should get to play, which is surely a great thing.

The T20 blast stopped when the Hundred was on

The likes of Banton , Meredith etc for Somerset were key during the group stages

Lancashire I think are missing 4 players from the group stage

 

[RichA]

The T20 blast stopped when the Hundred was on

The likes of Banton , Meredith etc for Somerset were key during the group stages

Lancashire I think are missing 4 players from the group stage

Aha. Forgot the Blast stopped during August.
Has it not been the nature of modern cricket for ages though? So many international fixtures, central contracts, franchise tournaments as well as the usual domestic fixtures that the better players just have to make a decision as to what matters most to their career or bank balance.
Don't forget that 20 years ago the traditionalists were saying that Twenty20 was going to kill cricket.