***Official*** English Domestic Season 2008

[Richard]

Forcing traditional rivals to amalgamate (a combined Yorkshire - Lancashire team, anyone? or Surrey - Middlesex?) will only alienate supporters of both counties. It's naive to assume that a bunch of 'new' supporters will appear from nowhere. I'm not against regional cricket per se, but for me it would have to be in addition to the Championship, not instead of. A bit like in India where the Zonal tournament (the Duleep, IIRC) was played in the last few weeks of the season.

Which would be totally unworkable. We need a reduction, not increase, in the number of games played.

As an aside, how do Surrey manage to play Nicholson and Murtaza in the same side? Does one of them have a UK passport or something?

Murtaza is British-qualified, IIRR.

 

[stumpski]

Which would be totally unworkable. We need a reduction, not increase, in the number of games played.

Oh I agree, something would have to give. Either a reduction in CC matches from 16 to say, 12, resulting in an early August finish - or better, scrapping the Pro 40.

I gather the Pro 40 is unlikely to continue next year anyway, not sure what it's going to be replaced with, but I have a few ideas ... unfortunately.

 

[Richard]

Well, even this Premier League lark is preferable to 40-over cricket, which serves precisely no purpose whatsoever. It does waste time and damage the prospects of one-day cricketers, though - batsmen cannot build innings so easily, and to maintain a good economy-rate is exceptionally hard for a bowler.

Ideally, of course, it'd be replaced by absolutely nothing. But that, I think we all know, won't be happening.

 

[wpdavid]

Forcing traditional rivals to amalgamate (a combined Yorkshire - Lancashire team, anyone? or Surrey - Middlesex?) will only alienate supporters of both counties. It's naive to assume that a bunch of 'new' supporters will appear from nowhere. I'm not against regional cricket per se, but for me it would have to be in addition to the Championship, not instead of. A bit like in India where the Zonal tournament (the Duleep, IIRC) was played in the last few weeks of the season.

The only way regional cricket could be played as well as the CC is of the CC only involved one game against each of the other counties with promotion/ relegation reduced to one side going each way.

But I don't actually think that would solve a great deal. What's needed is a higher standard of 4-day cricket all season, not just for a few games at the end of the summer. the counties don't have to go - they would still compete he one day tournaments.

 

[TT Boy]

Forcing traditional rivals to amalgamate (a combined Yorkshire - Lancashire team, anyone? or Surrey - Middlesex?) will only alienate supporters of both counties. It's naive to assume that a bunch of 'new' supporters will appear from nowhere. I'm not against regional cricket per se, but for me it would have to be in addition to the Championship, not instead of. A bit like in India where the Zonal tournament (the Duleep, IIRC) was played in the last few weeks of the season.

Definitely would be the case with Yorkshire and Lancs but down South and speaking as Surrey supporter I personally do not suspect it would alienate a significant or critical amount of supporters due to the fact that county support is not ardent or particular loyal due to the geographical location of the counties. The vast majority of people who flock to the Oval are casual cricket fans in general who only turn up due to the convenience of where the ground is located and if the team they were coming to watch were now called London and had the addition of some better quality cricketers they would lap it up.

Different case up North where conceptions of loyalty and tradition are far more rigid but a Northern side which represents the North could work, especially if it drums up and plays with the cultural divide between North and South, a point which transgresses county lines.

But even if that still estranges supporters the most important aspect of creating regional sides is to improve the standard of cricket within the country and to create an environment of 'high' competitiveness, which at the moment is being repressed by a systematic milieu of mediocrity.

 

[wpdavid]

Definitely would be the case with Yorkshire and Lancs but down South and speaking as Surrey supporter I personally do not suspect it would alienate a significant or critical amount of supporters due to the fact that county support is not ardent or particular loyal due to the geographical location of the counties. The vast majority of people who flock to the Oval are casual cricket fans in general who only turn up due to the convenience of where the ground is located and if the team they were coming to watch were now called London and had the addition of some better quality cricketers they would lap it up.

Different case up North where conceptions of loyalty and tradition are far more rigid but a Northern side which represents the North could work, especially if it drums up and plays with the cultural divide between North and South, a point which transgresses county lines.

But even if that still estranges supporters the most important aspect of creating regional sides is to improve the standard of cricket within the country and to create an environment of 'high' competitiveness, which at the moment is being repressed by a systematic milieu of mediocrity.

I think you're right about the north/south aspect, but it's still possible: even mostly halving the number of sides for the 4-day competition would go a long way to improving standards. Something like:
- Yorkshire & Durham
- Lancashire & Derbyshire
- Middlesex & Essex
- Surrey & Kent
- Sussex & Hampshire
- Glamorgan, Somerset & Gloucestershire
- Warwickshire & Worcestershire
- Northants, Leicestershire & Nottighamshire

That would make 14 four-day games, where players from all counties would have the opportunity to play against the best of the rest if they're good enough. Which isn't the case at present with two divisions.

 

[stumpski]

Personally I'd be a lot happier if Surrey were to merge with Kent rather than Middlesex, having been born and raised in one and now residing in the other. Generally root for Kent anyway in all games except those against Surrey. I do wonder how many England qualified players would get to play for some of those sides though, especially the last one.

 

[Jamee999]

Tbf - Nottingham-Leicester-Northampton would have a gun, English bowling attack:

Swann
Broad
Sidebottom
Shreck(/Ealham)
Panesar

 

[Richard]

Aaaah, but Sidebottom is Yorkshire, Ealham Kent, MSP Bedfordshire, and Shreck Cornwall.

 

[BoyBrumby]

As an aside, how do Surrey manage to play Nicholson and Murtaza in the same side? Does one of them have a UK passport or something?

The latter according to cricinfo:

Alan Butcher, the Surrey coach, said, "I became aware of Murtaza about two years ago and since that time he has gained English qualification. He has taken over 500 wickets in first-class cricket in Pakistan and he has trained and played some cricket with us in the second team this year. As such, we have registered him for the remainder of this season."

Another triumph for youth development down at The Oval...

 

[Richard]

Ignore-lists lead to repetition again...

 

[stumpski]

The latter according to cricinfo:

Alan Butcher, the Surrey coach, said, "I became aware of Murtaza about two years ago and since that time he has gained English qualification. He has taken over 500 wickets in first-class cricket in Pakistan and he has trained and played some cricket with us in the second team this year. As such, we have registered him for the remainder of this season."

Another triumph for youth development down at The Oval...

Although Butcher actually said that last season, but that's by the by.

I was a bit surprised to see him turn up again, as I assumed he was a stop-gap signing last year. That said, we did lose three spinners last season. Did nothing with the ball against Yorks, but his 50 helped on the last day. I wonder how Surrey got to know of him, given that he's never played for Pakistan - through Azhar Mahmood, perhaps.

 

[headhunter]

Unlucky not to win today, 1 run
Fine knock from O'Brien

 

[PhoenixFire]

Lancashire 68/8 against Yorkshire

Dazzler: A true legend.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

How dire are Lancashire this OD season? How dire is Runako Morton?
Discuss.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Runako Morton is simply a terrible, terrible player, and he is more unsightly than Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden put together, that is how much I hate him.

 

[gettingbetter]

Help me out, but what has he got to do with CC?

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Runako Morton is simply a terrible, terrible player, and he is more unsightly than Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden put together, that is how much I hate him.

Plays the best brutish-straight-drive-without-foot-movement in the sport. Aside from that and that "hate" is a strong word, I agree. So in summation, I agree with 87% of your post.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Yeah hate is too strong. Very dire is more appropriate.

 

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Help me out, but what has he got to do with CC?

It was an illustration of how bad Lancashire's OD form has been. A bit harsh, I agree.