Scyld Berry "Disappearing World - The 18 First-Class Cricket Counties"

[HookShot]

Politicians had nothing to do with those cricketing developments. Perhaps what you’ll see is test cricket being played by those countries that think it’s worth it. Which may not be a bad thing. Series that are played sparingly become meaningful. If we could keep 5 or 6 nations keen on the format it wouldn’t be too bad an outcome.

It will be very interesting to where entrepreneurial cricket takes us next. And yes, 5 or 6 nations playing meaningful quality Test matches wouldn’t be too bad an outcome at all.

“If Modi is toast, it will in one sense be a tremendous pity. In his way, he represents a third generation in cricket's governance. For a hundred years and more, cricket was run by administrators, who essentially maintained the game without going out of their way to develop it. More recently it has been run by managers, with just an ounce or two of strategic thought. Modi was neither; he was instead a genuine entrepreneur. He has as much feeling for cricket as Madonna has for madrigals, but perhaps, because he came from outside cricket's traditional bureaucratic circles, he brought a vision and a common touch unexampled since Kerry Packer.”
― Gideon Haigh

 

[Ali TT]

They've been claiming the death of county cricket since at least the 50s, so I expect it'll continue to stagger ever onwards

 

[gmdf]

Countries aren't the only somewheres though. Just because, hypothetically, a child born in or migrated to one of our big cities doesn't have any attachment to the historical county that in many cases hasn't had jurisdiction over the city for decades, doesn't mean they don't have an attachment to their local place. I lived in a part of SE London that was ceremonially Greater London and historically Kent but had little attachment to either, yet had strong bonds to the locality I lived in - the parks, the businesses, my neighbours, the local sports club etc. In terms of cricket, Kent did have their second ground near where we lived but Canterbury was a 2h drive away. The Oval was closer but not easy to get to.

Kent's second ground (Beckenham) is still close to SE London last time I looked at a map! ?

 

[Ali TT]

Kent's second ground (Beckenham) is still close to SE London last time I looked at a map! ?

Yes, but hosts precious few first team matches. I understand why Canterbury historically is the home of Kent CCC, but it's a ****ing long way from the centres of population in the county.

 

[gmdf]

Yes, but hosts precious few first team matches. I understand why Canterbury historically is the home of Kent CCC, but it's a ****ing long way from the centres of population in the county.

I'm sorry that there are so few games there this season (2 x 50 over matches only) - even though I don't go there (living near the south coast it's a very long drive), but there are plenty of seconds games (free) and women's cricket matches, plus 3 U19 international games at least. I'd have given them the Surrey T20 as well, was it up to me.

 

[Ali TT]

I'm sorry that there are so few games there this season (2 x 50 over matches only) - even though I don't go there (living near the south coast it's a very long drive), but there are plenty of seconds games (free) and women's cricket matches, plus 3 U19 international games at least. I'd have given them the Surrey T20 as well, was it up to me.

I now live elsewhere in the second/third* most populous county without a professional side.

Yes, lots of other cricket played there but as someone with limited free time, it was only ever the Kent first team I was likely to go and watch. I think I went about half a dozen times in 7 years living nearby.

* Depending on whether Merseyside is considered Lancashire or not.

 

[Flem274*]

England would be terrifying in 10-20 years if they merged into 6-8 domestic sides tomorrow.

Also not loving the chat about how 5-6 countries playing tests would be a good outcome. Let's not give the scum ruling cricket an out here. If they want to kill the game in half the countries playing it and push franchise sugar rush dribble then they need to do it over our corpses.

 

[gmdf]

England would be terrifying in 10-20 years if they merged into 6-8 domestic sides tomorrow.

Also not loving the chat about how 5-6 countries playing tests would be a good outcome. Let's not give the scum ruling cricket an out here. If they want to kill the game in half the countries playing it and push franchise sugar rush dribble then they need to do it over our corpses.

I've never quite understood why fewer counties, leading to fewer professional cricketers employed and fewer spectators watching cricket live would make the game stronger. I simply wouldn't have ever gone to watch cricket if my (non-Test playing county) didn't exist, nor would I watch cricket live today. I expect many others are in the same situation.

NB In Australia 61% of the population live in the main test playing centre (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth & Adelaide); in England & Wales only 21% live in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff, Nottingham & Southampton. So 'solutions' from Australia have a very limited application here.

 

[slowfinger]

Cricket in England has to be different and not subject to fads and trends because it sets the standard for the rest of the world to follow, as historically the origin of the sport. Therefore the MCC is important. County cricket is important. It’s part of the heritage of the country. And therefore counties are important.

 

[Prince EWS]

I've never quite understood why fewer counties, leading to fewer professional cricketers employed and fewer spectators watching cricket live would make the game stronger. I simply wouldn't have ever gone to watch cricket if my (non-Test playing county) didn't exist, nor would I watch cricket live today. I expect many others are in the same situation.

What's the limiting principle to this? Why not have 100 teams? 1000?

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

Cricket in England has to be different and not subject to fads and trends because it sets the standard for the rest of the world to follow

So you're saying the 90s was the worst decade in cricket history.

 

[gmdf]

What's the limiting principle to this? Why not have 100 teams? 1000?

I've no doubt you can answer your own question if you put your mind to it...?

 

[Ali TT]

What's the limiting principle to this? Why not have 100 teams? 1000?

The ECB subsidy used to discount county membership fees can't stretch to that many clubs.

 

[fredfertang]

Job's a good 'un