With regards to this last point, I've always thought it extremely short-sighted of the ECB not to give more support to the other European cricketing nations. They'd obviously be playing a long-term game to do so, but if any of them kicked on England would have ready-made natural allies
TBF Europe goes ok versus the Seppos in the Ryder Cup, support-wise. Although I imagine golf is rather bigger on the continent than cricket is.
It's one thing having a representative side that plays in a biennial match of historic importance, which is completely different to any other high-profile golf competition, but it's another altogether putting together a composite side playing regular matches, just as any other nation would.
or examples of Tests being played elsewhere in front of small crowds
Historic reasons again. The West Indian nations have a lot in common with one another, and were tied together through the Commonwealth. Having a team evolve over time is different from trying to artificially create a group of players from much more diverse backgrounds. An EU side would effectively mean that a Greek player could play alongside a Scot. Culturally, I don't think it would work at all, and I don't think players would feel the same affiliation for the much-loved EU as for the West Indies.
Fair point. An EU test side would obviously be an expedient compromise, but I still think that European cricket fans might potentially get behind it; if CW is anything to go by most non-English Euro cricket bods seem to be de facto English fans, presumably on grounds of proximity, so if they can bring themselves to support perfidious Albion I don't think it's a huge leap to supporting Europe. There'd obviously need to be carefully managed rotation of the venues to avoid one country monopolising things, but as we see over here that's not an issue we're free of either.
I'm no major expert, but is Guyana seriously comparable culture-wise to Jamaica?
Thats all personal opinion.
Pretty sure Kervezee would be able to take legal action if that happened.
No. Why would it?
They are Europeans and obviously covered by European employment law as we all are. It isnt complicated.
I think you're conflating a political reality with sporting loyalty slightly there; some of the bitterest sporting rivalries are between member states of the EU, so just because the European Union has ultimate responsibility for law making it doesn't necessarily follow people would want to support it or that it needs a team to represnt it.
Pretty sure the rest of Oz would be ok with that tbh.
Some of the bitterest wars in history have been fought between European nations, too. Doesn't stop them all going to Brussels and eating scones or doing whatever they do together.
I honestly don't think this is much of an issue. If you take Australia as the example again, New South Wales and Queensland have just as bitter a sporting rivalry as Australia and England do, and yet they still manage to play together under the Australian cricket banner. The same could be said for Lancashire and Yorkshire.
Yeah, this doesn't sit well with me at all. It may be a bit petty but it'd seem a bit hollow if they weren't representing the entirety of their name.
