MY View on this

[Neil Pickup]

You say "tweaking"... that suggests minor alterations.

Ideally would be a grade-style system where clubs have several different levels of sides, feeders up/down and a strong community basis for young players to progress; but because of the way towns and villages are in the UK, that is impossible, and we have to have a system that supports the County Championship.

It wasn't bad 15 months ago...

 

[AussieDominance]

In Sydney and Other States around Australia we all have a grade comp of 12-20 Teams Underneath the big one NSW or whatever this seems to work quite well and Sydney Grade is the strongest local comp in the world I would think it be higher than County level if you ask me many a county player come each year and struggle and end up in 2nd and 3rd grade.

 

[Neil Pickup]

In Sydney and Other States around Australia we all have a grade comp of 12-20 Teams Underneath the big one NSW or whatever this seems to work quite well and Sydney Grade is the strongest local comp in the world I would think it be higher than County level if you ask me many a county player come each year and struggle and end up in 2nd and 3rd grade.

Name them and we might take you seriously.

 

[AussieDominance]

Ben France is out here at the moment, Niall O'Brien,Gul Welton, Reed i think it was from Lancashire,Strauss struggled out here years agoClaydon played for Yorkshire this year,Alan Richardson,Tim Murtagh

Just to name a few.

 

[superkingdave]

France eh? The name should have told them he was rubbish

 

[AussieDominance]

well how does he play county cricket?

 

[Jamee999]

Ben France has 315 FC runs @ 15.75, and 52 List A runs @ 17.33

His lone FC wicket cost him 90 runs.

 

[steds]

Ben France is out here at the moment, Niall O'Brien,Gul Welton, Reed i think it was from Lancashire,Strauss struggled out here years agoClaydon played for Yorkshire this year,Alan Richardson,Tim Murtagh

Just to name a few.

So you've named a bloke who didn't play a single game for Derbyshire last season, one who averages in the twenties in FC cricket, two who don't appear to exist (unless Gul is a typo and Reed is one of the Reed's that played county cricket 50+ years ago), an aussie who can't even get in the Yorkshire team on a regular basis, the Alan Richardson who played 1 First Class game last summer, and Tim Murtagh as the substance of your argument?
There we have it. The cream of county cricket, failing in the simple Sydney grade competition

 

[AussieDominance]

Guy Welton

 

[AussieDominance]

It is the standard of the Pura Cup that you englishmen compare the County Championship to that Jack Mac and quite a few fellow former U19's eg U20's now struggle to get a game in the 2nds at this stage in England you have quite a few U19's playing county cricket.

 

[marc71178]

So youre saying the County Championship structure is right as Kolpak's can strengthen the comp?

That wasn't what I was saying no, but I have to say it is something that I believe may be true.

 

[AussieDominance]

Well I don't beleive thats the way England should be heading.

 

[marc71178]

I would think it be higher than County level if you ask me many a county player come each year and struggle and end up in 2nd and 3rd grade.

Oh really?

And you can no doubt name these many players then?

 

[marc71178]

It is the standard of the Pura Cup that you englishmen compare the County Championship to that Jack Mac and quite a few fellow former U19's eg U20's now struggle to get a game in the 2nds at this stage in England you have quite a few U19's playing county cricket.

Because obviously when there only 66 spaces to fill, there's bound to be a lot of under 19s playing isn't there?

Certainly a lot more than where there's 198 spaces...

 

[AussieDominance]

but those 66 places nail down the top cricketers in the Country 198 places or whatever 3 quarters of them dont have any chance of playing for England & Wales.

 

[marc71178]

OK then, so by that "argument" how many of the top 66 players in England are U19s then?

I'd wager at very few if any.

 

[AussieDominance]

Well Broad,Plunkett and co were playing and were probably in the Top 66 a few years ago.

 

[steds]

Well Broad,Plunkett and co were playing and were probably in the Top 66 a few years ago.

No. They weren't.

 

[ripper868]

I predict England to do so much better in 2009 than they have here.

That shouldnt be too hard to do

 

[steds]

That shouldnt be too hard to do

It is when the spearhead of your bowling attack has 3 deliveries - bouncer, legside wide and the "so wide it goes to the slips" wide.