Will we see a greater shift in momentum now that we move north?

[Whistler]

The northern grounds have always been England’s fortress, their records there are immeasurably better than at Lords and the Oval. It doesn’t make sense why England play so much in London. Obviously, money plays a part but they are consistently better up north. Tough task for Australia now, England probably favourites despite being 2-1 down.

 

[CartyDurham]

The northern grounds have always been England’s fortress, their records there are immeasurably better than at Lords and the Oval. It doesn’t make sense why England play so much in London. Obviously, money plays a part but they are consistently better up north. Tough task for Australia now, England probably favourites despite being 2-1 down.

England have played 6 times at my teams home ground Chester le Street in Durham and won them all but they have stated they won’t play another test there again

Old Trafford next test, then back to London and the Oval

next time the Ashes is in England , the ECB has chosen that no game will be played North of Birmingham in the midlands

Their mantra of growing the game is clearly applied to only the Southern parts of the country

 

[Whistler]

England have played 6 times at my teams home ground Chester le Street in Durham and won them all but they have stated they won’t play another test there again

Old Trafford next test, then back to London and the Oval

next time the Ashes is in England , the ECB has chosen that no game will be played North of Birmingham in the midlands

Their mantra of growing the game is clearly applied to only the Southern parts of the country

It’s absolutely ridiculous, the ECB is hellbent on hamstringing England.

 

[Ali TT]

Dunno about overall record but the idea that the North is England's Ashes fortress is just nonsense.

 

[slowfinger]

It’s absolutely ridiculous, the ECB is hellbent on hamstringing England.

it's funny because interest for cricket in the south is not very high and people ****ing love it birmingham and north but the funding in the north is pitiful like they want it to die. i mean I was playing a 2nd XI game in like some northern saturday league and it was pissing it down but we didn't call it off because people just really wanted to play to be honest

 

[GIMH]

Trent Bridge not featuring in the last two Ashes is bonkers too, we’ve a good record there too.

Northerners are obviously better people, but also a more hostile crowd, and given how sensitive the Aussies to things like boos or even ‘See ya Smudge’ it’s a no brainer that we should play up north more.

 

[Ali TT]

it's funny because interest for cricket in the south is not very high and people ****ing love it birmingham and north but the funding in the north is pitiful like they want it to die. i mean I was playing a 2nd XI game in like some northern saturday league and it was pissing it down but we didn't call it off because people just really wanted to play to be honest

What's your evidence that cricket in the south elicits little interest? From watching the Blast and Hundred matches, Lords and the Oval always fill the grounds whereas, Roses matches apart, it's a sea of white seats across the screen whenever Sky go to OT, Headingley or CleS.

Cricket has died a death in inner city London, but we can all reasonably guess the reasons the ECB let that happen. Think it's still pretty strong in other areas though.

 

[Ali TT]

My sums give me, Ashes Tests 2005-19:
London W4 L4 D2
Midlands W5 L1 D1
The Naaaarth W2 L2 D2
Wales W1 D1

Egblaston has lost its invincible sheen over the past 2 series. We have a 100% record at TB but it misses out quite often, probably due to its small size.

We haven't won an Ashes test at Old Trafford since 1981

 

[Tom Flint]

Yeah I live on London border and play in herts league and there are 220+ teams playing league cricket every Saturday in that county alone. Then there are many friendly sides too. I don't see how anyone can think it isn't popular down here

 

[slowfinger]

around London cricket is actually really good standard and thriving I wasn't really talking about London but I don't know the state of things in Kent, Somerset, Bristol and towards Cornwall to be fair. But I do think in general there isn't enough funding for cricket especially worse up north, the pitches I play on here are appalling to be honest

 

[Tom Flint]

All clubs in England can apply for the same ecb grants as eachother.
Unless you are playing on council pitches over the park I don't see how funding can be blamed. It's up to the clubs to generate money or volunteer to look after facilities and apply for grants.

 

[Whistler]

People complain about racism in English cricket but I would argue elitism is far worse. I’m from Manchester and the club circuit is dominated by private schools and wealthy clubs. I’m sure racism does exist, but the growth of cricket here is hampered by the ideology that cricket is a ‘middle class’ sport. Get everyone playing cricket like they do in Australia. 10 million people play club cricket in Oz, yet we can only muster 1.2 million.

 

[Tom Flint]

10 million play cricket in aus loool
No chance

 

[GIMH]

People complain about racism in English cricket but I would argue elitism is far worse. I’m from Manchester and the club circuit is dominated by private schools and wealthy clubs. I’m sure racism does exist, but the growth of cricket here is hampered by the ideology that cricket is a ‘middle class’ sport. Get everyone playing cricket like they do in Australia. 10 million people play club cricket in Oz, yet we can only muster 1.2 million.

There’s definitely an element of defeatism in it though. In line with what you say, too many lads give it the ‘that’s a ****in Tory sport’

 

[Whistler]

10 million play cricket in aus loool
No chance

It was an exaggeration. According to the National Cricket Consensus in Australia, 1.6 million people in Australia engaged in cricket competitions which dwarfs the participation rate in the UK.

 

[slowfinger]

It was an exaggeration. According to the National Cricket Consensus in Australia, 1.6 million people in Australia engaged in cricket competitions which dwarfs the participation rate in the UK.

absolutely correct. not enough people playing cricket and way too dominated by private schoolers. and this is coming from someone who went to one. name me an England cricketer that didn't go to private school you'll be hard pressed to name any bar Stokes

 

[GIMH]

absolutely correct. not enough people playing cricket and way too dominated by private schoolers. and this is coming from someone who went to one. name me an England cricketer that didn't go to private school you'll be hard pressed to name any bar Stokes

Didn’t Joe Root go to a state school? And James Anderson?

Not saying they are the only ones just a couple that came to mind

 

[Whistler]

Didn’t Joe Root go to a state school? And James Anderson?

Not saying they are the only ones just a couple that came to mind

Anderson got funding through the Burnley Cricket Club though. There is always a benefactor when English cricketers are concerned. I would bet my house that a wealthy club or supporter made Root’s career possible.

 

[Shady Slim]

England have played 6 times at my teams home ground Chester le Street in Durham and won them all but they have stated they won’t play another test there again

Old Trafford next test, then back to London and the Oval

next time the Ashes is in England , the ECB has chosen that no game will be played North of Birmingham in the midlands

Their mantra of growing the game is clearly applied to only the Southern parts of the country

why is this?

 

[CartyDurham]

why is this?

It was punishment for a cash bail out

we were relegated, lost points in the following season t20 and 50 over competitions

all our best players had to leave and we were left on the brink of closing

the punishments were decided by Colin Graves at the time

the same Colin graves owns Yorkshire , claims to have seen not heard any racism at Yorkshire and just so happened to benefit his club by removing Durham from the test ground circuit

the debt was £3million

yorkshire with racism scandal have been fined cash and points but are appealing

Yorkshire are £20 million in debt to Colin Graves

It was then a disgrace and still is but it looks like Durham are moving forward again as we are clear top of Division Two in the championship, a long way above Yorkshire

Yorkshire never wanted Durham to be a championship side back in 1992