Colin's Mission

18/10/15

GRAVE'S OLYMPIC WISH



Colin Graves has thrown his influence behind a move to get cricket reintroduced into one of the World's largest sporting events, the Olympic Games. The gospel of cricket would indeed be reaching new corners of the globe but this spreading of the word goes against former the ECB teaching of self-interest, championed by Giles Clarke. Clarke would now represent the ICC in any discussions but both Graves and Cricket Australia's Wally Edwards both back the scheme. 

Olympic inclusion is seen as beneficial to both Women's and Disability cricket growth and would again increase media coverage in both games.

In England the fear has always been fitting another International competition in during an English season with its lucrative Test matches.

What format the Olympic cricket would be is still up for discussion; T20 or longer, perhaps even shorter and any degree of interruption would be determined by the length of competition, however on past form (in other sports recently) Team GB involvement might only be brief.

GB (aka Devon County Wanderers) are currently the reigning cricket Olympic Gold Medalists where France won silver in 1900.


16/09/15

16 GAMES REMAINS AS CHANGE IS DEFERRED?

The buffoons at the ECB, under new chief executive, Tom Harrison, have announced that there will not be any reduction in the number of matches played in the County Championship 2016 but a further review will be conducted during this winter with possible in 2017.


The PCA don't like the current amount of cricket played but there seems less these days than there used to be. There has been hardly any cricket at Trent Bridge in the second half of this season, compared to the first half and that wasn't hectic.

The fixtures just need to be sorted out and organised around a calendar, rather than when Sky tell the ECB to stage fixtures (which causes gaps for days/weeks without games followed by back to back games over and over again, with teams clocking-up 100s of motorway miles every week).

02/09/15

CHANGE AND TO HELL WITH WHAT SUPPORTERS WANT

There appears to be a myth that has been allowed to flourish that there is too much cricket during an English season. This myth is now being systematically flaunted as  "proof" for need to change the domestic game radically.


Currently we have a 2 nine county divisions in first class cricket that have delivered what was hoped for at its conception:

Improved England International performance and a raising in competition in both divisions providing meaningful cricket whilst also raising standards in the top division.

We also are 2 years into a revamped T20 competition, where the mandate was to provide structure to the fixtures (for spectators) by giving regular games on a Friday night throughout the first half of the season. This has resulted in a 20% increase in spectators and has to be seen as positive. Coaches and players don't like the switching and changing from one competition to another week on week but what is the alternative, revert to the T20 being played in a block of games? Games played as a block were rejected by county members and fans in the survey of only two years ago.

But,that is exactly what the County Chairmen are advocating, without the backing of their own CEOs or County Members.

Blocks of less T20 matches in total in a shorter space of time, one step closer to the City Franchise nightmare. They are also promoting the idea that making the fixtures in the championship asymmetrical  with only 14 games in 2016 and reducing Division 1 to 8 teams for 2017.

All these changes are to allow players more time off (for golf?). County players, in many cases, will turn out for their club sides given the opportunity, because they love playing and the social aspects associated.

From a spectator's eye view, there appears to be less cricket these days. Trent Bridge has seen 7 days Notts cricket since 10th July. Notts however had a ridiculous road trip plus two home ODCs at Welbeck during that time. Perhaps just sorting the fixtures out without meddling with anything else might be the way forward.

Nottinghamshire Chairman, Peter Wright, is a reputed supporter of the city franchise notion. Support that might bring him into disrepute with his own members, should the membership have any say on the matter.


Colin's on a Mission

26/05/15

Trevor Bayliss, NSW coach and coach of Kolkata Knight Riders has been appointed as the new England coach.


24/05/15

"I spoke to Andrew this morning," former Australia fast bowler Gillespie said on Monday. "He said they've got a preferred candidate they're speaking to (Trevor Bayliss). It would have been a tough decision for me, but I don't have to make it. That's absolutely fine, no worries at all. BBCSport

21/05/15
Andrew Strauss is said to be interviewing Jason Gillespie, with a view him assuming control of the England Test team ahead of the Ashes series.



KP cried off injured from travelling to Hyderabad.
12/05/15

In a late night meeting with Lord Brockett, after his 326, Kevin Pietersen was informed that he wouldn't be required by England in the near future. Post innings, Pietersen had told the media that he "deserved" an England place.

This evening, news is that KP flies out to Hyderabad on Friday, not into the sunset but to cash in on a contract worth 250K with the Sunrisers. Pietersen remained 255 not out as the Surrey innings closed today, missing out on a record score for by a Surrey player by 2 runs - shame (not).

Pietersen proves he has plenty of ability but confirms that hasn't an once of class. Bye-bye Kevin.

And all before Colin Graves takes control.



11/05/2015

Postcard from Kevin Pietersen - 326 not out, a nice reminder that he hasn't yet flown these shores. 326 off the least successful (in forcing wins) in Division 2, however!

10/05/15

A day on from the condemnation of the ECB treatment of Peter Moores, by former players, it has become clear of the order of events of this sordid episode.


Ructions between the hierarchy of the ECB and the incoming chairman about a perceived anti-Yorkshire bias within the organisation. Yorkshire players being selected for squads but on playing in final elevens is being seen as a trigger for the latest upset. Harsh treatment of the Tyke skipper after his disagreement with another player last season being another; "two bans" and barring of receiving the championship trophy in person.

Media fueled discontent about conservative team selection and on field tactics - again not playing the two Yorkshire bowlers in the Barbados Test......

Andrew Strauss being made EDoC and his need to make a strong entrance to his new job is perhaps more likely the reason for the timing.

Whoever, with strong media links, leaked Moores sacking the day before it was due to happen and before Peter Moores had been informed, isn't clear but you can take your pick from whichever camp you like - result is the same; Tom Harrison sacked Peter Moores a day after reports of his sacking - shoddy, sordid and slack management, by any measure, even football's.

Reports say that Moores lacked the International insight to be successful in the role in the long term and this is why he had to be replaced. Australian Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie is being tipped for the job as is South African Peter Kirsten. Mick Newell won't have a chance, with only limited County playing experience, so shouldn't waste any ink on the matter.

09/05/15

Later confirmed

Unconfirmed but unfortunately believable stories are circulating that Peter Mooses has been sacked as England Coach, ahead of Andrew Strauss' enthronement as EDoC next week.


Pehaps it was "gallows humour" on Moores' part that prompted Titch Taylor to remark that Peter as being  "positive and bubbly"  "I haven't heard anything on that."

"I haven't heard any echoes of that being the case. I know in my brief time with England over the last six months he's been really good for me, really positive.

"It definitely didn't affect anybody in the changing room. Nobody in the changing room uttered any word of it."

"He's always a very positive man. He remains very level and consistent all the time, which is all you can ask for no matter what's going on."

"He's been great with me and all the guys here. All the fresh faces in the team, he's been brilliant with them."

as reported on BBCSport

Paul Franks made some general comments on the matter this morning via Twitter, scathing in shoddy treatment of Moores. The General is in command of Peter Moores' son Tom this afternoon at Plumtree with the Academy.

If I were Peter Moores, I'd know where I'd be this afternoon and it wouldn't be St John's Wood.

05/05/15

With Strauss' appointment, does this mean that the door that was ajar for KP is now slammed shut, bolted and dead-locked?

When is KP leaving Surrey, now?



04/05/15

Andrew Strauss has been appointed the new National Director of Cricket. So expect no changes in structure, captain, coach or anything that is going to improve the sorry state of he national side. Ideal says Graeme Swann, far from ideal says Geoffrey.

All a bit too pally for my taste!

Jonathan Trott has retired from Test cricket
30/04/15

Alec Stewart and others have been presented with a "skeleton job description", outlining the role of National Director of Cricket................................ we await developments in light of England and Peter Moores' struggles in the West Indies.






15/04/15

Mick Newell, whilst twiddling his thumbs during Notts' grind, in a vain attempt, to dismiss Middlesex in the fourth innings at Lord's, was asked by a BBC journalist about the County season structure - leaving the headline that he predicts a reduction in the County Championship and this will happen sooner rather than later.

The submission that three divisions with Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands added is perhaps a positive way forward and maybe this should be the way forward for the T20 competition too. If divisions raise standards at First Class, then why not at Wam-Bam Thank-you Mam, also?


08/04/15

Still even before Colin Graves has sat in his new seat as chairman, the ECB has started swinging the axe - cutting not just Paul Downton, but his job all together. 

Replacing the position of Managing Director of the England and Wales Cricket Board is the now vacant position of Director of England Cricket. 

Suggested interested parties include Alec Stewart and Andrew Strauss; one an advocate for everything Kevin Pietersen the other, not.

Downton's departure must leave James Whitaker looking over his shoulder and Peter Moores (reappointed by Downton) on a knife edge.

Michael Vaughan has expressed an interest in having a role within the rejigged organisation also.







30/03/15
Is the issue with the escalating demands on the World’s top cricketers solvable?

Colin Graves, the new ECB chairman from May onwards, has thrown into the ring a possibility of reducing Test Matches to 4 longer days, freeing up a theoretic number of days in the calendar. Perhaps this is a workable solution at English latitudes of the globe but is not a feasible option on the Indian Subcontinent, for example, without flood lighting when the average over rate remains as low as it is. CG suggests earlier starts and 105 over days with no interruptions for bad light as all ECB Test Grounds will have the requisite lighting.  Dew might be a problem at the start and end of play in the more humid parts of the World, however.

Top players and the top earners are understandably drawn to compete in the circus of T20 tournaments around the World: ILP, Big Bash and the Caribbean competition, to name just three; whilst administrators desire the best players to be also performing for their nations in a forever increasing number of both ODIs and T20Is, as well as play in the “bastion” of the sport, Test Matches. All these have to be crammed into the same 12 months.

And what about the domestic first class competitions around the globe? These competitions are the place where the elite learned their art; where the best must compete against the rest in order for the next generation to measure their own progress against them and raise their game.

Perhaps the modern player will have to specialise in one or two formats? Increasingly players have been seen to tout their services out the highest bidder as a hired gun around the World; many have been pigeon-holed as “one dayer” or “T20 specialist”, only to make their own protestations contradicting this. At the moment it appears that everyone wants their cake and wants to eat it, whilst having a slice of everyone else’s cake too. Players and administrators.

The majority of cricket matches, in all formats, at the highest level are bat dominating ball encounters. Test matches extending to a fifth day and still ending in a draw are just a result of the evolution in the game, or the weather. Perhaps a different approach might be to make batting more difficult again; this was mooted a few decades ago, but then the West Indies produced their battery of fast bowlers and so this approach lost some validity at that time.   As the rules are, Colin Graves’ “solution” to shorten the length of a Test match from 435+ to 420 max will require some cooperation from captains and a change in attitude and mentality to be more positive. It would invigorate matches!

Three day Championship games will be the next “bright new idea”…….. I give him until the end of April before that appears in print online somewhere! CG doesn’t even start his new job until May.

Perhaps pleasing everyone around the globe isn't just difficult, but a Mission Impossible – not a job for Colin Graves but one for Peter Graves.

Peter: your mission, should you wish to accept it..................