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The fixtures for the 2020 season will be released on Tuesday 26th November at 7 AM (date now confirmed). What are you hoping for?
The Cricketer highlights a concern although not a new one, one amplified with the introduction of an unnecessary fourth format.
CHAMPIONSHIP FURTHER TO THE MARGINS
Huw Turbervill
The draft schedule for the 2020 season sees the County Championship shunted to the margins of the summer more than ever before. The schedule – sent to county chiefs and seen by The Cricketer – was drawn up by Alan Fordham, the ECB’s head of cricket operations.
Tasked with incorporating four domestic competitions, there is widespread sympathy for him. There is some disagreement about why it has been laid out as it has though. There seemed to be a clue when the ECB delegation were questioned by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. “Next year, from 2020 onwards, the schedule has been put together by the stakeholders, the counties,” ECB chairman Colin Graves said. “They got together between them; we didn’t impose anything on them.”
The inference was that it looks as if the counties chose to have their Blast matches, not Championship, in mid-summer. And if that was the case, one could understand why: T20 makes big money, the four-day game does not. But a county chief told The Cricketer that this was not the case. Fordham presented the draft schedule to the counties, and they accepted the reality of the situation: there is just too much to fit in. Counties are actually annoyed that the Blast is not in a self-contained window – there are long gaps between the qualifiers, the quarter-finals and the final. The ECB have promised to try to address this in 2021.
The schedule sees three Championship matches in April and four in May. The Blast holds sway. A Championship match then pops up in mid-June, before there is more Blast. There are then two four-day windows. The Hundred is poised to start on July 17, with the ‘development’ 50-over tournament commencing a day later.
The Blast quarters are from August 18-21, then it is two Championship windows (August 23, 29). Blast finals day is on on September 5, followed by two Championship windows (September 8, 14). The 50-over final is set to be on September 5, and the season ends with the Championship on September 21 and 27... later than ever before.
The two three-Test series are against West Indies (June 4–29) and Pakistan (July 30–August 24). There is not much four-day cricket ahead of that latter series, raising concerns that players will not have a chance to prove form and fitness.
All home games at Trent Bridge,and the abolition of the Hundred...A return to calling the place and club Nottinghamshire County Cricket club...Are my hopes...then I woke up..!
ReplyDeleteAlways however look forward to fixtures day, but not as much this year for the fear of what I will see in store
Yes would love that Paul. Not totally against out grounds, but to reassure the faithfull supporters all at the Bridge would be great, but sadly that is not where cricket is at
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping for enough real cricket home games to suggest that renewing my membership would be sensible. If we then bolster the side somewhat I will then renew. I would love other changes too.
ReplyDeleteYes, ALL home games at TB, but we know that is not going to happen. So, all outgrounds on a Saturday or a sunday(if the club is prepared to put FREE coach travel on for the supporters) More 4 dayers starting on Fridays or Saturdays. No games at Gorsey Lane. We are Nottinghamshire and shouldn't play out of the county. All this is about as likely as your average Turkey voting for December 25 however.
ReplyDeleteHoping there will be championship games at weekends
ReplyDeleteI am also hoping for more weekend fixtures. And I hope 'The Hundred' is a dismal failure.
ReplyDeleteSo presumably then if Giles and the ECB do actually want the focus to be split 50/50 between white and red ball emphasis in future the championship will have to be played more in the summer months ? Johnno said last Thursday he couldn't see the point in switching the stiffs games to 4 days from next season as how many of these will actually last that long? Surely Giles&Co have got to help the players a little bit more to improve our red ball form with the Test side?
ReplyDeleteOur beloved @TrentBridge are at it again, ahead of the fixtures release; Harry Gurney banging-on with a Hundred theme. My wish for the new fixtures is that the COUNTY fixtures are released before The Hundred fixtures - I have no expectations of anything more. I'm not expecting Notts weekend games at Trent Bridge nor fixtures that coincide with Bank Holidays; they've managed to avoid such "clashes" over the past couple of seasons, so why stop now. Blast games to be played earlier in the year, during the week to deter younger fans on school nights and Cup games played at "home" at least a 100 miles from the Notts border to avoid any conflict of interest with Team Rocquettes. And for Christmas, Santa can I have a lovely garish MCC striped blazer to fullfil Harry Gurney's wishes that the Trent Bridge ground might be filled with the colours "Yellow and Orange".
ReplyDeleteHard to believe it is the same bowler/person who was a peripheral figure at DISgrace Rd who I saw toil away as a virtual unknown at the Palatial Bay. There seems to be this bizarre logic with some Notts fans that dear old 'arry's defection is more acceptable and understandable than our mate Baz(Hales). But to me there is no difference whatsoever. I think we are all waiting with anticipation(dreading) the fixtures release on Tuesday, however like you so succinctly point out DG there will not be too many surprises..... we are all only well too aware by now of the route we are taking
DeleteWe do need to make our feelings known,now and even more when full horror show of fixtures are known. One point is if there are 8,500 members, that may well drop due to poorer value for money now, and I blame nobody if they decide to keep wallet or purse in pocket, the membership number should be added to the pay at the gate number for any and all Notts matches. So less of the "only 500 turned up for a championship day's play." No, circa 8,000 or 9,000 paid to watch it.
ReplyDeleteBut remember the COUNTIES are responsible for the timing of the Fixtures - YOUR COMMITTEE / YOUR CHAIRMAN / YOUR CEO - well that's what the ECB say! So when were YOU AS MEMBERS ever consulted by YOUR CLUB? You are correct 'Rich' that you do need to make your feelings ('voices') known and heard but I fear that you are up against those who don't share your views and don't wish to act as you wish them to.
ReplyDeleteYes, I fear that too PJ, though it is worth trying IMO. Fixtures are released tomorrow morning (Tuesday 26th) at 7am. Please do not choke on your cornflakes !
ReplyDeleteThis is completely UNCONFIRMED, but there are rumours the red ball fixtures will be better for most people to attend with more fixtures over a fri, sat and sun, albeit a lot of rounds of the championship will be early season still. For a lot of people it's the games played midweek that are the big problem. So, let's hope.......It would be quite an achievement if they are as bad, or even worse, than last season's delectation
DeleteSurely not ?
ReplyDeleteA four day game played in high summer ,at Trent Bridge and over a week end ?
That would be like going back 5 years or more ?
No the busy weekends should be reserved for the soon to be announced 10 OVER competition .
60 balls a side should keep those with limited concentration spans happy - until the FIVE OVER league starts in 2025.
Oh Dear me '75NO' - I'm just going to have a cold shower to calm me down!!!
ReplyDeleteNot any news that will be during summer months just may be more over weekends than recently.4 competitions just doesnt go in our season lets face it.
ReplyDeleteWell, a lot to take in now fixtures released My feeling is sort of 2 out if 10. Only one Royal London game at Trent Bridge, I thought we would get 2. Glamorgan in proper Summer in CC, great, but why start on a Monday ? Only one CC in September. Some move, I think to week end play, but could be more. Cambridge University match always useful prep for CC, is it still First Class ? I hope so, some great players were gently introduced in uni matches
ReplyDeleteCertainly more weekend cricket, trying to be positive. Also want to say office staff, stewards etc work very hard for us and very find if them. Beverly , Test, Membership and ticket manager works her socks off for us. But I am glass half empty re the fixtures tbh. Will count my pennies after Yule and see
ReplyDeleteNot happy with two 50 overs games at Grantham and only one at Welbeck. We shouldn't in any circumstances be playing outside the county borders.
ReplyDeleteYes, I completely agree with you. You know my feelings on outgrounds Unwelcomebeck Fan....but Welbeck has served us very well and I find it strange indeed. I would like to know the reasons for this. On the whole I would say better especially for people wanting to watch more red ball cricket. I will probably forego the 50over stuff from now on as I'd rather watch the away games in the championship at Disgrace Rd and Direby instead and I only have so much leave to allocate to all these matches. On the whole, I'll settle for it. It could have been loads worse.
DeleteI believe that Grantham put in a very sound financial package to get these games.
DeleteWell after studying the fixtures in detail I think we can say it could have been a lot worse !
ReplyDeleteInteresting staging of Notts v Derby at TB - BLAST 20 on 4th June and then on June 5th Derby v Notts at Derby -Blast 20.
Another odd staging is 19th July Royal London Yorks v Notts Outlaws at Scarborough and on the same day its 100 Ball Comp at TB Trent Rockets v Birm Phoenix .
Its not like the old days of plentiful four day cricket at TB played in good light and on warm days at the Bridge but they have probably done the best they could do in the forthcoming "experimental" season .
Are others on here happy or unhappy with the 2020 cricket schedule ??
I think that you will find that apathy rules. The same very few contributors - the 'tail' at Notts wags the 'dog' - until the membership change the Committee nothing will change but they will vote through the new Governance proposals so the Committee will have even more control.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad about the rocket nonsense but the TB content is not as bad as I'd feared. Think I'll renew tomorrow despite my continuing anger about how "my" Club is run.
ReplyDeleteThe Leicester membership at DisGrace Rd must be something of a bargain at just 99 quid for red ball and youth games(RL50 comp), especially on the basis there's the reciprocals with Direby and the fact that we play both of them in red ball this season.
ReplyDeleteLOOKS LIKE LEICESTERSHIR HAVE A RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT WITH NOTTS FOR 2020!!!! - This makes Leicestershire membership exceptional value.
ReplyDeleteLeicestershire CCC News
17th November 2019
2020 Membership Benefits
Leicestershire County Cricket Club can announce a new simple membership structure that gives under 12s free entry while people aged 23 and above pay just £99 for their annual membership package – the best value on the county circuit.
Further, Young Adult and Junior Fox memberships are still available to purchase at £49 and £15 respectively.
The £99 membership is inclusive of all county championship and one day fixtures and comes with the option of adding a T20 Vitality Blast season ticket at a special price of £50 for membership purchasers.
2020 Membership Benefits
Entry to home Specsavers County Championship and Royal London One-Day Cup group fixtures
Entry to home Vitality Blast group fixtures
Entry to Specsavers County Championship fixtures at Nottinghamshire CCC, Derbyshire CCC, Northamptonshire CCC & Warwickshire CCC
Entry to selected home tourist fixtures*
Guaranteed ticket application for a Vitality Blast home quarter final*
Preferential ticket application for Vitality Blast Finals Day* (if Leicestershire Foxes are involved)
Four complimentary guest tickets to a day's play of Specsavers County Championship action
10% discount on match-day hospitality packages
10% discount on Club merchandise
*Invitation to Members' events during the 2020 season, including the Members' Annual Dinner HERE!
Has anyone else had the e'mail from our county enthusing over the Trend Pockets ? Really is adding insult to injury and I replied that they have nothing to do with me and I have no interest in them. If I had to choose between the Hundred thing and a Wellington boot throwing competition, I would opt for the latter
ReplyDeleteAided, or hindered, by Christmas booze,; done a Notts First team (well sort of First re RLC). There are I think 36 days of Notts playing at Trent Bridge. That assuming good weather and those CC matches lasting 4 days. Of those I think 14 are in the traditional 3 Summer months. Normally and historically those would see the majority of days cricket. This does not take into account extra fixtures like semi or quarter finals, which I do not know where they would be staged if we were at home, or indeed the RLC Final , which is at Trent Bridge, but needs to be paid for additionally.
ReplyDelete