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ECB reconsiders schedule to get T20 ‘Blast’ crowds back.
Elizabeth Ammon.
The Times.
Monday, 15 February 2021.
PTG 3422-16983.
14/02/2021
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: County Championship could be postponed again as ECB draw up contingency plans... but the Hundred will remain in summer slot whatever happens.
• County Championship will be postponed if contingency plans come into force
• The Bob Willis Trophy was presented to the first-class champions last year
• Regardless of the potential outcomes the Hundred will go ahead in the summer
By RICHARD GIBSON FOR MAIL ON SUNDAY
• The County Championship will be postponed for the second season in a row if contingency plans being drawn up for the 2021 domestic schedule come into force.
• Discounting wartime, the Championship pennant was not contested for the first time in 130 years last summer and only the Bob Willis Trophy will be presented to the first-class champions once more in the event of the ECB revamping the fixture list they published in two stages either side of Christmas.
• Plan B of the county calendar is ready to be implemented amid concerns that crowds will still not be permitted to attend matches in June when the Vitality Blast is set to begin.
The County Championship could be postponed in 2021 for the second year in a row
The Blast has long been viewed as essential to county finances and playing matches behind closed doors again would cost them £25million based on recent years when combined attendances have hovered around one million.
Therefore a decision on whether to flip the season, pushing the majority of the Twenty20 back from midsummer to September — increasing the prospects of venues operating at greater than base-level capacity — is expected soon after February 22 when the road map out of lockdown is presented by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Some MPs suggest Covid restrictions will begin to be lifted in May, but county chiefs view it as prudent to wait for the chance for fans being welcomed in significant numbers for as many T20 games as possible. One said: ‘It is without doubt the most sensible option.’
If the switch happens, the Championship aspect of the first-class competition — when the teams are restructured into three divisions on points won during the 10-game group stage — would be removed from the final weeks of the season.
Whatever happens, the new Hundred tournament will remain in its slot between July 21-August 21 because of TV commitments.
Cash issues currently dog the county game.
Not exactly the scenario to enhance the Membership numbers!?
ReplyDeleteI am slightly confused, is that the second stage of the new format County Championship which will be calked off if Plan B is put into effect, with the early matches being played, nut behind closed doors ?
ReplyDeleteOn the Blast, if it happens in September, I hope matches take place at weekends and during the day as much as possible.
Tends to be chilly in the evening by then.
Is there someone in authority at Notts willing to say a few words about how ticket allocation will be organised based on the assumption of resticted numbers being allowed into the ground for various home matches ?
ReplyDeleteThis aspect ok lockdown must have been discussed during “ zoom” discussions?
It looks as though the national broadcast by Boris on the 22nd Feb will give a much clearer indication of future covid control measures . Its mooted in todays newspapers that golf and tennis will soon be allowed again . Its logical to think football , cricket and horse racing will allow limited spectators to watch the action “ live”.
If the 4 day game is going to be restricted to just a few Bob Willis games will it be economically viable for Notts to allow spectators into tge ground ?
Or will nearly all of Notts ccc efforts be concentrated on Blast 20 matches or the ECBs answer to everything , the 100 Baller ?
It is looking more likely it will be The Hundred or nothing. September will see the next wave of covid with perhaps covid-21, a strain untouched by vaccines running through the population - Blast will be scrapped. Graves will be rubbing his hands. Pursehouse will be reduced to selling hand sanitizer on Bulwell market.
DeleteCrowds in or not this summer ( I personally think not) they are going to get the 100 on if it’s the last and only thing they do.the owners of the club aren’t bothered if they lose members because compared to the money from the tv companies it’s chicken feed.
ReplyDeleteAnd as we all know, it's not about cricket. The Hundred is Harrison and Graves own vanity project to sell rights around the world and to make ££££££.
DeleteI like the image of Lisa on a market stall flogging hand sanitizer, sending Mick back to van for more stock. Bottles of sanitizer bearing the Trent Rockets logo, obviously.
Keep safe folks.
Looking at the long term general economic prospects there will be a lot more punters flogging £1 items on Bulwell Market than just The Doc and Lisa P.
ReplyDeleteIf it comes down to a choice of either the 100 Ball Comp or the 4 day red ball stuff I am pretty certain I know which of the two the Trent Bridge faithful Members will prefer.
ReplyDeleteYou mess with your loyal Membership at your peril- pandemic or not.
It seems with the current cricket set up the 4 day game is a pretty low priority.
Whether we like it or not the number of members who prefer 4-day cricket is in the minority. Based on the number of members who have already apparently renewed, I assume their priority is to obtain tickets for international matches, this is backed up by the increase in membership numbers that can be seen in a year when an Ashes test match is hosted. If the club were interested in the membership they would have contacted longstanding members who had not yet renewed to understand the reasons why but unfortunately the focus lies in the forms of the game that brings in revenue i.e. The Hundred and the T20 Blast. Normally at this time of the year with the days getting longer and warmer we would be looking forward to the season starting in six weeks time but it appears we are now contemplating another 14 months before we get chance to watch first class county cricket in person which for many will have been a 31-month hiatus.
ReplyDeleteThere is a reason why 4 day cricket is played in the uk. Many members will teach the grab & Bank it attitude of flash in the pan cricket. What might come as a surprise to many, is that the kids that were going down to the T20 at Trent Bridge were starting to get board watching the same thing, same noise, same slogging it and same hype. The parents said the kids were not finding the T20 that interesting and were not that bothered about watching and would rather play with their friends on their pS4s which they said was more Interesting. Greed over substance always fails in the end. I hope they take the hint if they push 4 day cricket to one side as it will be a hard lesson for some.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and valid points Anonymous.
ReplyDeleteKeep posting your words of wisdom.
Question!
Could the ECB really launch the 100 Competition without any paying spectators in the various cricket grounds?
The excitement and atmosphere generated would be a trifle flat with just viewing on the “ box”. Would the “ new younger “ audience that is required for it to be a success really want to sit down at home and watch it?
Go into Richard Gould's Twitter account and click on replies and he is confident of some crowds in April. He is the CEO of Surrey. Surrey have also organised an under 16 membership autograph session the day before their first championship match. The big question is whether Notts want crowds while there's furlough to be had in April. Notts are one of the few counties not to have a Covid membership guarantee.
ReplyDelete