Nottinghamshire Communication on "The Strauss Proposals"

Dear Member,


Following on from our previous correspondence on the subject, and our wider discussion at the recent members’ forum, we are now in a position to provide a further update regarding the High-Performance Review.

As you will be aware, led by Sir Andrew Strauss, the review was conducted with the stated aim of bringing sustained success to the England men’s international team. Having undertaken a thorough process between May and September, the review has now proceeded to a set of formal proposals.


The proposals can be viewed in full here...


You can download and read the proposals here…


The ECB's statement in relation to the review is available to read here...


As expected, the recommendations are far more wide-ranging than the structure of the domestic game – with defined actions to address pitch preparation, coach education, player development, exposure to overseas conditions and the elevation of the England age-group and Lions programme all included.

In relation to domestic cricket, the proposals seek to address issues relating to volume of matchdays, concentration of talent (best vs best) and optimal scheduling for each of the competitions.

The recommendations on the domestic structure are outlined in full on pages 22-30. We would, however, encourage you to familiarise yourself as much as possible with the proposals in full.

As previously advised, there will be no changes to the domestic structure for 2023, but the report incorporates proposals for some changes to be made to the structure of the domestic season from 2024 onwards.

We do not yet have a confirmed timeline for any decision, but ultimately the proposals will be subject to a ‘for or against’ vote among the First-Class counties with a 12-6 majority required for a change from the status quo to be enacted.

The club will now take the chance to digest the report’s content, before embarking on a period of consultation taking into consideration views from our members, players, coaches and staff.

We will contact you as soon as possible to outline a timeline and process for consultation over the course of the coming weeks.


We look forward to receiving and considering your views on this important matter.


Thank you for your support.

Jeff and Lisa

Nottinghamshire Extraordinary General Meeting

Dear Member


As you may be aware, at the members’ forum on Monday 5 September the Club was presented with a petition for an Extraordinary General Meeting.


Under the terms of the Club’s constitution the General Committee are obliged to convene such a meeting. The salient segment - Clause 9.10 - reads as follows:

The General Committee may, on its own authority and shall, on the request of at least 100 members entitled to vote, call an Extraordinary General Meeting of which not less than 28 clear days’ written notice shall be given stating the object, date, agenda, time and place of the meeting and details of any resolutions to be considered at the meeting. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be held within 60 days of the date of the request. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall not transact any business that is not set out in the notice convening the meeting.

We can confirm that the request for an EGM has a legitimate proposer & seconder and the requisite number of signatures to proceed.

It will, therefore, take place in the Derek Randall Suite at Trent Bridge at 6pm on Tuesday 1 November and, as a voting member of the Club, you are invited to attend.

The object of the meeting, as set out by the proposer and seconder, is to consider the content of the note signed by those members in support of the presented petition as outlined below:

We the undersigned members of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club (the club) require an Extraordinary General Meeting to take place at Trent Bridge at a convenient date and time set by the General Committee to maximise attendance of the club’s members. The agenda is set out below:

1. To consider all aspects of the club’s officials’ handling of any discussions held amongst any of the counties and/or the ECB relating to any matter connected to the High-Performance Review especially any implications to alter the future schedule or structure of county cricket.

2. To discuss the communications to members and the level of involvement of members ahead of the club casting its vote on the future structure/schedule.

3. To discuss in detail the views of club officials on the merits of the various options considered and receive a detailed explanation of why they voted as they did.

The following resolutions will be considered by the meeting:


A. The members have confidence in how club officials managed the process, communications and member involvement.

B. The members have confidence in the actual vote cast by the club’s chair on behalf of the members.

For your information, the Club understands that the signatures were primarily collected during the course of Nottinghamshire’s respective Royal London Cup fixtures at Grantham and Welbeck on 12, 14 and 23 August.

The resolution was predicated on the basis that Nottinghamshire’s Chair was due to cast his vote on recommendations from the England and Wales Cricket Board’s High-Performance Review on 20 September 2022.

However, the assumption was inaccurate and no vote upon any proposals has or will take place in September.

In addition, following dialogue with the Chairs, Chief Executives and Directors of Cricket from across the 18 counties – and with requests having been made for additional time for consultation – the ECB later confirmed that there would be no reduction in the volume of County Championship cricket in 2023.

The resolution to be heard at the meeting, however, remains unchanged from the above and will be the sole item on the agenda. It will be spoken to by the proposer and/or seconder at the meeting.

We expect to receive the final recommendations of the High-Performance Review by the end of this week, after which we will share them with you at the first opportunity.

Lisa and Jeff

Members' Update 16/09

from TrentBridge.co.uk

blah, blah...

"Firstly, in relation to the England and Wales Cricket Board’s High-Performance Review, we know that the themes are far more wide-ranging than the structure of the domestic game – with pitch preparation, coach education, player development, exposure to overseas conditions and the elevation of the England age-group and Lions programme among the suggested strategies."

For volume read number of matches but note this is only for 2023

"In relation to domestic cricket, volume of matchdays, concentration of talent (best vs best) and optimal scheduling for each of the competitions were all identified as issues for consideration."

Consideration and recommendation doesn't mean approval and Lisa and Mick have their say too - so we're doomed, democracy is floundering!

"We are currently awaiting the final recommendations of the review. However, following dialogue with the Chairs, Chief Executives and Directors of Cricket from across the 18 counties – and with requests having been made for additional time for consultation – the ECB have confirmed that there will be no reduction in the volume of LV= Insurance County Championship cricket in 2023. There will, also, be no vote upon any proposals in September as was previously expected to be the case."

Do we get to make our recommendations to the chairman as how we want him to cast our vote?

"Further consultation will take place in the weeks ahead. We will keep you updated and share any further information once we know more."

And now the real reason for us writing to you.

"As a result of the above, the ECB have confirmed that they will be in a position to announce next summer’s international schedule on Wednesday 21 September.

Although we are not able to confirm the dates of the fixtures at our venue until then, we are already aware that Trent Bridge will host England men’s white-ball internationals in both 50-over and T20 cricket and that the touring sides across the two formats are Ireland and New Zealand."

So yes we want your continued  support money

"Should you opt to renew your membership for 2023, you will be bestowed the first priority booking window commencing two days after the fixture announcement, starting on Friday 23 September, at 10am. For clarity, both 2023 membership – and tickets for our internationals for those who renew – will become available at that time."

So the sooner you renew your membership, the sooner we can bank the money.

_____________________________________________________________________

This week’s Members’ Forum, scheduled for Thursday 15 September, has been postponed due to delays regarding the High Performance Review.  

The postponement comes as a result of delays to any formal proposals being released following the High Performance Review. The England & Wales Cricket Board have confirmed that any formal proposal following the review will be delayed due to the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Forum, which is exclusive to 2022 Member and Life Members, will be rescheduled for a later date at The Incora County Ground. Members should note that all documentation which is released for consideration by counties will be issued to Members via email.

The Forum will offer the exclusive opportunity for Members to discuss any formal proposals with the Club’s Supervisory Board.

The new date of the Forum will be communicated to Members in due course.

Members' Forum Postponed

12 September 2022

We would like to inform members that as we are now in an official period of national mourning, the England and Wales Cricket Board have decided to delay the publication of the High-Performance Review until after the funeral of her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

With this in mind, the Club will no longer be holding a Members' Forum tomorrow evening (Tuesday, 13 September). We will be re-arranging the event for the next earliest convenience, and the Club will share the details of the revised date once confirmed.

Members Forum: 13 September 2022

06 September 2022

In light of the ongoing debate and speculation surrounding the High-Performance Review led by Sir Andrew Strauss, Leicestershire CCC will hold a Members’ Forum to discuss questions and concerns.

The event will take place in the Charles Palmer Suite at Uptonsteel County Ground at 6pm following the second day’s play of our County Championship fixture against Durham next week (Tuesday, 13 September).

Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson, CEO, Sean Jarvis, and Chairman, Jonathan Duckworth will all be in attendance to answer Members’ questions, ascertain their opinions and update them with the latest details of consultation meetings with the ECB, MCC and the rest of the 18 first-class counties over the past week.

The trio have been involved in meetings since late August, while proposals have been finalised with first-class over the past week, in preparation for publication to members on Friday (9 September).

LCCC’s Members Forum will fall in between the publication, allowing Members to consider the proposals, and the county chairs vote the following Tuesday (20 September).

LCCC Chairman, Jonathan Duckworth, said: “As a Club, we have an active part to play right at the heart of the consultation process.

“We have been assured by the ECB that we will continue to be one of the 18 FCCs, and we are now keen to ensure during 2023 that our best interests are effectively considered and promoted during the rest of the decision-making process.

“We believe that player wellbeing and development needs to be a primary focus, and for the benefit of both red and white ball cricket the domestic scheduling needs to be structured in the most effective way possible.”

Leicestershire CCC actively encourages all ideas and suggestions from our Members regarding the High-Performance Review process and extends an invite to all Members to attend the Forum on Tuesday, 13 September.

The Club’s next Members’ Forum has been moved to Thursday 15 September (7pm) to allow Members the time to review any formal proposals following the High Performance Review ahead of the Forum.

The event, which is exclusive to 2022 and Life Members, is being held to provide Members with the opportunity to express their views and ask questions about proposed amends to the county structure and schedule.

It has been pushed back by 72 hours with Derbyshire now understanding that any formal proposals following the High Performance Review will be sent to clubs by 12 September, as opposed to the original 9 September target.

Documentation which is released for consideration by counties will be issued to Members via email.

The Forum on 15 September, which will be held in person in the Members’ Lounge at The Incora County Ground and remotely via Zoom, will offer the opportunity for Members to discuss any formal proposals with the Club’s Supervisory Board.

Chief Executive, Ryan Duckett, said: “As a Club we’re keen to engage with our Members throughout this process using our regular Members’ Forums.

“We believe that by pushing the next Forum back by 72 hours this will allow the Supervisory Board, as well as the Club’s Members, a suitable window to consider any proposals before what I’m sure will be a productive meeting on the 15th.

“This is an important time in County Cricket and I’d urge our Members to be a part of the debate whether that be in person or via Zoom.”

Members have been contacted via email to register for the event and submit questions in advance. Pre-registration is not essential, however only those Members who register in advance will receive the Zoom link. Members who pre-submit questions will be able to ask their questions first, while there will be time for follow-up or new questions from the floor. Those Members who have already registered do not need to re-register for the re-arranged date.

This Forum is exclusive to Life and 2022 Members.