Tim Murray at the LCCC Members' Forum

 

Tim was asked by a friend if he could provide a transcript of what he so eloquently said at last week's Leicestershire forum, as her father was hard of hearing [the audio at the forum was pretty poor to be honest]. Many thanks to Tim for making that transcript available to Nottsview as well.

At the end of this pavilion building there is a large plaque on the wall.
It has about 450 names on it.
They are the members who donated their subscriptions to the Club in 2020 even though they were not able to watch any cricket.
They did the same in 2021 even though spectating was restricted.
They helped to keep the Club going.
The same thing happened across the 18 first-class counties.
The ECB must have been aware of that.
It is therefore astonishing that so soon afterwards, the ECB are putting forward proposals to cut the volume of cricket, particularly four-day cricket.
What a way to say 'thank you' to those loyal members.
I hope whoever votes on these proposals for Leicestershire votes against, particularly on the reduction in four-day cricket.

This review was commissioned following England's thrashing in the Ashes last winter.
The general conclusion is that county cricket is rubbish.
If the review had been commissioned at the end of this summer when England won six of their seven Tests, presumably the conclusion would have been that county cricket is brilliant.
The one conclusion I draw is that the volume of four-day Championship cricket is irrelevant to England's Test results.
One reason is that the Test players hardly ever play in it.
Cutting the number of Championship games   is  going to make no difference to the workloads of the likes of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow or Ben Stokes.

The main point of contention in the review is the volume of cricket played.
There is the figure of 79 days.
That is spread over a season of five and a half months and works out at a tad over three days a week.
I appreciate there is also time needed for practice.
But, if you offered people who work in offices and factories a three-day week, they would snap your hand off.
And, of course, there is the chance of extra time off if it rains. I don't think doctors and nurses get a day off if it rains.

Take a closer look at that figure of 79 days.
Across the 18 counties, how many players play  the full 79 days or anything even approaching it?
Very few, if any, I believe.
If we cut the number of days by 20 will a Club like Leicestershire be able to justify having so many players?
Will they really need a director of cricket, head coach, batting coach, bowling coach,  second-team coach and all the other support staff?

The Review stresses the need for rest time.
But let's take a look at how some members of the 2022 Leicestershire squad spent their valuable rest days.
Hassan Azad spent 16 days playing for Wollaton in the Notts [Premier] League.
Sam Evans spent 16 days playing for Leicester Ivanhoe in the Leicestershire League.
He also spent six days playing Minor Counties cricket for Lincolnshire.
So he spent 22 of his rest days playing cricket.
And take the case of Josh Cobb.
Josh became a regular in the Northants four-day team this season.
He is also the Northants one-day captain and captain of the Welsh Fire in the Hundred.
So, if anyone was in need of rest, you would think it would be Josh.
So how did Josh spend his rest days?
He spent five of them playing for Kibworth in the Leicestershire League.
Are those the actions of players who are desperately tired and playing too much cricket?

Mickey Arthur, Derbyshire's head of cricket and someone who knows a lot about the game around the world, has said the Derbyshire players do not think they play too much and that the problem is with scheduling.
Derbyshire chairman Ian Morgan has said he thinks The Hundred could be compressed into three weeks.
That could have a huge beneficial influence on the scheduling difficulties.

Finally can we consider Sir Andrew Strauss' own words.
This is the Andrew Strauss of 2011.
He had just returned from leading England to victory in the Ashes in Australia.
In the first half of the summer, in addition to playing for Middlesex, he led England in a three-Test series against Sri Lanka.
In the second half of the summer, England were facing a four-Test series against India.
In the run-up to that series, Middlesex did not have a game so Strauss went on loan to Somerset to play in a tour match against India.
He scored 78 and 109 not out - and then went on to lead England to a 4-0 series win against India.
On his reasons for playing for Somerset, he said:  "As well as playing for Middlesex in first-class cricket, I need to look for as many opportunities as I can to make sure I am fully prepared come that first Test match against India."

That was the Andrew Strauss of 2011.
He needed the match practice then.
The players of today need and deserve that same match practice too.
Please do not vote for anything that is going to reduce the amount of Championship cricket.

07 October 2022

[here]

Foxes TV will live stream tonight’s (Friday, 7 October) Supporters’ Forum, which will allow all supporters to air their views and concerns on the future of LCCC and first-class cricket.

The rescheduled forum, which follows the publication of proposals outlined in the ECB’s High Performance Review, will be able to view on our YouTube channel, Foxes TV from 6pm.

Supporters will be able to air their concerns and ask questions through the live chat, which will then be relayed to the panel comprising Leicestershire CEO, Sean Jarvis; Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson; and Chairman, Jonathan Duckworth.

The Club will be addressing the proposals made in Sir Andrew Strauss’ High Performance Review, as well as looking back at the 2022 season for the club and our 2022/23 plans.

We encourage all supporters to join us for the Forum, either in person or digitally, to air their views and concerns pertaining to the review.

Supporters still wishing to attend in person will be able to enter the Charles Palmer Suite from 5pm, with teas and coffees available upon arrival, before the Forum begins at 6pm. 

McGrath on BBC

No it's not rocket science, opportunities for many won't knock, especiallly if you take a lot of the doors away.

Leicestershire Members Forum Friday 6th

Leicestershire CCC can confirm details for this week’s Members’ Forum, which will allow all supporters to air their views and concerns on the future of LCCC and first-class cricket.

The rescheduled forum, which follows the publication of proposals outlined in the ECB’s High Performance Review, will take place on Friday, 7 October at 6pm in the Charles Palmer Suite at Uptonsteel County Ground.

Leicestershire CEO, Sean Jarvis, Director of Cricket, Claude Henderson, and Chairman, Jonathan Duckworth will all be in attendance to discuss the proposals.

Speaking following the HPR publication, CEO Sean Jarvis said: ““We have to ensure we protect the interests of both the Club and our Members. When you actually calculate it, the proposed schedule results in a 28% reduction in days of cricket at Grace Road for Members. That is not acceptable.

“Moving forwards, it is essential we talk to our Members to hear their opinions and give them the opportunity to help us to form a consensus from a Leicestershire perspective.”

Doors will open at 5pm, with teas and coffees available upon arrival, while the Fox Bar will also be in operation.

The Club welcomes and encourages all supporters to join us for the Forum on Friday to air their views and concerns pertaining to the review.