Update from Alan Higham and CCMG

 

Update from around the counties

This update shares the key points emerging from what campaign members have been told by their counties. Please let us know what you think of the feedback within your county.

It seems the ECB reform proposals will not be put to a vote.  Instead, the county chairs are looking at what they do agree on to improve the current schedule/structure. The following questions are being asked.

County championship
Do you agree to play fewer games?
Do you prefer either of the 3 divisions of 6 structure or prefer two divisions either 8 or 10 in the top division?
How many teams should be promoted/relegated?
Which months to schedule matches for?
Views on the points system changes?
Views on poor pitch penalties

One Day Cup
Play it in April or August?
Are fewer games acceptable?
Should it be a pure knock-out?

T20 Blast
Which window to play it in?
Blocks or alongside county championship
Reduce number of games?

Hundred
Want to shorten window?
What to play alongside it? Blast, "first class friendlies", CC or ODC?
Should contracts reflect Blast performances?

Glamorgan went through their responses with their members this week.  We have heard snippets from other counties on some of their responses.  Both Surrey and Lancashire have told their members they supported shortening the Hundred's window.  Somerset remain focused on resolving the whole picture that saw just 4 days play at Taunton out of 43 days in peak summer. They are unwilling to be drawn into giving a view on each component.  

The Telegraph reports some form of compromise at 12 county championship games, 12 blast games and a reduced One Day Cup is being mulled over. Compromise for the sake of compromise perhaps, but also to address the PCA demand that too much cricket is expected from their members so more rest breaks are needed and slightly fewer days' cricket overall.

Within the campaign there are 10 active county member groups.  We see this stalemate as an opportunity to make the case for a better schedule, keeping much of what we have already.

To keep 14 first class games across two divisions, the county championship simply has to be played in August. 

The Hundred should adjust its schedule to allow more players to be released back to play in the county championship. A formal review of the Hundred needs to happen once the review into the ECB's finances is completed later this year.

We cannot stop the tide of global t20 franchise cricket.  We must use any revenues we gain from it to invest and grow the first class game. We need to support our counties like never before.

Accordingly, we recommend that county members support playing the county championship in August when giving their feedback to their clubs along with amending the Hundred's scheduling and benching of players.

What do you think?

Next season, there are no test matches in August.  The Cricketer https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/england/england_face_stacked_schedule_future_tours_programme_confirmed_2023-2027.html suggests this could be true in 2024 too.  

Are we really going to play no proper cricket in August at all? That surely cannot be allowed to happen.

Not a squeak out of Trent Bridge, again!

Those keen to join the Nottinghamshire Committee, perhaps change things for the better from within apply here