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Not surprising considering the lack of prominence given by the ECB schedulers and zero respect given to the 50 over format. All to chase the SKY buck and the Holy Grail of a new audience that wouldn't be attracted to a form of cricket that has massive 6 ball overs.
75 NOT OUT.
ReplyDeleteYou cant blame Royal London for their decision . The ECB gradually downgraded the prominance of the 50 over Comp to the extent that even the Final wasnt a sell out. But much pleasure was gained by proper due hard cricket fans during the early stages with some cracking games and cliff hanger finishes.
But I dont expect to see a queue of replacement Sponsors.
The RLC rounds gave chances for many Second 11 players to show what they could do in the First team if given the chance.
Even P M and the DOC were forced to draft in several fringe players and one or two did really well.
Agree with everything you have said:if a sponsor is not found or sought its probably for the chop . Something needs to go . I’d been sorry but cricket s FA cup , every month on a Wednesday with a show piece final on the first Saturday in September has been tinkered, messed and downgraded for a long time now. Foxy.
DeleteBring back the John Player League
DeleteThe Sunday league was brilliant, well served by John player and all the sponsors that followed it.
DeleteIt survived the usual tinkering by the cricket authorities by playing it on any old day including and except Sunday, the number of overs were up and down like a pair of tarts draws( 40/ 45/40 and so on)
Even when Ian ward was given the job on sky of fronting “ the new Nat west pro 40” it kept going. It represented all the counties that’s the key thing I believe. It won’t be back now though. Foxy.
Addendum
ReplyDeleteBeen mentioned before but the fabulous, uninterrupted coverage of the Sunday league on bbc2
Locally, the coach trips from Trent Bridge to away games.many of u I know went on most ( if not all)of them. I managed a couple a season on average when work and child care duties allowed.all great stuff.foxy
75 NOT OUT
ReplyDeleteYES - the John Player Sunday 40 over League . Terrific days with a measured Jim Laker commentary and casual interviews at " half time" by Peter Walker . A totally different world back then - and it's not really that long ago in the scheme of things.
But the world now is going ever faster and change is rapid , whether welcomed or not . The 100 Ball comp let the genie out of the bottle - and it's not going back - thats a certainty. The game of cricket at the top is completely money driven . Players can now earn a good living for 12 months of the year . No need now to get low paid menial jobs in winter in order to keep paying the mortgage etc .
A top player on top wages plus franchise income and fringe benefits can be set up for life within 8 or 10 seasons . No need to retire and run a little pub or sweet shop ( like our hero Harold Larwood ).
Yes, Jim and John arlott too. The commentary allowed the sound of the summer in, be it Canterbury or Worcester cathedral, the seagulls at hove, the sound of the trains rattling in at picturesque Portsmouth. ( if welbeck can be so described so can the United services ground at Pompey in my opinion). The commentary added to the experience rather than stated the bleeding obvious. Less was definitely more. Foxy
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