Sport Today

Following a TV on BBC interview last weekend the oracle GB came up
with a great idea to boost English County cricket, suggesting that 4 day
County games should begin on Friday and continue through Saturday,
Sunday and finish on the Monday.

Dermot Reeve had previously discussed  the tiring schedules that
cricketers are going through at the moment .

GB had said it all, s***the Sunday league. Theres enough one day
cricket as it is and a one day game in between a 4 day game is
detrimental to the effect that styles have to be adjusted for fill in
Mickey Mouse, carry on cricket.

I think that such a radical step would significantly improve standards
and maintain focus on the right kind of cricket in preparation for the 5
day game known as a Test Match in most countries. It would also bring in
the crowds eg. Many folk take Fridays off for a long weekend, Saturday
and Sunday (normally hols) and Monday (long weekends and or sickys).

This leaves time for rest and the 55 and 60 over games during the week.

Nice one GB, sense from a Yorkshire man.

Simon.
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__________________________

Simon Walsh

: Following a TV on BBC interview last weekend the oracle GB came up
: with a great idea to boost English County cricket, suggesting that 4 day
: County games should begin on Friday and continue through Saturday,
: Sunday and finish on the Monday.

: Dermot Reeve had previously discussed  the tiring schedules that
: cricketers are going through at the moment .

: GB had said it all, s***the Sunday league. Theres enough one day
: cricket as it is and a one day game in between a 4 day game is
: detrimental to the effect that styles have to be adjusted for fill in
: Mickey Mouse, carry on cricket.

: I think that such a radical step would significantly improve standards
: and maintain focus on the right kind of cricket in preparation for the 5
: day game known as a Test Match in most countries. It would also bring in
: the crowds eg. Many folk take Fridays off for a long weekend, Saturday
: and Sunday (normally hols) and Monday (long weekends and or sickys).

: This leaves time for rest and the 55 and 60 over games during the week.

: Nice one GB, sense from a Yorkshire man.

: Simon.
: --
: __________________________

: Simon Walsh

I expect this would be detrimental to attendances. I've attended many
AXA games, and every time, the ground has been packed. Most of the BAC
matches I've been to have had a good crowd (but not full) and some have
been practically empty (eg when Warks won the BAC, it looked like there
was hardly a couple of hundred). The casual supporters I know don't mind
going to a match where the ball is going to get slogged around, but when it
comes to watching batsmen staying in for long periods, scoring slowly,
it can get a bit boring.

Cheers,

Steve.
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Attendances for the overall game would IMO improve. And I also think
that true cricket supporters (which count) would take the time to
attend over the four days.The four day game is now encouraging results
and exciting games (Warks/Northnts) just look at the record of results
in proportion to draws this year.

There is plenty of money in the game now and we should be looking to
improve the standard of play rather than to promote 'hit and giggle' or
'carry on' cricket for the likes of folk who only enjoy a good slog.
There's plenty of that played anyway so why not plan for the future
instead of a Sunday afternoon pissed and celebrating sixes and fours?

Yeh?

Simon.
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__________________________

Simon Walsh

Uumm, yes, but ...

I have an awful lot of sympathy with the general line of argument here,
because one-dayers just don't have the right resonance to stay in the
memory.

The difficulty with the above is that the true cricket supporters are
largely members, and have therefore paid their money before the season
even starts. Given that it's now sponsorship and TV rights which provide
most of the income to the game - only about 3 or 4 counties could even
finance the first team squad from membership income, the incentive exists
to bring the casual, non-dedicated spectator into the ground (and almost
by definition no-one who posts here is casual about cricket). It's a
conundrum to which I have no answer.

Cheers,

Mike