01-10-2021, 16:16
During the Bob Willis Trophy final, the chestnut topic of the season calendar came up again (as it seems to regularly when Sky fail to stay on message and commentate on what is in front of them)
Anyhow, while everyone was adamant that the season was badly structured and should be revised, as usual, nobody had a solution!! What everyone agreed upon, was that there was too much cricket!!
I wondered whether we as fans could do better?
For what it is worth, here is my contribution. (wont happen for reasons that will be immediately obvious). My starting point is first principles ie priorities:
1 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
2 ONE DAY LIMITED OVERS CUP - straight knockout featuring Universities and Minor
Counties
3 T20 (only because it wont be scrapped - sadly)
4 THE HUNDRED (as above)
Having set the priorities, My main and overriding is to schedule accordingly!!
I don't have an issue with playing the County Championship in conditions that make it harder for the batsmen at the start and end of the season - the batters (pc don't you know) will have their head in the height of summer! Surely the purpose is to ask for the highest skill levels to prevail from both batters and bowlers - bowlers will toil june july august?? So, given a two division 9 team structure (cant see that changing - though it should to include Minor Counties) I would have 6 blocks of CC throughout the season with counties playing 3 rounds april - aug each month, with the final round at the same time in sept. No other cricket during these blocks. Fixtures as far as possible centred around bank holidays! This would mean 12 days a month set aside for nothing but championship cricket.
The one day cup would be a straight knock - out played primarily weekends Sat/Sun - May / June / July
T20 and the Hundred friday night comps only following on from CC between same teams!! So play CC Fri - Mon as an example, and the T20/Hundred the following Fri?? Travel minimised - practice maximised.
Hundred ideally scrapped, but failing that settle on a week night for each, or two per evening in height of summer in the case of the 100!!
Probably a number of detailed planning issues overlooked here, but my thoughts only!!
I will come back with a calendar when I have looked in greater detail
Anyhow, while everyone was adamant that the season was badly structured and should be revised, as usual, nobody had a solution!! What everyone agreed upon, was that there was too much cricket!!
I wondered whether we as fans could do better?
For what it is worth, here is my contribution. (wont happen for reasons that will be immediately obvious). My starting point is first principles ie priorities:
1 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
2 ONE DAY LIMITED OVERS CUP - straight knockout featuring Universities and Minor
Counties
3 T20 (only because it wont be scrapped - sadly)
4 THE HUNDRED (as above)
Having set the priorities, My main and overriding is to schedule accordingly!!
I don't have an issue with playing the County Championship in conditions that make it harder for the batsmen at the start and end of the season - the batters (pc don't you know) will have their head in the height of summer! Surely the purpose is to ask for the highest skill levels to prevail from both batters and bowlers - bowlers will toil june july august?? So, given a two division 9 team structure (cant see that changing - though it should to include Minor Counties) I would have 6 blocks of CC throughout the season with counties playing 3 rounds april - aug each month, with the final round at the same time in sept. No other cricket during these blocks. Fixtures as far as possible centred around bank holidays! This would mean 12 days a month set aside for nothing but championship cricket.
The one day cup would be a straight knock - out played primarily weekends Sat/Sun - May / June / July
T20 and the Hundred friday night comps only following on from CC between same teams!! So play CC Fri - Mon as an example, and the T20/Hundred the following Fri?? Travel minimised - practice maximised.
Hundred ideally scrapped, but failing that settle on a week night for each, or two per evening in height of summer in the case of the 100!!
Probably a number of detailed planning issues overlooked here, but my thoughts only!!
I will come back with a calendar when I have looked in greater detail