For the love of the Test

 I’m wired and unable to sleep off the back of what was up there with one of the greatest cricket matches I’ve witnessed.

We may have lost to New Zealand out in Wellington but the ebb and flow of the game, the highs and lows, the controversial incidents and the brilliant performances of Root, Foakes, Brook, Williamson, Wagner and co has left me reeling.  Punch drunk despite the loss.

I grew up watching test matches round at my grandparents house.  My parents didn’t like the fact that a game could take 5 days out of my life, but I was transfixed by it and I remember vividly (as I’ve mentioned previously) that famous battle between Donald and Atherton.  Donald mad eyed and sledging, Atherton smiling and obstinate.

 I remember Gough steaming in offering up toe crunching yorkers; Stewart, talented and reliably churning out the runs; Caddick’s 4 wickets in 1 over against the Indies…Though these were tough times to be an England fan, with our batting line ups regularly destroyed by some of the greatest bowlers ever to grace the game, it was all I knew and I loved it.

And so, on to 2005 and the greatest Ashes series of all time.  I watched much of the series - In fact probably more of the series than I had before or really have since.  I had time on my hands back then and I made the most of it.  The initial disappointment of the opening game was soon to be replaced by a flicker of hope.  Maybe we could even draw a series on home soil?  But no, even better than that we came away with our first ashes win since 86/87.

The tight finishes and eventual Ashes win meant that public interest was at an all time high.  At which point (naturally) the rights were sold on to Sky to presumably work some of the magic that had seen the football league successfully change to the Premier League in football.  I get that this decision was made before the success and popularity of the Ashes, so I guess the ECB need to be cut some slack, but the entire game of cricket went from riding high on a crest of a wave to sitting behind a pay wall where only a small percentage of the population had access.

If only they’d sold just some of the rights to Sky….left a little bit for the Free to Air, but it seems there wasn’t enough appetite for it at that point of time.  As a result I was left feeling bereft.  The sport which at that time I adored to the ends of the earth was played out via radio 4 a radio 5 live instead of televisually.  And there was many a cheeky afternoon in the local pub before the TV was inevitably switched over to the latest PL game.

Efforts to get cricket back on mainstream TV have been trialed in recent times.  The World Cup Final (probably the greatest final of all time) was aired on channel 4 in 2019 for instance.  And then there’s the Hundred and the last T20 World Cup final.   In my eyes, Sky selling rights to have some of the cricket matches on Free to Air could only be beneficial to them in that more people would be drawn to the game and start a subscription with them.   It simply needs to be on free to air for people to gain access to the game, want to take up the sport and to stop the ever increasing average age per cricket fan from rising still further

Most people I speak to are not interested in cricket or they’ve never even seen a game.  It’s a source of endless frustration that no one cares about the game I adore.  I want to enthuse them to like it if not as much as me, then at least just a little bit.  Hence why I have my little community of cricket lovers on Twitter who are mostly more obsessed than me.

The global Test match game is dwindling too.  Indian’s have their heart on the IPL, other franchise tournaments are springing up almost daily it seems.  There’s now:

Indian Premier League (IPL)

Big Bash League (BBL)

Pakistan Super League (PSL)

International League T20

Caribbean Premier League (CPL)

South Africa T20 (SA20)

…With surely more to follow

Money rules and in countries like India, West Indies, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand interest in Tests seems to be dropping.  

Test Matches are worth saving.  They are the pinnacle test of ability in what is a great sport.  However I feel money rules and now that the IPL juggernaut begins to swamp the game, I fear for the future. 

 I so wish that the various parties would get round the table and decide what’s best for the good of the game rather than merely filling their pockets…I won’t hold my breath.  Cricket is now a complex, unwieldy and unmanageable beast where money leads to the Worlds best players playing to empty stadiums in the desert for example .  It’s a sad state of affairs.

At this rate we’re heading towards Test Matches being novelty events…and judging by NZ vs Eng, that would be a crying shame!

Cricket Twitter

I’ve loved cricket since I was a boy of 8 or 9 but I’ve never really had any friends or family who have shared that interest.  I used to take my Aussie (ex)wife to games where she’d spend much of the day knitting.  I take my current partner to games and she really doesn’t show an interest except for mild curiosity…So that’s where Twitter has come in…to fill a lonely gap.  

On Twitter I follow many full time journalists, many budding journalists, many that have played or still do play the game, from village cricket all the way up to elite level.  Many of these folk know a lot more about cricket than me.  I’m just your casual arm chair fan I suppose.  But I (for the most part) love the discussions and friendliness of the majority of the Twitter community.

I guess I’m a peripheral member of cricket Twitter (TM).  A fairly occasional cricket twitterer compared to the cricket obsessed heart of the community.  I’m not entirely Twitter popular, with just the 200 odd followers and I suspect many of them are bots.

Though I adore cricket my work dictates that I miss a fair chunk of it.  I can’t really justify paying for multiple platforms and can’t really get away with staying up overnight to watch a Test Match down under.  I really wish I could.

There are a group of about 10 Twitterers who I regularly converse with.  They appear funny, friendly, knowledgeable good eggs.  Some of these deal in cricket stats, when stats are very much my thing.  I’m in my element.

It saddens me when members of Cricket Twitter fall out, and it’s happened a fair amount of late…there are controversial on-field and off field moments every other week with the numerous games happening right now and debates are getting way too heated

Having this community is important to me.  It gives me a vocal outlet to my passion that I haven’t found in my ‘real’ life.  I just hope that Twitter remains and the bickering subsides as it’s my only network to the sport I adore.

Grumpy Mole

So, I admit I’ve moaned and groaned a lot.  I’ve been anti the Hundred for a long time because I really felt it wasn’t the best way forward.  Because it’s my opinion that events have been mishandled by the ECB since 2005 and the loss of cricket to pay channels.  The failure to trademark T20, the failure to get at least some cricket on free to air…and then the decision that the only way forward was to invent a whole new game and add it to an already crowded schedule, with seeming disregard for lifelong cricket fans and at the same time taking a massive gamble.

Anyways, I’ve kinda covered this ground already.  The Hundred has started and though I have missed most of the games, I’ve watched some and quite enjoyed the experience (minus the graphics, which the kids seem to love).  I’ve bought tickets to the game next Wednesday at Edgbaston.  I’m particularly happy that the Women’s game seems to really be benefiting from the extra exposure and it’s great to see new fans getting involved, particularly families with kids.

Many people had reservations to begin with, mostly for perfectly legitimate reasons already covered in this blog.  However, Twittersville is getting a little nasty of late, with a rift between 2 sides with very opposing views.  I’ve witnessed trolls, private messages from people unhappy with my Tweets, petty arguments between commentators and counties and many more examples to suggest that all is not right in the cricketing world.  Now I’m not for a minute suggesting it’s a war zone out there but it certainly feels as though if the ECB had plotted a different course things could have been a little less…narky?

 The whole of cricket and the general public could have been swept along in a wave of excitement this summer, without feelings of disenchantment, without accusations of cricket fans being ‘resistant to change’ or of other fans being ‘reckless in their forward thinking’.  At the end of the day, in the situation we are in it’s probably time to meet somewhere in the middle, to try and support cricket as a whole, regardless of format.  To mend the rifts a little, as it’s surely not great for cricket as a whole?  Obviously not everyone will do this and not everyone likes every form of the game but every little helps and a touch of civility goes a long way!  I will continue to moan less and support more.  Whether The Hundred is a success or a failure it’s best to try and do the right thing for crickets sake!

Trolled!

And so it’s almost upon us.  The Hundred begins soon and the advertising campaigns ramp it up to the max.   Bright, garish, flashing colours with young, big name stars taking centre stage and the release of a baffling list of laws that I wouldn’t even want to attempt to get to grips with, despite the ECB claiming how easy the game will be to understand.  White cards, removal of the idea of “overs” even though “over-rates” were mentioned in the advertising bumf, the toss taking place near the DJ, time outs etc etc.

 

Despite my annoyance at all of the above, I’m writing this particular blog post because today I encountered my first troll on social media, relating to my opinions on the Hundred.  Now, I understand that I have very strong opinions and these are likely to rub some people up the wrong way.  However, my views and opinions are based on knowledge of cricket from reading countless articles (and living cricket as much as possible), my love of cricket from a young age and my belief that, frankly, cricket needs very little fixing.  I’m not going to let one troll who simply hurled a little abuse in my direction get to me.  It’s easy enough to block people on Twittersville, but it’s important to add a little to my previous post on the Hundred just to explain my current feelings.  I tried to do this on Twitter but after compiling a lengthy thread I managed to delete whole darn thing.

 

Cricket has 3 excellent formats.  Test Match cricket (the pinnacle for me) is very much reliant on the success of County Cricket – a nursery for young English potential.  ODI International cricket is in rude health, with England World Cup holders and capable of beating Pakistan with a 2^nd strength 11.  50 over county cricket isn’t doing great but is an excellent format for cricket fans who have a day off and fancy a full day at the cricket and is important for players to gain experience.  The T20 Blast is a superb tournament that was becoming more and more popular, particularly with younger generations.  It would possibly benefit from a bit of a re-brand and a relatively small amount of advertising money, compared to the money being thrown at the Hundred.  Stick a few of these games on free to air and it’ll have a much bigger following in no time.  We soon go into a T20 World Cup as one of the favourites for the title.

 

They didn’t need to do this.  It’s pure greed on the part of a few very rich men.  The franchise idea has kind of worked in India with the IPL, despite past corruption, but why make this change when so much cricket in England is so well attended.  Why change all the laws, why throw so much money at something to the potential detriment of the game when a few minor changes could have done the business. 

 

There’s a lot of talk about players getting more money…they have the potential to earn in the IPL, in the PSL, the Big Bash and various other comps throughout the year.  Many more chances than ever before.  Don’t get me wrong; I really want cricketers to be successful and well paid.  It’s beneficial to the game and as a result beneficial to my enjoyment.

 

There’s also much discussion about the potential improvements to the women’s game.  Having followed the England team avidly for the last 4-5 years, the multi-format idea is a great one.  The England games are all well attended and the quality of our professional outfit is great to see.  The Super League, though not well attended has been a success and would benefit greatly from more money and advertising.  It’s a slow process but the game is improving year on year.  I’ve conceded previously that the women’s game may benefit more than anything from the Hundred, though it needs careful management with Women taking equal billing

 

Another common argument is that this is not meant for you, it’s meant for the kids and to get non-cricket fans interested in the game, which will eventually filter through to other formats.  What I would say to that is that the laws are a lot different – how will these differences make this transition easy? – and what does the Hundred offer that the T20 Blast doesn’t?

 

One of my biggest concerns is that the fixture schedule is being stretched by this.  T20 Blast has taken a back seat (with less coverage on Sky), County games have been squeezed in around other cricket as an afterthought.  As for 50 over County cricket, i’ve heard next to nothing about this year’s competition.

 

The cricket season is too long, multiformat players have little or no rest between games.  Players are being further stretched by COVID outbreaks and county cricket is already decimated before players bubble for The Hundred.  This has the potential to ruin this cricket season and could have ramifications for the future of the game.

 

As for other positives and negatives (mainly negatives), see my previous post .

 

In conclusion, don’t just hurl abuse at me.  My heart is in the right place (firmly on the side of cricket).  If it’s a success, I’ll hold my hands up and say I was wrong.  But I’m not fond with rich people playing a lottery with my favourite sport.

Kiwi Collapso

As summer truly kicks in, following on from a shocking May, we finally have the Test Match season underway. Late, due to the fixture schedule and the need for squishing the Test Matches in between the various franchise competitions and white ball slog fests that simultaneously seem to enhance and ruin the game, it felt great to sit down and watch what I could of the 1^st Test at the stunningly beautiful Lords.

2 weeks on and we’re licking our wounds after a series defeat that shouldn’t have been so painful, had it not been for a missed opportunity and a familiar batting collapse that eclipsed even our greatest efforts.

 

Now, before we go any further, it’s important to note that New Zealand are an excellent side.  Their conditions at home aren’t unlike ours and they’ve won an awful lot in New Zealand of late.  This is why they’re in the Test Championship Final and why they’re currently consistently great in all formats.  They’re such a good side that (like all Test Series), there is absolutely no way it should’ve been a 2 match series.  3/5 Test Match series should be the norm, regardless of the quality of the opposition.  It felt wrong when we were struggling on day 4 of the 1^st test that we were already fighting for survival in the series as a whole.

 

There was a lot of talk about us chasing New Zealand’s total on the final day of the 1^st Test.  For me I can see both sides of the argument.  We didn’t really have the players to get a quick score, missing the likes of Buttler, Bairstow, Stokes etc, so I was unsurprised by our tentative approach, thus preventing a collapse and ensuring the draw.  At the same time, why couldn’t we have given it a real go for 20-30 mins and if that failed, shut up shop?  You sometimes need to read the room and I’m sure the Lords fans would’ve delighted in that kind of an effort, however the outcome.  It became a little farcical towards the end when both teams decided to play right until the very end of day 5.

 

Despite the rights/wrongs of the decision making in the 1^st Test, few will argue that the decision making of the England batsman in their capitulation is shocking and needs to be discussed and acted upon.

 

Firstly, let’s start with the selection process.  Many have torn the England selectors (now Silverwood/Root) to shreds over it.  For me personally, I don’t think the decision making was totally muddled.  For the most part they selected the best players available to them.  Some people question our lack of a spin option.  We never really got to see whether or not this was a bad decision, due to our batting performance.  I personally think that we should have chosen Ali.  I also feel that Buttler should have played...which brings me on to my biggest issue with selection; why did we rest IPL players?  Ali, Buttler, Woakes etc had over a month since the premature end of the tournament to spend with family and relax.  I’ve understood since COVID that being in a bubble isn’t ideal for the players, so resting has made sense to me, despite opposition from others…but now it’s time to change.

 

As for the performance of our batsmen, there’s a lot to concern:

 

Burns played well in the 1^st innings but played an uncharacteristic loose shot in the 2^nd.  

Sibley’s technique appears to be causing issues for him.  He usually has some stickability but may need to change things to deserve a place in the England team.

Crawley has an average around 10 since his excellent 267.  He plays some beautiful shots but then gets out cheaply.

Root is having another worrying dip in form.  His superb 200+ scores against Sri Lanka seem like a distant memory.  He’s the best we have and will turn his fortunes around soon enough. 

Lawrence played decently, without setting the world alight.  He’ll likely be replaced by Stokes for the 1^st India Test.

Pope, for me, is worth sticking with.  He’s young and is a class above most of our batsman already.  He’s got out reasonably cheaply of late, but looked good doing it.  He reminds me of Ian Bell/Joe Root and I feel he should be un-droppable

Bracey should never have been given the WK job.  He has the potential to be in the team solely as a batsman, but 2 low scores will have dented his confidence.  He will undoubtedly be replaced by Buttler for the 1^st India Test

 

My next blog will go into more detail of who I would pick for that 1^st Test against India.  The important thing for me is that we don’t make rash decisions about the current England setup.  I think that Silverwood/Root are the best options at present.  We have rested players due to come back from the IPL wilderness and have players with niggly injuries.  The current setup should only be discussed after the completion of the Ashes next year.  Maybe then it’ll be new blood?…or time to celebrate an India/Australia double?  Who am I kidding!

 

Finally, this isn’t a new feeling.  We have a track record of batting collapses and the likes of Stokes, Root and Cook have protected us from humiliation on a number of occasions.  Hopefully we can return to the sort of sturdy batting line-up Strauss, Cook, Trott, Bell, Pietersen offered, one day…just probably not today…and Lyth, Carberry, Ballance, Robson, Compton, Jennings and co. are proof enough that it’s a tricky business!

Crazy Cricket!...A blog about mental health

It’s been great to be a regular Tweeter again, and i’ve really enjoyed reading peoples tweets in regards to mental health day/week this week.  People have felt empowered to speak out and be honest, without (for the most part, it would seem) the fear of being judged.  It’s been a refreshing change in recent years from the silence and indifference of the past.

  Mental health and cricket go hand in hand for me.  Cricket was a huge help when I needed a means of getting away from it all.  I would watch a game or go to a match and all my worries would ebb away and for 2 or 3 hours at least I would feel genuinely happy, regardless of my general state of mind.  All that i’d think about was the scene in front of me; the beauty of the ground, the entertainment of the occasion and the history that surrounds it all.  It made me relax and for one period of time in particular i’d happily say that it was the only thing that made me truly, deeply happy!

The high profile nature of mental health in the cricketing community, with the likes of Sarah Taylor, Marcus Trescothick and many others speaking so openly, honestly and admirably about the problems they’ve faced makes me happier still. Cricket, unlike football is a sport where it feels like it’s ok to not be ok, without judgement…whether you’re a high profile cricketer, a participant or (merely) a fan, there are always people happy to lend an ear.

It’s so important to talk about mental health, even if it appears mundane when you blog (Tweet, Bookface etc) that you once had problems and you’ve kinda pulled through.  Even if you’ve never had any real problems, you may be able to help someone with problems to get through a tough time…in many cases without ever knowing that you’ve helped...So talk!

I know that I will never be ‘cured’ of my mental health problems.  I’ll always need to look out for myself, i’ll always need the help and support of others to stay afloat…but i’m happy with that, i’ve come to terms with that.  I’ve thought hundreds of times about how I should bring up mental health on social media without being judged by peers, friends, work, the general public.  I’ve never really gone into much detail on social media and i’m not likely to go into greater depth than this, even now when it seems more acceptable.

I know that cricket is the sport for me.  It enhances my life in so many ways and I know it’ll always be there for me, whatever i’m going through in my life.  Through the highs and lows, cricket is my ever present rock.

If you’re reading this, remember that I am always here to lend an ear.  I know that being there for you will mean that a little way down the line, you may be there for me when I most need you.  Stay well!

We Need to Talk about The Hundred!

Now, before I begin, I just want to make it clear that if I feel something has the potential to be good for the game of cricket I am the kind of guy who would get right behind that idea.   I’ve loved cricket from a young age and always wanted it to succeed.  I want cricket to be relevant and loved both now and 300 years down the line.  I want new fans to be enthused, just as I was when I witnessed Donald vs Atherton back in ’98, just as I was when I sat through hours of Ambrose, Walsh, Akram, Younis and Warne terrorising England throughout the 90s (cries a little inside).

I fell in love with the game during a period when it should have been very difficult to fall in love with the game, during an era where West Indies and Australia were the dominating sides in World cricket, where England were the plucky underdogs against the big sides…and the format I fell in love with was Test cricket!

I fell in love with all its quirks and historical oddities, its lengthy 5 day format, with Richie Bernaud purring and steering us quietly, unassumingly and majestically through a days play.  I fell in love with its outdated ways, its quiet Sunday afternoon in pipe and slippers feel.

Anyway, I digress, and i’m getting a little teary eyed so i’d best move on.  The point i’m trying to make is that I was young, I didn’t need a short format and I didn’t need razzmatazz, fireworks, TV personalities and 2 hours of Kwik cricket to get into the game.  I didn’t even need an enthusiastic family member to wax lyrical about how great the game was.  It took me no time at all to appreciated the history that had gone before, the exciting twists and turns of Test match cricket, the relaxing and the occasionally (and often unexpectedly) edge of the seat nature of the game.

I appreciate that time has moved on.  We’re in a whole new era of cricket and young people need that quick fix.  They need to be entertained from start to finish and Test cricket, for many of the younger generations, will never be remotely considered as a viable sport to watch.

Taking just this factor into consideration, I see what they’re trying to do with The Hundred.  For those who don’t know, the Hundred is a newish idea, thought up by the ECB to try and make the game relevant and well supported for generations to come.  It’s a new format (although they might tell you that it’s a variation on an existing format ie the short format game) which is shorter than T20 and involves 100 balls per side (so that’s 10 overs of 10 balls per over).  It will be partly aired on free to air TV and is what is known as Franchise cricket.  Anyway, i’m not here to promote the format (far from it!).  For more information, see https://www.thehundred.com.

The plan is to reduce the average age of cricket fan down from its current average of around 34.  I’m all for that, but I have many reservations in regards to the idea, many of which i’ve detailed below.  Please note that these are my observations from a lot of research on the matter over the past few months.  You may not agree with everything I have to say, but I will try and make valid and succinct points:

1)  Do we need a new format?  There are already 3 incredibly successful formats!

Now, I appreciate that when The Hundred was devised, it wasn’t off the back of an incredibly successful summer of cricket like the one we’ve just had.  However, even before this summers heroics by the England World Cup winning side (plus Ben Stokes), all 3 formats were already successful (at least in this country).  Test match cricket always gets a good crowd (try getting Test match tickets for the first 3 days of a Test in the run up to a game) and the Ashes, for many, is and always will be the pinnacle of the sport.  The one day (50 over) game is very successful, as was proved by the very well attended Champions Trophy just 2 years ago.  Finally, T20 cricket is in the rudest health of all, having established itself worldwide as the format of choice for thrill seeking sports lovers and young families alike.  The IPL in particular has taken off to an extent that few would  have predicted during its infancy and the Big Bash is (and pretty much always has been) a very well attended, watched and admired tournament out in Australia.

2) The schedule is already packed to the rafters.  How will this work?

Players and fans alike have, for years, been saying that there is simply too much cricket crammed into an English summer.  It already starts in April and ends in late September when all the weathers can occur and fans huddle for warmth in the crowd in images akin to a mid-winter footy game (complete with a cup of Bovril and a pie).  The season can’t be stretched any further, so something good loses out.  It’s because of this that county cricket has already been pushed to either end of the season in a somewhat like it or lump it gesture by the ECB.  As is often the case, the biggest loser is the county game.  Fewer games will be able to be played in the already successful existing formats.  As for the players, more cricket means a greater chance of injury and an all round weary, disgruntled group of sports stars.

3) How is using Test cricketers in The Hundred going to help anyone?

I’ve seen many an ad for the Hundred and a lot of these ads seem to be championing Test cricketers (mainly batsman) for the 100 over game.  Now, i’m Joe Root’s number 1 fan, but even I have to admit that his T20 abilities are limited to say the least.  Ok, he’s capable of getting up to 50 on a good day when he’s timing the ball well and missing the fielders, in a small ground like Taunton for example…but he’s not a box office short format player as he’ll never be able to hit the amount of sixes required to be a potent player.  So why is he even being considered for an even shorter format?  Finally, and probably the most important issue with this kind of scrambled thinking, is that we are currently desperate for Test batsman who are capable of spending a long time at the crease.  How is a game of kwik cricket going to help with this long running concern.  The ECB (and indeed the Hundred) are very quick to point out that Test cricket is the number 1 priority, but this smacks of it being sidelined in favour of the shorter formats.

4) How is including big international star names going to enthuse youngsters?

There has always been (particularly in the more recent days of central contracts) a county vs country battle for players.  Country is currently winning that battle and international players are seemingly forever on international duty, with the odd county game thrown in during an all too infrequent rest period or as part of the recovery process during a players return from injury.  This has always been a bone of contention amongst the hardened county fan, who understandably want to see more of their star players.  The problem with the Hundred is that there is unlikely to be any player loyalty to the cause, at least with the big name international players.  Playing for 2 or so games in a season (due to schedule clashes, injury avoidance and burn out prevention) is unlikely to enthuse either these top players or (more importantly) the young fans themselves, who would surely be wanting to get behind a consistent squad of star players (or am I missing the point somewhere?!?)

5) Isn’t T20 already so well set that some countries won’t want a bar of the Hundred?

The problem with introducing a new shorter format is that it’s too little, too late for that.  T20 and the IPL is so well set in India that I can’t see them being interested in promoting The Hundred.  It’s so popular that Test cricket is dying a death over there.  Indian players have already decided (or been told) not to take part in The Hundred, as the format currently stands and I can’t see that changing in the future.  The Big Bash in Australia is also going from strength to strength, so it would take a lot for them consider a whole new format.  How is The Hundred going to become and stay relevant on a global stage if it only takes place in England?

6) How is the move away from county teams going to work?

For quite a number of people i’ve heard from, this is their biggest gripe on the issue of the Hundred.  The decision to move away from the county structure has been divisive to say the least.  Existing cricket fans have entrenched allegiances to their local county.  Some of these fans no longer have a local team (Durham/Somerset for example) and will not be prepared to travel miles to go to a game and watch a team that they have no vested interest in.  On top of that The Hundred have come up with mystifyingly poor names like Manchester Originals, Trent Rockets, Birmingham Phoenix, Western Fire and the Oval Invincibles.  They might as well have called one of the teams Cricket McCricket Face and been done with it!

7) Poor PR?

I’m not going to go into this in great depth, because it’s an extremely weighty subject (probably worthy of its own blog post), but for more information why not have a look at the Bad PR section of this excellent article from The Cricketer https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/banner/how_do_you_solve_problem_like_the_hundred.html

and finally…

8) Nobody Wants it?

Well, at least 80% of the cricket fans i’ve heard from at least.  In all the posts i’ve read about it there are a large number of likes but a high percentage of outraged comments and angry/upset reactions to every single post relating to The Hundred.  With half empty grounds and un-loyal cricketers/fans I really can’t see this getting off the ground, let alone being around for hundreds of years.  Young cricket fans may be drawn in by the razzmatazz of the occasion at the very beginning, but I can see them quickly realising the terrible mistake they’ve made, before heading back to their more familiar first love and quick fix of football/rugby.

A lengthy blog post, but a necessary one in order to air my views.  There are many more negative points that i've not covered here but i’m getting a severe case of RSI.  I’d say that i’d like The Hundred to be a roaring success and for many more fans to be enthused by the game, but i’d be lying.  I want the ECB to realise what a bad idea it is before it’s too late and before it has a negative impact on the game I love so much.  Spend all that money on grass roots cricket and re-energising the already energised formats (and give a little back to the downtrodden county game)