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Do we need counties?
By Jonathan Liew 3 months ago, 22 Comments »
There are 18 counties playing first-class cricket. That’s quite a lot. There are more domestic teams in England than in any other country. Yet they’re not evenly spread around - London and its environs has an embarrassment of teams, while parts such as the south west, the far north and most of Eastern England have none at all.
Now partly, that’s due to population: cricket teams are concentrated around the biggest cities. And yet, we persist in clinging to the county apparatus, a hotchpotch of hazily-defined localities that has very little relevance to the social geography of today. Counties don’t really exist in any meaningful sense any more; in fact, for four of the 18 counties, that’s literally true. The county system is rooted in a long gone past, and it hasn’t changed, even though everything around it has. Does the idea of ‘Warwickshire’ mean anything to anyone any more? Certainly not for someone like Ian Bell, who was born in Coventry - which since 1974 has been part of the West Midlands.
If it were only a quibble about names and boundaries, we could probably let it go. But this archaic system has a more serious effect on the domestic game. With large shifts in population and wealth away from rural England and towards the towns, some counties clearly have an inherent advantage over others. A county like Lancashire, with a catchment area of Liverpool and Manchester, the surrounding towns, Cheshire and Cumbria, have far more resource to draw on than the likes of Leicestershire, which has one medium sized town and four rival cricketing counties on its borders. It may always have been this way to an extent - pre-reform Yorkshire was bloody huge - but that doesn’t necessarily make it fair.
As a result, prosperity - and thus success - is distorted by the fact that some counties will always be struggling to prosper, regardless of cricketing merit, and some will always be comfortable. Test grounds - a major source of potential revenue - are concentrated almost exclusively around big cities. Look at the list of county champions: the top four are Yorkshire, Surrey, Middlesex and Lancashire - areas with high populations and a Test ground. Then look at who has come bottom most often: Derbyshire, Somerset, Northamptonshire, Glamorgan. When Leicestershire can’t hang on to a player like Stuart Broad, who was born in the county and has played all his cricket there, it’s clear the playing field is not level. The influx of Kolpak players have counteracted population factors to an extent - but they still need to be paid, and the biggest counties will always jostle their way to the front in this respect.
It’s possible teams like Leicestershire and Derbyshire will never again reach the pinnacle of English cricket. The best they can hope for is the odd promotion or a dart at a one-day trophy here and there, but it’s equally likely they’ll wane and recede slowly into the background. That is, unless something is done about it.
If domestic cricket is ever to make proper money - and, who knows, provide a higher standard? - it needs to brand itself in more familiar terms. In short, we need fewer teams, more fairly distributed. The quickest way of doing this would be to merge counties; in short, persuading them to vote themselves out of business. That’s not going to happen. Instead, reorganisation of domestic cricket could be craftily disguised as a PR exercise.
Ironically, the IPL might be able to teach English cricket a thing or two in this respect. Moneyed franchises they may be, but the teams in the League are based in - and upon - very real localities. The players may not be sourced locally, but that will come in time. What’s important is that a bond is being forged betwen a cricket team and a town. In England, those bonds already exist in large part: Gloucestershire is by and large a Bristol team, Hampshire a Southampton-based club, Warwickshire is a Birmingham team, and so on. Towns have a far greater emotional and economic pull than counties these days, and are far more relevant in today’s society.
The idea, then, is this, although the details are less important than the diagnosis behind them. Cut the number of teams to, say, 12, and base each one around a large town. Let’s call them, for sake of argument: Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham, Nottingham, North London, South London, East London, Cardiff and Brighton. The South East has a quarter of England’s population, so it should have a quarter of the teams. The names, as I say, are largely irrelevant.
What English cricket would then have, essentially, is the Australian system in all but name. Teams would be able to draw on the emotional and financial clout of the major town, but talent-wise the spread would be far wider - and far fairer. It provides the best balance between levelling the playing field and preserving some semblance of geographical integrity. And the standard would improve.
Anyway, well done for getting through all that - any thoughts?
22 Comments »Aye up and away
By Will last year, at the end of January, 2 Comments »
Yorkshire have been battling hard to match England’s dreary winter and, in some ways, they’ve bettered then. No coach, no captain, two overseas players (not sure they’ve been confirmed) and no less than three Kolpak registered players: Deon Kruis, Gerard Brophy and the latest, Jacques Rudolph. Eeeee, a reet mess.
Commiserate yourselves, then, with this witty non-cricket sardonic video:
If it’s outside Yerksha, it’s not worth bloooody visitin…
2 Comments »An Ashes Christmas Carol
By Scott 2 years ago, at the end of November, 10 Comments »
Gather round, boys and girls, and let dear old Uncle Scott tell you a cricket story. This especially goes out to all you smartarses out there that think this series is over bar the shouting.
Once upon a time, there was a country called England. They played cricket, but they weren’t very good at it, and they hardly ever got to have the Ashes. But eventually, they gave the captaincy of their cricket side to a hardcase Yorkshireman, and after a very tight home series, the Ashes were regained at the Oval, and there was much rejoicing through the land.
Needless to say, the Australians weren’t very happy about this state of affairs, and later in the next year, the English came to Australia to defend the Ashes. And at the First Test in Brisbane, Australia absolutely smashed them, scoring over 600 and winning by a mile.
England had put their hopes on a new fast bowling sensation, but he had gone for 1 for 160 in Australia’s innings and the Australians were not very worried. It seemed that the Ashes were coming home to Australia for sure. Then this happened, and this happened and this happened, and Australia was very annoyed indeed because the English had beaten them three Tests in a row for the first time in 25 years.
So the lesson is, boys and girls, is that it’s not over till its over. And if England were to bounce back and thrash Australia in this series, it would be no more then history repeating itself. Especially if Steve Harmison were to be the agent of Australia’s undoing.
10 Comments »Wanted: County Captain
By Emma 2 years ago, mid-November, 1 Comment »
Rumours of Chris Adams’ move have been greatly exaggerated. At the beginning of the month, the man who captained Sussex to victory in both the Championship and the C&G Trophy this season was ‘unveiled’ at Headingley, both as Captain and and Director of Pro-Cricket. Whilst this was mildly surprising, it wasn’t earth-movingly so. Test ground clubs, after all, have that bit of extra cash to squander.
Not long ago, it was Younis Khan who faced public embarrassment when he claimed he was to take the role after quitting (somewhat temporarily) the same position for Pakistan. This time, it is Yorkshire who have made the mistake by parading a man who hadn’t yet signed on the dotted line. Considering how closed-lipped counties normally remain over their offers and potential signings, Adams can only have pulled out at an advanced stage of negotiation.
Whilst Sussex are over the moon by all reports, potentially less chuffed might be Murray Goodwin. The Zimbabwean was reported by local paper The Argus to have been interested in the position.
1 Comment »A day for umbrellas
By Emma 2 years ago, mid-September, No Comments; be the first!
Someone needs to find Chris Adams and ensure that he is in no way performing any kind of rain dance. After a morning deluge washed out Thursday’s play at Old Trafford as well as Edgbaston, Lancashire’s chances of staying level in the title race are becoming faint. With Sussex sitting out this week’s round, they have been unhampered by the bad weather. Mark Chilton’s men, on the other hand, have now suffered two games running, with good performances against Warwickshire going to waste for the same reason. Requiring maximum bonus points and victory to grab top spot, they have only taken four Durham wickets, and are running out of time.
At the other end of the table, Yorkshire will also be rueing the lack of play in today’s Division One matches. With their two remaining bats skittled in what little action they saw at Headingley, the win Craig White’s side desperately need will be a hard task. The last thing they will want to see is third from bottom Durham holding on for a draw, especially as they will be playing each other next week. Maybe they will take some heart from the fact the only Harmison they will face will be batsman Ben - his older brother has been ruled out as a precaution.
No Comments »As if six injuries weren’t enough
By Emma 2 years ago, mid-September, No Comments; be the first!
Matthew Hoggard gave the media a scare today by pulling up with a possible side strain. I’m trying not to get too carried away with this, as we’re bound to be twitching over twinges for the next ten weeks. It’s just that almost every injury problem England have started off with something small. Simon Jones gets cramp in the outfield, falls over in the nets some months later, and is on crutches for months. Flintoff plays a first class game as a final warm up, and then has to hobble off for the rest of the summer. Trescothick leaves a ground in tears, then leaves the country, and now can’t go back for medical reasons… and it goes on. So I’ll postpone my sigh of relief until the second MRI tomorrow.
Regardless of the test results, the scare has already left a mark on Yorkshire’s search for the vital points they need to pull themselves from the bottom spot in the Championship’s first division. Whilst they have yet to field, the Northern county will surely miss the Hogster’s guile and experience, as they look to set nothing more than a par first innings score against Notts.
No Comments »No Asian influence at Headingley
By Will 2 years ago, at the start of August, 3 Comments »
A thought-provoking letter at The Times giving a possible explanation to the lack of Pakistanis at Headingley (indeed, at each three grounds roughout this series). I’m pasting it here in full for posterity. In full at the paper’s website - thoughts very welcome.
3 Comments »Sir, Your article “Yorkshire upset as the Asian invasion fails to materialise†(Aug 5) attempted to explain the poor turnout of “Asian†cricket fans at the first day of the Headingley Test. The usual arguments were rehearsed — the problems of racism in sport, particularly in Yorkshire, and the apparent preference for one-day contests among those of South Asian heritage.
Having endured the second day of the Test in the West Stand on Saturday, another obvious explanation sprung to mind. Within about 30 minutes of the Pakistan batting session, a large proportion of those around us had obviously lost interest in the cricket and seemed more amused by tearing up sections of tabloid papers and flinging them on to the pitch during Mexican waves. Just in front of us, heavily built, alcohol-fuelled, shaven-headed men hurled abuse and expletives at the stewards. Although the usual costumed posses of young men were a spectacle, the overall impression was one of Grange Hill on a Friday afternoon. The only difference was that most secondary school children tend to have a more developed attention span.The childlike behaviour of the crowd may or may not have explained the glaring lack of interest in Pakistan’s brilliant batting in the afternoon. It certainly made concentration on the game well nigh impossible. More seriously, it was a situation that would probably be very intimidating and discouraging for those who do not drink alcohol.
The cult status of Monty Panesar might seem to be a mark of how British society is now comfortable with its diversity, but English, Welsh and Scottish sport continues to expose pugnacious and belligerent tendencies reminiscent of earlier eras. One day, perhaps we will be rid of them.
WILLIAM GOULD
Lecturer in Indian History
University of Leeds
All out for…five?
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of July, 9 Comments »
Five all out. Brilliant. It’s been all over the press but in case you missed it, read here.
9 Comments »Fred Trueman dies
By Will 2 years ago, at the start of July, 6 Comments »
Fred Trueman, the former England and Yorkshire fast bowler, has died aged 75 to cancer. More at Cricinfo.
My thoughts on him tonight.
6 Comments »Vaughan’s not batting
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of May, 4 Comments »
That didn’t last long.
4 Comments »Vaughan is batting
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of May, 1 Comment »
As speculated, he’s returned for Yorkshire’s Championship match against Hampshire. See scorecard here.
1 Comment »Deuchars
By Will 2 years ago, at the end of May, 2 Comments »
Deuchars IPA, the award-winning beer brewed in Edinburgh by The Caledonian Brewing Company, has become The Official Beer of The Yorkshire County Cricket Club (YCCC).
Classic press release. Only a PR person could capitalise The Official Beer. It’s All Very Exciting And Let’s Use As Many Capital Letters As Possible. Nice pint, though. I used to drink it at The William Wallace (intentional capitalisation there) before it joined the rest of London and turned into a sleezy, shiny, hip-and-happening shmooze-fest of a “pub”. Even the blackboard is fake!
Anyway, ranting again. Must stop the ranting…
2 Comments »Hoggard’s last of the Summer Wine
By Will 2 years ago, mid-March, 3 Comments »
The Barmy Army have already been busy in Mumbai. Prior to the Test they held a cricket match and also had a sponsored one mile run through the city streets, all to raise money for Sport Relief.
They’ve also been in fine voice and have brought with them a brass band, who let rip every now and then, especially to signify bowling changes. When Freddie Flintoff comes on they play Meet The Flintstones. Rather more whimsically, Yorkshire man Matthew Hoggard is greeted with the theme from Last Of The Summer Wine.
From Miles Jupp’s brilliant blog. I need to write more about this guy. I know he’s a comedian, or has written things in the past, but I still don’t know why he’s out there. But out there he is (in India for the Test series) and his blog has made for really entertaining reading; the type of stuff I hope I’d come up with if ever given the chance to tour. I suppose I’m especially thankful to him for bringing to our attention Matthew Hoggard’s theme tune!
For those not familiar with it, Last of the Summer Wine is a long-running and particularly dull sitcom set in Yorkshire (I believe) with a bunch of old duffers making mild and pathetic “ooh er, kinky” jokes. It’s utter tripe, but its theme tune is rather apt for Hoggy who is a reet bread-n-butter Yorkie.
Good stuff Miles, keep at it. (Oh, have mentioned him before at El Googly)
3 Comments »Headingley Carnegie
By Will 2 years ago, mid-January, No Comments; be the first!
As you’ll no doubt have heard by now, Headingley has been renamed Headingley Carnegie, and I’m reliably informed that the name comes from Andrew Carnegie. He was a self-made rich bloke who, in later life, gave away most of his money to fund public libraries and so forth. So now you know.
Rotten name, though…bloody sponsorship deals ruin names.
No Comments »Interview with Matthew Hoggard
By Will 3 years ago, at the end of October, 3 Comments »
Enjoyable interview with Matthew Hoggard in today’s Sunday Times:
3 Comments » « Previous Entries“There was a game we used to play, four of us in a car at a time when the drink-driving laws in South Africa were not as they are today. We would stop at a traffic lights, everybody had to get out and run round the car until the lights turned green. Then the guy nearest the wheel had to jump in and try to get away before everyone was back in the car. We’d be jumping in windows, on to the roof, anything not to be left there.
“Stupid, stupid things. Laughed like hell at the time, then you’d look back and think, ‘You stupid bastard’. That was not how I lived at home; there I was this very sensible teenager, squeaky-clean sort of boy, and so when the freedom came, I did some very silly things. Part of grow- ing up, and I love that period of my life.â€
