Random Cricket Thread (Domestic Cricket)

[Dr Cricket]

Just to be clear not actually a fan of the city base stuff but it is widely reported ecb are being forced into it by broadcaster.
Reports are stating sky certainly are pushing for it and bt sports are very keen.

[Dr Cricket]

Also both sky and bt want t20 cricket every day during the small window of no live football or major sport in the summer months.
So essentially they want June, July and August full of it but mostly in June and July.
Think ecb wants July and sky and bt want the games finished by early August so basically they been forced into a block by various factors.
Summer holiday for kids and broadcaster wanting games over before football season which starts in mid August.

Not a fan of city base stuff but we should be realistic in that it will happen consider ecb want it and sky/bt want it, not sure Surrey and the counties got enough clout to stop it.

[westoelad]

Also both sky and bt want t20 cricket every day during the small window of no live football or major sport in the summer months.
So essentially they want June, July and August full of it but mostly in June and July.
Think ecb wants July and sky and bt want the games finished by early August so basically they been forced into a block by various factors.
Summer holiday for kids and broadcaster wanting games over before football season which starts in mid August.

Not a fan of city base stuff but we should be realistic in that it will happen consider ecb want it and sky/bt want it, not sure Surrey and the counties got enough clout to stop it.

Sky/BT want cricket during the football close season but not necessarily T20. They probably prefer tests because that covers a whole day with play, highlights and the Verdict. They do require T20 but can't see they have a preference between City based franchise or the current County system.

[Dr Cricket]

That is true for the international rights for the domestic rights which ecb are keen to increase the value only the t20 stuff matter.
If the domestic rights were ever to be a standalone deal, then t20 stuff would be the major part of it.

[hopeforthebest]

Cricinfo headline: ECB chief backs Four day tests.

Of course this marketing man would, as it means more space for the new T2o franchise or maybe squeeze in an extra test. Ideally of course, he would like get rid of theses troublesome cricket counties and stop playing cricket altogether, then sell wigets to pay his salary and big pension rights.

[westoelad]

Difficult to argue against Harrison on this
https://www.ft.com/content/9220b274-0a3 ... 720a26771b

[Durhamfootman]

I can't read it, sadly

[Durhamfootman]

unless, of course, that is the point you are making

[Durhamfootman]

in which case it is a good point

[westoelad]

Lengthy interviews in both Times and FT but both appear to be behind paywalls. No doubt some of the Sundays will be carrying it

[hopeforthebest]

Difficult to argue against Harrison on this
https://www.ft.com/content/9220b274-0a3 ... 720a26771b

What do you mean, all I see is the FT trying to sell itself using cricket as the carrot.

[westoelad]

Try this then
The Ashes could be four day Tests in the futureGetty
Chief executive of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Tom Harrison, has revealed that he is in favour of Test matches moving to a four-day format.

The idea was first proposed in 2003 by Andrew Wildblood, former senior international vice-president for International Management Group, claiming it would lead to more exciting cricket.

More from IBTimes UK
The debate has continued since with ECB chairman Colin Graves stating in 2015 that he was tabling proposals to change the format.


Although Harrison was against the idea initially, he later changed his mind, mainly due to the benefits of one less day in the format as well as keeping it relevant and attractive for cricket fans.

"It creates space in the calendar but it's not just about that and not just so we can schedule more," he told The Times. "It's about understanding the benefits from a consumer perspective."

"Can we create a better product by introducing a four-day format in certain conditions? My personal view is that I don't think it works everywhere; like day-night Test cricket, it has to be the right time, right place, right conditions.

"We have to take a look at the pressure on boards to keep Test cricket at the heart of their proposition. We've seen a lot of amazing Tests over five days but we haven't really tested the theory as to whether the players' mindset changes over four — if we increase the over rates, which is a thorny topic. I don't believe it's impossible to bowl more overs in a day."

Harrison believes that with the rise of Twenty20 cricket, there is a risk of Test cricket dying if it simply does not adap
"Four-day Test cricket is a really interesting debate and will evolve and I'm sure we will get there in the end," he added. "I had to be convinced because when I started out I was massively against it, but I am for it because with Test cricket there is a risk of us loving it to death. We have to adapt."

With England hosting a T20 tournament in 2020 as well as the rising popularity of privately owned leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Caribbean Premier League which overlap the English season, Harrison felt it was necessary to address the current state of Test cricket.

"I am absolutely convinced the game can flourish over three forms," he explained. "The balance between international and domestic cricket will change. We have to be careful about that and that is my fear about private ownership. Controlling private ownership will be difficult and controlling the ambition of very successful tournaments will be difficult."

"Test cricket remains absolutely central to the diet that we put out to our fans every year. We are still filling grounds for Tests and we are still the team that everyone wants to come and play against. A Test series in England is still regarded as the pinnacle for many players from overseas."

[hopeforthebest]

The ECB people keep reiterating that test cricket is central to their plans but that smacks of football chairmen saying publically they have full confidence in their manager, jut before they sack him. Ninety percent of ECB efforts are to get a T20 franchise up and running and get England winning white ball competitions and putting a coach in charge of test cricket who's a white ball specialist is contrary to the claim about test cricket.

[westoelad]

The ECB people keep reiterating that test cricket is central to their plans but that smacks of football chairmen saying publically they have full confidence in their manager, jut before they sack him. Ninety percent of ECB efforts are to get a T20 franchise up and running and get England winning white ball competitions and putting a coach in charge of test cricket who's a white ball specialist is contrary to the claim about test cricket.

"Test cricket is central to their plans" comes with the rider that T20 is where the money is. Can't see anything wrong with that argument so room has to be made for it. Never thought I'd come round to it but I'm beginning to see the logic in 4 day tests. Would limiting each 1st innings to 90 overs, for example, drastically alter test cricket but realistically provide a good chance of a result in 4 days.

[hopeforthebest]

I believe 5 days is fundamental to the game and a change to 4 days would ensure many drawn games. You have throw away all the test records and start again and break the historic link with all the great players of the past. Test cricket can lose hours to bad weather and still get a result that wouldn't be possible in four days.