Like many “trad” cricket fans I’ve scoffed at The Hundred but I’m posting this on the train back from Manchester after what was, I have to say, a brilliant night at Old Trafford tonight . Manchester Originals beat London Spirit in a tight game with plenty of runs scored, a pantomime villain in David Warner and a brilliant bowling performance from a young English fast bowler Sonny Baker. A big crowd on a warm summer evening and the beer was cold … not much not to like . I actually enjoyed the format of having bowlers bowling either 5 or 10 balls at a time and really got into it.

Yes the whole franchise thing is a bit of a turn off and it’s pretty difficult to identify with teams made up of players from random counties , and yes they could just have increased the profile of the T20 blast (looking forward to Lancs Q-Final v Kent on 6th Sept) but , for someone previously very cynical about the Hundred, tonight went some way to making me view it a bit differently.

Watch it if it's on TV but not felt the urge to take in a game yet . However the money from the sale of the franchise will keep the counties going for a generation so has to be positive.

Stalbansclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 11, 2025 11:29 pm

Like many “trad” cricket fans I’ve scoffed at The Hundred but I’m posting this on the train back from Manchester after what was, I have to say, a brilliant night at Old Trafford tonight . Manchester Originals beat London Spirit in a tight game with plenty of runs scored, a pantomime villain in David Warner and a brilliant bowling performance from a young English fast bowler Sonny Baker. A big crowd on a warm summer evening and the beer was cold … not much not to like . I actually enjoyed the format of having bowlers bowling either 5 or 10 balls at a time and really got into it.

Yes the whole franchise thing is a bit of a turn off and it’s pretty difficult to identify with teams made up of players from random counties , and yes they could just have increased the profile of the T20 blast (looking forward to Lancs Q-Final v Kent on 6th Sept) but , for someone previously very cynical about the Hundred, tonight went some way to making me view it a bit differently.

When there’s a team that represents where I’m from, and when there’s a team that hasn’t sold future talent pipelines to international franchises to the detriment of county and test cricket, and when there’s something meaningful about the sport and the players don’t just move clubs willy nilly and finally when there’s test matches not just crammed into a single month increasing the risk of injury to key players….. then, and only then, may it get a viewing. But i’ve been told repeatedly, it’s not cricket for me, it’s for a mythical audience, that doesn’t exist. There used to be 14,000 fans watching the blast, now there’s about 5,000 whilst 9,000 watch the franchise nonsense. Long term it’s killed the tradition of cricket.

Stalbansclaret wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 11, 2025 11:29 pm

Like many “trad” cricket fans I’ve scoffed at The Hundred but I’m posting this on the train back from Manchester after what was, I have to say, a brilliant night at Old Trafford tonight . Manchester Originals beat London Spirit in a tight game with plenty of runs scored, a pantomime villain in David Warner and a brilliant bowling performance from a young English fast bowler Sonny Baker. A big crowd on a warm summer evening and the beer was cold … not much not to like . I actually enjoyed the format of having bowlers bowling either 5 or 10 balls at a time and really got into it.

Yes the whole franchise thing is a bit of a turn off and it’s pretty difficult to identify with teams made up of players from random counties , and yes they could just have increased the profile of the T20 blast (looking forward to Lancs Q-Final v Kent on 6th Sept) but , for someone previously very cynical about the Hundred, tonight went some way to making me view it a bit differently.

Was also there yesterday and agree with all of this. It's a different experience from watching red ball cricket but fun nonetheless, and the format is much more accessible for families. Baker bowling at Warner was pure theatre.

Prices are reasonable (especially for kids at a fiver) but would advise taking food with you because it's hugely overpriced with long queues. It's a great option for a day out during school holidays, loads of things to see / do around the ground, big foam fingers and cards to wave around etc.

Lakeland Claret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 6:43 am

Watch it if it's on TV but not felt the urge to take in a game yet . However the money from the sale of the franchise will keep the counties going for a generation so has to be positive.

Just a shame they'll then not exist once that generation is up.

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 7:21 am

When there’s a team that represents where I’m from, and when there’s a team that hasn’t sold future talent pipelines to international franchises to the detriment of county and test cricket, and when there’s something meaningful about the sport and the players don’t just move clubs willy nilly and finally when there’s test matches not just crammed into a single month increasing the risk of injury to key players….. then, and only then, may it get a viewing. But i’ve been told repeatedly, it’s not cricket for me, it’s for a mythical audience, that doesn’t exist. There used to be 14,000 fans watching the blast, now there’s about 5,000 whilst 9,000 watch the franchise nonsense. Long term it’s killed the tradition of cricket.

It's just cannabalised the Blast and marginalised the smaller counties. When people say how great the atmosphere is etc, that's not because of the format - it's because of the investment. That same investment could have been made in the Blast to the same or greater effect.

A few years ago most Blast games were played on Friday nights and they were bouncing. I know some disliked this because it "encouraged" drinking and that was seen to take away from the opportunity to get kids into the game.

At the end of the day, I'm never going to support Manchester Originals or Manchester Super Giants as they'll be known next year because I'm not from Manchester and have no affinity with the team.

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 7:21 am

When there’s a team that represents where I’m from, and when there’s a team that hasn’t sold future talent pipelines to international franchises to the detriment of county and test cricket, and when there’s something meaningful about the sport and the players don’t just move clubs willy nilly and finally when there’s test matches not just crammed into a single month increasing the risk of injury to key players….. then, and only then, may it get a viewing. But i’ve been told repeatedly, it’s not cricket for me, it’s for a mythical audience, that doesn’t exist. There used to be 14,000 fans watching the blast, now there’s about 5,000 whilst 9,000 watch the franchise nonsense. Long term it’s killed the tradition of cricket.

Things develop and move on I m afraid . Happened in the 60 s and 70 s with start of one day cricket . At least cricket in this country continues until well after we re gone. I m not particularly a fan and rarely watch the IPL as I don't identify with the teams.

Isn’t the format changing next year ?

I watched the first 2 or 3 games when it was launched and can't remember watching a game since.

The fact they crammed in the India test series to hold this weird says so much about the people running the game in this country. They would never treat this like they do the T20 making teams take part in finals day without their best players due to England playing at the same time.

Now they have announced they are reducing the number of games in next years T20 and squeezing it in a shorter time scale to allow more focus on this gimmick version is another poor decision.

Lakeland Claret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 7:55 am

Things develop and move on I m afraid . Happened in the 60 s and 70 s with start of one day cricket . At least cricket in this country continues until well after we re gone. I m not particularly a fan and rarely watch the IPL as I don't identify with the teams.

Continues how? With players playing for 5 or 6 teams you can’t differentiate between? With counties producing players to go into international franchise contracts, rather than county sides and test teams? View the West Indies for the likely impact of talent pipelines being sold? My interest in cricket has reduced massively over the last few years since this stuff became the only marketed form of cricket, and the stuff that matters being marginalised. This is the first summer I can think of where I’ve not been to a single days cricket live. I’ll probably take in a couple of the ireland vs England t20’s, but I’ll spend zero this year on cricket at old Trafford. They can focus all their energies on the 100 stuff, but they’ve lost me as a fan.

I love cricket but I don’t even switch on my tv now for this. I gave it a go when it first started but that was it. It’s killing other competitions too and has even forced test cricket into a tight schedule.

ClaretTony wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 8:03 am

I love cricket but I don’t even switch on my tv now for this. I gave it a go when it first started but that was it. It’s killing other competitions too and has even forced test cricket into a tight schedule.

The one downside to the brilliant test series that just took place was the constant rotation of players due to the short turnarounds between tests.

Lakeland Claret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 6:43 am

Watch it if it's on TV but not felt the urge to take in a game yet . However the money from the sale of the franchise will keep the counties going for a generation so has to be positive.

Feel exactly the same.

Just hang in there fellow cricket fans. This competition will be turned back into 20/20 cricket in the next couple of years.
It just needs a few more Indian owners of the franchises before they make their move.

The big plan will be to own franchises in all the 20/20 leagues around the world with all their squad of players, signed on lucrative contracts, playing all around the world.

Counties 20/20 sides could never be bought like this with all their members.

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 7:21 am

When there’s a team that represents where I’m from

While I understand the sentiment I think those times have gone in elite sports. We're all (presumably) Burnley fans, but how much can any of us claim that the team represents Burnley? We're owned by Americans with players from around the world, all here for as long as it suits them to be here. Jay Rodriguez was treasured by so many mainly because he was such a rare example of a genuine connection to the local community.

Beyond the contract lengths being for 3/4 years rather than 1 (which means nothing if / when circumstances change) is that really much different to franchise cricket?

Elite players will want to earn big bucks. Franchise cricket is where that is. We can either accept it in this country or watch them go and play in other countries instead. Either way, they will prioritise that over playing a first class game against Gloucestershire on a wet Tuesday morning in May in front of 3 men and a dog .

Beer matches; but that said probably closer in spirit to the origins of cricket. Can’t be doing wit it myself

Just no affinity to a franchise team. I noticed they are changing the format of the T20 next season back into 3 groups and the finals day being straight away rather than a 7 week gap.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 8:39 am

Just hang in there fellow cricket fans. This competition will be turned back into 20/20 cricket in the next couple of years.
It just needs a few more Indian owners of the franchises before they make their move.

The big plan will be to own franchises in all the 20/20 leagues around the world with all their squad of players, signed on lucrative contracts, playing all around the world.

Counties 20/20 sides could never be bought like this with all their members.

Hang in there? It will still be teams no real cricket fan cares about. I don't want to watch Manchester Super Giants play T20, I want to watch Lancashire.

Has it's place.
If your pleasure is limited to watching long hops and full tosses being constantly lumped into the stand and you've no interest in the cerebral side of the game then it's probably for you.
I wouldn't go near....more skill and guile in some village games than a month of this stuff.

https://x.com/ajward1985/status/1955213 ... 88604?s=19
A picture from York CC for the 50 over Rose's match.

Love this. Hate the Hundred.

Sooner it goes Saudi the better.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:51 am

https://x.com/ajward1985/status/1955213 ... 88604?s=19
A picture from York CC for the 50 over Rose's match.

Some fairly predictable responses and even verging on the snobbish side. For the record I love Test cricket and there is no doubt it is the supreme form of cricket. There’s also no doubt that 9000 people, including myself, had a brilliantly enjoyable time at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Stalbansclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 13, 2025 11:29 am

Some fairly predictable responses and even verging on the snobbish side. For the record I love Test cricket and there is no doubt it is the supreme form of cricket. There’s also no doubt that 9000 people, including myself, had a brilliantly enjoyable time at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Not sure snobbish is right. Here are a few things for me which makes it lose all appeal.

Why is it 100 balls in 5 delivery blocks when nobody else does this, everywhere else it is 20 overs and 6 deliveries.

As someone who takes an interest in Lancashire CCC do I follow Manchester originals which is nothing to do with me or Northern super again nothing to do with me.

Looking at last nights game Lancashire's Liam Livingstone played for Birmingham and helped them beat Oval Invincibles who had Lancashire's Saqib Mahmood playing for them.

Someone attending a game I have no doubt can enjoy it but for me it leaves people without a team or players of your own.

Stalbansclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 13, 2025 11:29 am

Some fairly predictable responses and even verging on the snobbish side. For the record I love Test cricket and there is no doubt it is the supreme form of cricket. There’s also no doubt that 9000 people, including myself, had a brilliantly enjoyable time at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Good stuff, and congratulations on replacing the 9,000 lost fans from the blast. Seems a really worthwhile investment to ruin the one day cup, sell talent pipelines to franchise clubs and sacrifice the test summer, for zero net new fans. All sports fall into the same trap.... more is apparently better.

More teams in the euros and world cups for football - creating more dull and meaningless games.
More european club competitions with more matches
A world club competition held in non footballing countries
More teams in the rugby 5 nations, and however many years on, Italy remain the whipping boys.
More teams in the rugby world cup, seeing teams so obviously outclassed Bookmakers wouldn't make a market on it
More cricket, more competitions, more ICC competitions - a world cup every year - and add more teams for good measure
More horse racing fixtures, despite a falling racehorse population.

and on and on and on..... what's rare is precious. But sports administrators are intent on killing the golden goose.

claretonthecoast1882 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 13, 2025 11:45 am

Not sure snobbish is right. Here are a few things for me which makes it lose all appeal.

Why is it 100 balls in 5 delivery blocks when nobody else does this, everywhere else it is 20 overs and 6 deliveries.

As someone who takes an interest in Lancashire CCC do I follow Manchester originals which is nothing to do with me or Northern super again nothing to do with me.

Looking at last nights game Lancashire's Liam Livingstone played for Birmingham and helped them beat Oval Invincibles who had Lancashire's Saqib Mahmood playing for them.

Someone attending a game I have no doubt can enjoy it but for me it leaves people without a team or players of your own.

I have been to, and enjoyed, a couple of games but I think the above is right. The lack of natural affinity is the biggest problem, made worse by branding the North West team 'Manchester' and potentially alienating over half the natural fanbase.

[/quote]


Looking at last nights game Lancashire's Liam Livingstone played for Birmingham and helped them beat Oval Invincibles who had Lancashire's Saqib Mahmood playing for them.

Someone attending a game I have no doubt can enjoy it but for me it leaves people without a team or players of your own.
[/quote]

If Livingstone gets injured, how does rehab happen? Do Warwickshire’s staff have to do it or does he go back to Lancashire? Who pays for this? Same with Mahmood. Is this something Surrey would have to sort therefore using up resources that they would prefer to use on one of their own players? What about training facilities? Who gets preference? The county who owns the ground or the franchise?

Where will the development pathways come from when it is no longer viable for the counties to provide these?

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 7:21 am

When there’s a team that represents where I’m from, and when there’s a team that hasn’t sold future talent pipelines to international franchises to the detriment of county and test cricket, and when there’s something meaningful about the sport and the players don’t just move clubs willy nilly and finally when there’s test matches not just crammed into a single month increasing the risk of injury to key players….. then, and only then, may it get a viewing. But i’ve been told repeatedly, it’s not cricket for me, it’s for a mythical audience, that doesn’t exist. There used to be 14,000 fans watching the blast, now there’s about 5,000 whilst 9,000 watch the franchise nonsense. Long term it’s killed the tradition of cricket.

We don’t always agree but on this, we couldn’t be more aligned.

claretonthecoast1882 wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 13, 2025 11:45 am

Not sure snobbish is right. Here are a few things for me which makes it lose all appeal.

Why is it 100 balls in 5 delivery blocks when nobody else does this, everywhere else it is 20 overs and 6 deliveries.

As someone who takes an interest in Lancashire CCC do I follow Manchester originals which is nothing to do with me or Northern super again nothing to do with me.

Looking at last nights game Lancashire's Liam Livingstone played for Birmingham and helped them beat Oval Invincibles who had Lancashire's Saqib Mahmood playing for them.

Someone attending a game I have no doubt can enjoy it but for me it leaves people without a team or players of your own.

Yeah I do actually agree with this and would prefer the Blast to have been increased in profile and to stick with the County teams. I also see the reasons why people dislike The Hundred but the reasoning behind my OP was really to express my surprise at how much I enjoyed the format “in the flesh”. I’ll be watching tonight’s game in Cardiff on Sky with interest.

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 7:37 am

At the end of the day, I'm never going to support Manchester Originals or Manchester Super Giants as they'll be known next year because I'm not from Manchester and have no affinity with the team.

Same here, they've just alienated a massive chunk of Lancashire's fan base (same for the other teams I'd imagine).

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 13, 2025 11:52 am

Good stuff, and congratulations on replacing the 9,000 lost fans from the blast. Seems a really worthwhile investment to ruin the one day cup, sell talent pipelines to franchise clubs and sacrifice the test summer, for zero net new fans. All sports fall into the same trap.... more is apparently better.

More teams in the euros and world cups for football - creating more dull and meaningless games.
More european club competitions with more matches
A world club competition held in non footballing countries
More teams in the rugby 5 nations, and however many years on, Italy remain the whipping boys.
More teams in the rugby world cup, seeing teams so obviously outclassed Bookmakers wouldn't make a market on it
More cricket, more competitions, more ICC competitions - a world cup every year - and add more teams for good measure
More horse racing fixtures, despite a falling racehorse population.

and on and on and on..... what's rare is precious. But sports administrators are intent on killing the golden goose.

*applause*

I just can’t get into it,it might be different if I attended a game but don’t watch it on tv,the graphics are awful for a start.It seems like it’s more of a family night out but I guess that’s what they aimed for besides,who am I supposed to support? People will say,well,it’s got to be Manchester Originals right? Wrong! I don’t support Man Utd or City…it’s Lancashire and England for me.Maybe I’m not with it but I prefer test match cricket anyday and am thoroughly looking forward to the Ashes this winter

Hmmm...

So if I'm remembering all this right, the ECB invented T20 but forgot to lock down the rights to it and everyone else went off and made millions from the idea.

To rectify this they invented the Hundred as a separate franchise-based thing to sideline those annoying counties who seem to think the ECB should be doing something for them, and as a more family-friendly antidote to the T20 blast which was getting to be seen as a bit of a post-work boozy do.

The ultimate plan was to make Brewster's from selling this idea to other countries but the other countries have taken one look and aren't having a bar of it, so forget any export sales. Ticket sales at home are holding up for now but the TV figures seem to be dropping from a few articles I've seen.

And as of the last few articles I've seen, it's one unique point (and the thing that gives the whole thing it's actual name) looks like it's going to disappear as the new inward investors see no percentage in hitching themselves to a futureless format and make noises about turning it into a T20 competition.

Of course the ECB already has a T20 competition but that's been metaphorically moved into the basement so the Hundred can have the master bedroom. At least T20 should be thankful it isn't 50-over cricket though, which is taking place largely unreported as we speak. Sic transit 2019, and all that.

At this point I was going to say this would hypothetically provide the ECB with a headache, but we all know it wouldn't. As soon as The Hundred's format change to T20 were confirmed, the ECB would pull the plug on the Blast's life support machine to charge the Hundred's phone.

If I credited the ECB with the intelligence I'd (grudgingly) say 'bravo' on so masterfully playing the long game to get IPL Mk.II onto (some) English cricket grounds. Seeing as I think they're just grabbing an opportunity that's fallen into their lap, or at least not letting it fall to the floor, I'll hold the praise.

Whatever though, it all stinks.

I've got tickets for Birmingham Phoenix on Sunday. I love test cricket and went to watch England at Edgbaston. My kids are young and get bored with test cricket but they absolutely love the 100. It's a great family afternoon out.

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 8:00 am

Continues how? With players playing for 5 or 6 teams you can’t differentiate between? With counties producing players to go into international franchise contracts, rather than county sides and test teams? View the West Indies for the likely impact of talent pipelines being sold? My interest in cricket has reduced massively over the last few years since this stuff became the only marketed form of cricket, and the stuff that matters being marginalised. This is the first summer I can think of where I’ve not been to a single days cricket live. I’ll probably take in a couple of the ireland vs England t20’s, but I’ll spend zero this year on cricket at old Trafford. They can focus all their energies on the 100 stuff, but they’ve lost me as a fan.

Continues on in the fact it will be here in 30 years time in some form . I wonder what those watching county cricket thought in the 60 s when one day cricket started or the 70 s with Packers world series , pyjama cricket and helmets !
Family are from Worcestershire and their CEO said recently that without the hundred money their future would have been in serious doubt over the next decade . I doubt they would be alone .

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Tue Aug 12, 2025 8:39 am

Just hang in there fellow cricket fans. This competition will be turned back into 20/20 cricket in the next couple of years.
It just needs a few more Indian owners of the franchises before they make their move.

The big plan will be to own franchises in all the 20/20 leagues around the world with all their squad of players, signed on lucrative contracts, playing all around the world.

Counties 20/20 sides could never be bought like this with all their members.

Well that’s already started right, with the Texas Super kings in America, Joburg Super Kings in SA and of course Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

Pretty sure most of the Major League Cricket teams in America are just IPL sides. Using the same players with some domestic players sprinkled in.

I treat The Hundred like I treat Women's sport - not a chance it will be on my TV.

Awful, over-hyped, gimmicky garbage

KRBFC wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 14, 2025 2:30 pm

Well that’s already started right, with the Texas Super kings in America, Joburg Super Kings in SA and of course Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

Pretty sure most of the Major League Cricket teams in America are just IPL sides. Using the same players with some domestic players sprinkled in.

I don't follow the league's abroad, but America would be the easiest country to set something like that up.

Longsider wrote: ↑

Wed Aug 13, 2025 8:53 pm

I've got tickets for Birmingham Phoenix on Sunday. I love test cricket and went to watch England at Edgbaston. My kids are young and get bored with test cricket but they absolutely love the 100. It's a great family afternoon out.

Bet they'd also love the T20 Blast though...

deanothedino wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 14, 2025 8:04 pm

Bet they'd also love the T20 Blast though...

They do.

I spent many a summer holiday watching day after day test cricket with my Grandma, loved every minute and still love test cricket. I also watched a game between Southern Braves and an another team (can't remember), two days ago, it went to last over and it was won with a six on the last ball, it was great. Yes it is hype, commercialised and can I say it .... woke. However, I enjoyed it.
I also enjoyed a fifty from Chris Tavare, an over from
Bob Simmons and a bodyline documentary. Those days are going, going and soon to be gone. However, modernity, woke and the money will eventually leave a gap to be exploited. What comes next, who knows.

This is my first summer getting in to the hundred and you know what, I am bloody loving it.

Can really see the attraction now, just cricket on steroids not to be taken too seriously. But just there for the enjoyment and entertainment

spamalittle wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 14, 2025 9:41 pm

I spent many a summer holiday watching day after day test cricket with my Grandma, loved every minute and still love test cricket. I also watched a game between Southern Braves and an another team (can't remember), two days ago, it went to last over and it was won with a six on the last ball, it was great. Yes it is hype, commercialised and can I say it .... woke. However, I enjoyed it.
I also enjoyed a fifty from Chris Tavare, an over from
Bob Simmons and a bodyline documentary. Those days are going, going and soon to be gone. However, modernity, woke and the money will eventually leave a gap to be exploited. What comes next, who knows.

Please explain. In what way is it woke?

spamalittle wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 14, 2025 9:41 pm

I spent many a summer holiday watching day after day test cricket with my Grandma, loved every minute and still love test cricket. I also watched a game between Southern Braves and an another team (can't remember), two days ago, it went to last over and it was won with a six on the last ball, it was great. Yes it is hype, commercialised and can I say it .... woke. However, I enjoyed it.
I also enjoyed a fifty from Chris Tavare, an over from
Bob Simmons and a bodyline documentary. Those days are going, going and soon to be gone. However, modernity, woke and the money will eventually leave a gap to be exploited. What comes next, who knows.

Who's Bob Simmons?

I don't pay much attention to the mercenary 100 competition either. Sure it has its entertainment value, but what damage is it doing to the conventional game? I've got plenty to despair about as a Kent supporter, but above all else I lament that the season is now a piecemeal mix of different competitions with little continuity and long intervals when no cricket is being played at all. One day cricket has its place but must not be allowed to eclipse the championship game. My answer:

• Stop compartmentalising the season and orchestrate the 4-day game so that it goes on the throughout the summer. That would re-establish continuity and provide a better base for emerging Test Match cricketers .
• Scrap divisional county cricket and revert to all counties playing each other once, alternating home & away from one season to the next
• Add a couple of regional minor counties teams to the first class mix.
• Introduce a zonal north v midlands v south 3-way test competition – over 5 days. The zonal teams also play the warm-up matches against touring teams.
• Here’s the real gamechanger – make county cricket a 5-day game but over shorter hours – say 2-session 11:00-13:15 and 14:00-16:30. Min 60 overs.
• Run T20 cricket in the evenings alongside the county game. Same venues. Male and female T20 on successive evenings
• Two one-day competitions, T20 and 50-over, that’s all. 50-overs played on consecutive evenings after the "daytime" county games, perhaps with a reserve day for inclement weather. Rebrand T20 to satisfy media glitz expectations that we see in the Hundred.
• Introduce mobility of selection so that counties can rotate within squad in the same match and players can be selected for the 5-day or evening one-dayers, or both
• For the 5-day game, allow 13-14 to be selected with those nominated as bowlers open to rotation between innings. Better chance of openings for spin bowlers in that setting.


Well, something needs changing!

if I've done the maths right, which admittedly I might not have done, playing each team once would mean that county games increase from the current 14 to 17, plus a couple of minor counties to take it up to 19, and then add in 3 way test competition, which presumably would be around 4 games, so 23 weeks of 4 or 5 day cricket - so pretty much every week from late April to mid October. Then for the days when they play shorter hours, you're going to play 60 overs plus a 50 over game (so 160 overs per day, or are you saying play a one day game over 2 days?) or a T20 (so 100 overs a day). I mean, I could see how the administrators would like it, cos there's pretty much cricket on every single day for 6 months with these recommendations, and on some days there could be 160 overs - or in hours terms given current over rates around 13 hours a day - say start at 7am and finish at 8pm?

spamalittle wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 14, 2025 9:41 pm

I spent many a summer holiday watching day after day test cricket with my Grandma, loved every minute and still love test cricket. I also watched a game between Southern Braves and an another team (can't remember), two days ago, it went to last over and it was won with a six on the last ball, it was great. Yes it is hype, commercialised and can I say it .... woke. However, I enjoyed it.
I also enjoyed a fifty from Chris Tavare, an over from
Bob Simmons and a bodyline documentary. Those days are going, going and soon to be gone. However, modernity, woke and the money will eventually leave a gap to be exploited. What comes next, who knows.

If anything sums up the hundred, it's that you watched an amazing game 2 days ago, and can't remember one of the teams involved. After 2 days. It's so disposable, with no emotional connection or feel, that teams just get forgotten. Nasser Hussain on the brilliant sky podcast touched on this very thing earlier in the week - he said that at present, if he turned up for a hundred double header, he'd be confident in naming 12 or 13 players out of the 44 involved - and the rest he'd have to properly research because players move so much. Sport without emotion or connection? What's the point>

On a warm sunny night with several over priced beers it’s good fun if little else . Nobody seems to care about the result /standings/players etc , but it’s entertaining for the new/casual fan and about on a par with an episode of Gladiators . Ultimately it makes the clubs money I guess .

dandeclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 15, 2025 10:25 am

if I've done the maths right, which admittedly I might not have done, playing each team once would mean that county games increase from the current 14 to 17, plus a couple of minor counties to take it up to 19, and then add in 3 way test competition, which presumably would be around 4 games, so 23 weeks of 4 or 5 day cricket - so pretty much every week from late April to mid October. Then for the days when they play shorter hours, you're going to play 60 overs plus a 50 over game (so 160 overs per day, or are you saying play a one day game over 2 days?) or a T20 (so 100 overs a day). I mean, I could see how the administrators would like it, cos there's pretty much cricket on every single day for 6 months with these recommendations, and on some days there could be 160 overs - or in hours terms given current over rates around 13 hours a day - say start at 7am and finish at 8pm?

18 5-day games = 90 days with the core one-day cricket going on simultaneously. The regional test matches can be just that, a 2-match series, maybe the top two then play off if it has to be a competition. The county and one-day 5-day engagements might be routinely Thu-Mon, so you need 18 weeks for core county competition. Mid-April to late-Sep is 24 weeks so it could go...

Mid-Apr-mid-May weeks 1-5 incl - integrated county competition (ICC rounds 1-5)
Mid May week 6 - first round regional Test Comp & one county (or maybe England A) plays the tourists
Late May-Late June weeks 7-10 - ICC (rounds 6-9)
Last week June - rest week 11
July weeks 12-15 - ICC (rounds 10-13)
Early Aug week 16 2nd round regional Test Comp
2nd week Aug-2nd week Sep weeks 17-21 - ICC rounds 14-18. Champions decided in all formats
Mid Sep week 22 - T20 cup - top 6 play off with finals day in current format and (same week) 50 over cup semi-finals 1st v4th, 2nd v3rd
3rd Week Sep week 23 50 over final current format. 1st v 2nd regional test series play off

As to overs, the max in one day would be 60 for the county competition 11am-4.30pm and then 50 for one of the two 50-over innings 6pm-10pm

Perhaps omit the Minor Counties if this is over-congested. But at least it would mean we get a summer of proper cricket.

Players playing from 11am to 10pm and then 11am the following day?

Yes but that's why I suggest a much more imaginative and flexible approach to squad composition, in-play rotation et al.