Sussex Profit (Page 12 of 12)

A lot of gloom saying if the Ashes goes to BBc  Sky will cancel their  cricket and the sport will collapse. Even Fraser was not as gloomy as that !!!

I  see in the Mail today an article saying the folly of the ECB in encouraging counties to undertake expensive ground redevelopments . If the Ashes is forced back to free for air it predicts 4 clubs will fold , 2 being Test grounds . Kent would top the list of teams to go under.

There are already too many Test grounds to share the fixtures .

It moans that each club gets 1.5m from the ECB but waste it on mercenary players.

The ECB might be well meaning but  imo they are going to kill county cricket .

We should be very greatful for Spen Cama and his money .

When the ECB kill off 4 day cricket what will become of Tests ???? Surely they will die as well .

Year 2020  there will 10 franchises playing 2020 . Keep going ECB you are doing a great job .

I think the obvious does not need to be stated

I note our CEO is flying against the wind of change presently blowing around our noble game.

http://www.testmatchextra.com/Blogs.asp … c0f94edf21

Moderation is a fine eastern philosophy, in my view; for while I accept cricket needs to change, a balance is required. The present obsession with T20 is threatening to unbalance the sport; and this could prove detrimental in the future.

This new split OD innings idea being muted by the ECB is typical of change for change's sake. What's the point? While, day/night Test matches is an excellent notion and hopefully may filter through to English championship games. As for the gay ball... umm. 

http://www.cricinfo.com/countycricket20 … 53479.html

Last edited by softandfluffy (26-03-2010 13:32:30)

asdf,

Controversy and uncertainty surrounds this year's Champions league T20. My understanding is nothing will be decided until after the present IPL tournament.

Chairman Lalit Modi first gave dates of September 10th-26th. This upset the ECB because the period clashes with the climax of the English LV championship. Modi dismissed their complaints stating they either had to reschedule the matches or the England T20 finalists would not be included. Meanwhile, South Africa claimed they would be holding the tournament only for Modi to retort nothing had been decided.

A case of wait and see.

The big surprise is, last year's club winners, New South Wales, haven't qualified for the 2010 competition.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Champ … e_Twenty20

http://www.cricket20.com/db/champions_league/news.asp

Last edited by softandfluffy (26-03-2010 15:05:00)

kim,

I believe county cricket is on the precipice, staring into oblivion, unless dramatic changes occur within the next five years. Do I want this to happen? Of course not, I enjoy watching the 4 day game and am already bored of the T20 blight that has diseased world cricket.

I agree with you, the present two divisions are now the financial 'haves' and 'have nots'; for the agents of talented, up-an-coming cricketers are more likely to seek out the best financial deals which the Division 2 teams can't afford. Only Middlesex, with Finn and Morgan, have notably come to the ECB plate. While, Surrey financially tower over every other which only makes their Div 2 status even more of a disgrace.

The worst scenario:

If the Ashes go terrestrial and the double-dip recession bites, I can see at least 4 county clubs going into administration. Ironically, a healthy culling, as there are too many at present. In my view, 12 counties are sufficient creating two divisions of 6. Perhaps, there will be amalgamations, ground sharing... who knows.

Meanwhile, the ECB/MCC have a stark decision. Do they join in with the T20 Asian whirlwind or hope it blows itself out? Recently, they turned down a franchise opportunity. For me, Lalit Modi is causing cricket to self-destruct via a crippling power struggle that makes Kerry Packer seem like an ice-cream salesman.

I have no idea where it will all end; but I don't like what I see.

A disgrace ??  I presume you mean from their perspective.  A good laugh for everyone else.

BP,

Surrey's turnover was £25.5m last year and Sussex's was £5.8m. Given that Sussex won 2 trophies and reached the final of another, whereas Surrey achieved "zilch" and languish in the bowels of LV2.  A disgrace given their financial clout. A roar? More like a meowing whimper!

daveshark,

"As to twenty20 killing off cricket"

It's about finding the balance between T20 and the other cricket formats. That's what the ECB are grappling with. T20 has brought much needed extra revenues into the county game but it mustn't dominate.

Unfortunately, decreasing the number of championship games is almost inevitable and creating 3 divisions of 6 counties in each is probably the easiest way. This would mean 10 LV matches per county a season.

If the ECB don't embrace T20, then the danger is the top English players may simply break away and become mercenaries for those Asian and other world clubs which do. It's about balance. Never an easy thing.

Simon Hughes sums up my present view.

http://www.testmatchextra.com/blogs.asp … d496512a48

Last edited by softandfluffy (29-03-2010 16:27:04)

Oh dear! Forget the concerns over the 'Ashes' moving to terrestrial TV and the major loss of 'Sky' revenue to the ECB; this recent Ofcom ruling "may" affect not only county cricket revenues but all UK sports - especially football.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cric … 32025.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/ma … cket-bskyb

Last edited by softandfluffy (31-03-2010 18:06:04)