General cricket thread

This. It’s a seen as money generator and a way of getting external revenues into the game. However, personally I have always felt the vehicle for that should have been T20. Cluttering up the fixture list with another competition doesn’t work for me for obvious reasons. The most successful generator of cash is the IPL. That model ( if you need money and the game does) would have been the route for me. Whilst the IPL is a ‘circus’ it is phenomenally successful. Cricket is changing and the traditional methods of working don’t work. There are massive problems with counties financially and in order to support them they need cash from the ECB just to survive. A revenue stream is required. I just don’t think we needed the 100 to deliver it. I think we should have worked with Sky to make a franchise version of the Blast to deliver that.

The counties have always needed ecb cash to survive since the advent of the professional full season contract model.

I don't know why people make out that's unusual. The counties provide a service and get money from the ecb in return for the product they are ultimately producing.

Grass roots, player development etc all comes from the counties to serve the international team, he counties then get their handout in return for that service

I don't see what's wrong with that model. They shouldn't be self sustaining until such a point they are not providing the ecb a service

Yes some are still in trouble despite ecb money but that's a combonof covid hangovers, and mismanagement. Those counties should be punished for not cutting cloth.

IPL is monetary powergouse and so very 'successful' financially because of the nature of its domestic audience, where cricket sits in that audience, and the lack of alternates.

No other counties t20 (see the struggles of the big bash after initial success) will ever be anything like as successful.

It's folly to chase and mirror. The surfeit of t20 and less leagues is simply to satisfy thr Asian betting markets. They will not be anything more than a moderate success in there own right long term, and that's only in the countries that have a cricketing interest. The dubai and US ones are doomed long term for example.

Getting properly excited about the club season now!! We've lost most of the pre-season games to weather, 1st XI have managed a couple.

I've been running our training night for half the club (1s,2s and 3s are on another night) and we're now regularly getting nearly 40 turn up for it! Having to split the session in half because of numbers - half in the nets and half fielding practice! It's mad busy but Ace!!

Junior matches are in full swing and league games start next weekend

Yes! Im back into it this year after 26 years out. Been coaching the U11/U13s and going to play myself as well. Last weeks kids game was washed out, start of summer training for the kids tonight and thats not looking promising, Not raining hard but its slippy out. I went to the local playing fields to do some bowling practice and its fine with spikes, but not in trainers. Got to love the gumption of the English to try and play cricket in England, in April!

As for my bowling is in a bit of state. Ive got the yips over my run up and am stuttering and then going in to some weird Jasprit Bumrah style action which isnt me at all, normally cock the ball back into my chest. Silly thing is where I have marked a crease the marks from my studs were exactly where they need to be. Just need to forget about my feet and bowl the ball and if there are a couple of no balls so be it

Really nice to be part of a club, some good guys there I have met and it seems like a friendly place

Wow, that’s impressive. I used to live in Potters Bar before I moved to Norfolk. I’m a Lancashire lad so brought up in the leagues. I am so pleased to see the game thriving where you are and also never underestimate the work that volunteers do within a club.

I remember those days, looking at the sky and thinking here we go again…

yeah - fingers crossed

We've a big intra club day - 4 teams, 3 (short) matches based on specific match scenarios across the afternoon. 60 odd people involved and hopefully a BBQ and a few beers

Yes when in nets do you bowl with umpire other stumps?

Assume not. This can have a subtle impact in a match subconsciously ime. Even though your not changing where you actually run in or approach the popping crease.

Can have the umpire move back as needed but stumps obviously not.

Practise with stumps or similar obstacle in that position and you will get used to having something there come the match.

Other than that i think you obverthinking the bio mechanics. You have the swing which at 3s level in any standard bar grade should make you clean up. Don't want to mess with that swing.