Just to add to SC Bear's 3rd paragraph - the T20 Final will end around 10pm on 13th September. Not like when the final was held in August with the chance of a warm evening it will now be quite cold but then who cares about the paying public.

Gerry when people like you write what you have just written then this sport really does have a serious chance of dying.

What we can hope for is that support for the Hundread drops off quickly to the point that sponsors reduce the money they are prepared to pay and TV likewise or even give up allocating time for it. At the same time if "climate change" gives us a few warm springs and autumns resulting in an increase in attendance then perhaps all is not lost. Above all it needs someone at the ECB to see that change and for the players to realise that without spectators their employment is at risk. All that is an enormous ask but if sports writers, especially in the nationals, write about the demise of the game and start telling the ECB and the PCA they have to change their attitude then all may not be lost.

It would have been good to have had him for the quarter,semi and final matches.

I see that Warwickshire return to 4-day Real Cricket on Tuesday and the same again next week down at Essex. Like this week end next weekend is the same - no cricket at a time when the average supporter is off work and able to attend.

Further proof, if proof was ever needed, that those running the game are doing what they can to kill the 4 day format. As for the players they seem to do whatever they can to avoid "unsociable" hours. In 5 years time I can see cricket facing serious questions. The 4 day game killed off by those in the game and the one day stuff killed off by spectators getting bored with its repetitive format.

mad wrote:

GerryShedd wrote:

To be fair, I don't think that OH-D is doing favours for his county bosses. As Chair of the PCA, he is expressing the views of his members, with which he may or may not agree.

But not representing them fully and with the requisite nuance that is required and that is a decision he's made for whatever reason

Players need to remember cricket is a game to be enjoyed when it is on. It is not about PB's it isn't golf or the 100 yards dash it is a tactical game best enjoyed when it is just played played played. All this fitness work in November they do and they can't manage 75 days (many of them just 3 hours duration) on the field in a six month span is ridiculous. I agree about the blast driving back overnight stuff maybe the groups need to be smaller and more localised no-one aside from Lancs or Yorkshire should be sent to Durham unless they're up there for a tour of the northern counties

Re your last sentence - if the c/c and Blast were played throughout the season then there would not need for over night driving. The Blast could be played on the 5th Day of a long distance trip. Simple if only there was a will.

Great to see Latham get a really good score and also a really sensible inning from the captain. Pity we didn't get a 6 in last over to give them 12 an over

Lost 3 overs getting in via derbys cc.

Can't get the live stream again

No Hain to bail us out from the 3rd over!!

What will happen, as it surely will, when people get tired of the repitition of the 16.4 format when every ball is an attempt at a 6. Same with the 20 over format where there is a bit of defensive played. In both these formats most games do not result in a close finish. The one thing proper cricket has that is lacking in the one day game - the side unable to win still has the draw to play for.
When people get tired of whakaball the numbers will drop especially viewing figures and then the sponsorship drops.................

I find it hard to understand the players wanting time to prepare and recover and at the same time do not complain about the season having 4 different formats = c/c. blast, odc and hundread and then are happy to chase the dollar in the IPL etc. If needing a more spread out workload why have they jumped to play the Hundread?
A spread out playing the c/c and blast through the season would achieve that - 5 days a week cricket maximum and I am sure there would still be time to play the ODC games. Of course it would need the players to say they do not want to add the Hundread to an already full schedule!!

Highveld wrote:

If we were to get a young player from Glous, I'd be looking at getting one of Tommy Boorman, a 19 year old batter/off spinner with captaincy experience, Archie Bailey, a 19 year fast bowler or Armand Rao, also 19 ex Somerset a seam bowling all rounder with captancy experience.

I like your including captaincy experience in their cv's !!!!

Funny how these players say their health requires them to play less cricket but seem to find the energy to run off to The Hundread or IPL or whatever is played in Oz or SA.

I suspect the modern day cricketeris like turkeys voting for Christmas

Looking at the start of the final session on the final day of the test match at Lord's and you have to ask why the ECB and County chairmen do not think it worthwhile to promote and support the county championship. But then they wasted a brilliant opportunity 20 years ago.

I have said under the Future thread - too many games in a short period makes T20 expensive. Playing the CC mainly in spring and autumn makes it too cold for most and especially casual supporters. If both formats were spread throughout the season I feel attendances at both would rise.

Incidentally I am noticing on Facebook adverts promoting The Hundread. I have never seen such an advert for CC or T20.

Is anyone going to stay with our "opening" batsman - Hain

Davies does it again. Latham needs to earn his wages today.

38 boundaries scored - if my maths is correct

Normally Briggs comes in in the power play. Why have we continued to keep with the quicks despite going at 12+ an over!

Interesting comments regarding par score. Viewing through a laptop (an expert's view!) and the way we were scoring it really did look as if we should have got 20/30 more runs and the reason we didn't was through losing wickets. One big example was Hain getting out at the start of what is usually the last 5 overs onslaught - had that not happened I wonder what score we might have got.