It's a nice idea to include the National Counties but the logistics would make it complicated. Most National Counties players are not full time professionals. I can't see them wanting to schlep from Cornwall to, say, Norfolk for one game of hit-and-giggle and then go to Northumberland the next week. You could regionalise it or else have some sort of week-long festival where they gather at Wormsley for a round robin. Quite how that would fit in with a pyramid, I'm not sure.
Is it just me or does anyone else think that if the ECB believe that the answer is to invent another competition then they are probably asking the wrong question?

This takes us back to the "outgrounds" discussion. The stadium venues may be jumping when a big game is on but they are pretty soulless for County Championship games. Moving the pitch so that it's almost in the next parish is more or less standard and contributes to the difficulties with sightscreen coverage. Venue managements treat the CC with barely concealed contempt.
Taking the odd game to an outground would help as the match becomes the "big thing" for the hosting club and they would care about putting on the best show that they could. Where would you rather watch Championship cricket? Arundel or the Rose (Ageas) Bowl? Chesterfield or Headingley? It's a no brainer for the spectator. Just doesn't suit the accountants.

OH-D: In the first ten years of his career he took 109 first class wickets at an average of 38 and was very lucky to still have a contract. In the next five and a bit, he's taken 205 wickets at 23 and is an automatic first choice. Was this Pop Welch's doing?

I suppose I'm being hopelessly naive but is it in order to ask why we were playing a Cup semi-final on a used wicket that even the opposition knew would be difficult to bat on? Is this another example of just where Warwickshire cricket sits in the "Edgbaston" priorities?

Yes, Brad Wheal. All their Undead players that they could have picked.
Adam Hose doesn't feature for Worcs, though.
Come on you Pears!

He seems to be quite a prospect. 111 in 76 balls against Ireland U19 today along with two wickets. What do we know about him?

Mixed feelings. It's difficult to say no to Sam Hain who is one of the best List A players in the world and has been integral to everything Warwickshire has done in the last 10 years. Moeen Ali, not so much.
I assume Chris Woakes wouldn't be available anyway.

The spectator capacity at Guildford is only part of the story. A chunk of the ground is always given over to sponsors marquees - which is what makes it viable. Just a little creativity needed.
Personally, I need little more incentive to visit Guildford than the fact that their beer tent serves Hog's Back Brewery's TEA - Traditional English Ale. Lovely drop. Probably best not to take the car.

GerryShedd wrote:

Has anyone taken a wicket for Warwickshire at a younger age than Tazeem?

Warwick Tidy was also 17 when he debuted for WCCC so we're into counting days.
I suggest you ask Terry 😏

You obviously need to get out and watch some cricket! Oh, hang on, there isn't any.

Rikki Clarke must be in with a shout. He held some kind of world record for the average number of catches per game across his career. Most of them taken at second slip, of course.

We are currently the only unbeaten team in this competition. We started the CC with some dominant performances (Surrey excepted) and had a powerful run to the T20 QFs before it went pear shaped. I think we've actually got a decent squad that deserves to get some glory this year. One Day Cup seems the best chance. Keep going guys!

Seems it was a bit quicker than his efforts for us!

A very entertaining series. Any chance that the ECB will now reflect on:

1. How much benefit would accrue to the game if this had been on free-to-air TV
2. How good it would be if anyone enthused by this series could now go and watch some more first class cricket. As it is, most county grounds will have just four days of 50 over slogfest in August.

I have a daughter who lives in Kent so I try to fit in a day at Canterbury most years, whoever's playing. It remains one of my favourite County grounds for reasons noted above. It has good sight lines; an intimate feel; decent food; and a limited amount of concrete. Even the flats and mini-market that have been built on what used to be the outfield car park have been done tastefully. Plus I do have a liking for a glass or two of Spitfire.
It tends to be quiet too and it was certainly so on Wednesday when I was there. I guess the weather was not great and the Kent supporters knew they were in for a stuffing. I still enjoyed it, though, as there is quite a bit of experience in the Kent batting line up and they weren't giving it away. I think Rob Yates' spell was key to getting the job done on the third day. What a game he had! It's lucky he's not known for his slogging or the England side would have had him by now.

My main beef with quarter finals is that the one-a-day format means that there is a week in high season when most county grounds are just left idle. If you have to have QFs, at least play them on the same day and leave room for another CC round.

I believe Chris is on an "all forms" cricket contract with the ECB which, being worth a truck load of dosh, will be difficult to walk away from. He'll also hope to be involved in the World Cup in the autumn so, for the time being, it's probably in his best interests to just suck it up and keep on carrying the drinks. Who knows, at the rate England are burning through players, he may well get a Test this month, although that could be a poisoned chalice.
I doubt if he'll get a full central contract next year. It would be wonderful if he then chose to do an Alastair Cook and spent a few years back in County Cricket.

Careful!

I've been plodding through (some) of the 300-ish pages in this report and have come to the conclusion that it is a missed opportunity that will hinder rather than help progress towards inclusivity. Amongst the recommendations, there are many that involve further investigations; data gathering; preparation of reports; a new regulatory body; (or meaningless "apologies"). These will add to bureaucracy and divert attention from making any actual progress. Recommendations for practical action are few and somewhat unrealistic. Booting out Eton v Harrow might be achievable although no more than symbolic. Calling for equal pay for women's cricket simply ignores commercial reality. And so on.
There's a lot wrong with the culture of cricket which we "type K" blokes who have rejoiced in cheering ethnic minority cricketers since Rudi Webster and Billy Ibadulla know very well. It didn't need a Commission to write it all down. It needs some achievable actions - and the money to back them up.

The Aussies must be licking their lips on seeing the length of that tail.