mad
Member
Time to start writing to the club after this mornings ominous news re: reckless extension of the sky deal. They probably think they can ram through massive cuts to the County season as it's an Ashes year next season but they need telling in no uncertain terms. The way Bears have played this season I probably won't renew anyway but if we lose 8 days CC cricket they can do one frankly
Email the club. I didn't get any codes originally. Mind you I renewed first thing in October. They sent me some 3 weeks ago after I asked about them
Tremendous effort that last session. Well played McAndrew, OHD and Garrett
Cheers!
Considering we're now in mid summer and weather's gorgeous the county championship fixtures this week are abysmal. Nothing at all in the Midlands out of a full fixture list of nine matches. Was a time way back in the day when spectators were considered when they drew up these fixtures. Not any more. Used to be reasonably reliable to expect if Warwickshire were away Worcestershire would be at home and so on around the country.
Couldn't make today but hoping there'll be something to watch in the week if anyone knows of any fixtures nearby please forward suggestions
Worcestershire U18 Boys v Warwickshire U18 Boys 11am start at Old Hill CC today
50 over match. They beat Staffordshire in the previous round with a century plus 2-6 by Hamza Shaikh
https://ecbu18.play-cricket.com/website/cup/56885
Bit of a preview of it on Worcestershire's website too
https://wccc.co.uk/edavalath-and-home-back-as-academy-take-on-local-rivals-in-ecb-county-cup/
Are we guaranteed a home QF now?
Yorkshire's last four chairmen launch blistering attack on ECB on eve of Headingley Test
Colin Graves, Steve Denison, Robin Smith and Roger Hutton have demanded an independent inquiry into the handling of the racism scandal
By Ben Rumsby
Yorkshire’s last four chairmen have launched an extraordinary attack on the England & Wales Cricket Board on the eve of the Headingley Test, denouncing its handling of the club’s racism scandal and demanding an independent inquiry into the whole affair.
In a dramatic intervention ahead of an occasion the county was previously banned from staging over the crisis to engulf it, Colin Graves, Steve Denison, Robin Smith and Roger Hutton united to declare the ECB unfit to expose the full story behind Azeem Rafiq’s damning accusations of abuse and the botched handling of them.
They did so after voicing a litany of concerns over the disciplinary proceedings opened against the club and individuals charged last week over the scandal, something into which they said they had little input despite leading Yorkshire between them for almost the whole of the period spanning Rafiq’s allegations.
Among those claims about the case that threatens to completely overshadow England’s return to the scene of some of their greatest triumphs were:
That the ECB inquiry had taken too long and was “putting people through even more pain”;
That there had been no sign of Rafiq being punished himself over an anti-Semitic slur that emerged in November, despite him admitting to it;
That Yorkshire were being “tried twice”, having already been stripped of major matches and forced to make sweeping changes to get them back;
That the names of those charged had been leaked even before the ECB announced they would not be identified;
That Mark Arthur, Martyn Moxon and other senior figures at Yorkshire had escaped action for allegedly triggering the scandal by failing to deal properly with Rafiq’s complaints;
That the ECB’s inquiry completely ignored its own refusal to investigate almost two years ago.
Graves, who was himself chairman of the ECB for five years until 2020, rescued Yorkshire from financial ruin two decades ago before becoming executive chair of the county between 2012 and 2015.
Proclaiming he would “fully support” an independent inquiry into the current scandal, he said he was “very disappointed” charges had been brought against both the club and the likes of former England players Michael Vaughan, Matthew Hoggard, Tim Bresnan and Gary Ballance.
“I just find it unbelievable that they’re putting these people through even more pain,” Graves said.
“Once again, these people’s names are dragged through the mire, which I think is unfair.”
He added: “It hasn’t been handled very well at all. It could’ve been handled much better, much quicker, and I think it’s leaving a lot of nasty tastes in people’s mouths.”
Colin Graves said 'it’s leaving a lot of nasty tastes in people’s mouths'
Denison, who succeeded Graves at Yorkshire before stepping down in 2018, said: “The ECB don’t move fast enough and they’ve been so scared of their own shadow that they’re almost paralysed and can’t act.”
On the governing body’s silence over whether Rafiq faced action over his own anti-Semitic slur, he added: “I’m sure that the ECB’s thought process was: ‘S---, we’ve got a cut-and-dried case here. But if we hammer him now, he’s perceived as the victim in all of this, so it’ll look like we’re hammering the victim before we’ve got round to having a go at the “perpetrators”’.”
Denison said he had emailed both recently-departed ECB chief executive Tom Harrison and Yorkshire chairman Lord Patel last week to offer to help “in any way that I can” with exposing the full story behind the scandal.
He added: “They haven’t even bothered to give me the courtesy of acknowledging the emails – which kind of says it all, really.”
Smith, who returned to chair the club between 2018 and 2020 having also served in the role between 2003-06, said: “It seems to me that the club is tried twice on the same facts.
“It just breaches a fundamental principle of jurisprudence. No one can be tried twice on the same facts. It’s very, very unsatisfactory.
“I’m personally on notice from the ECB that conduct of mine will be subject of the proceedings but that I’m not personally charged, nor will there be any personal finding against me, which is rather a hybrid situation.
“It needs a good, independent judicial look at it. Until all these facts go before someone of unquestioned repute and impartiality – a judge, retired judge, someone of that standing – the full truth will never emerge.
“The ECB have already decided on Yorkshire’s guilt and imposed these sanctions. How on Earth can they now, in this second set of proceedings, take a contrary view? It’s just not going to happen and everyone knows it’s not going to happen.”
Hutton, who quit as Yorkshire chairman after the scandal erupted in November, said he would be assisting the club with responding to the charges but was forced to approach them himself to do so, adding that he had heard nothing from the ECB.
He said the latter’s handling of the case was “so far from any judicial process, it’s breathtaking”, adding: “I’ve spent my life in the law; I’ve never seen anything quite like it myself.
“I’m not quite sure what the scope of the investigation is, but my best understanding is it doesn’t relate to any of the actions or inactions of the ECB itself.”
Concerns were also raised about Yorkshire’s own handling of their toxic legal battle with staff sacked in the wake of the racism scandal after it emerged earlier this month the club had admitted unfair dismissal complaints lodged against them were “well founded”.
Just last week, England limited-overs specialist David Willey accused the county of prioritising repairing their reputation at the expense of their own players’ well-being after it was confirmed he was returning to his native Northamptonshire at the end of the season.
Denison said: “I’m not sure whether it’s the club or whether it’s just Kamlesh trying to protect his own reputation but well played, David, for saying that.”
The ECB declined to comment on an ongoing regulatory process, although a source pointed out Harrison had left before Denison had emailed him. Lord Patel did not respond to a request for comment.
Excellent thought provoking piece by Barney Ronay this morning. Stop trying to counter the IPL dominance with pointless new formats, work with what cricket has - it's traditions and the groundswell of good will amongst the public that remains in spite of the games shockingly poor governance in recent years if not longer - and an end to central contracts. Bairstow showed it can be done so can well see Ben Stokes having 2 months at the IPL and then returning to go straight into the Ashes next year. Whatever replaces the ECB should have as it's priority the aim of growing the game not swelling the ECB's coffers.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2022/jun/19/cricket-end-ecb-spin-governance-comment
Captain has to take that loss on the chin.
The way the game unfolded and the cavalier approach we took at the close of Day 3 declaring with 100 overs left to bowl suggests to me that the players/management already know there is no relegation this season to give up 8 points in so cavalier a fashion. Hindsight a wonderful thing and fair play for being ballsy but it's 8 points down the swanny cos we didn't bat till close
Potentially as big a result for Lancs this is as our double over Notts was to us last season. Fair play to them and I hope it carries them towards a title tilt
Say one thing that boy Williams looks very good for Lancs. I was wondering how bowling 2 days out of 3 would affect him after his impressive figures Day 1 and fresh into the county game but he did fine again. Hopefully Norwell can withstand the same rigour of bowling 2 in 3 after his extended lay off
Well done also to Andy Umeed who scored 125 for Somerset 2nds earlier today
According to the BBC report on today's game Croft had made just 3 runs v Bears in his three previous innings
Also a suggestion that Dane Vilas "may have had a point" being aggrieved at being given caught round the corner off Briggs. The video suggests no such thing - if anything it is very inconclusive. Could just as easily conclude he feathered the ball with his bat or glove
Good game this. Lancs are seasoned veterans at these low scoring dog fights but Bears in recent seasons have shown they can slug it out too
Very intersting line up today
https://live.nvplay.com/ecb/#m8b923f7b-4f9f-4806-8feb-30e183c48e09
Dan Mousely off to a flier
Isaac Mohammed who is 13 and highly regarded relative of Moeen I've not seen him yet but a couple of the lads at Moseley a few weeks back were raving about him. Moeen actually spoke a bit about him with Aggers on TMS during tea at the test yesterday. Also Kobi Herft who when I spoke to a couple of Lichfield players on Saturday they reckon he's different class. 18 year old Aussie kid playing for West Bromwich Dartmouth
No Woakes yet though he was on about playing some 2nds cricket soonish
Sibley not going on to get big tons is a slight worry for me. There is an opening slot up for grabs in the England team with Crawley surely on the verge of being canned and Dom is going to have to go big in the 2nd half of the season to try to force his way back into the test squad now. He was in such good form pre-season but keeps getting out when set
Yes Sam Hain is now at the stage Trott was in 2009 knocking on the door 'the next cab off the rank'. He really ought to have got to this stage much sooner, should have been knocking on the door in 2018/2019 but for 2/3 years of iffy form in first class cricket but age is still on Hain's side
Crawley can't have too many more chances. They'll select a squad for the third test and the one off India test match. Perhaps they'll give a couple of new guys a test v India - Compton and/or Hain. Or maybe they'll experiment a bit more with the South Africa series - Moeen and/or Rashid coming in perhaps before the winter tours.
On the one hand how bare must the Aussie cupboard be for McAndrew on the back of 1 half decent Shield season to be in and around their A squad - thank god we still have 18 counties I say. Nothing against the lad he's given 100%
On the other hand I was saying a few weeks ago he's a solid player not spectacular but potentially brought in with a view to him being a long term project. Can you imagine if Aus have a rash of injuries and he's in the squad for next years Ashes?!?!
We'll all be scratching our heads at that.
I think the it will remain part of the game
The one area where it seems unfair is Braithwaite smashes a six then retires. An old school playground rule where if you hit it over the wall you had to climb over and fetch it from the neighbouring garden or you were 6 and out.
The bowling side could be allowed to select a bowler who has used up their allocation to return to bowl (e.g. in a 20 over game they'd get a 5th over or 5th set of deliveries)
It shouldn't occur 3 or 4 times as it is only going to be used towards the end of a shortened already short format game although what's to stop 2 players retiring out at the same time or if there is a run out and the other batter retires out bringing 2 fresh faces to the crease.
Not sure how it could be outlawed. Would they require blood like in rugby?
I can see a variation of it being brought in maybe a 12th player (a joker perhaps) can be brought on in the Hundred. Imagine Usain Bolt or Chris Gayle sitting on the bench
Rob Key apparently wants to flush much of our season down the toilet. And all for what?
Exclusive: Rob Key reveals plan to fix English cricket
Speaking on The Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast, Key outlines his vision to see fewer red-ball games and two national selectorsBy
Tim Wigmore
31 May 2022 • 5:00pm
Exclusive: Rob Key reveals plan to fix English cricket
Rob Key was speaking on Telegraph Sport's new The Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast CREDIT: EDDIE MULHOLLAND/TELEGRAPHRob Key has outlined his radical vision to fix the England Test team by revealing he backs fewer County Championship matches as part of a new 12-team structure.
In wide-ranging interview for the launch of a new Telegraph podcast, The Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club, England's new managing director laid out his blueprint to revitalise English cricket and revealed:
He thinks the Championship will reduce from the current 14 games per season, mooting 10 matches per county as a possibility,
He is keen to recruit two full-time selectors but is struggling to fill the posts,
He believes Jos Buttler could return to the Test team and backed new coach Brendon McCullum to get the best out of him.
England are currently conducting a high-performance review, which includes figures from outside the sport - including Sir David Brailsford, the former performance director at British Cycling, and Dan Ashworth, the former Football Association director of elite development who has taken up a new sporting director role with Newcastle United.Placeholder image for youtube video: p1MaIf_8ImU
Key revealed that he expects the process to lead to radical changes in the English domestic game, with the volume of Championship cricket likely to be reduced.“At this point in time I have no idea of what it's going to be and how it's going to go because it might be less four-day cricket, which I think might be the bet that you could go on,” Key said.
“I would have 10 games of Championship cricket. I think you've basically added in a month of the season with a competition so you've added in a month's worth of cricket, so you've got to lose a month's worth of cricket. So you have 14 games, you go down to 10 games and you end up with 10 high-quality games.”
Key also suggested increasing the number of teams in the top division to 12. “I have my thing where you have your 12 best teams and one [division] below it and all that type of stuff, but whether that's how it's gonna go, I couldn't tell you. I don't think that would be a bad plan.”
Rob Key speaks to broadcasters after being appointed England Men's Cricket Managing Director
Key was outlining his plans for reform of county cricket to help produce more Test-standard batters CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES
But Key stressed that pitches in county cricket needed to be improved to help prepare players for Test matches. The average scores in the County Championship have improved notably in 2022.“The whole system at the moment - that's not producing the players,” Key said. “We've got the talent - we've got to somehow make sure they can deliver at that level, which we haven't done as the batting suggests. And then we end up in a huge debate if you want to go down this road about county cricket pitches.
“My biggest bug - you can change the schedule, you can change the structure of county cricket, all those things, if you keep playing on those pitches that they did for the last however many years where the medium pacers - they were the bane of my life these guys who would just turn up at 70mph, dob it around and hit me in the shin.”
Key also said that Buttler, who was dropped from the Test side after a poor Ashes campaign but was the leading run-scorer in this year’s Indian Premier League, could return to the red-ball side. “I always thought that he could be an outstanding Test match batsman-wicketkeeper. I still think that.”
Key also revealed that he could appoint two new people to the vacant job of national selector, implying that there could be separate red- and white-ball selectors, but admitted his difficulties identifying suitable candidates.
“You probably, at some point, need two,” Key said. “The head selectors’ job is arguably one of the most important ones because you can have all this vision, all this philosophy, all the coaches, but if you have a selector who picks a bunch of numpties then you've got no chance have you really? But that's a tough job.
“It's a challenging job, but it's such an important job that I don't want to rush to do it. We're working fine up to a point where I can effectively chair that meeting. I can deliver the message to the media. You basically don't want bad decisions to be made. But it's a full-time role. So we need to get someone in.”
First of all - none of that is in his remit. His remit is to improve the shambles the ECB led England side has become. That's not the fault of the counties, the pandemic wasn't the fault of the counties. England will NEVER be number 1 test side for any sustained period of time it's a pipe dream.
Secondly he's clearly still in the pocket of his former paymasters at Sky who in cahoots with those numpties at the ECB would love nothing more than a shrinked down 'Barry Hearn style' game to put on the telly like made for TV sports darts or the snooker and have just 5 weeks set aside for the CC while all summer is block booked for assorted T20, T10, 16.4, 8.2 and whatever they invent when folks get bored of that trash