The future?

[essexfan548]

Thought this might be of interest:

https://www.wisden.com/wisden-cricketers-almanack/luddites-or-lifeblood-how-you-view-county-crickets-members-depends-on-where-you-stand-almanack?

Ben Bloom?s feature on the struggles of England?s County clubs amidst the commercial takeover originally appeared in the 2025 edition of the Wisden Almanack.

[nat]

Somerset have come out firmly in favour of maintaining 14 CC matches (with home/away symmetry in Div 1) and 14 T20 matches.

Time for Essex to make a statement (supporting the majority of members' view similar to Somerset).

[bwildered]

Somerset have come out firmly in favour of maintaining 14 CC matches (with home/away symmetry in Div 1) and 14 T20 matches.

Time for Essex to make a statement (supporting the majority of members' view similar to Somerset).

 When the Championship / fixture set up is revised, yet again, think a two thirds majority of counties have to vote in favour, so much cajoling to get other counties on board.
ECB did have a sound out with Home Counties for there views recently has stated at the forum last week.

[kingstonj1]

Somerset have come out firmly in favour of maintaining 14 CC matches (with home/away symmetry in Div 1) and 14 T20 matches.

Time for Essex to make a statement (supporting the majority of members' view similar to Somerset).

As have Surrey, I don't expect Mr Feist to any opinion whatsoever

[nat]

Somerset have come out firmly in favour of maintaining 14 CC matches (with home/away symmetry in Div 1) and 14 T20 matches.

Time for Essex to make a statement (supporting the majority of members' view similar to Somerset).

As have Surrey, I don't expect Mr Feist to any opinion whatsoever

Good. I don't want him to have an opinion. Just reflect the views of members.

[bwildered]

Some counties have already publicly expressed their preferred options.

Surrey and Somerset have supported an eight-team top flight and 10-team second tier, retaining 14 games per season.

Middlesex have backed the status quo: 10 teams in Division One, eight in Division Two and 14 games.

Durham and Lancashire have thrown their weight behind the 12-team top flight, while Worcestershire have supported both the conference and 10-team first division.

 

[nat]

Some counties have already publicly expressed their preferred options.

Surrey and Somerset have supported an eight-team top flight and 10-team second tier, retaining 14 games per season.

Middlesex have backed the status quo: 10 teams in Division One, eight in Division Two and 14 games.

Durham and Lancashire have thrown their weight behind the 12-team top flight, while Worcestershire have supported both the conference and 10-team first division.

Not as simple as that. Durham have not yet consulted their members. There is close to civil war in Lanky where the Board are trying to gerrymander the consultation.

[Valentines Park]

Lancs seem to have taken on the mantle of Yorks when it comes to fractious politicking.

[essexfan548]

Some counties have already publicly expressed their preferred options.

Surrey and Somerset have supported an eight-team top flight and 10-team second tier, retaining 14 games per season.

Middlesex have backed the status quo: 10 teams in Division One, eight in Division Two and 14 games.

Durham and Lancashire have thrown their weight behind the 12-team top flight, while Worcestershire have supported both the conference and 10-team first division.

Not as simple as that. Durham have not yet consulted their members. There is close to civil war in Lanky where the Board are trying to gerrymander the consultation.

Indeed I've had an e-mail from a Lancs member to that effect - I will hear more at Cheltenham next week.

[dazedpenguin]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/players-want-cut-12-county-championship-games-pca-1495792

The players want a cut to 12 games per season, plus fixing the ridiculous Blast schedule. I suspect they will get their wish and we'll end up with a 12 team first division split into 2 pools of 6 (10 games, plus 2 against teams in the other pool and a final). Which would mean that Essex wouldn't need to worry about relegation this season.

Will the members vote for that? And what happens if the counties vote for it anyway?

[nat]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/players-want-cut-12-county-championship-games-pca-1495792

The players want a cut to 12 games per season, plus fixing the ridiculous Blast schedule. I suspect they will get their wish and we'll end up with a 12 team first division split into 2 pools of 6 (10 games, plus 2 against teams in the other pool and a final). Which would mean that Essex wouldn't need to worry about relegation this season.

Will the members vote for that? And what happens if the counties vote for it anyway?

If the counties vote for a reduction there will be a lot of SGMs.

[SirChef26]

Some counties have already publicly expressed their preferred options.

Surrey and Somerset have supported an eight-team top flight and 10-team second tier, retaining 14 games per season.

Middlesex have backed the status quo: 10 teams in Division One, eight in Division Two and 14 games.

Durham and Lancashire have thrown their weight behind the 12-team top flight, while Worcestershire have supported both the conference and 10-team first division.

Not as simple as that. Durham have not yet consulted their members. There is close to civil war in Lanky where the Board are trying to gerrymander the consultation.

Durham are privately owned, they don't have to consult jack. Lancashire members will roll over as they always do. All fart, no s**t.

I've given up on it. The solution is to play the Blast during the 100, play the ODC early season with the Championship May, June, July and September. But none of these morons have a clue so of course they'll continue to downgrade 50 over cricket then complain when we get dumped out of the next World Cup in the group stage....again!

[NotAMember]

I've given up on it. The solution is to play the Blast during the 100, play the ODC early season with the Championship May, June, July and September.

How would that work?

Okay for non-Hundred counties but for the likes of Warwickshire and all the other Hundred hosts it would mean you would have Birmingham Bears (aka Warwickshire) and Birmingham Phoenix (aka Warwickshire with some guest players) playing Blast and Hundred games crammed in together.

They would simply never ever agree to that.

[bwildered]

I've given up on it. The solution is to play the Blast during the 100, play the ODC early season with the Championship May, June, July and September.

How would that work?

Okay for non-Hundred counties but for the likes of Warwickshire and all the other Hundred hosts it would mean you would have Birmingham Bears (aka Warwickshire) and Birmingham Phoenix (aka Warwickshire with some guest players) playing Blast and Hundred games crammed in together.

They would simply never ever agree to that.

 Men and women play has a double header both in the guise of Blast, so in theory it is possible, but improbable  due to the sponsorship rights .

[SirChef26]

I've given up on it. The solution is to play the Blast during the 100, play the ODC early season with the Championship May, June, July and September.

How would that work?

Okay for non-Hundred counties but for the likes of Warwickshire and all the other Hundred hosts it would mean you would have Birmingham Bears (aka Warwickshire) and Birmingham Phoenix (aka Warwickshire with some guest players) playing Blast and Hundred games crammed in together.

They would simply never ever agree to that.

Why not? They play the ODC at the same time. All county players playing T20 at the same time is ideal for everyone (100 will become T20 before long). That allows a nice transition between franchises and counties for players not getting gametime. Then the players rejoin their Blast squads following the 100 to play out that tournament. Ticket sales will rise for the Blast because it's back being played during the holidays. Plenty of cricket to go around. Most importantly, we get a proper 50 over competition.