I missed most of this debate but I am appalled at the continuing attempts to ruin the game, in which the ECB seem to be the main movers with the players complicit in continually pressing for less cricket (and more money). When I started there were 32 x 3 day matches i.e. 66 days county cricket, and the Sunday league too. Now we get 16 matches, most of which only last 3 days and many of which are ruined by weather, being held in April or September. When the weather is good the ground stands empty all day waiting for an odd 20-20 every 3 or 4 days which finishes too late in the evening and is no good for the kids who have homework.
What's more you can't even dot about between counties since all the matches seem to be played simultaneously. Look at the Worcester and Warwickshire fixture list.
The longer one day competition is perhaps the favourite, but despite Mark Newton saying in the past that the number of overs has to match that in international cricket, we are out of line again with only 40 overs not 50. However we do have some Sunday matches back so well done for that.
i am sorry but the present generation of administrators are to be blamed for ruining the game which I had hoped would be the bedrock of my entertainment in retirement.

I agree with the comment about the CC being played at the wrong time,
although I would not want the games to start later in the day. For
people who do not live locally it would make it very difficult to see
the full day's play.

In my case to get to the ground for about 60 to 90 minutes before the
game starts I have to leave home at about 7am. The 144 bus to takes
about 90 minutes to reach Worcester (assuming there are no delays). So
it is already a long day for me with not getting home until nearly 9pm.

A later start would cause me problems as after 6pm there is only one bus
an hour, and nothing between 8 and 10pm. As I live in South Birmingham
(an hour's bus journey into Birmingham City Centre going by train is
not an option.

Weekend CC cricket (or rather the lack of it) is a long runnning
dialogue (as Kim and WBB will confirm) at various cricket societies,
when administrators visit (be they club officials or from the ECB)
visit. Their response is inevitably that no-one turns up for Saturday
matches.

With most matches played entirely in mid-week, with just a few ending on
the Saturday, and even less starting then. Is it really a surprise
that folks look at the match situation on Friday night and decide it is
not worth traveling for what could be 1 hour or may be less play?

Watching sport is the same as any many other hobbies about habits. Once people get out of the habit of going to cricket on a Saturday they find other things to do and don't return. The same is happening in
football, I use one of the club special buses to get to Villa home
matches. There are regularly comments about how many Saturday matches (particularly those starting at 3) are left. But of course the fan is un-important compared to the Murdoch spondoolies.

I am not very keen on the conference idea myself, but I would prefer
that with teams rotated on an annual basis rather than abolition.

Personally I prefer the 1 conference system, but I doubt we will ever
get back to that while the present mob are in charge.



[b]Bring on "Real Cricket"[/b] (as in real tennis - the authentic version).[b]

I know there's a correct thread somewhere for this but can't find it. This is good news for everyone who was worried about TV rights.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/8759126.stm

Good heavens, Serchers, this is terrible news. Another generation of kids who never see cricket on free-to-air television: erm, has the ECB not noticed that we have competition in the niche of sports channels and most people would still rather watch hurling or equestrian on the Beeb than football on Sky? Or that boxing are bemoaning the lack of free-to-air channel interest?

And note the later paragraphs of Mr.Robertson's statement, where it reads that the Government want 'changes in the way cricket is run'. Like what exactly? An end to the vetos that the Counties and the MCC have over a reduction in the First-Class Counties?

Remember that this Government will do anything that Rupert Murdoch wanted them to do: today's announcement is seen by many as a trade-off for the Murdoch media's help during the General Election campaign.

The reference to independent directors may a bit of a swipe at Giles Clarke - although lord knows I've wanted to take a huge dwipe at him sometimes!

An independent director would not necessarily be a bad thing - Iain McLaurin didn't do so badly.

I wasn't condoning it WBB, and incorrectly thought you were one of the main supporters for Sky money. When I said 'good news for everyone' it was my new found diplomatic speak after a recent joust with HC (it won't last long !)

Keep on jousting - you don't do diplomacy very well !

This shows the grasp that the new Sports Secretary, Mr.Hunt, has of sport:

http://www.politics.co.uk/news/culture-media-and-sport/hunt-in-hillsborough-gaffe-$21380940.htm