99 problems and The Hundred ??
Having vocalised my concerns about The Hundred and the future sustainability of cricket here in England and WaIes, I've been doing my best to take onboard different perspectives.
I've found four interviews that present four very different perspectives...
Michael Atherton asks Richard Gould, Chief Executive of the ECB, some tough questions. Gould admits that the ECB had not been honest with the 18 First Class County Cricket Clubs when the concept was first established. Interestingly, before Gould joined the ECB, he offered a very cautious stance on franchise cricket, when he said "all they tend to do is skim the cream off the top...".
Sky Sports: Michael Atherton interviews ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould about The Hundred and the future of Test cricket
Lalit Modi shares his strong belief that Indian cricketers don't need The Hundred. He explains the BCCI's long held stance, pressures with the schedule, and how playing in The Hundred could jeopardise players from earning big bucks in the IPL.
Modi also suggests that the ECB's broadcast projections in the memorandum they have been brandishing to prospective investors is banking on the Indian audience, which he says is unrealistic because India is only mad about Indian cricket. And like many others, he's not a fan of the 100 ball format.
Unofficial Partner Podcast Episode 447: Lalit Modi Exclusive: “The Hundred is a non-starter”
Vikram talks well but he skirts over many issues, either that or he has completely blinkered himself from large parts of the game here.
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Business of Sport Podcast Episode 38: Vikram Banerjee, Director of Business Operations at England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) , ‘Why we’re selling The Hundred franchises’
This podcast episode is two years old now and pulls no punches! Duncan brings a cricketing history lesson and deep knowledge of how elitism has always been central to the evolution of cricket here. In terms of The Hundred, the discussion reminds us of the role First Class County Cricket Clubs play in their communities and why team identities matter.
Rain Stopped Play Podcast: ‘Abolish the ECB’ - Cricket’s past and future with Duncan Stone MA, PhD
Like with many things, the truth lies somewhere in the middle! When you listen to these differing perspectives you can see how The Hundred faces a very long list of challenges!
The ECB set out to create a competition with a point of difference, but the reality is a highly divisive format, competition, and strategy.
Solutions?
We are so far down The Hundred path that ditching the whole thing is unlikely, unwieldy and unrealistic.
I believe The T20 Blast and The Hundred could become one newly branded competition, played by 24 teams. This would open up investment into 6 new teams (perhaps retaining remnants of The Hundred). The regular season would include 12 teams playing in the northern division, and 12 teams playing in the southern division. The top 4 teams from each division will progress to the play off season, this could start at the end of August and run for four weeks, becoming the crescendo of the cricket season.
In summary, an expanded 24 team competition would include the whole of the First Class County Cricket Clubs, as well as the point of difference and external investment that the ECB hoped for.
Housing Standards Officer and author of 'Different Class: the untold story of English cricket' (Repeater Books, 2022).
1 个月This, on the wider culture of cricket in the UK (including The Hundred), may be of interest: https://www.academia.edu/106132081/Culture_Eats_Strategy_for_Breakfast_the_ECBs_response_to_the_ICEC