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We need to keep up the amount of 4 day cricket i believe and three divisions doesnt appeal to me. Good young players are probably fighting shy of the div 2 teams alittle already, so a third tier wouldnt help and we need a good spread of talent
It isn’t so much the number of divisions, but the differential between them that matters. If Division One is only slightly better than Division Three then it won’t work.
I think two Divisions has worked reasonably well, but I would like to see a more unequal distribution of money from International cricket in favour of Division One or alternatively those counties who’s grounds host international games. The quality and intensity of the county championship needs to be constantly driven up.
Above all, I would like to see a governing body that puts the interests of counties second and the England team first. Counties claim that they nurture local talent and therefore produce international cricketers, but I wonder how much that is true. Much of the coaching work would be done at club/school level. And some counties have a poor record in spotting/nurturing talent. Warwickshire, for example, are based in Birmingham, with what should be a monopoly of the large cricket-mad Asian community in the West Midlands. But how many young Asian cricketers have they brought through in recent years? They prefer to look east to rural Warwickshire.
CliveX Surrey have drawn 6 games out of 9 this season if the matches were five days they might have for example won two drawn two and lost two of those games which were drawn. Lancashire have not won the championship for a long time now and the weather has perhaps played a part in that so five day cricket could work out fairer in that way where rain loses a day or so.
I agree with Andrew about the money going more in favour of the division one sides, firstly because the top league should have the best players like in football which should make it even more competitive and secondly the money if Somerset were in div one might get discount on membership.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Apologies Nathan. Didnt pick up on the suggestion that it would be 5 day games
I have mixed feelings about that but take your point. Perhaps there shouldnt be an overreaction to what has been a poor summer weather wise
Good young players are probably fighting shy of the div 2 teams alittle already, so a third tier wouldnt help
Indeed it wouldn’t – it shouldn’t be on the agenda to set about creating the county cricket equivalent of Queens Park versus Montrose.
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Warwickshire, for example, are based in Birmingham, with what should be a monopoly of the large cricket-mad Asian community in the West Midlands. But how many young Asian cricketers have they brought through in recent years? They prefer to look east to rural Warwickshire.
You’ll know better than me on this – are the likes of Moeen Ali and Navdeep Poona Birmingham-bred or from out in the sticks?
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Moeen Ali is indeed from Birmingham, Sparkhill, as I remember, though both Kabir and Kadeer Ali went to Worcestershire and Moeen has now joined them there.
Checking the Warwickshire squad, there is a player called Naqqash Tahir also born in Birmingham on their books who I wasn’t aware of. Navdeep Poona is actually from Glasgow.
My impression of Warwickshire may perhaps not stand up to intense scrutinty, as they aren’t my team, but talking to one or two people from an Asian background involved in cricket in Brum, there seems to be a perception that they are not doing all they could to tap into this source of talent. Perhaps it is an outdated perception, but that it exists at all isn’t great.
Then again, perhaps these players just recognise that Worcestershire are the better team.
Checking the Warwickshire squad, there is a player called Naqqash Tahir also born in Birmingham on their books who I wasn’t aware of.
Tahir has been a fringe member of the squad for about five years now, making a small number of appearances in the County Championship each season but usually being among the first dropped when returning players, um, return. I think Tim Groenewald may be keeping him out at present. I’d clear off to Derbyshire or Leicestershire if I were him – more chances.
My impression of Warwickshire may perhaps not stand up to intense scrutinty, as they aren’t my team, but talking to one or two people from an Asian background involved in cricket in Brum, there seems to be a perception that they are not doing all they could to tap into this source of talent. Perhaps it is an outdated perception, but that it exists at all isn’t great.
I don’t think it’s too unfair an impression – it’s a very poor return of locally-hewn talent when you consider what a less densely populated city such as Durham has been able to achieve with its own local talent (albeit the local white population, so I accept I’m not entirely treating like with like here).
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Important news on Kolpak players broke last night;
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/counties/7518580.stm
gc
Jeremy Grayson. Son of immigrant. Adoptive father of two. Metadata librarian. Freelance point-to-point / horse racing writer, analyst and commentator wonk. Loves music, buses, cats, the BBC Micro, ale. Advocate of CBT, PACE and therapeutic parenting. Aspergers.
Twenty 20 Cup Durham v Glamorgan
Mixed feelings about this one. Glamorgan are extremely fortunate to be here at all and on top of that, have omitted Jason Gillespie in case the presence of this ICL player scuppers their chances of taking part in the Champions League if they win the thing. Such lack of backbone does not deserve to prosper and the bookies certainly think Durham are good things.
And yet….I can’t see where the current odds are coming from. This is a notoriously unpredictable format, Glamorgan didn’t have a bad Twenty20 campaign and though they have let Gibbs go, they are not without a chance. I have them much closer to Durham who’s batting line-up is not all-conquering by any means. Chanderpaul is not that great a T20 player and Pollock is likely to come in as low as 7. Glamorgan are a no-thrills side but they have some experienced and doughty hitters in there and more bowling options. I’ve backed the men from Wales at 3.8
Well that worked well didn’t it!
Good performance from Durham, useful lower order hitting after losing early wickets. Great bowling from Plunkett and Pollock too. And Steve Harmison – 3 overs for 16 runs!
Durham – Somerset Pro40 tonight on sky.
Im having a bet on Somerset top runscorer in this match, Peter Trego 10/1 with Ladbrokes, he is in good form with the bat and although it’s not certain, he should come in to bat at number 3 if previous one day games are to go by, he’s a bit of a pinch hitter and not in the same class as some of the other Somerset batsmen but he’s a confident lad who can hit the ball a long way, i’ll take a chance that he does’nt get out foxed by the likes of Pollock.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
Should have gone for the class, Trescothick was awesome 119 by the time Trego arrived. Hugh sigh of relief at the end thought Durham were gone come back from the dead with Plunket and Harmison.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
have omitted Jason Gillespie in case the presence of this ICL player scuppers their chances of taking part in the Champions League if they win the thing. Such lack of backbone does not deserve to prosper
Completely agree
The Indian cricket board is being extremely petty and small minded. They have become arrogant with their financial power and operate in a total moral vacuum.
Spot on Clivex. Frankly, I couldn’t care less about the Champions League. Credit to Durham and some of the other teams for not backing down.
Somerset vs Notts day 1 CC lunch Somerset 59-7
i have every confidence we will pass the record lowest innings by Somerset against Notts which is 62 set in 1931 and 1965. Was a terrible batting performance Monday night in the pro40 as well and all this happening with the return of legend Jimmy Cook back at the club for a short spell as batting coach.
Gaelic Warrior Gold Cup Winner 2026
i have every confidence we will pass the record lowest innings by Somerset against Notts which is 62 set in 1931 and 1965. 
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