A rare voice of reason

Posted by Tony Hutton

With the new cricket season fast approaching there is perhaps a feeling of apprehension rather than anticipation. The continuing debate about the future of T20 cricket in this country seems to overshadow all else. Added to which we now have proposals for increased disciplinary sanctions involving soccer style red and yellow cards.

Listening to some wise words from first class umpire Steve Garrett at the Northern Cricket Society last night gave some encouragement, in that he felt on field discipline was not a serious problem in the county game, although it certainly is in the recreational game.

The most sensible article on cricket's future I have read recently came from Simon Heffer in yesterday's Daily Telegraph. For instance he writes ' to some cricket lovers what happens in T20 is either an irrelevance, or an intrustion into somebody else's private grief. It is cricket, but not as we know it, or want to know it. Crowds may pour in, but it appears to have done little to encourage interest in long form cricket. All it has done, indeed, is cannibalise it.'

I also like his idea of county clubs running seperate T20 and first class teams, which is already in place for the Australian international sides. When the T20 team plays at home, the first class team plays away. His idea of returning to one division for the county championship also appeals to me, with games played over three days and a minimum of 120 overs per day.

Heffer feels that this would allow real cricket to breathe. It would allow it to survive when T20 has bored everyone to tears. I particularly like his comment on the lack of marketing of the county championship, as I have campaigned for years for a 'Match of the Day' highlights programme on T.V. Championship cricket is an excellent product but it needs to be sold like anything else.

For the present however we are stuck with the current ridiculous fixture list, with all the proper county cricket crammed into the beginning and end of the season. Come what may, hypothermia or not, I am planning to be at Fenners on 28th March to greet the new season.