Sparse up north

Posted by John Winn

An article by David Hopps in today's Guardian 'sport', otherwise swamped by Wimbledon, points out that although England began their 2011 domestic season in May it has taken them until July 1st to travel further north than Lord's when they pitch up at Headingley for the ODI against Sri Lanka. In a year when no test match will be played further north then Trent Bridge, the northern cricket watcher who enjoys international cricketer is restricted to an ODI at Chester-le Street, a T20 and LOI at Old Trafford and today's game. If international cricket with its high prices and beer garden atmosphere is not your cup of tea, or pint of lager, but fancy seeing some of the world's best cricketers when they are merely called 'The Indians' then be prepared to travel to Leicester or Northampton or Taunton or Hove or Canterbury.If you studied geography more than forty years ago you will have got my drift.
By now you may have sensed that this a source of irritation to this blogger, but it doesn't end there. For the pcw none of this may apply;they have other less high profile cricket to watch using Tony's excellent fixture lists published on this website.Just in case however you thought you might like to see the South African Under 19s who are to play their England counterparts in seven limited over games then there are two opportunites at Arundel, two more at Canterbury and one each at Northampton, Edgbaston and Taunton. Ring any bells?
Just one more little rant before I finish.Last week England's women played in a quadrangular T20 tournament and as you have probably sensed what's coming I will spare you the details, but suffice to say Chelmsford was their northern outpost. Things do get a little better this week with LOI women's games at Chesterfield and Derby and improve further at the end of this month when Sri Lanka A visit The Riverside and later Scarborough.
The imbalance of representative fixtures has been niggling away at me ever since the fixtures were published but it tookk Hopps' article today to make me express it through a posting. is is gratifying therefore that today's Daily Mirror features an interview with Tim Bresnan in which the all rounder 'has hit out at the lack of international cricket in his home county'.In the accompanying article The Mirror says 'the real injustice...this year sees thre days of cricket shared between Leeds. Manchester and Durham(sic), while fans in the Midlands and the South have 36 days to choose from'.