NICK HOWSON AT LORD'S: Access to alcohol was restricted for the first time during the 100-ball competition following a series of complaints and will surely be rolled out elsewhere
The men's edition of The Hundred has an identity crisis. The same iconic venues, familiar star names and problems with overrunning, this is simply a high-profile version of the T20 Blast with bells on.
Perhaps the most noticeable similarity with its 120-ball cousin has come away from the middle.
There has been no discernible difference in quality between the women's and men's matches. For every damp squib, there has been a close run-chase. There have been close finishes and one-sided encounters across the 16 matches. Dropped catches and spectacular hitting have been littered across both competitions.
But the tone of the atmosphere as the day of cricket has unfolded has been impossible to ignore. A tranquil buzz has been replaced by boisterousness, fuelled by a cocktail familiar to anyone who has been present at English cricket grounds over the last two decades. Perhaps longer.
These are a central pillar of the sport's fanbase, whether we want to admit it or not. We can talk about the societal issues at play here, but the reality is sport's stakeholders have thrived and would be nowhere without them.
However, if The Hundred develops into a drink-infused festival then have the ECB just reinvented the wheel?
Ticket prices and the timing of the tournament in the midst of the summer holidays means it is inevitable that The Hundred will eventually undercut the Blast. And this is where some of the fears around the domestic circuit start.
Adam Rossington provided the early evening fireworks
The ECB has pledged that The Hundred will have its own space and to a certain extent demographic, but currently, the men's edition is a more condensed, better marketing version of their other flagship white-ball competition. Logic suggests the two cannot co-exist while trying to achieve the same thing. The One-Day Cup is already an afterthought as it is.
If the plan was for families to dominate the attendees, it hasn't worked yet. Granted, there are more around than you might normally get but it is only natural that the audience top tier international and domestic cricket has relied on for many years is still interested. And that's ok.
I attended the first full round of Hundred matches at Lord's on Thursday (July 29) (the opening double-header was curtailed by rain) and the format was predictable. An enjoyable day made way for a bouncy evening.
But there was a deeply unpleasant mood around the ground as I made my way home following the end of play. Young families cowered into corners out of harm's way to avoid being caught up among the inebriated hoards parents attempting to shield their children from uncoordinated individuals merely trying to stay afloat.
Chants were loud, language was disgusting and behaviour was unbecoming. These kinds of acts wouldn't normally require mentioning and certainly isn't new, but with it occurring around an event being advertised as accessible and family-friendly, it is more than noteworthy.
Lord's, owned by the MCC, received several complaints. It remains to be seen how many of those will return for future matches or other competitions, as is the hope. The damage may already have been done.
Fans looking for an evening beer were caught out
The home of cricket has become the first venue to act. Limits on alcohol being brought into the ground (only MCC members can do so) and sold at bars have been introduced. All sales ended at the mid-way point in the men's match.
Furthermore, family areas have been expanded and they can request to be moved if they feel uncomfortable. These rules will remain in place for the rest of the competition, including for the finals on August 21. It will be interesting to see if other venues follow suit.
A statement added: "Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) aims to make Lord’s a ground for all and we work hard to ensure that everyone has a great day out when they visit the Home of Cricket.
"Everyone who comes to Lord’s should expect to be treated with kindness and respect. The Hundred is a tournament designed for families and children. We have reviewed all of our measures for our remaining Hundred matches, to ensure Lord’s is inclusive and is a place where families and children of all ages feel welcome and safe."
The MCC were hopeful that an alternative crowd would be attracted to a Sunday double-header compared with a Thursday. From my vantage point, there was no clear difference. Working from home has its advantages, of course.
Closing bars at 7:30pm as London Spirit started their chase was a wise move, but it created other issues. Not least slightly cheesed off ticketholders unaware of the change in policy confronting bar staff who were only trying to do their job. It took some heavier artillery for them to fully get the message.
Those slightly more aware simply made up for the shortfall, so you wonder what difference 100 minutes actually made to overall consumption.
Leaving the ground was certainly a safer experience than 72 hours previous, so perhaps the aforementioned measures did make a difference. The MCC's inbox tomorrow morning will tell a more accurate tale, I'd suggest.
I don't wish to repeat what my colleague Sam Morshead wrote following the opening men's match at The Oval when he confronted the same problem, but there is no sense this is going away. What is important is how the rules affect the enjoyment of both groups, because there is more than enough space for both.
If the target groups are put off by boozy spectators, that is the same problem as youngsters looking for a good night being placed under a curfew. The ECB might not want to admit it, as far as The Hundred is concerned, but they need both as much as each other. It is important to note that the changes at Lord's came from the MCC and not the ECB.
If limits on alcohol sales prove too draconian then more wet and dry areas are probably the way to go. This has been used in dispatches in this tournament but needs to be utilised better. Maybe even separate entrances and exits too to ensure young children are not caught up in a stag do.
Splitting the women's and men's tournaments up, as was the intention in 2020, may also provide an answer. It would also be worth considering flipping the order of the games as well.
George Garton was in stellar form
There is a balance to be struck. The ECB can ill-afford to miss revenue targets when the tournament is making year-on-year losses already, ostracise their core market or fail to attract this new audience. You wonder if all three are even possible.
There are also the finances of the first-class counties, albeit mostly Test venues, who are hosting these matches to take into account.
We remain in a tough economic period and English cricket is predicting losses totalling £200 million thanks to the pandemic. The end goal is about creating additional revenue streams, with third-party ownership among the options, and that will remain a goal regardless of whether the Inspiration Generations strategy is achieved or not.
It is hard not to conclude that as things change, the more they might end up staying the same.
Posted by Owen Rogers on 14/08/2021 at 09:17
My experience last night at Trent Bridge. My email to the ground. HI, I’m writing this having taken my family (wife, 2 disabled boys and my daughter) to the hundred to watch Trent Rockets verses Birmingham Phoenix. We arrived at 4 to see the back of the Girls match and that was very pleasant, however…. The people behind us left after that, and a large group of lads took over their spot for the mens game. I’m sure some of them weren’t supposed to be there. Immediately they were drunk and loud. Now we were in the Radcliffe Road end and I’m aware that can be loud and noisy, which is fine and adds to the atmosphere. I was warned about this when booking the tickets, that said I had 2 disabled boys both with wheelchairs and it was the best sport I could get. Once the game started things went down hill. As the lads behind drunk more alcohol, they were even louder and then they started abusing people. There were swearing at the players, even the trent players. They shouted all the swear words, even the “C” word. They were shouting drug references at players and commenting on certain players weight. They were swearing at the kids on the TV calling them “little p$$$$" They were spilling beer which was running down the steps and into our seats, blankets and bags. They were kicking the backs of chairs and dropping food on my kids, even dropped a phone on my sons head at one point. They started being crud about women and peoples sexuality. Finally half way through the reply innings they started fighting between each other, right behind my disabled son who couldn’t get out the way. At that point the stewards did come down and calmed them down, but they should have been thrown out. I did ask one of them to speak to their mates at the interval but this didn’t have an impact. because of this, we left the match early as we’d had enough. This was the first match my wife and the kids had gone to. We mentioned all this to the stewards on the way out, they said they could have moved us, but why, we had great seats. It wasn’t just our area, in the block next to us, there were large groups having drinking contests all the way through the interval. They even threw stuff at the stewards trying to sort the fight out. It was like kicking out time at 2 after night clubs close. When going out to the toilets it was a mess, drunk people all over the place and clearly people were over drinking. Now I wouldn’t usually have a problem with this as I like to get out and I’ve enjoyed going to trent bridge. BUT! The Hundred is supposed to be a family event, its says it right at the top and it says it's safe! Neither of these were true at that event. I mean, a disabled family not SAFE at one of your events! This could have been dealt with with better marshalling, limiting drink, walking round the stands and being more present, stepping in. There was clearly too much being drunk which I can only assume was to help bring in the money. There should have been more no Alcohol areas, especially for disabled families and stopping drunk people getting into the stands. The lads behind us were insulting people as they walked to and from the stands even the staff. I’m not sure really what to say, this was the worst experience ever of taking my family out. I go to the football and its a more pleasant experience. To be honest I feel that strongly about the experience I am thinking of sending this email to the Notts post. We’d been waiting for this for 2 years, we have to organise travel to the stadium, get people ready. We drive from bourne in Lincs which is over an hours away. Not sure what else to say. Very disappointed. Thanks Owen.
Posted by anna barnard on 13/08/2021 at 16:12
There is NOTHING wrong with the Vitality Blast which is well attended by all sections of society. Money should have been spent promoting this NOT introducing a bizarre form of the game. I refuse to go to it as it is patronising towards women (and children) by saying that they are making it easier to understand! It has already shown that it is detrimental to our Test cricket and pushing the previously popular and successful Blast and the 50 over game out of the public's view. This stupid and crass idea should not continue.
Posted by Matt on 05/08/2021 at 14:48
I’m ‘glad’ that this has been picked up on. I was at Headingly on Saturday with my Dad. We’re not the Hundred’s target audience but thought would see what it was about. Purchased the cheapest/bronze tickets - hoped that the western terrace would be ok. The women’s game was fantastic. Good family atmosphere that it felt like the organisers were going for. Was also great to see kids involved between ‘overs’ on the big screen. Even though the hundred isn’t completely my cup of tea, it’s fantastic to see kids enjoying it. But as the men’s game came closer many large groups arrived who had clearly been in the pub all day. Language was awful, behaviour was loutish and play was twice interrupted by pitch invaders and which were greeted by cheers - summed the situation up. The loud, abusive language made it difficult to follow the game and we moved seats at the change of innings. Whilst I’m all for fun and enjoying a drink, I’m tired of this kind of behaviour being glamourised by the media. Wether it be at the cricket, or beer being thrown at fan parks during football games. I believe the issue is societal and was finally highlighted at the Euro 2020 final. I was fortunate to live in the USA for a year. Whilst they have their own issues an evening at the baseball was a civil, entertaining, inclusive affair. I wish the hundred every success as it attempts to engage with youngsters and families. But the ECB have created another excuse for an all day lash up - the participants of which have little regard for the sport or those around them.
Posted by Keith on 05/08/2021 at 09:34
To be honest to me it’s not cricket as such. More like watching Baseball. Just another scheme to make money, big hitters to the fore.
Posted by Marc Evans on 03/08/2021 at 22:18
Anyone who has watched test cricket in recent years will have noticed how drink infused cricket has become generally. As a Warwickshire man I know not to go anywhere near the Hollies stand during a test as that's where the Barmy Army and their cohorts congregate. By lunchtime they're well away making their own entertainment, not really concerned with what's going on out in the middle. I guess if the Hundred's trying to promote family entertainment they have to take action. Evening cricket with its prolonged drinking time has always attracted the pub crowd so you are potentially driving away a major source of gate receipts. It's a catch 22 at the moment.
Posted by Tim Hall on 03/08/2021 at 19:56
My preferred form of cricket is red ball but I like white ball cricket as well. I’ve been to two 20:20 Finals Days and enjoyed them both (sitting in the Hollies stand). I have enjoyed watching the Hundred because, fundamentally, I like cricket and there is some good cricket played. The peripheries are not that much different from when 20:20 started. Interestingly, I turned on last night and it felt like a county game because a lot of the stars are no longer available. I do think it will become more like the existing Blast as time goes on. I do struggle to identify with the teams but there is good cricket played. I also think that it is hugely beneficial to Women’s cricket which I enjoy watching because it’s not all about smashing boundaries. At the end of the day, I think that we have to give it a chance. Hope Somerset win the County Championship and RIP David Foot!
Posted by Tony Trevor on 03/08/2021 at 19:53
Well, I,m shocked! I wrote in this spot how my good lady and I had enjoyed the first few games in this new format. We still do, but why do we have put up with boorish behaviour from those who go for a pi-- drink or two. If we are not careful, we will be looking back to the genteel days of cricket on the village green, Gentlemen vs Players, separate dressing rooms and only amateur captains. i don't want to say ' it is not like it was in my day.' i want this to be 'my day.'
Posted by Lloyd Birch on 03/08/2021 at 18:49
This is just "Money Grabbing". Someone sack all the administrators of our Summer game, please. Before it's TOO LATE!!!
Posted by Rod on 03/08/2021 at 17:56
It was predictable that the format and timing would attract groups of workers and pals as well as families. Good news that families are coming but will they go again if they are exposed to, and feel threatened by, anti social behaviour? Limit alcohol sales by stamping tickets for each drink and refusing sales after four stamps?
Posted by Matt Davies on 03/08/2021 at 17:47
If you really want a family atmosphere, you can't sell alcohol or allow it in the ground. Simple!. I was at Lords on Thursday too and the day was spoilt by the moronic drunken behaviour on shoe.
Posted by Nick Holdsworth on 03/08/2021 at 17:08
Surprise,surprise!!
Posted by Mick Taylor on 03/08/2021 at 10:26
4 Adults at lords on Sunday. Nanny state rules will put people off attending. Drinks queues 30 metres long to buy awful lager. 2 pint s each order when there’s 4 of you? Shutting the bars halfway ? Are the Puritans back in charge? tickets for tonight but I’ll give it a miss.
Posted by PJ Ashmore on 02/08/2021 at 23:05
My son and I attended to the daytime Rockets v Braves matches at Trent Bridge having bought tickets for the Dynamos zone. We loved the cricket and atmosphere of the women's game. The atmosphere of the later match, however was somewhat oppressive. To be honest it's not the presence of alcohol, it's the combination of alcohol with self-indulgent, self-important idiots. The young children around us set an example that some of the 'adults' would do well to follow. Why on earth does such over-sized-toddler behaviour need to be tolerated anyway? Why should those who are there to enjoy the game have to relocate? So here's an idea for Trent Bridge: create a stand especially for halfwits who are only there for the beer, let them chant for West Ham and abuse the home crowd or whatever tedious cause is close to their heart - give them a live TV feed to a big screen. But put them in the City Ground or better still Meadow Lane.
Posted by PJ Ashmore on 02/08/2021 at 23:00
My son and I attended to the daytime Rockets v Braves matches at Trent Bridge having bought tickets for the Dynamos zone. We loved the cricket and atmosphere of the women's game. The atmosphere of the later match, however was somewhat oppressive. To be honest it's not the presence of alcohol, it's the combination of alcohol with self-indulgent, self-important idiots. The young children around us set an example that some of the 'adults' would do well to follow. Why on earth does such over-sized-toddler behaviour need to be tolerated anyway? Why should those who are there to enjoy the game have to relocate? So here's an idea for Trent Bridge: create a stand especially for halfwits who are only there for the beer, let them chant for West Ham and abuse the home crowd or whatever tedious cause is close to their heart - give them a live TV feed to a big screen. But put them in the City Ground or better still Meadow Lane.
Posted by Michael Brewer on 02/08/2021 at 10:38
The 100 so far: Incoherent screen graphics, matches taking the same length of time as a T20, commentators trying not to call an over an over - is it fives, a set of five, a block of five, a five..... Football chanting crowds, fans running onto the pitch in the middle of the game (arguably even to the point of altering the result when Benny Howell spilled a relatively easy skier on the rope off Chris Jordan on Friday night as an intruder made his unscheduled entry into the Gloucester man's peripheral vision as he lined up the ball). On the plus side, wickets aplenty, runs galore.... a bit like T20 cricket you might say. So what was the point? Dedicate one half of the extravagant budget into a marketing blitz on the existing T20 Blast and what's not to like? More cricket makes more money and that's all the ECB want, but why I wonder, what do they do with that additional revenue? Drip feed a little back to the impoverished counties whilst simultaneously squeezing out the red ball format, and reducing their once marquee 50-over competition to little more than practise cricket for those failing to make the cut for the bish bash bosh in front of the cameras. Assuming this loss making folly turns around, how does it benefit the game? It might be changing it, but was that really the idea?
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