THE GOOGLY: A lament for the hat-trick that was seen by far too few

HUW TURBERVILL: Apart those watching Lancashire’s streaming service, however, the public did not have the chance to enjoy Jordan Clark removing three international heavyweights on television

^{Jordan Clark, left, who took a hat-trick in the Roses match... but it was not shown on TV}

As hat-tricks go it takes some beating. Joe Root, Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow. Jordan Clark will enjoy telling that to the grandchildren.

Apart from those watching Lancashire’s streaming service, however, the public did not have the chance to enjoy it on television.

Sky – or any other broadcaster for that matter – do not show a great deal of County Championship cricket. Usually a match at the start of the season, and a finale at the end. It costs a lot to cover live cricket properly, of course. Six cameras at about £500 each, fees for the director, sound technician, commentators, an engineer. At least £15,000–20,000 a day.

And a lot of Sky’s money goes on securing the rights to Premier League football (£3.579bn for 2019–22), while they have also paid handsomely for cricket coverage from 2020-24 (believed to be about £1bn).

^{Joe Root was among Clark's victims}

The rather exciting finish to The Open was being shown on Sky yesterday, but I and many others would still have loved to have seen the Championship match at Old Trafford.

It was an exciting day. Clark took 5-58, with only Adam Lyth (70) offering much support in a total of 192. He was dismissed by James Anderson, who bowled 15 overs (1 for 38). Lancashire, with England’s Keaton Jennings (22) and Jos Buttler (3) struggling, limped to 109 for nine by the close. A gripping day – 301 for 19.

It does seem a shame that when Keeping Up with the Kardashians, The Real Housewives of Atlanta and Shark Kill Zone is being shown on other channels, we cannot have a bit of Champo cricket.

And yes, I know that the Kia Super League match between Western Storm and Yorkshire Diamonds was shown, before the usual suspects pop up to have a go at me.

Twas not always thus. Petermayboys sent me a link on Twitter to eight minutes of ITV’s coverage of 1990 Roses cricket, now on YouTube.

That was the ‘year of the bat’ if you recall, when the TCCB decided to reduce the size of the seam, and batsmen filled their boots.

^{Equipping a ground for live broadcast is an expensive process}

Like kids told given a free pass in the sweet shop, there were 32 hundreds within the first 11 days of the season. It was a hot and dry summer, like this one.

The YouTube clip starts with some pretty funky theme music, over pictures of Mike Atherton prodding the pitch. In his recognisable white helmet and flashing Gray-Nicolls blade, however, the action becomes considerably more exciting, as he makes 108. Funnily enough he was nearly run out on 99, but it was coming back for two, so he still would have made three figures.

Mike Watkinson struck 138, and the red-rose duo put on 171 for the fourth wicket.

Footy commentators Clive Tyldesley and John Helm called the action, with Fred Trueman the second voice.

It was an exciting draw eventually, with Yorkshire finishing on 266 for 9, short of their 317 target.

I will give the last word to Matt Cookiey (@cookiey): “The great [streaming] work @johnnybarran and @surreycricket and @YorkshireCCC did with their game at Scarborough is the future. If you love cricket, it’s out there.”