HUW TURBERVILL, THOMAS BLOW and SAM MORSHEAD discuss the news that the Royal London One-Day Cup is to become a development tournament from 2020
Even the harshest critic must admit that the ECB have an incredibly difficult task squeezing everything in – Tests, the County Championship, the Blast, the Royal London One-Day Cup, The Hundred.
Of course critics of The Hundred will say it is not needed. “Forget it.” On the basis that it is happening, and the counties have signed up for it for 2020-24, that is a non-runner though. And with the amount of money the ECB are spending on it, of course they must give it the best possible chance of succeeding.
So what else gives?
If it is a choice between four-day cricket and the 50-over competition to be given its own window away from the Hundred, my preference would be for the longer game.
Test cricket – in England – is still the greatest, most satisfying format. It still attracts good crowds. It is worth protecting. It needs as strong as possible County Championship to feed it. That needs the best players available.
That is not to say that this new 50-over competition will be worthless, or bereft of entertainment.
Cricket aficionados like looking at exciting young players coming through. Look at Surrey. OK players like Will Jacks and Ollie Pope will probably be picked for The Hundred, but then talented youngsters like Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson will be given their chance by the county.
The other thing that might appeal to members is for the 50-over matches to bring the outgrounds into play again.
This summer we are seeing Championship matches at the Isle of Wight, Welbeck Colliery, York and Radlett. In the Royal London Cup there are fixtures at Gosforth, Eastbourne and Grantham. That has created genuine intrigue and excitement among fans.
It is not ideal, and the ECB may have to think again ahead of the 2023 World Cup. But what was the realistic alternative?
Fans fill Lord's for the 2018 Royal London One-Day Cup final
Here we go again. Another day, another decision that infuriates county purists.
Gordon Hollins, the ECB’s new county cricket managing director, has admitted the Royal London One-Day Cup will be relegated to a “development competition” from 2020 onwards.
He delivered the news in a Partridge-esc style; saying he wants the public to see cricket as “cool” and “sexy.” As a member of The Hundred’s target demographic, I can confirm there is nothing cool about a middle-aged sport administrator using the word sexy.
Instead, it felt like another unnecessary insult towards county cricket. He presented the current domestic set-up as outdated, boring and exclusive to current fans.
But while Hollins statement was cringeworthy and awkward, county fans should not be looking negatively at the ECB’s decision.
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Firstly, the move will help more young players play county cricket. Because The Hundred is set to run alongside the cup, those who aren’t expected to get a lucrative gig in the new franchise – such as Surrey’s Jamie Smith, Middlesex’s Tom Lace and Worcestershire’s Ben Twohig – will be able to play more competitive matches.
There is also no guarantee that top county pros will be playing in The Hundred. This will help those coming through the ranks to gain invaluable experience and ensures the tournament maintains a degree of quality.
Secondly, we cannot forget that the cup has been increasingly marginalised for years now. Just five years ago, the competition ran between July and September. But it’s currently side-lined to the first two months of the season.
And this marginalisation hasn’t just been occurring in recent seasons. Thirty years ago, there were three List A competitions in English domestic cricket. Yet over time, these tournaments have been phased out.
So, in reality, how much more can the cup be downgraded? Hollins has only confirmed something we’ve all subconsciously known for some time.
Rather than be frustrated and angry by this news, we should be focusing on the positives. The cup will still feature 18 counties facing off, top young talent and seasoned professionals, loyal supporters and a showpiece final.
As long as county fans can stay interested in the famous old format, then it will live on for years to come – irrespective of ECB marginalisation.
Kent's Darren Stevens celebrates a wicket
I'm split.
I love the Royal London One-Day Cup - I really do, this is no meagre platitude - and the idea of the competition being relegated to also-ran status, in this year of all years, tastes far too much like cork.
It seems baffling to me that the country which recalibrated its domestic structure and international focus to create a collision course for itself with its home World Cup, can be so at ease switching its priorities even before said World Cup has taken place.
And, what's more, England may well be world champions in 50-over cricket come the start of the 2020 summer. World champions without a top-level tournament of their own. *shrugs*.
All of that leaves me confused, and just a little angry.
Yet the ECB's logic, when approached from a different angle, is sound enough. The Royal London has a negligible effect on England's ODI side as it is - I would argue that the current coach and captain, the IPL, the Big Bash and several other international teams have had more of an impact since 2015 - and after this summer there will be four years to wait for the next World Cup anyway.
Plus, given the governing body have decided to insert a fourth format into the summer - the cricketing equivalent of stuffing a guinea fowl inside a pigeon inside a chicken inside a goose - something had to give.
But it also feels a tad disrespectful to those county members who enjoy the tournament, and the history of limited-overs cricket in England and Wales (be that 40, 45, 50, 55 or 60 overs), to downgrade its importance in favour of the shot-in-the-dark Hundred.
As I said, I'm split. And this fence is surprisingly comfortable.
Posted by Alan A. on 06/08/2022 at 10:33
Surely the ECB itself should be sponsoring this competition if it sees the competition simply as a vehicle to enable counties to field squad or development players for the most part. If it were me I would pick up my bat, ball and stumps and retire back to the pavilion.
Posted by Jon on 13/07/2020 at 09:39
Too much fragmentation of competitions and formats. You don’t see this in any other sport. Pick just one or two formats and stick to them. Play them over weekends when you can see them. Promote them like crazy . The 100 may prove popular but it is another fragmentation and unnecessary diversion. We need clear leadership whether it be all cricket is limited overs, or Regional teams are a new level. Football, Rugby, etc don’t mess about with whether it’s a 90 minute game, 100 mins, only top teams of the premiership for a super league, regional clubs and so on. Cricket needs consistency.
Posted by Ged on 21/08/2019 at 18:06
Time to start development of the test side. To much limited overs ruinning the player's of the test side future.
Posted by John Iain Pearce on 17/07/2019 at 11:14
I'm interested. If this is to be a real development tournament it should also include the likes of MCC Young Cricketers and a Minor Counties X1 - Similar to the Unicorns side. If you want to stretch it even further why not invite a foreign side every year - such as an Afghanistan X1? This competition could be very exciting if handled the right way
Posted by David Ayres on 01/05/2019 at 10:12
I thought that the ECB was in charge of the interests of the game as a whole? Surely that's what must be the main objective of the sport's governing body? So why is it driven purely by money? Hockey is thriving at grass roots level but is not a major professional sport. If cricket is not a mainstream sport then it should be run to cater to the people who enjoy it. I have little interest in T20 and no interest at all in the Hundred. I lament the demise of the longer format of the game. When I was a kid I watched test cricket live on TV and loved it. It may be at my age my interest in the game is no longer relevant to it's future but lose me and you lose my greater income stream and my kids as well. My county (Worcestershire) have ONE home day's play in the County Championship all season. The ECB complain about people not watching cricket but if you put the CC on during weekdays during school time then what do you expect? I think the ECB would like the CC to slowly die, especially division 2. It's clear to me that the ECB do not have the same interest in cricket that I have so I have come to accept that cricket, as I know it, is slowly, but surely, coming to an end. Maybe the bish-bash of T20 and The Hundred takes over but that's for another generation. It's a shame that the greatest format of cricket will cease to have any importance but I understand that's reflective of today's society.
Posted by Shahed Al Arif on 30/04/2019 at 07:08
It's really frustrating and disrespectful for the fans and the counties respectively. There was no need to start a new format like hundred when t 20 is there. ECB should rather promote RLODC than downgrade it.
Posted by Richard Wilkinson on 24/04/2019 at 09:51
Can't see the TV companies showing a "development tournament". At the moment Sky can't even be bothered to show the current format, preferring to air re-run after re-run of master classes and NZvBan ODI's. The ECB have messed up time and time again and seem deaf to the voices of the members of the counties desperate to see proper cricket. I enjoy the T20 too, particularly as it is based on the existing counties, not manufactured franchises. The ECB have a T20 tournament based on sides with 100+ years history, they should build on and market that as a unique selling point and forget the 100
Posted by Ian Cameron on 16/04/2019 at 19:33
This could have an adverse impact on the counties not involved in the 100, e.g. Durham. For a reduced offering members will expect a reduction in their annual fee.
Posted by Tony Rawlinson on 16/04/2019 at 14:22
Another nail in the coffin of cricket as we know it. I have no interest in T20, even less in the 100, now I find that my county membership entitles me to a handful of home championship games mostly played in the cold and wet months of April & September. Am I going to pay to watch the second eleven play a one day game? No, and I fear these will only attract the proverbial one man and his dog. Hollins can keep his cool and sexy, I and many others want proper cricket.
Posted by Les Bone on 14/04/2019 at 09:42
Hollins says he wants cricket to be seen as cool and sexy. What does he mean? What an idiot. ECB are effectively killing off the 50 over competition as a serious event. Can't imagine there will be sponsors lining up to support it. England may in the future play 50 over internationals but with players having no other experience of this format. This year's World Cup is likely to be the last 50 over one. ECB clearly think so.
Posted by stewart on 12/04/2019 at 19:55
its about time all thee ecb idiots are kicked out of game before its to late
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