I totally agree with you on that Selincourt.

The template of the 'media backed' agenda, which to put in a nutshell,is to 'bring McTesco back to life'.

What this would look like, can be found in this years' rugby union LV Anglo Welsh Cup.

This was divided into four groups: but you did not play anyone in your own group, but teams in another.

Your results against the other group teams determined your position in your group/conf.

Wasps lost only one game. This meant that their final fixture against Newcastle which they won, was pointless, since regardless of who won, neither could qualify. Sound clear.

To arrive at our 12 CC matches, I assume 3 conferences of 6, in which you play all of the other two conference teams once, but not of course your own.

From the outcome of those matches, your conference position a'la ruggah is determined.

You could have semis, top plus best second, or declare a winner based on the most points. Clear again.

Unlike the two divisional system, where understanding where you are, throughout the season,requires nothing more than scrutinising the league table and the next fixture.

For most punters the conference permutatations would be much more complicated.

I suspect it would not be long before a significant number of punters, would vote with their feet and cheque books to look elsewhere for entertainment.

Going back to 'the media backed' rugby version. It was supposed to bring back the great days of the 1960's( as usual living in the past) with all the attendant razzamataz of Anlo Welsh games with huge crowds.

This has never worked out.

First they tried to get ST holders to pay another 28 quid a game. Did'nt work. So included it in ST. Still did'nt work. So go for the conference angle.

Still a dead duck which should be cooked and served up to the media hacks who dreamt it up, along with the then Bristol coach Richard Hill.

The old adage, power without responsibility.



Edited 5 time(s). Last edit at 22/02/2010 11:17 by Seaxe_Man.

I am absolutely against any reduction in the number of CC games. To change the competition's playing conditions for all 18 counties to allow 2 to play in the champions league is, I believe, a nonsense. What pay back is there for the 16 non-qualifiers other than a fall in membership revenue.

I hope that at the forum and at the AGM our newly appointed leaders let us know their views so that we can give them ours.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 21/02/2010 11:23 by Jeff Coleman.

Utterly agree.

12 games is not enough in our climate to produce a fair result. You could get a third or more ruined by weather, you could lose 3/4 further important tosses.

A joke.

People are losing sight of some basic priniples in the rush for T20 money.

Apparently a lot of people find the county fixturelist and the County Championship scoring system confusing, so having a conference system whereby you play everyone EXPECT the teams in the same group as yourselves is only going to make it even more confusing.

Last season, a lot of people were apparently confused by matches taking place on random days of the week, which I agree was certainly true of the County Championship, FPT and Twenty20 Cup and to a lesser extent of the Pro40, while even I am often unsure what to make of the County Championship table with teams having games in hand and there being lots of points at stake.

The 2010 fixturelist is little easier for casual fans to read as none of the three competitions have a set place.

I agree that some people may choose to desert cricket as a result of it being confusing.

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Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford

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(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)

I agree with Jeff Coleman.

Whatever peoples differing views on the shortened forms of the game.I think most of us, are in agreement, that the 4 day game must remain intact,and that includes not ,under any circumstances, reducing the number of 4 day games we play.

It is bad enough, having a quarter of them played in April,without reducing the number of county championship games in a season.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 21/02/2010 14:25 by lower pavilion.

I enjoy all forms of the game and have been a strong advocate of T20 cricket on this message board; it is a reality and we must live with it.

However, I have also been a strong advocate of retaining 16 first class fixtures in the UK for the reasons that many others have stated above.

There must be a way around this Champions League issue that does not require all 18 counties to miss out on several weeks and several first class fictures just to allow one team a place in the CL. One of those ways is simply not to participate in the CL.

Quote:

Ged
There must be a way around this Champions League issue that does not require all 18 counties to miss out on several weeks and several first class fictures just to allow one team a place in the CL. One of those ways is simply not to participate in the CL.

That is it in a nutshell. Otherwise it is the tail wagging the dog. The paramount status of the first class game must be protected and we must expect our administrators, the custodians of cricket in this country, to demonstrate the integrity expected of them.

Returning to the IPL subject and the recurring security risk.

We have three players involved. Shah, Morgan and Gilchrist.

Sources say that Reg Dickason's (England security advisor)report on threat levels, will advise not to go.

However, also mentioned. That Gilchrist has said he will be going. Captain of Deccan Chargers.

England's player (Eoin Morgan) will not have to commit until Bangla tour completed.

This leaves Ace who should arrive this week for pre IPL camp.

BCCI say that security prob overstated as recent SA tour passed off without incident.

There are of course big bucks involved here, I should imagine players can afford a couple of minders if thought to be needed.

Rumour mill says Aussies under most threat, but Warne, Gilly say they are committed to the cause.

Modi, could still move comp to Dubai, SA.

I'm in agreement with most of the above. We must avoid being seen as ancient reactionaries, but at the same time express the strong view that the First Class game is of primary importance. This is where players develop the skills that they can adapt for the shorter versions of the game.

The current number of 4 day games seems about right and if that means missing the ICL this year, so be it. If counties insist that 2 teams must take part, and I can see the attraction of the big 'pay day' - who wouldn't like that? - I suggest that all winnings be shared across all county professionals, the vast majority of whom would be losing opportunities to perform and 'catch the selectors eye'

Is that a pig flying by.....?

On the IPL front. Modi has stated that the comp will remain in India this year, even if there are mass defections from overseas players.

The franchise owners say, re-locating again, will produce losses for them: added to by Modi, who said there was an audience of millions in India eager for the IPL to kick off.

On the security front. Dickason's report recommends that England player's should not go.

However, according to Pringle,the players are keeping their thoughts to themselves on that subject.

Modi yesterday accused Ricky Ponting of discouraging OZ players from participating in the IPL.

Saying ' maybe it was the fact, he was dropped from the Kolkata Knight Riders' (replacemnet Ace?), Modi put on his Twitter feed.

'We will allow replacements for those who decide not to show up. They risk being in future IPLs. The call will be theirs'.

Lalit Modi has signed a deal to show the IPL on ITV4 from March 12th. This was obtained by ITV paying a nominal sum.

Modi was anxious to get exposure in the UK after the collapse of Setanta.

This is addition to the You Tube deal.

IPL Commissioner Modi describes this ' a hugely significant deal for the IPL, and ideally suited to the British passion for both cricket and entertainment'.

Other news: Eion Morgan was handed an 'incremental' contract by the ECB yesterday.

We can now at least see him playing for Bangalore, and Ace for the Knight Riders, and I suppose Gilly for the Deccan Chargers as a warm up for our 20/20 challenge in 2010.

A stand of 130 between Ace and Angelo Matthews, rescued KKR from 31 for 4 and set DC 162 to win.

Ace and the impressive Matthews remained unbeaten with fifties..

Nice one Ace.

What next Gilly. Packed crowd.

What next JW was that Gilly's 54, flattered to deceive as KKR chipped away at the wickets.

Murali bowled a good 3 over spell which restricted and started the collapse.

A good win by 11 runs for KKR. Ganguly has Ace/Angelo to thank for steadying the ship and setting a defendable total.

Indeed watching Ace and Murali doing the biz: a flashback to the RoseBowl 2008 and The Middle.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/03/2010 18:28 by Seaxe_Man.

Quote:

Seaxe_Man
What next Gilly

Well, he made 54 so two of the three highest scorers in this match will be playing for Middlesex in 2010

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Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford

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(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)

Just watched KXIP v DD. Nannes was on fire. His 90+mph bullets were too hot for Kings.

Figures 4-0-12-2. Pretty tasty.

As I have to say, is the Kings owner, she sits in the dugout with the players doing the high fives.

Bopara should be ok as he top scored with 56.

He got out in the 16th over which left Kings a bit short on 142 for 9.

As Kings wear Emirates shirts, bit like watching Arsenal play cricket.

Wicket had plenty of grass and helped all bowlers. Nannes certainly had Kings under the pump.

Boy do we miss that guy. Gotta a feeling he is has a Somerset 20/20 contract.

Daredevils currently 29 for 2. Pom pom girls blowing kisses all round.

Eoin Morgan hits his second ball faced in IPL for six!

Today he is playing for Bangalore against Owais Shah's Kolkata.

The Middlesex connection is enhanced by Jacques Kallis playing for Bangalore and Murali Kartik playing for Kolkata.

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Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford

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(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)

And Kartik had bowled Morgan.

My dad complacently went for his traditional 11am Sunday morning hairwash expecting to see Morgan bat once he had finished his hairwash, but this can't happen now.

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Click here to read why I sensationally sacrificed the big bucks of Chelsea for the adventure of Watford

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(image on left not representative of how relative my support of Watford is to my support of Middlesex)

Yup JW as you said. Eoin bowled by ex colleague Kartik for 10.

135 for 7 looks a bit light, though wicket is thought to be a touch slow. Jack Kallis 65no.

Eden Gardens is packed and KKR on the two occasions I have seen them so far, look a handy side.

RBC did'nt really have enough wickets 'in the shed' to have 'a dip' at the end, to use the commentators jargon.

Won't see conclusion JW, as have a rendezvous with Sky for Man U/Fulham.

Doubtless you will fill in.

Should have stuck with the cricket S_M.

As it panned out Vic, looks that way. However, as my daughter Stephanie said, 3-0, kinda made it look as though The Whites suffered a bigger defeat than we actually did playwise.

Incidentally. Ferguson NEVER puts out a weak side against Fulham, a backhanded compliment I would say, especially as we filled them in at The Cottage.

The plus points were. Stephen Kelly had his best game in a Fulham shirt: he has struggled recently.

Zamo, maybe a touch unlucky with his first half lob and we reached half-time, deservedly level IMHO.

He should have levelled in the second half though, when Rio dozed off.

Their good luck and our bad, was when the bloke on their right wing stuck his shoulder into Hangeland's chest making a challenge, and later he went off.

This meant Baird had to go to centre -half from midfield with Murphy. After that, to use a cricketing term, they pushed us onto the back foot.

As ever, a lot of spurious appeals to the ref by that team, for imagined fouls.

Still they get that from Ferguson.

Three tasty games coming up: Juve, (sold out on ESPN 6'o'clock ko Thurs), Manc C (SUN) and Totti (Wed).