Come on you know it's grown on you The draft happened today...... https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...-hitters-dominate-men-s-hundred-draft-1425512 Flintoff as the new Superchargers coach picked Pooran for his first pick. Lots of big names like Babar and Warner went unpicked. Daniel Sams is a strong signing and had a good season last year for Trent Rockets. As for the women Annabel Sutherland is a cracking signing. I would have been happy if her brother Will had been signed for the mens team, as he is a good player for the Melbourne Renegades. Phoebe Litchfield is one of the very best and was excellent last year. She's in shocking form at the moment though and has been for a while. The women could win it. The men it will depend on how much of Brook and Stokes we see. It's a shame David Wiese isn't coming back.
I wonder if I'm alone in this. I have little or no interest in any cricket team/game that i dont have any attachment to. England, Yorkshire and Barnsley connections only ones I'm bothered about.
Agreed. The idea of cheering ‘The North’ absolutely blows my mind. The whole concept baffles me. Weird, contrived nonsense. Love cricket. Hate The Hundred.
No mate you're not, but I will go further and say I have no interest in any cricket team/game full stop.
Zero interest for the vast majority of cricket supporters. Will focus on the 50 over comp. whilst the farce plays out.
It's an awful format. I've tried to watch it and get interested, but failed, to the point that I entirely ignore it.
I'd rather go watch Young 'uns and those deemed not good enough playing a 50 over game in York then this nonsense, thats for sure.
I will always prefer four day county games and test matches but I don’t mind the hundred. It’s a bit of fun, like the t20 was at launch - it’s cricket but not quite. Five ball overs, with the allowance to bowl two back to back, short format, give it a whack. I view it as comparing boxing or mma to wwe. Test cricket v the hundred. One proper sport, one ‘sports entertainment’ with a focus on the show itself over and above sporting integrity. Nothing hugely wrong with wanting to attract a new younger crowd, put on a bit of a panto, and reward players skills with a much better pay to effort ratio than a four day game away at Gloucestershire for example. I like it. Plan to take the kids at some point. My son aside i’d not get them near a test match - not that I can get tickets for those. You also don’t know who will get a wider love for the sport by starting out watching these. It’s an innovation, a change that might not last forever. Like substitutes in one day games they tried out for a bit. Just embrace it.
All well and good, but to attract this "possible" younger audience County and Test cricket is put on hold for the height of summer. Sorry, but it's an experiment that is harming the game.
Exactly this. Playing all the championship games in spring and Easter on green tops doesn’t prepare anyone for anything. And spin bowling in this country will disappear for good.
I agree but that’s a separate issue. Scheduling should be thought about more for sure, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for stuff like this. I don’t argue that there shouldn’t be more priority placed on four day cricket and producing proper, long-spell bowlers, particularly spinners - and batters with some defensive technique and skill. That is clear.
