https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/...07r50obrXAFKHeC-0JSzf-TbtQ6i3j6uQNOzr7VWx09PI Swaine throwing the cash again. Barnsley look to have a decent overseas too
Meanwhile, many of the smaller clubs are struggling to find players and are being forced into conceding matches and/or withdrawing from leagues because they cannot raise a team for some games. It's a big problem at our club, maybe we should look for some billionaire owners to take over? Anyone fancy a game next weekend.......?
There are actually far fewer clubs than, say, 10/15 years ago, as quite a few have folded or reduced the number of teams they run. The problem is junior cricket - not enough kids want to play. As senior players get older, they eventually retire, like I did, and there's no one to replace them. It's sad, but you obviously can't force people to play.
Hoylandswaine have bought success for over a decade with county and international players. A fair few have been on more than what many people earn full time on min wage just to play village cricket once or twice a week. Getting guys in like Alex Lees who was supposedly on quid a run bonus. When they win the toss they bat first regardless of conditions so the high paid guys have more chance to boost their match fee. Can't get much if you're on a run bonus but bowl a team out for 100. It wouldn't be so bad if they gave youth a chance but they don't. If the accountant bankrolling them got bored they would be screwed as they aren't self sufficient like the clubs that put on events through the year to help finances.
A quid a run bonus is pretty common-place in the leagues in Yorkshire. Lees would have been on miles more than that I'm pretty sure. I've heard stories of Swaine paying lads 200/300 a game, plus runs and wickets bonus. A soulless club. Saturday cricket will be more or less dead in five years. Kids don't want to give up their Saturdays to play for 7 hours (I'm not having a go at them) and would much rather play t20 - it's more exciting, its what's marketed to them etc. Outside of a few of the top leagues, I expect most Saturday cricket to be t20 within five years time.