Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Cricinfo article hinting that London may not host two tests a year, fewer tests a season when the tv rights are up for grabs again in 2019 and Durham unlikely to bid for any more tests.


http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/con ... MP=OTC-RSS

The argument that test attendances aren't great annoys me.

Looking at test matches from the 70s there were plenty of empty seats (or benches in those days). It took a certain Mr Botham to fill the grounds.

If it dodn't cost such a ridiculous amount to bid for them the counties wouldn't struggle or be under any pressure to fill them.

No doubt two tests will be scrapped to accommodate another 10 T20s

Seems reasonable to me that London gets two Tests. They actually get three, with two at Lord's. Given the population of the captal and the transport llinks, that might still be justifiable, but the clincher is the crowds. London Tests sell very well even though ticket prices are high. Sales around the country are less impressive, particularly in the north. Maybe if more games are to be played in the north, the grounds should be able to show the capability to sell tickets for them.

The way the bidding process has been run has been pretty terrible for regional grounds though. The ECB created a market, and it wasn't appropriate.

Seems I've just repeated a lot of the article. I'd like to think cricket values taking the game to the people and nurturing interest, and giving something to those who turn out around the country to play at weekends and often give up a lot of their time. But that only makes sense if people can afford the tickets, and perhaps if the younger people have already had access through non-subscription tv coverage. But I've strayed into the realm of fantasy now. The ECB seems to see itself as a business, rather than the current custodians of a national sport.

The bidding process is ridiculous. They should cap test match ticket charges at a certain amount. Then give the test match to a county with the proviso that the ECB take say 90% of the gate money and the county keep 10% along with all the food and drink sales. I'd be interested to know the amount of gate receipts that the non-London test venues have taken in recent years outside of Ashes series. I'm sure it would still be a healthy amount.

If anything cricket has become more posh or maybe more accurately, more money centric. Players are coming from UNI and colleges where more often a wealthy parent pays. The London clubs are full of wealthy people so paying high prices is not a problem. I must say watching the games at Lords where there are as many champagne bottles on view as people really tells the story. I don't mind the wealthy until they come out flouting it the way they do at Lords.