Autobahn
State 12th Man
Now before the jokes about bowlers using snowballs and umpires turning into snowmen are trotted out i would like to put forward an idea about constructing winter tours for the counties.
At the moment it's pretty much upto the players to organise their winters either by playing grade-cricket in Australia or eating mars bars on the sofa.
But i'm thinking wouldn't it be a good idea if the ECB organised it so that all the counties would take part in other countries first-class competitions.
With 8 strong domestic competitions and with 18 counties that's easily 2 a country, and the benefits are:
- Players develop into more rounded cricketers having played in different environments.
- No overseas players would allow for more chances for younger players.
- General fitness would improve as crickteters start playing all year round.
- Older players who don't fancy that much cricket would allow for new talent to emerge.
- Teams would become more competitive.
- Managers would spot talents they could have as an overseas spot in the summer.
Now of course a lot of clubs simply don't have the money to contract players all-year round and the players would have to make do with just room and board plus a bit extra, but the whole point of this would be to make yourselves noticed to the county and country.
Now of course it would be players and counties decisions to go on these regular tours but i would think IMO the benefits would be overwhelming.
Any opinions? Questions?
At the moment it's pretty much upto the players to organise their winters either by playing grade-cricket in Australia or eating mars bars on the sofa.
But i'm thinking wouldn't it be a good idea if the ECB organised it so that all the counties would take part in other countries first-class competitions.
With 8 strong domestic competitions and with 18 counties that's easily 2 a country, and the benefits are:
- Players develop into more rounded cricketers having played in different environments.
- No overseas players would allow for more chances for younger players.
- General fitness would improve as crickteters start playing all year round.
- Older players who don't fancy that much cricket would allow for new talent to emerge.
- Teams would become more competitive.
- Managers would spot talents they could have as an overseas spot in the summer.
Now of course a lot of clubs simply don't have the money to contract players all-year round and the players would have to make do with just room and board plus a bit extra, but the whole point of this would be to make yourselves noticed to the county and country.
Now of course it would be players and counties decisions to go on these regular tours but i would think IMO the benefits would be overwhelming.
Any opinions? Questions?