Franchise Cricket in England Domestic Season 2025

[Molehill]

Not even mad about franchise cricket in England but the quality of the men's competition is absolutely dire.

It's fairly obvious that a couple of teams have recruited way better than the others. Oval Invincibles will take some beating.

The england bowling coach went for 29 runs off 16 balls. Anderson fared even worse in his 1st match. Meanwhile Flintof has got his son into another team he coaches.

It's ridiculous that Flintoff Jnr is sitting on the bench here instead of playing in the One Day Cup, which would've been far more beneficial to his development.

 

[FBU]

It looks like bowl first to win a match. Salt never winning the toss so never winning a game.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

It's fairly obvious that a couple of teams have recruited way better than the others. Oval Invincibles will take some beating.



It's ridiculous that Flintoff Jnr is sitting on the bench here instead of playing in the One Day Cup, which would've been far more beneficial to his development.

A disasterclass from Warner and Williamson, Williamson at least had the grace not to overstay his welcome too much, but Warner clogged up most of the innings not scoring quickly enough. Very happy to see young England prospects Ben McKinney and Sonny Baker excel tonight, both will at least be in the Lions squad this winter I am sure, wouldn’t surprise me if we see Baker make an international debut before then too

 

[honestbharani]

wouldn’t surprise me if we see Baker make an international debut before then too

Makes sense since you have a Cook who has retired and a Buttler who is in the last part of his international career. Baker seems the right fit.

 

[Molehill]

A disasterclass from Warner and Williamson, Williamson at least had the grace not to overstay his welcome too much, but Warner clogged up most of the innings not scoring quickly enough. Very happy to see young England prospects Ben McKinney and Sonny Baker excel tonight, both will at least be in the Lions squad this winter I am sure, wouldn’t surprise me if we see Baker make an international debut before then too

How many more gigs will Williamson get in T20 before everyone catches on that he just doesn't score fast enough anymore? Absolutely wasted the powerplay, even dafter when they have Smith sitting there at 3 twiddling his thumbs.

Baker has looked pretty good when I've seen him in this, but it is only the 100.

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

How many more gigs will Williamson get in T20 before everyone catches on that he just doesn't score fast enough anymore? Absolutely wasted the powerplay, even dafter when they have Smith sitting there at 3 twiddling his thumbs.

Baker has looked pretty good when I've seen him in this, but it is only the 100.

I guess they just wanted his star power to attract the punters, it’s probably why they picked England’s Test vice captain at 7 without bowling or keeping (despite the fact that he came out at 7 and averages less than 7 in the Hundred! )

 

[FBU]

How many more gigs will Williamson get in T20 before everyone catches on that he just doesn't score fast enough anymore? Absolutely wasted the powerplay, even dafter when they have Smith sitting there at 3 twiddling his thumbs.

Baker has looked pretty good when I've seen him in this, but it is only the 100.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/county-championship-division-one-2025-1461819/worcestershire-vs-hampshire-54th-match-1461877/full-scorecard

 

[Third_Man]

It's fairly obvious that a couple of teams have recruited way better than the others. Oval Invincibles will take some beating.



It's ridiculous that Flintoff Jnr is sitting on the bench here instead of playing in the One Day Cup, which would've been far more beneficial to his development.

Recruitment? Aren't they all substantially picking the same players as 5 years ago?
This competition is becoming what the ECB perpetually critised the Minor Counties for: a pay packet for the few lucky ones prolonging their careers. Looking at the teams today there are 6 players in one side at 30 or over including three 35 or over: Boult (35), Southee (36), Howell (36). The other has only 4 in the same age bracket Behrendorff (34), Sowter (32), Billings (33) and Curran (30). I wonder if the new owners will be as generous with players's pension top-up?

Don't moiind Flintoff being there on merit, if that was the case. The franchises should each have to pick a couple of teenagers to develop rather than rely on the over 30 brigade.

 

[kevinw]

OIs are basically the stacked MIs of a few years ago, but at least the IPL ensures a more-or-less full redrafting at some point. Seems crazy to be the best side by a distance AND then you bring Rashid Khan in! I don't mind Boult being in this comp; he's still one of the best new ball bowlers in the world. Southee is semi-retired, on the other hand. I'd still rather that the sides were predominantly locally based around 3x counties rather than the main single county and some randoms.

 

[kevinw]

Livingstone having his Russell/Pollard performance tonight (e.g., one decent performance followed by several crap ones).

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Recruitment? Aren't they all substantially picking the same players as 5 years ago?
This competition is becoming what the ECB perpetually critised the Minor Counties for: a pay packet for the few lucky ones prolonging their careers. Looking at the teams today there are 6 players in one side at 30 or over including three 35 or over: Boult (35), Southee (36), Howell (36). The other has only 4 in the same age bracket Behrendorff (34), Sowter (32), Billings (33) and Curran (30). I wonder if the new owners will be as generous with players's pension top-up?

Don't moiind Flintoff being there on merit, if that was the case. The franchises should each have to pick a couple of teenagers to develop rather than rely on the over 30 brigade.

Granted, I’m not sure Flintoff would have made THAT much of an impact in the ODC, but it must be annoying to have him pinched just to sit on the bench when other players in his position are at least playing in the Hundred, we’ve literally just seen with Bethell the pitfalls of young players not playing!

 

[kevinw]

Granted, I’m not sure Flintoff would have made THAT much of an impact in the ODC, but it must be annoying to have him pinched just to sit on the bench when other players in his position are at least playing in the Hundred, we’ve literally just seen with Bethell the pitfalls of young players not playing!

If they're not playing a game then same day why can't players be seconded out to a county? If they had to drive to a hundred game the following day still and play is it a big deal given the small impact any player makes?

 

[Molehill]

Livingstone having his Russell/Pollard performance tonight (e.g., one decent performance followed by several crap ones).

Didn't realise he still had an innings like that in him, and like you say, it'll probably be another 20 till we see it again.

 

[Thala_0710]

Lol

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

If they're not playing a game then same day why can't players be seconded out to a county? If they had to drive to a hundred game the following day still and play is it a big deal given the small impact any player makes?

That beats me! I know they sometimes release players during Test matches, I see absolutely no reason they can’t do it for the Hundred

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Not that I’ve been watching of course, but I hear that Sonny Baker is on the plane?

 

[kevinw]

Would like to suggest the hundred contains some overseas shoddy but Hilton Cartwright and Michael Bracewell on one team?

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Not that I’ve been watching of course, but I hear that Sonny Baker is on the plane?

Figures took a bit of a battering in that last set…

 

[Molehill]

How many more gigs will Williamson get in T20 before everyone catches on that he just doesn't score fast enough anymore? Absolutely wasted the powerplay, even dafter when they have Smith sitting there at 3 twiddling his thumbs.

Clearly, they're reading this forum. A simple switch of Smith to open and Kane to 3 and they set the game up for the win.

Nasty knock for Alsop, although he seemed ok when walking off if just a bit bloodied - short ball from Overton (who was bowling with a groin injury) ended up inside his grill. Rather farcical as Overton rushed limped down the other end to see if he was ok.

 

[Third_Man]

That beats me! I know they sometimes release players during Test matches, I see absolutely no reason they can’t do it for the Hundred

ECB eliginility rules allow players to be released from their franchise back to their County for the ODC if:
1) the players have not been selected for two consecutive franchise matches;
2) their franchise doesn't have a match on the same day; and
3) all three parties agree

I can understand why that doesn't happen when say Lancashire are playing at Hove because of the distance to travel but surely by now all franchises have played 2 matches so there must be a fair few fringe players who have not played at all and their County not playing too far from their franchise's hotel. But I can't think of anayone being released back yet.
Lancashire are on an extended tour (next game at Beckenham) at the moment but finish with three home fixtures. I'd expect Flintoff, Aspinwall etc. to be released if only to rest the likes of Bohannon and Bailey prior to the championship's return in September.