The intended consequence of diminished horizons

The intended consequence of diminished horizons

Rich Clarke
CricketPaper
Pic: @Mark_J_Winter

Pic: @Mark_J_Winter

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It pains me to say it but this week’s Royal London Cup final simply felt small.

Two of the smaller counties playing in front of a small crowd in a competition whose reputation has been diminishing in recent years.

Don’t get me wrong, as a tournament, the 50-over event exceeded all expectations this year. It was feared that the Royal London Cup would become the first casualty of The Hundred but, in fact, all those call-ups created an enthralling ‘lads and Dads’ event full of wily old stagers and young bucks. When Glamorgan took the final wicket on Thursday evening, the ecstasy of Kiran Carlson, the 23-year-old batsmen who had been thrust into the captaincy and was winning his first major trophy, was matched by Michael Hogan, a 40-year-old seamer who was probably lifting his last. If this was the FA Cup final of cricket then the overflow of emotions felt akin to Leicester City’s glorious triumph over Chelsea at Wembley in May. It was much more special because silverware rarely resides at the home of this club, these players and their supporters.

But while it was a high-quality final to cap a high-quality event, it was hampered by negligent, disrespectful organisation that left little chance of a cup final crowd, let alone the sort of atmosphere manufactured in the tournament overshadowing it. While attendances in the one-day final had been falling for years, Somerset’s victory on a Saturday at Lord’s in 2019 was seen by more than double the 7,000 or so who were present a Trent Bridge. T20 finals day has long since snatched the mantle of county cricket’s annual day out.

That said, getting time-off at 48 hours’ notice after the semi-final victory was always going to be difficult and, for many, any precious holiday needs to be spent with the kids while they are off school. There was no evocative pull to Lord’s and Trent Bridge is some distance from the north-east and south Wales. Ironically, it would have been more convenient for the smallest counties on the circuit – Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire – had they reached the final.

There has always been a wealth divide in domestic cricket with broadly, the Test ground teams at the top, those Midlands counties and Gloucestershire at the bottom and everyone else occupying the centre ground. OK, Middlesex are tenants at Lord’s but their membership levels have traditionally been towards the top end. And yes, the Riverside, the Ageas Bowl and Sophia Gardens have been turned into international venues. But, broadly speaking these divisions hold true.

Little clues give it away. When Yorkshire and Lancashire come to Essex, there is always a conspicuous gaggle of away fans whatever the importance of the game. Whenever I go to the Oval, the crowds and the set-up just seems bigger. While they have both turned corners in recent years, it has always felt more parochial at the likes of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Not that this is a bad thing. I’ll take the homemade cakes at Grace Road and the old ladies who sell them over the well-presented, well-drilled but outsourced and dispassionate personnel often found elsewhere. During my tour around the Division One circuit in 2019 only Trent Bridge managed to find the sweet spot between modern professionalism and consideration for cricket culture.

Until now, this divide between big and small has been bridgeable on the pitch. Leicestershire and Northamptonshire have lifted the Blast trophy five times in the last 17 years while Essex and Somerset have been the leading red-ball counties for the past five seasons. On the flipside, Surrey’s haul of won Championship victory and one Clydesdale 40-over League title in 18 years is a poor return even if you account for international absences.

However, I fear such cricketing aspirations may be starting to crumble. Cricinfo reported this week that counties hosting games in The Hundred are already looking to flex the financial muscles strengthened by keeping part of the ticket and hospitality revenue. Surrey and Lancashire are looking to sign Chris Jordan and Phil Salt respectively from Sussex. Meanwhile Derbyshire all-rounder Matt Critchley is also coveted by bigger counties.

When the County Championship starts up again the divide will be even more obvious. The title-winners will come from a conference consisting of Lancashire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Warwickshire, Hampshire and Somerset. Swap underperforming Surrey for the Cidermen and you have the main grounds hosting international cricket in this country.

There are many who suspect this is not an unintended consequence. The concentration of resources has always been their primary concern about the Hundred, not the cricket itself. Many well-placed voices have been shouting about their fears of contraction by distraction because, at domestic level, eight or 10 large city-based super clubs can do the job of 18 first-class counties. Not that the new tournament has supported England’s Test performances so far.

Yet, as I watched Glamorgan’s players stroll down the boundary, beer in hand, to celebrate with friends and family before collecting the county’s first trophy in 17 years, the value of true local heroes seemed obvious.

A big victory for a small team will always mean more.

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