Sheffield Cricket Lovers' Society Year Book 2013

39 Sheffield Cricket Lovers’ Society progressing to a Quarter-Final round and played in a format consistent with ICC approved international cricket of 50 overs per team. ECB Chief Executive David Collier commented: “The research study conducted by Populus was the largest piece of market research ever conducted on County cricket. The results provided objective evidence for the Board concerning the preferences of spectators in support of the conclusions reached in the Morgan Review. The Board agreed with the views of spectators and players in retaining a 16 match LV County Championship which has proven very successful since its introduction in 2000.” The Board expressed its thanks to David Morgan for the detailed review of county cricket and looks forward to the revised structure of the first class game for seasons 2014 – 2017. Ends” Thus the playing schedule for the eighteen FCCs will see, in line with my recommendations, the return of 50 over-cricket in place of the 40-over format and t20 increased to seven home matches per FCC played principally on Friday evenings. Importantly, there will be quarter-final stages for the top eight teams in both 50-over and t20 formats. Predictability or “appointment to view” as it is now popularly known, was an important outcome of the review and I am pleased that this has been embraced in the two limited- over formats and, importantly, in the county championship where Sunday starts will be a feature. I know that championship cricket is of great importance to the members of the Sheffield Cricket Lovers’ Society. It is to me too; and on a personal basis I shed few tears as a result of the non-adoption of my recommendation to reduce from sixteen to fourteen matches. That recommendation reflected the overwhelming view of those currently and recently associated with the management and leadership of international teams both here and in other ICC member countries that FCCs play too much cricket. However, the board has recognised the strong desire from current players and the respondents of the County Research Study by Populus; and the sixteen match two division county championship is therefore retained to the joy of county members and others across England and Wales, and beyond. Apart from the playing programme, the review considered the role of an FCC club and recognised that FCCs are different from one county to another with their diversity regarded as a strength rather that a weakness. The importance of retaining the ECB as the single governing body for cricket in England and Wales was another important aspect of the review as was recognition of the need to harness the experience of the FCC Chief Executives. In this respect, this group now meets under the Chairmanship of the MD of the Professional Game, Gordon Hollins, and their deliberations are clearly important for the health of the game. While the review identified that two-division FCC championship cricket is highly competitive, it was pointed out that competitiveness can sometimes cover quality imperfections. The importance of maintaining successful England teams in both men’s and women’s cricket was re-emphasised in the review for, to a large extent, it is the earnings from ICC events and international cricket which funds the game upwards from its “grass-roots”. The review report acknowledges the help I received from a wide-range of people and organisations, and I am pleased to re-iterate my thanks to all of them here. David Morgan October 2012