Two Out Of Eleven.?>

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

If the counties are really not meant to be a breeding ground for English players and instead just meant to a source of livelihood for their members why not convert them into completely self autonomous bodies like footballs clubs

Counties are completely autonomous bodies. A cricket club eg Lancashire is as autonomous as a football club legally and procedurally. Whether it has financial independence or not is a different debate altogether, as you and OF point out.

[Zainub]

This has been a counstructive discusssion, an enlightenning one for me personally in a few ways. And I'm glad we've found some common ground eventually. And I agree I don't know how long domestic teams will be runs as just teams/just clubs, they're bound to take the professional club role at some point, I can't see anything preventing that. Simply for the amount of money making opportunities such a modification presents. My gut feeling is that it will happen sooner rather than later, and will be interesting to see the sequence of events that will follow. If we're around at the board till then, I'll try and remember to discuss it ;-)

[Ernest]

This is really a cricket and not a political statement, very soon the effects of the EU consitution to my regret will be felt in all aspects of life in the Uk, as in other EU nations.

We will cease to be a nation as such, but a mere island of the coast of Europe, but fully integrated nevertheless, and what are the implications for cricket, will there still be in ten years time, a team called England as we know it, I doubt it very much, it will like everthing else come under EU regulation, we may eventualy be called Team Europe, it has happened in golf.
Football is on much safer ground, as the clubs are strong finacialy the length and breadth of Europe, and as such have powere, and are untouchable to a degree, but even soccer cannot stop a player from playing from a club, just because he is not English/French ect.
And even if it is still called England>>>>>>>>

[Beny]

very soon the effects of the EU consitution to my regret will be felt in all aspects of life in the Uk, as in other EU nations.

Just out of interest guys, how close is this thing to being signed off on? Last time I checked the English were complaing that the voting system was unjust (some French, Italian and German conspiracy)?

P.S Nice flag Ern, Gota find me one of them (Aussie style of course)

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Beny

Just out of interest guys, how close is this thing to being signed off on? Last time I checked the English were complaing that the voting system was unjust (some French, Italian and German conspiracy)?

Bloody right mate, I can't use the language I wish

Originally Posted by Beny

P.S Nice flag Ern, Gota find me one of them (Aussie style of course)

I will look out for you one Beny, I will give you the [url] if I find one (Aussie style of course)

[Occasional Fan]

Well, so far, it's been ratified by - er! - NO-ONE! That leaves 25 countries still to go, many of which have to have referendums and some of which (including the UK) have decided to have one even though there is no domestic constitutional obligation to do so. All 25 have to ratify by 31 December 2006 otherwise the whole exercise fails. If you want my view on this one, Beny, it's got as much chance of being ratified as the Rev Ian Paisley has of becoming Pope.

[Occasional Fan]

Report here from Cricinfo picking up some of the issues raised in this thread: link.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

Report here from Cricinfo picking up some of the issues raised in this thread: link.

Well OF, well spotted, I rest my case.

[Occasional Fan]

I was wrong about ratification of the EU constitution. Lithuania ratified it in November without a referendum. Hungary has done the same today. That leaves 23 countries still to go.