Englands Potential 6 "Region" Structure -Original version

[Statto]

Now Allan Stanford seems to be involved in our 2020 competition, cricinfo is reporting that English Criicket wil be split into 6 regions, namely:-
North Yorkshire, Lancashire, Durham
London Surrey, Middlesex, Essex
South Hampshire, Kent, Sussex
Wales and West Glamorgan, Gloucestershire, Somerset
West Midlands Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Northants
East Midlands Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire

Looking at that there's the potential for some very strong sides, but the talent is still clustered in 3 major areas, the north, south and to a lesser extent London.

For my money its all very well doing this, but a combined Lancs/Yorks/Durham side would be so strong (assuming all internationals are available which would surely be true), potentially looking like this:
Mustard, Loye, Law, Collingwood, Flintoff, McGrath, Rashid, Bresnan, Chapple, Anderson, Harmison
with no overseas players used yet, and the likes of Hoggard, Plunkett, Onions, Sutton, Vaughan, Coetzer, Cork, Killeen, Keedy, Mahmood, Cross all waiting in the wings or not playing at all.

The real point is, given these players, how much need will there be for the international superstars? That 10 of that side have played international cricket and Rashid surely will, the England captain hasn't made the team and 3 recent test bowlers also miss out. Indian domestic cricket doesn't have the depth to do this, so they pull in overseas players to drag up the standard, but by merging 3 counties at a time the sides are very strong as a starting point. As a quick draft I'll try to knock together 6 teams to see how they look, just using England Qualified players.

North Mustard+, Loye, Law, Collingwood*, Flintoff, McGrath, Rashid, Bresnan, Chapple, Anderson, Harmison
South Carberry, Denly, Wright, Pietersen, Prior+, C Adams*, Yardy, Mascharenhas, Martin-Jenkins, Tremlett, Bruce
London Brown, Strauss*, Benning, Shah, Ramprakash, Bopara, Butcher, Batty+, Middlebrook, Ormond, Finn
Wales & South West Trescothick*, Powell, Hildreth, Blackwell, Taylor, Dalrymple, Gidman, Keiswetter+, Wharf, Croft, Caddick
West Midlands Carter, Maddy*, Bell, Solanki, Sales, Trott, Smith, Davies+, Batty, Kabir Ali, Panesar
East Midlands Jefferson, Nixon, Clarke*, Patel, Allenby, Read+, Swann, Franks, Broad, Lungley, Sidebottom

None of those are sides which require panic buying of people with different coloured passports to make them decent sides. The overseas players already here would strengthen the sides further and we shouldn't have to spend millions getting more players in.

I expect the most sensible way to do this would be a MVP type system to get the best players from the consituent counties, that way performances in county cricket would almost be a "trial" to get a contract for the 2020s and it should push up the level of intensity in county cricket.

That said, I'm quite happy to watch 18 counties play cricket myself.

[Collyisamackem]

I think change is inevitable, the county game will not prosper for very long as is. It has been crying out for restructuring to improve the quality, reduce the number of games and as you say Statto, reduce the over-reliance on overseas or Kolpak players. I like the idea, and a reduction in the number of overseas players a) getting used to our first class playing conditions (doesn't happen in Australia, or anywhere else anywhere near as regularly) and b) providing a block to our best domestic talent developing under high quality competition is something that would be very, very good for our cricket. Reducing the number of games will also allow for proper rest, and the right number/length of practice and tour matches our players need to be in best shape for test cricket. The IPL may be the wake-up call our domestic first class, one-day and Twenty20 games need, and if we don't use it to move forward our game will fall behind.

And why not, if a reduction from 18 teams to 6 would allow, increase our first class games to 5 days? Australia don'y do it - why shouldn't we lead from the front again instead of inventing games and letting everyone else get and stay ahead of us in ideas?

This is an opportunity and a sensible, realistic, forward-looking suggestion to me, and bears no threat - indeed it is an opportunity to promote - to our four- and five-day cricket.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by Collyisamackem

I think change is inevitable,[...]This is an opportunity and a sensible, realistic, forward-looking suggestion to me, and bears no threat - indeed it is an opportunity to promote - to our four- and five-day cricket.

Well Colly Statto has out up a peruasive thread, with exciting looking teams.

Then I pinch myself and realise this is 20/20 - the beggining of the end of Test cricket, and IMO that's just what it is.

A good thread from Statto, a sensible sounding post as usual from Colly, but 20/20 in any shape or form gets a big thumb's down as far as I am concerned.
I think Colly that 20/20 on this scale is bound to be a threat, attending this tpe of cricket will be not unlike attending a soccer match.

[flanflinger]

This could solve my current identity crisis. I have been a Surrey fan all my life (come on the REY) moved to Bristol two years ago and watched Gloucester a few times, got membership as a leaving gift. But just could not become a fan, so when Surrey pitched up in Bristol two seasons ago, I got in with my members card, bought a cheap drink in the members stand, and supported Surrey all the way!!

But if this new regional system came about, I would not be able to support London, I am not from London, but from leafy Surrey. Plus the fact that one third of the team would be Middlesex players, who I generally loathe..

The result, I can easily become a South-West fan without feeling I am betraying my roots.. even if it is linked with Glamorgan!!

[greg]

The idea is sound in principle but i can't see too many Lancastrians turning up to cheer on Adil Rashid for the north or Yorkshiremen Flintoff.

I think it may well happen but the diehard fans of counties won't like it one little bit.I agree that 10 5 day games each with a higher standard of cricket will help the national side but i doubt you would get the fans turning up as it would be like merging Liverpool and Manchester United and expecting the fans to unite behind one club.It wouldn't happen and i wouldn't expect it too.

[Statto]

I don't particularly like the idea myself, but given that I am not the ICC, my head is out of the sand and I can see it is inevitable now that something will happen. The other issue is where you play, the "North" has 3 international grounds, and London 2, so what happens? In the interest of spreading the game you move them around the region, therefore reducing the amount of 2020 cricket (which was intended to get people involved in cricket) to around 1/3 of what it was in each county? Going backwards slightly? Yes.

I would love to see them keep the county game, and if the regions must come into being, then have it as a "showpiece" type event of the best performing players in the domestic game. Then looking on the bright side, everyone will be in form, and for the first 8 weeks of the season everyone has to perform to be selected for their region.

Possibly try this as a blueprint
1. Players all remain contracted to existing county, but window for EPL agreed and all contracted players available. Now every side has about 50 eligible players to pick from.
2. EPL held in July (3 weeks?)
3. Regional squads picked on 20th June ish. Now players have approximately 2 months to put in sufficient performances in order to get selected.
4. Salary cap for selected squads in place, all players guaranteed minimum amount. Adds an actual incentive to play, rather than players being picked up with no significant reward.
5. Set number of overseas players permitted, limits on match squads ie 4 U25, 3 overseas.

That way it will be fairer, perform and you get more cash, and the intensity of domestic games should increase and hopefully players will get better as a result.

As for playing county games over 5 days, I'm not convinced theres enough good players to perform for that long. Most games which are not rain affected are over in just over 3 days as it is (although draws are getting more common).

There was another thread in which I suggested making domestic cricket 3 divisions of 6 (Premier, 1 North and 1 South) and then realigning minor county cricket to fit below this (ie north/south not east/west) I still see that as a better solution to the problem, as it will give a more structured entry for new players and make it easier for counties to recruit.

[Ernest]

Originally Posted by greg

The idea is sound in principle but i can't see too many Lancastrians turning up to cheer on Adil Rashid for the north or Yorkshiremen Flintoff.

Well if it was cricket real greg, I would support the best North X1 there was.
To do what you say would be churlish, because neither Lanc's, York's or Durham could supply all the players.
I must say Statto's 1X would do well for the full England one day side.

Originally Posted by Statto

Mustard+, Loye, Law, Collingwood*, Flintoff, McGrath, Rashid, Bresnan, Chapple, Anderson, Harmison

From a Northerners point of view, what's not to cheer on with this side in a ODI?.

Originally Posted by Statto

I don't particularly like the idea myself, but given that I am not the ICC, my head is out of the sand and I can see it is inevitable now that something will happen.

What is inevitable?, and if it is inevitable whatever happenes next?. I would suggest there is no turning back when the cash comes rolling in.

[south beds mikey]

Originally Posted by flanflinger

Plus the fact that one third of the team would be Middlesex players, who I generally loathe..

After last Sunday surely some Surrey players will have to give up their spots so far more than a third of the team would be from the mighty Middx

Seriously from a personal point of view I would have no problem supporting a London team in 20/20 or in a reformed championship. Indeed with the start my lot have made in div 2 I'd probably welcome it!! After all we all support players from our county rivals wholeheartedly when they play for England so I see no problem.

[Statto]

Originally Posted by Ernest

What is inevitable?, and if it is inevitable whatever happenes next?. I would suggest there is no turning back when the cash comes rolling in.

"Regional" cricket is inevitable. What happens after that? I'm not sure, but hopefully not too much changes.

[darksideofthemoon]

Statto you forgot Pietersen.