I wasn’t putting that up as an argument for the Hundred as the solution. But as an argument for those who are in denial that there was a problem. There is. It is that county cricket dues not attract enough spectator revenue (bums on seats and eyes in the goggle box) to come close to sustaining the full time professional structure it currently has. It heamorrhages money. That question remains needful of an answer whatever format you have and whether there are games at CLS or not.
The domestic structure in this country is entirely propped up by the bit that makes money. It’s legitimate to ask whether it is fit for purpose. And whether propping it up in its current form is the best use for the game as a whole of all that funding.
I want the following, in this order:
For cricket to prosper in England and in the North East (and as someone still involved in the recreational game, it’s on the bones of its arse at the moment);
As a county fan for half a century at least to preserve the framework of the county structure if possible;
And finally, ideally to include Durham in that.
But in that order. If the feelings of entitlement in those with an interest in the current structure resists change to the point where the first is under threat, and I think they do, I’ll see the second and third go if they must.
They’re good by cricket’s standards. But as the best county attendances, and so amounting to most of the gate receipts for each club, seven games with high four figures paying what they’re paying and no real tv interest doesn’t come close to covering that wage bill.
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