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No Test Cricket in July


Think I can tolerate that as long we get them in August.

IIRC June & July used to be almost entirely dedicated to White-ball Cricket.
 
If you have six tests a year (used to be seven) and compacted series there’s always going to be a barren spell unfortunately.

Would still be that without the Hundred.

30/40 years ago we had 5-test series that would cover most of the summer as they were spread out. The first test was usually in June and I think the 5th test probably late August, early September with sometimes a one-off test against someone like Sri Lanka after that.

Sadly though tests now are almost all back to back so they only last a few weeks.

Global T20 is undoubtedly a factor in that.
 
I wonder how many players will play for their counties before the start of the test series.
The pattern has been pretty set for several years now. Any of the bats who aren’t at the IPL will probably play a single game in May. The bowlers don’t even always do that.

The only notable exception in recent seasons has been Ollie Pope, who used to play more frequently in the spring, and also used to turn out in September which is unheard of for the rest of them. Maybe he’s not much of a golfer. But I’m assuming he’s out of the picture now.
 
The pattern has been pretty set for several years now. Any of the bats who aren’t at the IPL will probably play a single game in May. The bowlers don’t even always do that.

The only notable exception in recent seasons has been Ollie Pope, who used to play more frequently in the spring, and also used to turn out in September which is unheard of for the rest of them. Maybe he’s not much of a golfer. But I’m assuming he’s out of the picture now.
He’s a golfer like
 
30/40 years ago we had 5-test series that would cover most of the summer as they were spread out. The first test was usually in June and I think the 5th test probably late August, early September with sometimes a one-off test against someone like Sri Lanka after that.

Sadly though tests now are almost all back to back so they only last a few weeks.

Global T20 is undoubtedly a factor in that.
Yep. As a kid my Dad took me to see both West Indes and Australia playing Essex at Chelmsford while they were over touring. Good preparation for the touring team, great to see some fabulous players and good income for the counties who were not hosting a test match. Nowadays it's all condensed - turn up at short notice, get it over with and piss off. The way of the modern world.
 
If you have six tests a year (used to be seven) and compacted series there’s always going to be a barren spell unfortunately.

Would still be that without the Hundred.
The "barren spell" used to be in late Spring, early summer with Tests played in June,July and August,final test in late August at the Oval for as long as I remember. The Hundred is the sole reason why this barren spell has been moved to midsummer.
There's no denying the fact that the Hundred is prioritised over Test cricket.
 
The "barren spell" used to be in late Spring, early summer with Tests played in June,July and August,final test in late August at the Oval for as long as I remember. The Hundred is the sole reason why this barren spell has been moved to midsummer.
There's no denying the fact that the Hundred is prioritised over Test cricket.

Tests used to be played over three months. No touring team will tour for that length of time any more regardless of the Hundred.

People on here will still blame it for everything though. But yeah, I agree that it does account for the August absence.
 
Tests used to be played over three months. No touring team will tour for that length of time any more regardless of the Hundred.

People on here will still blame it for everything though. But yeah, I agree that it does account for the August absence.
Its part of the Franchise brand which has wide ramifications for all cricket in all countries.
Whilst no country will tour for a whole season you could still host 2 visitors playing all 3 forms to cover the main summer months and raise far greater revenue for English cricket than the Hundred will ever do.
I fear thatThe Hundred will do terminal harm to cricket in England.
 
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Its part of the Franchise brand which has wide ramifications for all cricket in all countries.
Whilst no country will tour for a whole season you could still host 2 visitors playing all 3 forms to cover the main summer months and raise far greater revenue for English cricket than the Hundred will ever do.
I fear thatThe Hundred will do terminal harm to cricket in England.

I’m not disagreeing with the last bit.

Just saying that you’d struggle to span June to August regardless nowadays as the test teams want ‘in and out’ tours. If you said first class cricket it’s much harder to argue though!
 
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