Ecb Central Contracts

[chunksafc]

Can someone explain what the central contracts are actually meant to achieve please?
I can't for the life of me remember why they were brought in apart from to give the players some financial benefit and help the Counties?

 

[mackem1989]

Also gives the ECB the power over the player IMO more like England players who can occasionally play for the county.

 

[Eggman]

To prevent burn out from the county circuit and keep players fresh and in form.

Maybe it's time to revisit.

(Wasn't another reason to adequately reward the better players and discourage them from franchise cricket/rebel tours. Though the rewards of the IPL have rendered that bit useless)

 

[I am Boss]

To prevent burn out from the county circuit and keep players fresh and in form.

Maybe it's time to revisit.

(Wasn't another reason to adequately reward the better players and discourage them from franchise cricket/rebel tours. Though the rewards of the IPL have rendered that bit useless)

Would be interesting if they upped the central contract value with the condition no franchise cricket was allowed if it clashed with internationals or the county championship

 

[chunksafc]

To prevent burn out from the county circuit and keep players fresh and in form.

Maybe it's time to revisit.

(Wasn't another reason to adequately reward the better players and discourage them from franchise cricket/rebel tours. Though the rewards of the IPL have rendered that bit useless)

But how can they be in form if they hardly play CC?

 

[mikemanc]

But how can they be in form if they hardly play CC?

The ECB used to allow them to play some CC games to get warmed up, now they play IPL etc instead.....It's a good theory to stop them burning out when they would play a test then the next day be playing for their county at the other end of the country then play a Sunday league match then play in the next test. But the balance doesn't seem right at the moment but that's in part because of when CC games are scheduled.

 

[brandon]

Can someone explain what the central contracts are actually meant to achieve please?
I can't for the life of me remember why they were brought in apart from to give the players some financial benefit and help the Counties?

They were meant to make England more professional (and all that encompasses). Initially they worked. Iirc they first came in in 1997 and there’s no coincidence that they contributed to our rise from the early 00’s (winning in Pakistan) that lead to regularly winning the Ashes through the 00’s and 10’s and culminated in us being number 1 in the world in all formats.

Unfortunately other factors have contributed to us being absolutely f*cking twatful* again.

*In Tests, we’re still pretty good at the white ball stuff.

Would be interesting if they upped the central contract value with the condition no franchise cricket was allowed if it clashed with internationals or the county championship

Can’t see them doing that - because as much as it annoys me - there’s no doubt that allowing our players to play IPL (and the various other franchises) has improved several of our individuals and as a direct result the team.

 

[Eggman]

But how can they be in form if they hardly play CC?

Exactly.

Net practice is no substitute for match play
In simpler times an overseas touring side would arrive in England in May.

They’d play most counties during the course of the summer and the Tests would be played between late June and early September.

There would be a minimum of 9 days between Tests, sometimes 16.

The cricket calendar is so congested nowadays that the current tour was over in about 4 weeks.

There needs to be a sensible review by the ECB, but I’m not holding my breath

 

[The Breen Machine]

Were a much needed introduction to stop the likes of Andy Caddick bowling 1500 overs for Somerset and being too knackered to perform for England. It's gone too far the other way I feel and the counties rarely see their international "stars" which contributes to the downfall in interest at county and list A level.