1 - Test matches are expensive, I think the India test at Lords was about £60-£110 a ticket
2- Ok then Durham played 7 county games in the months of April and September. I did say "approx. 50%" so I wasn't far off with my "approx." estimation concerning the county team I support. Piss poor scheduling and no incentive to try and get into the test side when whilst the tests are on, we're too busy playing T20 cricket. Durham played 2 county matches in July. We saw 1 day of scheduled county cricket at home in August 2014 which was the last day of August.
3 - I would say the majority, but that's just my opinion. The leak and this KP fall out has been embarrassing for them.
4 - Downton who averaged less than 20 at test level. Should we get Mark Ramprakash in as batting coach.... oh wait a moment.........
5 - T20, they are obsessed with it in England, yet don't like England cricketers competing in it abroad.
6 - Yes well done to the ECB, but they should never have changed it.
7 - No it's not bollocks. IF the test team are doing shit, you can hardly look at the county scene and think "He's doing well", simply because their is so little county cricket alongside the summer test series against India, we're all too busy with T20/50 over cricket.
8 - England's next match is 26th November. They play about 6 ODI games starting at the end of November against Sri Lanka spread over 3 weeks. Seems petty preventing players from playing a game over 2 months before an England 1 day game. I know Ben Stokes was disappointed not to play.
I'll also throw in the development squad selections which don't include a bowler who has taken over 150 county wickets in 3 year but includes a bowler who has taken 100 less over the same time and is based in London
1 - Again, it's expensive but an absolute bargain when compared to football. Do you think they should slash the prices down to say £20? Remember, you'll have to slash the funding to the Counties as well.
2 - And as I said, that was an anomaly (I think there was something about the gigs in July and the seating, but I can't remember tbh).
3 - I do agree about the Pietersen thing.
4 - I notice you are ignoring my point about Cooley. Show me how good player = good coach. I like Gooch, mind.
5 - I repeat, tell me how they are 'obsessed'. This is the format that keeps the counties afloat.
6 - So well done the ECB.
7 - It still is bollocks, as shown above.
8 - Centrally contracted players, the single best innovation in recent years for the national team, means players will miss County games sometimes. Not a perfect thing, but there you go.
As I said, you seem to speak to Durham players, so ask Killa what he thinks of the ECB coaching set-up and training etc etc, then report back. Ask Colly as well if you like. Ask anyone whose been involved with the ECB or England in the last few years. Apart from players who have a book to sell.......
Nothing you've said to me so far tells me that the ECB are 'an absolute mess' or 'clowns'. Piece of piss to throw that kind of thing everytime you disagree about something, but when taken as a overall picture it's hard to disagree that the game has moved forward an absolute mile over the last 10 years.
