As posted on the DCF -
There aren't many things about County Cricket I dislike, but the rigid playing conditions is a huge hate of mine.
Today, around most of the country, play was lost to rain. Some clubs obviously would have welcomed it, certainly Leicestershire benefitted somewhat at the expense of Glamorgan. As a Durham fan, considering the position we were in at the end of Day 2, you'd have to think we were favourites to push on for the win on Days 3 and 4. So I'm of course 2quite frustrated at the weather, but I'm more disgruntled with the lack of extra play being made possible to make up for the lost time/overs. You'd be forgiven for thinking this is just a moan because we have (probably) been scuppered by the rain after being in a good position, I assure you it isn't though! There will be times in the future when the weather saves us, just as it has done in the past.
My point, or argument if you prefer, has always been that a game should be given the best possible chance of a positive result - that for me includes a draw where two teams have just reached a stalemate. There will always be occasions where a result just isn't possible due to seriously inclement weather, however on days like today, its
so frustrating for fans who have braved it all day, waiting for the weather to improve and watching covers come on, off, then on again, then off again, only to be informed that play will be minimal (because of the regulations) when the sun finally does come out.
At Durham, the umpires decided to begin play at 4pm, with two and a half hours possible (or 40 overs). They had taken the extra half an hour (or 8 overs). Therein lies my first gripe, WHY only half an hour?? It's widely known that in this country that in the summer, the light is very much possible for play to go on until atleast 8pm - just as much as light is good enough from very early on a morning - but that perhaps is another argument altogether. I'm not suggesting that play should always go on until 8pm, just that ECB should change the regulations to allow for more hours/overs to be considered in any event of delays on given days. They have done it in Test Matches - There will be 30 minutes extra on the next 4 days at Headingley, with possibly more should they lose any more play - so why not in County Cricket? Tonight for example, why not add on an hour? Its hardly going to mean the players don't get to bed until midnight, but the extra 16 hours could be crucial to gaining a result.
The ECB are always looking at ways to improve attendances and gate receipts and to me, if you were guaranteed more play, or atleast the potential of more play on any given day, then the cricket might become more appealing. Certainly if the Evening session was to last from (for example) 4pm until 7.30pm (instead of a latest of 6.30pm) then folk leaving work may be more keen to come to the ground. As it is, those leaving work at 5pm (like myself) won't fancy coming down to the ground for the sake of little more than an hour of cricket.
Then comes the age old Lunch and Tea debate, I remember a day not too dissimilar to this a couple of season or so against Notts when I think play was allowed to start around 3pm after long rain delays, only for the players to come off after about 20 minutes to take Tea. As someone who loves a good scran, I'm not suggesting players and umpires should be denied food or a chance of a cuppa, I just think its an embarrassment to the sport that these intervals are so rigid, if they've sat around all day, just how much in need of a rest can they be?? A little bit of flexibility wouldn't go amiss, this thing where they must take Lunch no later than 1pm for example is ridiculous, especially if you've lost the first hour or so to rain. It does the game no favours whatsoever IMO.
Tomorrow is set to be beautiful but there'll only be 96 overs possible, why they can't add on another hour throughout the day is beyond me. It would be quite possible to start at 10.30 and finish half an hour later too, with the day consisting of 112 overs - an addition of 16.
I'm not suggesting that play should start at 9am and finish at 8pm every day, or any day, just that provisions should be made to give the game a chance.
I could go on really, if the ECB want ideas then I'll give them some food for thought certainly. What it comes down to though is that games should be given the best possible chance and for me, if a team battles for a draw it should be through an excellent rearguard action, not an act of god and the stupidity of old regulations permitting play on sunny evenings.
There aren't many things about County Cricket I dislike, but the rigid playing conditions is a huge hate of mine.
Today, around most of the country, play was lost to rain. Some clubs obviously would have welcomed it, certainly Leicestershire benefitted somewhat at the expense of Glamorgan. As a Durham fan, considering the position we were in at the end of Day 2, you'd have to think we were favourites to push on for the win on Days 3 and 4. So I'm of course 2quite frustrated at the weather, but I'm more disgruntled with the lack of extra play being made possible to make up for the lost time/overs. You'd be forgiven for thinking this is just a moan because we have (probably) been scuppered by the rain after being in a good position, I assure you it isn't though! There will be times in the future when the weather saves us, just as it has done in the past.
My point, or argument if you prefer, has always been that a game should be given the best possible chance of a positive result - that for me includes a draw where two teams have just reached a stalemate. There will always be occasions where a result just isn't possible due to seriously inclement weather, however on days like today, its
so frustrating for fans who have braved it all day, waiting for the weather to improve and watching covers come on, off, then on again, then off again, only to be informed that play will be minimal (because of the regulations) when the sun finally does come out.
At Durham, the umpires decided to begin play at 4pm, with two and a half hours possible (or 40 overs). They had taken the extra half an hour (or 8 overs). Therein lies my first gripe, WHY only half an hour?? It's widely known that in this country that in the summer, the light is very much possible for play to go on until atleast 8pm - just as much as light is good enough from very early on a morning - but that perhaps is another argument altogether. I'm not suggesting that play should always go on until 8pm, just that ECB should change the regulations to allow for more hours/overs to be considered in any event of delays on given days. They have done it in Test Matches - There will be 30 minutes extra on the next 4 days at Headingley, with possibly more should they lose any more play - so why not in County Cricket? Tonight for example, why not add on an hour? Its hardly going to mean the players don't get to bed until midnight, but the extra 16 hours could be crucial to gaining a result.
The ECB are always looking at ways to improve attendances and gate receipts and to me, if you were guaranteed more play, or atleast the potential of more play on any given day, then the cricket might become more appealing. Certainly if the Evening session was to last from (for example) 4pm until 7.30pm (instead of a latest of 6.30pm) then folk leaving work may be more keen to come to the ground. As it is, those leaving work at 5pm (like myself) won't fancy coming down to the ground for the sake of little more than an hour of cricket.
Then comes the age old Lunch and Tea debate, I remember a day not too dissimilar to this a couple of season or so against Notts when I think play was allowed to start around 3pm after long rain delays, only for the players to come off after about 20 minutes to take Tea. As someone who loves a good scran, I'm not suggesting players and umpires should be denied food or a chance of a cuppa, I just think its an embarrassment to the sport that these intervals are so rigid, if they've sat around all day, just how much in need of a rest can they be?? A little bit of flexibility wouldn't go amiss, this thing where they must take Lunch no later than 1pm for example is ridiculous, especially if you've lost the first hour or so to rain. It does the game no favours whatsoever IMO.
Tomorrow is set to be beautiful but there'll only be 96 overs possible, why they can't add on another hour throughout the day is beyond me. It would be quite possible to start at 10.30 and finish half an hour later too, with the day consisting of 112 overs - an addition of 16.
I'm not suggesting that play should start at 9am and finish at 8pm every day, or any day, just that provisions should be made to give the game a chance.
I could go on really, if the ECB want ideas then I'll give them some food for thought certainly. What it comes down to though is that games should be given the best possible chance and for me, if a team battles for a draw it should be through an excellent rearguard action, not an act of god and the stupidity of old regulations permitting play on sunny evenings.
