A gagging clause that dogged the year
ESPNcricinfo writers look back at their worst moments in English cricket in 2014
ESPNcricinfo staff
29-Dec-2014
Kevin Pietersen somehow dominated 2014 despite hardly playing • Getty Images
1. The moment the ECB lawyers agreed to the gagging clause with KP
It meant the rest of the year would be dominated by whispers. Then the story blew up again with his book in October. It should all have been dealt with when the sacking happened, whatever the short-term pain - Andrew McGlashan.
2. The day of Kevin Pietersen's book launch
The miserable handling of the Pietersen affair was hauled into the public eye with the claims and counterclaims merely damaging the image of cricket in the UK - Alex Winter.
3. The booing of Moeen Ali
A reminder that, for all the progress we think we have made in Britain as a multicultural society, there is a long way to go. The ECB's silence on the subject remains shameful - George Dobell.
4. The Test pitch at Trent Bridge
Whether it's the type of clay, artificial sunlight or, hell, even astroturf, something needs to be done about the standard of pitches in England, which seem to be on a continual decline. Kudos to Horsham who, with the help of Hove groundsman Andy Mackay, produced one of the best wickets of the summer for the Sussex-Warwickshire Championship match - Vithushan Ehantharajah.
5. The ECB's role in the Big Three's power grab
In prioritising self-enrichment in the short-term, the ECB has shown contempt for expanding the sport. Supporting a 10-team World Cup, with a 45-game group stage, and effectively vetoing cricket's inclusion in the Olympics showed a depressing lack of vision - or sensitivity, indeed, towards maximising profit in the long-term - Tim Wigmore.
6. The slow-motion car crash of Alastair Cook's final ODI series
Desperately seeking the runs that would prop up his World Cup ambition, Cook bore the pressure with dignity before being sacked, but the ECB should have acted months ago - Alan Gardner.
7. Decline in recreational cricket
Confirmation by the ECB that participation in recreational cricket was down by 7% with a growing number of matches conceded underlined that recreational cricket is facing a crisis. The desire for instant gratification, changing social norms and lessening of community ties has put the game in England under enormous strain - David Hopps.