County sides need time to recharge
The disappointing performances by Somerset and Sussex in the Champions League was only confirmation of the inferior standards of county cricket
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
The disappointing performances by Somerset and Sussex in the Champions League was only confirmation of the inferior standards of county cricket. This could reopen the idea of introducing the franchise system, writes Vic Marks in the Guardian. Next year, counties will hopefully prepare better.
The only English batsman to play with freedom and freshness was Wes Durston, who produced two cameos when he replaced Marcus Trescothick in the Somerset side. Durston had barely played a first-team game for Somerset throughout the 2009 season, yet he scored runs more effortlessly than anyone. Durston was fresh. The rest of the batsmen of Somerset and Sussex were jaded. And it showed. They doggedly searched for the magic elixir but there was nothing left to give on pitches that often negated easy strokeplay.
Kanishkaa Balachandran is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo