England: Players warm to split divisions (20 Nov 1997)

20 November 1997

Players warm to split divisions

By Charles Randall

COUNTY cricketers have convinced themselves that a two-division championship will work and they will be discussing whether to lobby for change at a special meeting next May, even though the one-table format is due to run for three more years.

The isolation of the county clubs opposed to splitting the championship has become more pronounced within the game. Lord MacLaurin, chairman of the England Cricket Board, favours two divisions, the players support has grown and, judging from a cricket magazine poll published today, the public have hardened their view in agreement.

A readers' opinion survey in Wisden Cricket Monthly shows that 67 per cent agreed that promotion and relegation should be introduced for four-day cricket. The poll was started after the First Class Forum's 12-7 vote against a split in September.

Before the start of the season there had been much greater public uncertainty when Cricket Lore, another magazine, published a similar survey, asking the same question using the same 1,000 sample of respondents. The view then was only 46 per cent in favour of the split and 48 per cent opposed.

The county players themselves have adopted a more militant view since the Professional Cricketers' Association's own poll in the spring - then only half the respondents were absolutely convinced by the idea of a split - and a special meeting has been called for May 11 to establish a collective view.

Since the PCA's pre-season poll, dressing-room opinion has veered towards a split championship. When the forum result was announced at Lord's, Matthew Fleming, the PCA chairman, felt able to say: "My colleagues and I think that this issue has been well and truly fudged. I am left with an overwhelming feeling of waste."

David Graveney, PCA general secretary, confirmed yesterday that players were having "strong reservations" about the future structure, adding the association would be lobbying the ECB for change if this was the mood of the May meeting.

The forum's decision, to keep the same single championship with added incentives for the top eight places, is supposed to run for three years, but Graveney said: "If we lobby, it is to change people's minds."

He added: "I felt the mood towards two divisions hardened as the season went on. People understood more what was at stake. At the start of the season I think not only players but other people in the game didn't understand the implications of two divisions or about the guarantees that would be given.

"I've been surprised at the feeling among rank and file county members, the backbone of cricket watchers, when I've attended meetings such as cricket societies. When I mention two divisions, it is greeted with applause. They don't throw tomatoes at me."

The Wisden Cricket Monthly survey agreed with the forum that Lord MacLaurin's three-conference proposal was a non-starter. Only six per cent liked the idea.

On other questions only seven per cent disagreed that Graveney had made a good start as chairman of England's selectors, and 53 per cent thought David Lloyd had done a good job as coach, with 16 per cent against him.

A total of 72 per cent favoured Mike Atherton to be the England captain for the West Indies tour this winter.

Jason Gallian yesterday left Lancashire to join Nottinghamshire on a three-year contract.

The 26-year-old batsman became the second new recruit in eight days, following the capture of Zimbabwean leg-spinner Paul Strang as their overseas player, and the county are also hopeful of persuading Derbyshire's Chris Adams to join them. It is all part of a major drive for honours next season after a disappointing campaign last summer.

Sydney-born Gallian was recommended to Lancashire in the late 1980s by Jack Simmons, who had seen him playing in grade cricket. He has been capped three times by England, his last cap coming against South Africa in 1995.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)