TCCB_LOTTERY_REBUFF_07MAR1996
THIS week could hardly have been worse for English cricket finances, but the counties reacted with a dead bat yesterday, as though playing for the three points they will be introducing for a draw this summer
07-Mar-1996
7 March 1996
TCCB silent on Lottery rebuff
BY CHARLES RANDALL
THIS week could hardly have been worse for English cricket
finances, but the counties reacted with a dead bat yesterday, as
though playing for the three points they will be introducing for
a draw this summer.
On Monday the Government announced that a `heritage list` of
sport reserved for terrestrial television, including home
Tests, would be inserted into the Broadcasting Bill, despite
protests from the England authorities about eroded bargaining
power.
Then came the multi-million pound punch in the solar plexus
administered by the Sports Council, who "deferred" National
Lottery funding indefinitely for four ground projects
involving Hampshire, Surrey, Durham and the MCC.
Delay in forming the England Cricket Board was cited as the
main cause for the non-appearance of Lottery money, but there was
no sign yesterday that the ECB process will be speeded up or
any indication when David Morgan`s working party would be making
their recommendations.
Yet another working party was set up under Essex chairman
David Acfield to review all aspects of England
administration, selection and management.
The TCCB`s two-day meeting at Lord`s, which ended yesterday,
decided to restrict leg-side fielders to five in all
one-day competitions, to introduce three points for a draw in
the championship this summer and to have Wednesday starts for
the majority of games in 1997 and `98.
The TCCB face potentially serious problems on the Lottery, as
cricket has fallen well down the money list of sports benefiting.
Derek Casey, the Sports Council chief executive, commented
this week: "The lack of strategy gives us no clear indication
about how additional money generated by increased
spectator accommodation would be re- invested at the sport`s
grass-roots level.
"The deferral of a decision means that we can step back from
this issue, meet again with the cricket authorities and look
at their overall plans for the sport."
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)