The County Championship - why we should be excited

The thought of the County Championship conjures up a wonderfully quintessential English image in one’s mind. Instantly visions of warm yellow sunbeams being cast across a perfectly manicured green outfield and the wizened faces of the onlookers conjure a sense of homeliness and relaxation and the very notion of summer.

That feeling of seemingly endless balmy days spent whiling away hours as the play unfolds in front of you brings a glint to the eye and a glow to the soul, almost in that beautifully wistful way when thoughts of pleasant past and glorious present collide.

Certainly this is how it feels to lovers of the game, those who almost revel in being classed as sporting outcasts due to their love of this supposedly quaint pursuit by those who simply don’t understand. There’s none of the corporate hoo-ha of the international game, none of the flight-by-night culture, where big earners and big spenders use the day to flex their financial muscles in a status symbol culture hoping to woo fellow prospectors – this is the format for the purists.

Whether this is a good or bad thing is up for debate but one thing is for certain county cricket has a special place in the hearts of many. The continual discussion about the worth and place of the four-day game at county level rages on but the fact that it rages on suggests that it does have worth and it does have a place, it’s when the talking stops that greater concern arises.

That is not to say there aren’t questions to be answered, the Morgan report has thrown up some controversial issues and it is key that while cricket doesn’t lose its soul, it moves with the times. The nature of the County Championship is that it is likely to be associated with the older generation of fan, the majority of play takes place during the working week, that this is the case is oddly seen by some as a negative, age plays no part in the value of a spectator.

Perhaps the demographic of those attending leads to the misconception that the appeal of the Championship is waning, it should not be forgotten that just because people are not able to attend doesn’t mean they are not following the state of the match from afar. That domestic cricket can attract followers on a cold Monday morning in April is impressive in itself, it should also be remembered that the aggregate Championship attendance last season was 70,000 higher than in 2005, an impressive increase.

As with all sports, the County Championship does have a responsibility to ensure it has a sustainable future; maintaining interest, renewal of followers and continued relevance are all important. The last of these is naturally tied in with the future of Test cricket and that is another lengthy debate for another time.

The other two go hand in hand and there is reason to be positive. Rarely have I felt such anticipation in the build-up to the commencement of the county season, possibly it concerns the excellent season that we are following on from, Lancashire dramatically snatching their first outright title since 1934 on the final day at Taunton, all of course broadcast on Sky. Any television coverage is naturally a major boon to the sport and provides exposure to a version of the game that is often more accessible, with local teams and grounds, and certainly more cost-effective to potential new patrons than the International format. Furthermore there appears more written and discussed on the Championship with the advent of live blogs and ball-by-ball updates on the internet. That major sites such as ESPNcricinfo and The Guardian choose to devote live blogs to coverage is wonderful news for fans and administrators alike.

In terms of improving attendances, I would urge all of those in power to do their utmost to encourage people to get into the habit of attending live cricket. Good value is essential of course, ticket deals and tie-ins would be a good development, perhaps offering free tickets with Internationals and T20 purchases as well as free or nominal entry fee after the tea interval. One area that is possibly an untapped market is the student population, many grounds are situated in University heartland and this is a great opportunity to recruit new followers. There is certainly a market there, I was fortunate enough to take in Worcestershire vs Warwickshire at New Road last season on a bank holiday Friday in front of an almost full house in glorious sunshine and it was the epitome of all that the County Championship stands for and a great advert for domestic cricket.

Naturally, at the centre of it all is the competition itself and although we may no longer have the privilege of watching the superstar teams like Somerset in the eighties or always have the benefit of overseas heroes staying throughout the season, we certainly are treated to some high quality cricket, played at great intensity. Any fan would have their appetite whetted at the thought of Somerset arriving at the Riverside and seeing Trescothick, Kieswetter and Co taking on Durham’s army of pace bowlers. Cricket doesn’t come much better than Onions, Plunkett and Harmison roaring in at batsmen of that class. Moreover, despite the now sporadic nature of the international players, the County Championship will still see players of the ilk of Katich, Prince, Sarwan, North and Philander at points this year, which is hugely exciting.

The County Championship really does have a lot to offer, it represents a beautiful element of sporting culture that has been around for a great many years and has provided a huge amount of pleasure to its followers, it also is an example of the English at play in summer at their very best. Most crucially of course it gives all cricket fans an opportunity to take in the sport they love played by sportsmen of the highest calibre in an array of fantastic venues, old and new. So, let’s hope for a long, warm summer and another hugely enjoyable County Championship season to go with it.