Amid the general bonhomie at Lord's - provided you weren't South African - was a sad sight that many English fans would have forgotten as they supped their umpteenth ale in the taverns of NW8 after the second day's play.
Paul Collingwood, the doughtiest street fighter in the England side, saw his neck inching closer to the chopping-block after making just seven in what could be his only innings of the Test.
Continue reading "Spare a thought for Collingwood"
- Jonathan Agnew
- 11 Jul 08, 05:42 PM
The blueprint that was handed to me today is only one of a number of proposals that the England and Wales Cricket Board will consider as it plots its course into a largely uncertain, but definitely exciting, future.
However, so radical is the concept of forming nine 'partners' - rather than franchises - based at the nine international cricket grounds in England and Wales that it has quickly caused a furious reaction from many within the game.
I have never felt that a franchise system would appeal to cricket lovers here.
Not only is there no attachment to a team from Birmingham if you live in Leicester, but Twenty20 cricket is so short, that any journey of more than an hour hardly makes the experience worthwhile.
Continue reading "Twenty20 franchises hold little appeal"
Twenty20 cricket has grabbed all the headlines and the public's imagination over the last four or five years.
Today BBC Sport broke the story about the possible introduction of a new T20 league to begin in 2010, which in effect is the English version of the Indian Premier League.
There will be more money, more exposure to the game, and I just hope that this is going to be long-term.
Continue reading "Twenty20 must be given room to breathe"
