Betfair Official Blog

County Cricket Betting: Sink or swim for England's domestic four day cricket

Pablo Luna, moonlighting for Betfair. Our man thinks the county championship had better start swimming or it'll sink like a stone.

If county cricket is to have a viable future, it must address its image problems and become more appealing to a demographically different audience than has traditionally been the case. We need to recapture the imagination of the public and the sponsors. The game needs sexing up and the ECB have a duty to put bums on seats.

I have long lamented our county cricket scene, please see: "County cricket is a joke". I would like this opportunity to update my views.

The stupid ECB are proposing plans to revamp and restructure the county game by 2010 by having a 21-team Twenty20 league. To compound madness they are considering a return to three-day championship cricket! You could not make it up! Trying to appease all the counties is not an option.

I was the first to call for the formation of a Premier League and I would like to expand on that. The league would consist of six teams playing ten games, there would be no toss and the side playing away would have the option to bat or bowl first.

The pitches are crucial for development of Test players so matches played on lifeless slow tracks would be seriously discouraged. Counties would sign up to code of standard in regarding preparation of tracks. Templates outlining requirements would be drafted by the ECB.

Those refusing to comply would be hit with fines, suspensions and losing the right to stage a match. Naming and shaming would highlight those who gerrymander. If blatant obstruction occur then future matches would be transferred to another ground; either in the county and failing this then the fixture would be either on a neutral ground or a double away fixture.

An independent adjudicator (former Test cricketer of renown) would pass the pitch fit to play prior to the game with advance notice. Should none of these be available the home team forfeits the points. I accept some further discussion and debate on this point without losing the emphasis.

These four-day matches would be spaced out in June, July and August in the hope that bad weather would be taken out of the equation. Every minute lost would be made up on the day if possible or the next day and so on. I would ban light meters.

The points system should reward positive cricket. An extra point would be given every time a wicket is taken, this would eliminate playing out time and recognise bowling efforts. A bowling league table would highlight eminence with a trophy (Golden Bowl) awarded at the end of the season.

We would fully accept the Kolpak ruling but eight places must be kept for English born and bread. It must be fully understood that this league is the 'official nursery for Test cricket'. There would be total compliance with no transgressions!

The new game would be sold to sponsors and advertising with full support from the ECB. The third umpire would be used more when appropriate and shown to the crowd on screens. The commitments for embracing 21st century ideas must be total and a pledge signed by all parties. Originality, excitement and value would be key essentials to the new package. Entrance fees and family orientation would be combined.

There are tensions between the counties and the ECB. The ECB is facing embarrassment over trying to conduct market research during Twenty20 matches. Some counties refused to allow it to take place unless they see the questions. Words like organise, drink and brewery spring to mind.

The game is crying out for leadership, structure and dynamism. The ECB need a new configuration. We have the quality personnel to fill those jobs. Safeguarding Test cricket and entertainment must be the prerequisite.

The Latest Betfair prices on this years County Championship Div 1 are:

Durham [5.7]
Somerset [5.8]
Yorkshire [6.0]
Nottinghamshire [8.0]
Lancashire [8.2]
Sussex [8.4]
Kent [13.5]
Surrey [16.0]
Hampshire [23.0]

• Cricket
• County Cricket