Stewart calls for change in English cricket (13 October 1998)
ALEC STEWART, England's captain, would like to see prompt action taken to improve first-class cricket in England but said yesterday he did not believe that splitting the County Championship into two divisions was the solution
13-Oct-1998
13 October 1998
Stewart calls for change in English cricket
By Charles Randall
ALEC STEWART, England's captain, would like to see prompt action
taken to improve first-class cricket in England but said
yesterday he did not believe that splitting the County
Championship into two divisions was the solution.
Stewart, who had not been asked for any input before the England
Cricket Board discussion meeting which starts today, said: "To be
honest I haven't given the issue much thought, whether regional
cricket, two divisions or whatever, but all I would like to see
is that the gap between our domestic game and Test cricket is
made smaller.
"At the moment there is a huge gap, probably the biggest in the
world. If we can make it slightly smaller, obviously sooner
rather than later, then you will find the jump the players have
to make is that much easier.
"It is a very difficult one. You could reduce the number of teams
to 14 or maybe 12, but that's not going to happen. Two divisions,
in my view, won't lead to an improvement because more or less the
same amount of cricket would be played. If you reduce the number
of teams, the quality of cricket will improve. The players will
have more practice time, training time and rest time."
Stewart believes the team spirit built up through the county
changing rooms is essential for a successful Test team, and did
not think a regional set-up would be detrimental to that.
Another magazine survey has favoured splitting the championship,
confirming a general swing among the public and most county
players towards this idea.
A poll of 3,000 enthusiasts, published in Cricket Lore this week,
showed that 71 per cent thought the championship needed reforming
in some way and, on the assumption of change, 68 per cent
favoured two divisions. However, the feeling in favour of
promotion and relegation was far from overwhelming.
The respondents to the Cricket Lore survey were a cross-section
of readers and members of the experimental National Cricket
Membership Scheme based at the magazine's London N16 OHS postal
address.
England's authorities yesterday announced a range of price cuts
for next summer's Test series against New Zealand, hoping to
tempt new followers attracted by the preceding World Cup.
The ECB will offer half-price tickets for under-16s and will
reduce adult tickets by 25 per cent compared with this year's
series against South Africa, with special offers for late
admission and the fourth and fifth days.
Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)