Apathy threatens English cricket

Apathy among the public is the single greatest threat to cricket's future in England, according to a survey conducted by a new sports lobbying group, The Sports Nexus. More than 2500 people were plucked at random from the streets of England and asked a variety of questions, many of which provided worrying responses.

Of the respondants, 55% answered "Don't know" when asked whether the structure of county cricket helped to create a competitive national side. Meanwhile 43% "didn't care at all" about the fortunes of England's Test team over the past decade. On a slightly more positive note, only 22% argued that cricket was no longer a major national sport in England and "will continue to decline".

The findings were revealed by The Sport Nexus at a breakfast seminar on cricket at London's Savoy Hotel earlier this week, and among the more outspoken attendants was Michael Atherton, who is at the vanguard of cricket's modernisation drive, in his dealings with the Cricket Reform Group.

"The England & Wales Cricket Board realise the need for serious change," said Atherton, "and I think there's a widespread belief that English cricket is at a crossroads. We can either meander along as things are or do something about it. Change must happen to get English cricket back to where it belongs."

Des Wilson, the ECB's marketing chief - the man whose 17-page document recently outlined England's stance on Zimbabwe - was quick to defend his organisation. "Things are not quite as bad as painted," he insisted, "and the ECB is at the forefront of change. I think people accept that we are not quite the bunch of old fuddy-duddies that we are sometimes made out to be."

"It's a myth to say cricket cannot change," added Wilson. "In fact it has changed more than any other sport." He cited the example of the Twenty20 Cup, which was launched last year by the ECB despite serious reservations among several pundits and players alike. But it proved to be a resounding success, and has the ability to create a fresh interest in the game.