In autumn 2017, a player survey addressed the MCCA view that
primary purposes of Minor Counti es’ cricket are:
1 To play a full role in the player pathway
2 To be the pinnacle of recreati onal cricket and provide an
opportunity for players beyond league cricket
3 To keep spectators and supporters who are interested in
recreati onal cricket within the minor counti es fully engaged
with the game.
The results of the
questi onnaire were very
encouraging from a MCCA
viewpoint. 76% of players
agreed that Minor County
cricket is the pinnacle of the
recreati onal game. 87% of
respondents said that 3 day
cricket was very important.
55% said that 50 over cricket
was also very important. 89%
said that 3 day cricket was the
most important format for
the long term development
of players, 64% said that 3 day cricket was the best route to
progress to First Class cricket. 66% of players supported the
inclusion of a MCCA T20 competi ti on. 94% want a T20 competi ti on
to be played in coloured clothing with a white ball The majority
of respondents said that July and August are the most favourable
months for MCCA matches.
In fact, most of these preferences were already being taken up
prior to the results of the questi onnaire being known showing
the MCCA as being on the front foot in progressing the game
parti cularly in relati onship to the recommendati ons of Cricket
Unleashed which emphasized the creati on of heroes, the inspiring
of followers and the promoti on of the player pathway.
The competi ti on formats for 2018 are as follows: there will be six 3
day Championship matches - no change from 2017 except that the
Championship will start later in June and the fi nal round of games
will take place early in September. The KO Trophy will consist of a
preliminary round to reduce the competi ti on to 16 teams, followed
by a straight knock-out involving three rounds and a fi nal.
A new T20 competi ti on will be introduced involving 4 groups of 5
counti es (with each day comprising two matches against the same
opponent). All counti es will have 2 home and 2 away fi xtures and
the four successful group winners will qualify for a fi nals day. Both
the KO Trophy and the T20 will be played with white balls and
coloured clothing and clads( covered pads). Two balls will be used
per innings in the KO Trophy.
An MCCA one day fi nals’ week, together with the annual MCCA v
MCC match, will be held at Wormsley commencing from Sunday
26 August 2018. The championship fi nal this year will again be at
Banbury.
Although change is taking place in Minor Counti es’ cricket, the
emphasis on the highly valued Championship remains strong
although the response to new formats is being embraced positi vely.
A sentence from the great novel about c19th century Sicily, The
Leopard, by Thomasi di Lampedusa, sums up the situati on.
“ If we want things to stay as they are, we will have to change”.
Neil Gamble
A new look for Minor Counti es cricket?
20
Picture: Josh Bess bowling.