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You are undoubtedly aware that the provinces currently have a large old argument about how to change the County Championship for future seasons. (And if you don’t know yet, you would certainly assume that that was the case, because when did they not do it?) It has been said that there are 18 provinces that agree that the structure is not good, but 19 different versions of what the answer is. Allow us to throw a 20th option in the mix, of which we are sure that it would satisfy many provinces, if not someone else.
The primary goal of every structure change would be to play fewer games. You would think that this detail could count against the multiple options that have been suggested, so that the provinces would play exactly the same number of games, but no, apparently not. Nevertheless, as far as we can see, it is the central thing that is argued here.
The simplest way to reach a 12-game season would be by reducing the size of the top flight to seven teams and each province twice to let the province play. This would be fun and balanced and even if it would leave you an uncomfortable second division, the first division is the sporting integrity of the competition the most important.
Unfortunately, even a first division of eight teams was considered unacceptable on the basis of the fact that not enough provinces would have the opportunity to be a champion. (That is actually how we ended up with the current wonderful setup in which 10 First Division Provinces play a few opponents once and others twice.)
An alternative
If that specific taste of madness is acceptable – indeed desirable – for the provinces, let’s roll with it. We have another advantage that they can throw in the mix.
Special correspondent Papa contacted us after we wrote on this subject last week. (See below.)
Dad said that when he started playing the first team cricket for Northwich, they participated in the Manchester Association. This non-WHOLLY-NUCCIOUS competition included clubs from places as far away as Lytham and Buxton.
“The list of clubs in our competition was as long as your arm. Our list of luminaire has been founded for years earlier. We played some clubs twice, some never and some never. In 1969, or therefore, we won the competition. HUZZAH and Save back a lot.
“All clubs organized their own matches and I am sure that if we wanted to, a match against Wigan could have been arranged, but they were the strongest at the time, so we never played them.”
This finds us a perfect solution for the knotty problem that the provincial championship is. Stay in the same competition and let each province prepare their own luminaire list. Everyone is happy.
Do you not want to play Surrey because they have been the best team in recent years? Don’t play them.
Do you want to play three times instead? Go for it.
Do you want to keep playing 14 games instead of 12? Quick yourself. Hell, play 16 if you want.
As soon as you have allowed competitive asymmetry in your sports competition, why would you strive for an illusion of balance. Just go full Manchester Association: a big free for all and most points win.
Unfortunately, the northwestern club cricket in the 1970s was a bit more enthusiastic about running a balanced and meritocratic competition than contemporary County Cricket. This is why Northwich became founders of the Cheshire County League, a much wiser pyramid system, which still exists to this day.
Dad says that this step did not come without costs for Northwich. “Although we were initially protected against relegation, the full power of a sensible system eventually touched us.”
Some buttons for ‘smash’
Nowadays you always ‘hits’ subscription buttons. You can destroy it if you want – or just click them if that is more your style.
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