Fools Friday

I am totally convinced that the above is the motto of the ECB as they set out their plan to make England the laughing stock of the cricket world.

It was announced that after a meeting on Wednesday ( a meeting in the Lords Tavern by the sounds of it) the 100 ball game was put down on paper ( back of a fag packet or more likely Cuban cigar box in their case).
And what a great big pile of s**t they have churned out, their 'revolutionary vision' to the franchise game.

This is the game that is to attract the people who do not usually go to cricket.
This is the game to attract woman and children to cricket ( because woman and children never go to cricket)
This is the game that they say will be popular with broadcasters ( and the ECB hierarchy back pockets)

So they are going to have it set out in 10 overs of 10 balls for each team and changing ends after 10 balls???!!!!
Bowlers can bowl 5 or 10 balls in one go.
The game will be 20 balls shorter than current short format game.
The tickets are bound to be ridiculously priced!

And the ECB think that this will save cricket????!!!!

Firstly if you have never been to cricket and see this you will never appreciate County championship cricket  ( or is this their cunning plan)
Yes, woman and children will be able to join in the 'excitement' of counting down the 10 ball over ( because woman obviously love this kind of thing all the time)

I am waiting for the addendum to this format, where if the bowler,bowls a wide he then has to bowl wearing a blindfold ( oh how the spectators will laugh!).
If the player is out for a duck he gets  custard pied on the way back to the dug out by his team mates.
Winners get to jump in a hot tub and drink loads of sponsored beer or wine

I am not a fan of T20 but at least it is mainly our county players, not to be  the case with the Franchise fiasco, which will be open to the T20 whores who roam the world in search of more money.

As you can tell I am right behind the whole thing!!!

I have already begun my strongly worded letter to 'Robbing' Graves. Not that it will do any good but at least it will mean the return letter will give their cleaner something to do apart from putting the port bottles out for recycling.

This does have to go before the counties in January, but with the lure of huge amounts of money for the 8 counties who will be part of the fiasco. I fear  it will be pushed though.

What I do wonder though is that (especially at Yorkshire) counties have been pushed by ECB to up grade their grounds ( flood lights. new stands etc) putting  most in debt, how can they refuse to accept this abomination, with the money that is being offered.

My only hope is that it falls flat on its face ( words I  never thought that I would ever write about any form of cricket) .

Oh dear Friday has started with one hell of a rant!

Think I need to go to see Big Al ,the hungry persons pal, and order the bacon butties.

Have a good Friday...........................I smell a glass of wine or two coming on this evening,