2012 has been another busy year for cricket with a lot of
positives to look back on. But in this particular article I’ll look at some of
the things which have got steam coming out of my ears over the past twelve
months. There is only one place to start:
1. The weather
2012 was an absolutely shocking year weather-wise. Club
cricketers, county cricketers and international cricketers spent most of the
English summer watching weather forecasts and huddled inside pavilions. Whole
rounds of Championship matches were virtually wiped out and, as a result,
Yorkshire were promoted after drawing eleven matches. Edgbaston was underwater
every time they tried to play an international. The club season was even worse
hit. My local league surpassed the previous record for matches called off in a
season before the half-way point had even been reached. Quite simply the rain
wreaked havoc during the English season.
2. The schedule for
England v South Africa
It was one of the most eagerly anticipated non-Ashes Test
series for years but a combination of England’s performance, the Olympics and
the schedule combined to make it a peripheral event in the 2012 experiences of
most sports fans. Whilst the ECB could
do very little to change matters on the field, the schedule left a lot to be
desired. For a start there were only three matches, making a mockery of the
designation of matches between the two sides as an ‘icon’ series to be
contested over five. In addition, the 2nd Test at Headingley clashed
directly with the most important sports event to hit British shores, ever. Even
my eyes were elsewhere when Kevin Pietersen was producing one of his
masterclasses. Finally, the two Tests either side of the Olympics were both
held in London. Although good crowds turned up, it seemed odd to give the two
most lucrative cricket matches of the year to a city who’s sports fans could
not complain of a shortage of world class competition. The 30 seconds cricket
got on Sports Personality of the Year showed how much this series had been
marginalised. That could easily have been avoided with more sensible
scheduling.
3. The BCCI’s stance on
photographers
As somebody who’s Dad was a professional golf photographer,
and campaigned extensively on behalf of photographers in all sports, it
saddened me to see the BCCI withold accreditation from major photographic
agencies and insist that the only published pictures came from their
website. The British press deserve a pat
on the back for deciding not to take the BCCI pictures. The BCCI’s stance sets
a dangerous precedent for press freedom. But more than that it is a tremendous
kick in the teeth to the specialist photographers, who havemade a career out of
being amongst the best in their field. Given that the BCCI have no real
interest in how good the pictures are, it can only be assumed that their
photographers are those willing to work for the lowest salary and won’t take
any pictures which paint the board in a bad light. The industry is already
facing challenges in the 21st century environment, and it seems
ridiculous that cricket’s administrators want to make life even harder for
skilled professionals that deserve to make a living.
4. The actions of the Sri Lankan board
Whilst the BCCI’s sins are well known, less attention has
been paid to SLC. At the start of the year they couldn’t afford to pay their
players. So they charged British fans extortionate prices to get into the Galle
Test. Arguably fair enough. Then they hosted a World Twenty20, which should
have brought in lots of cash. But they still felt the need to cancel or shorten
Test series after Test series to make room for ODIs against India. This only
gets worse next year, and is already starting to have an effect on other
nations. West Indies had a thin schedule in the first place, but their series
at home to Sri Lanka has now been cancelled to make way for guess what? An ODI
tri-series involving India. Nobody would argue with Mahela Jayawardene when he
says that he has “lost all confidence in dealing with SLC”.
5. Calls for a
franchise system in England
Sorry if you’ve heard this one from me before - it’s a bit of
a personal campaign of mine. This summer player after player, pundit after
pundit, former player after former player, came out to pledge their support for
an IPL or Big Bash-style franchise system in the UK. The justification was that
it would spice up the competition, bring the crowds back and attract global
stars. But every single person that wanted a franchise system was missing the
point. In the long-run its unrealistic for domestic cricket in England to fill
big grounds whoever’s playing and wherever its played. Franchises would surely
be given to the big cities, robbing those grounds which actually do well out of
Twenty20 of their main income stream. Meanwhile, its assumed that Yorkshire
fans will suddenly want to support the Leeds franchise in the new T20, and that
those who pour in for T20 at Chelmsford will head to The Oval. At the end of
the day franchises can’t do anything about the rain either…
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