Before we start, here I am on BlueSky. I’m doing Threads too but less on Twitter these days

Expect the trumpets to sound in the coming days.

Like some sort of cricketing Charge of the Light Brigade, there is money winging its way in and it will ‘save the game’, especially the county version.

Maybe £20m each, they will say.

To get that all the ECB had to do was give up much of their control($) and August. Other things that have been sacrificed, full or in part: the lifeline of Blast revenue, preparedness for Tests and trust in the ECB (especially The Richards).

And of course, in doing something they say will save the county game they have, in deed and word, utterly undermined and imperilled the county game.

Anyway, that is the usual angry scene-setter completed.

Speaking of things I have written many times before, I’ll see how I feel when the season begins but I admit I am going through a period of what-is-the-bloody-pointedness?

Maybe it is the insanity of the Trump re-election or two deaths in my immediate family in 2024 finally hitting home but early 2025 has made me want to shut up shop and, like a new retiree, disappear to a mental allotment and just potter about for a few years actively ignoring all the noise outside.

I am not at that age yet but annexing myself to fantasy land for a while certainly appeals.

If we live in a world where policies based on fibs, self-interest and making the rich richer can be spun to suggest they are in everyone’s interests and, because the backers have more money and power, get enacted then what is the point?

And yes, you can interpret that sentence – to different degrees, in different circumstances and, of course, with very different communication styles – for what The Donald has done and what The Richards have ended up ultimately executing.

At least Trump got his mandate to change fundamental institutions with a vote, not just “a direction of travel”.

OK, I am stretching a point but if you think it is way too far then re-read this article from the Wisden Almanac again about bitterness, bullying accusations and betrayal.

On Sunday, I read a fine piece on the problems the James Bond brand is having right now. Cubby Broccoli, the mogul who kept the movie franchise vibrant and relevant until his death when similar titles had gone beyond their sell-by date, used to say: “Don’t have temporary people make permanent decisions.”

That is what cricket has done.

The Richards are now complicit, their hands were bound by the mismanagement of Graves and Teflon Tom Harrison. And they were our best hope.

But they will go soon and, in a couple of years, re-emerge in nice new cricket-adjacent roles. Then the new lot can shrug “Don’t blame us, Guv. It was them”

Why can I say that with such confidence? Because it is what has happened time and time again.

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Still, as promised I had a Zoom call with a representative of the Culture, Media and Sport committee a few weeks ago. In mid-February, I will be going to the House of Commons to see the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Committee for Cricket.

There may be governance issues worthy of further scrutiny so fill up this form by February 21. In simple terms, it is a short-cut to get issues in front of the Committee. They will decide whether to take it further.

Please take a look and please fill it up.

I will be emailing out my notes to those who have previously said they were happy to write to their MP and the DCMS. Join the list here and I will contact you with info and ideas on what to include. On first glance the questions look impenetrable.

Yes, I know it is another form and another thing and it all seems pretty pointless. But I believe weight of support has made a difference in the tiny traction we have gained.

Of course, February 21 is too late.

Then again it is all too late.

[Insert a pithy upwardly-looking pay-off line here. I had a think but could not write one with any sincerity, sorry]

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PS. Here I am on BlueSky. I’m doing Threads too but less on Twitter these days. Also here are my social media links – Facebook | Instagram

PPS I have set up a County Cricket Chat space on Reddit – r/CountyCricketChat

PPPS If you want to get involved in any groups to change this situation. Then there is the County Cricket Members Group and, of course, the Cricket Supporters Association.

Once again, sorry but you have to file these results under ‘interesting but really depressing’.

Bear in mind that the audience for this newsletter is pretty skewed one way. Anyone who is still reading after 145 editions either came with a view similar to mine or has been thoroughly browbeaten by now. Subtle I aint. But even I was surprised a the strength of feeling. And the sample is a robust 272 responses.

Question 3 was “tell me why you love county cricket” and Question 10 was “anything else to add”. These were text answers and, frankly, too long. I’ll put in a selection next time.

Here are some highlights from the graphs below

• 272 responses, two-thirds county members, 45% seeing more than 20 days per season

• Just 8% describe themselves as ‘satisfied’ or ‘extremely satisfied’ with the way county cricket is run. Almost two-thirds were ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘extremely dissatisfied’

• Biggest concerns: county structure, effect of the tournament-that-shall-not-be-named, attitude of the ECB to the county game

• Almost half think the sale of franchises will have an ‘extremely bad’ effect on the county game. Almost four out of five say it will be ‘bad’ or ‘extremely bad’

• Over a third expect to be coming less in the next five years

• Oh and 90% want ‘scrapping the tournament-that-shall-not-be-named to be considered’. Just 3% are open-minded to expansion.

Kudos to the person who replied to Q9 with “I’m 82, I don’t plan five years ahead.”

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New Zealand’s Tickner returns to Derbyshire on all-format deal for 2025 | ESPNcricinfo

Agar To Return For 2025 Blast | Northamptonshire CCC

Durham: Wicketkeeper-batter Ollie Robinson signs on for three more years | BBC Sport

Beau Webster: Warwickshire sign Australia all-rounder on three-month deal | BBC Sport

Ashton Agar: Northamptonshire re-sign spin bowler for T20 Blast group stage | BBC Sport

Lancashire complete the signing of Marcus Harris | Lancashire Cricket Club

James Wharton: Yorkshire batter signs contract extension | BBC Sport

Aussies abroad: Who’s playing county cricket in 2025 | Cricket.com.au

Rory Burns awarded 2025 Testimonial Year | Kia Oval

Roseberry joins Middlesex as Commercial Ambassador | Middlesex CCC

£400m H*ndred sale is huge bet on future of global sporting market | Times

Yorkshire put private ownership plans on hold as focus turns to H*ndred auction | Yorkshire | The Guardian

The H*ndred: Manchester United and Chelsea owners aim for late winner in Lord’s auction | Sky Sports

Welsh Fire: Glamorgan will retain 51% share of H*ndred franchise – BBC Sport

Read Mike Atherton’s piece at the top. It is both essential and fair.

Let’s see how this last headline plays out. I can’t see why any investor would pay a decent sum to become a minority and sleepy if not sleeping partner in the franchise that has struggled the most.

Incidentally, this was an interesting little nugget from the FootieBiz newsletter suggesting the ECB were wooing the Wrexham owners. It has been written consistently that the Hollywood duo were actively interested. No persuasion involved. Spot the spin.

The same article mentioned interest (proper interest this time) from Chelsea minority owner Todd Boehly, who, along with Clearlake has arguably overspent, mismanaged the business and supposedly meddled in on-field affairs at Stamford Bridge.

“Boehly is believed to be attracted to the Hundred because he considers the franchises to be relatively cheap.”

An outstanding motive, I’m sure you’ll agree.

By the way, US owners have also felt that UK football clubs are undervalued and under-commercialised. They buy them, bring in their own ideas (based on squeezing both the pips and purses) and it always works.

Yep, always. Never fails.

And remember UK cricket does not have the football’s safety net of ‘another rich fool with a massive ego’ to sell on to when things go wrong.

London Spirit: Ambani family on track to buy £100m Hundred team | City AM

Tech giants vying with IPL owners in final round of Hundred franchise sales | ESPNcricinfo

CSK, KKR lose interest in acquiring teams in The Hundred: Report | The Times of India

When the figures come out, look at the percentage of money spent on the two London franchises compared to the other six. Look at the amount of bidders without a background in cricket (tech bros and private equity – no thanks). And, of course, look at the distribution not the amount.

This time, the last of these is equitable for hosts and non-hosts. Perhaps it will be the final time this is the case for any significant sums.

Reportedly, CSK and KKR have pulled out because they do not believe the ECB projections on media rights growth. So many of their predictions looked overly optimistic but this one was always going to be the sticking point. For me, the only way to achieve anything close would be to somehow get Indian players involved. That was always extremely doubtful but looks be near impossible with the IPL teams on the outside.

If you bought a 49% stake how would you feel if the projections in the ECB prospectus fall a long way short? Well, I suspect you would ask them how they will sort out the problem.

As the post below says, you make good and start ‘reallocating’ from existing or, worse still, future media revenue.

Borrowing against future revenue is popular in sports business right now but, even for football’s biggest clubs, it is precarious. (See this piece on Barca). Let alone UK cricket and a new competition that has been losing money throughout its short existence.

Expect every ECB budget line to come under pressure unless it is seen to be growing this asset. They have already cut university and Over 50s cricket. If it goes wrong, I was a franchise owner I would seriously question why money is going to the county game, especially when they are part of a multi-club group with their own global academies and pathways or are capable of growing them.

That is the size of the gamble now.

Also the divide between Team England, the franchise players and the domestic game is widening. If the stars get all the spoils to stop them going abroad and the teams that made them are left in poverty then expect that animosity to grow.

That is what happens when the have-not gets even less and the haves get even more.

MLC set to expand from six teams to eight by 2027, move into Canada being explored | ESPNcricinfo

And, of course, when new events need to make more money they will expand.

As Major League Soccer as shown, if you cannot get the media revenue you need then just bring in more teams, with sizable expansion fees. But never threaten the owner’s control or value by introducing any such nonsense like promotion and relegation.

Major League Cricket was always going to expand once it felt it had obtained the tiniest foothold. Greater crossover with the calendar of the tournament-that-shall-not-be-named or/and the county game is inevitable.

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Inside Yorkshire’s rapid rise and how they will hunt a first Championship title in 10 years on return to top flight: The three breakout stars on their way and the four overseas stars on their radar | Daily Mail Online

Anthony McGrath on why club cricket matters and digital scouting | Cricket Yorkshire

Mitchell appointed Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive on permanent basis | ESPNcricinfo

Former England batter moves to Dubai after attacks on family home as World Cup winner gives up county captaincy to start new life | Daily Mail Online

PSL 2025 – James Vince quits red-ball to play for Karachi Kings | ESPNcricinfo

England fringe players like James Vince big winners (and earners) of T20 era | Times

James Vince: Terrifying attacks on my home led to me quitting county cricket | Telegraph

Like many Essex fans, I have little time for the on-field personality of James Vince. But he is an excellent batter at county level and it is horrific to think that the attacks on his home may have contributed to his departure from Hampshire’s red-ball team.

Looking through the responses of Hampshire fans to the club’s tweet about his departure, it seemed positive enough – good servant, short career, go earn some money etc.

I suspect it will be the same when he comes back for the Blast.

But the trend is set and young players with less service and oneclubmanship may receive a different send off.

MCC to open new state school competition as Eton-Harrow remains | Telegraph

Honestly, who cares about what the MCC does anymore? I really don’t know why they even bother with this sort of windowdressing which, no doubt, will be prominent in their glossy reports.

Nothing will change. It is a private club based on maintaining deference, not changing it. Attending their Christmas Lunch not only confirmed my worst fears but added a few new ones I had never thought about.

Just look that their guest list for the next Cricket Connects meeting.

It really is EXACTLY what we need, hearing more from Andrew Strauss (who ran the Strauss Report, which was not passed but will be broadly enacted, and executive chair of TTB Sport Capital, here’s what they do, surprise, surprise) in a club run by Mark Nicholas, 17 years at Hampshire but a long critic of the county game.

Meanwhile Middlesex, Strauss’ county and the tenants at Lord’s, struggle to stay afloat. But they are still organising a Walkers and Talkers event for members

Oh and Durham are doing stuff like this – Cricket delivering hope for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in north east – Durham CCC.

One is rich, the other is priceless.

Warwickshire set for historic Pakistan tour – Warks CCC

Warwickshire County Cricket Club’s team set to make historic visit to Pakistan | Geo TV

Mitchell appointed Professional Cricketers’ Association chief executive on permanent basis | ESPNcricinfo

Long hops? How one local cricket club are brewing their own beer | Cricket | The Guardian

Finally, food for thought…

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