In defence of the groundstaff
As the fall-out from the Ìýrumbles on I want to write some words of support for the various groundstaffÌýwho are always the first to arrive and the last to leave every day of the season.Ìý
I wasn't so I will keep out of that, but if the groundsman I know best is anything to go by the amount of work that goes into trying to get things right would never deserve a points penalty.
One thing that stands out over the last couple of years is how interesting the games have becomeÌýfollowing the directive .
It does, of course, mean thatÌýif there are any problems with a surface on the opening day there is little to nothing that can be done.ÌýGroundstaff have had an important tool taken from them.
There must be some kind of policing standards as suggestions that certain directions are given to groundsmen to under-prepare pitches is not acceptable.
This week we also heard a player end a first day's play saying that particular surface had been "sticky". That can't be right.Ìý
Again, stressing that I know nothing about last week, it has struck me that if the opposition aren't bothered then there is every chance a club won't face a penalty and the findings can be too subjective.
Warwickshire groundsman Steve Rouse prepares the controversial Edgbaston pitch before the final day of last week's County Championship clash with Worcestershire (photo: PA)
There was a case last season when a batsman turned up one morning mid-match 90-odd not out and found sand thrown at either end of the pitch to bring in a spinner.Ìý
As he drew people's attention to it there were a few wry smiles and everyone got on with it. He completed the century, even if the team lost heavily.
Andy Fogerty has been at Leeds for more years than he cares to remember and quite how he's never won groundsman of the year is beyond me.
He's received runners-up awards for his one-day pitches. It's not unusual for those staying at the Headingley lodge to look out of their window at two or three in the morning to see Andy checking the covers if overnight rain had been forecast.
Andy admits to feeling nervous down the years when preparing a pitch and watching the first day unfold. He has grown to cope with it, although there are pressures.
For Andy to be happy, he wants his pitches to play well because, if they don't, it reflects on him and his team no matter what nature has thrown at them in the preceeding days.
Relations with your captain and director of cricket have to be right, and that includes respect for the professionalism of the groundstaff.
Whilst home advantage will always count for something, push that too far and the relationship would break down.
As Andy and his fellow grounsdmen might say if ordered about to much - get yourself a gardener!
On another note, thank goodness is far more interesting and engaging a man than his job title would suggest - ECB managing director - events and county business.
He took on the role at the turn of the year and he's been a busy man, spending the last couple of months going around all the first-class counties "having a chat".
I spoke with him this week to find out how the meetings had gone and was getting on fine until I mentioned the words 'financial crisis'.
He won't have it. Sure, he acknowledged that financial results from clubs are not as good as they have been.
"'Challenges' lie ahead," he said. But he couldn't be firmer when adding: "It's far too early to suggest it's a trend."
Basically, his point is wherever you look people aren't spending the same amount they once did and any form of leisure industry will struggle at times like this.
He also strongly denies it's a certainty that one or two county clubs will go under during the next few years.
That won't please those who are hoping some form of ruin will befall someone which will ease the fixture congestion.
It's a long time since we've heard the 'Grey Pound' being talked about in economic terms and I wonder if it might make a return when the older end of the market is still viable.
To generalise, I have long asked administrators why they don't do more to appeal to those people with some more time. Attracting that type of person appeared somehow embarrassing.
I was told for over a decade that the more 'mature members' of the public aren't going to make you money because, when in a ground, they don't spend on drink, burgers and replica shirts etc.
Gordon, it seems, would disagree. He says more work needs to be done with those spectators.
Each format needs to be aimed at its relevant market and if, at times, that means over-50s then so be it.
He knows his stuff from working as commercial manager at for six years and if his role is to give focus to the county game and the way clubs are run I'm encouraged.
He certainly doesn't believe you will never make money out of domestic cricket, as many unfortunately do.
I think he and I may never see eye-to-eye over the issue of the international staging agreement, even if its motive was right, its aim to improve facilities and raise standards.
There's not enough international cricket to go around. To serve each ground adequately is to further over-burden the schedule.
Alterations are being made to the 'major match award' policy which, I'm told, are guaranteed to provide venues more certainty.
It's a shame making venues so large, though, as it makes creating an acceptable atmosphere for domestic cricket even more of a challenge.
It may also surprise you to hear Gordon say that making a profit is not what cricket is all about. It's about reinvesting, such that over 650 recreational clubs get financial support from the ECB.
Time alone will tell if that 'not for profit' idea is all political hokum, but I would not only love it to be true but also see county cricket sustainable for years to come.
In the meantime, crisis or not, the losses need to be addressed. So one step at a time.
I'm Kevin Howells, my main job is covering cricket and it is one of the best jobs in the world. I aim to convince as many as I can that the County Championship is as compelling and interesting as any other sport.
Comment number 1.
At 20th May 2011, hainba wrote:Kevin you do pick'em first a blog on umpires now groundsman obviously you won't gain mass interest but for anyone with a more than cursory knowledge of cricket they should understand that the relationship with the groundsman is key and is linked closely to quality of pitches.
Umpires surely have to provide the most objective and relevant feedback on the pitches over the course of a match / season.
As for finances the tightening of belts at county level has differing effects on clubs and young cricketers. Counties are now looking closer to home for players (but academies cost £'s) so the squads are now smaller and this SHOULD mean that more emphasis is on development at club premier league level, requiring counties to take a greater interest in local leagues and the stability of club cricket. Some of this is through the Clubmark accreditation process but do the counties REALLY look at this as a nursery for potential county cricketers like they used too?
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Comment number 2.
At 20th May 2011, kevinhowellsbbc wrote:Sorry you think my subjects are dull. Even so I think you're comment is interesting so some good came of it. Ideas are always welcome. I have tried to write about subjects which get most talked about on twitter @Kevinhowellsbbc. Thank you for support anyway.
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Comment number 3.
At 20th May 2011, Grounders wrote:Great article - thankyou. A (First Class) groundsman.
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Comment number 4.
At 21st May 2011, hainba wrote:Kevin I don't think the subjects are dull, quite the opposite.
Just quite specialist to real cricket mainstream - maybe this wil open peoples eyes to what makes cricket happen. But many either just turn-up & play / watch without a thought for who/what makes the game happen. So not sure of your audience here without 606.
I'm a club player/administrator at a premier league club and like the many volunteers have strong views & interest in these topics certainly to maintain standards as times have changed, finances tougher and counties more professional within their own walls at least...but they still need us!
Saying that we do have county pitch inspectors.
Keep up the good work
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Comment number 5.
At 21st May 2011, kevinhowellsbbc wrote:Further to the blog and the mention of big grounds creating problems for domestic cricket in filling them enough to create an atmosphere that says to people this is the place to be. I watched a small amout of the CB 40 match at the Rosebowl on the TV last night. There appeared to be nobody there. Were you there? What was the experience like? I for one think it is too early to be playing day/night cricket.
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Comment number 6.
At 21st May 2011, Tommo wrote:Given the penalty for Warwickshire I hope Surrey get penalty for the pitch at Whitgift school for their game against Essex. Even Pakistan against WI would struggle to get a result on that pitch.
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Comment number 7.
At 21st May 2011, kevinhowellsbbc wrote:Don't know anything specific to Whitgift but outgrounds have to be even more careful than home grounds because if a pitch raises any sort if questions of being under prepared they will run high risk of losing their games next season
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Comment number 8.
At 21st May 2011, kevinhowellsbbc wrote:That above should read sort OF questions
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Comment number 9.
At 21st May 2011, AndyRAC wrote:I too saw the Pro40 game on TV, it wasn't the only one this week with a small crowd, in fact I kept flicking between that and MLB on ESPN - and the difference was staggering.
I really do fear for the County game - how long can it go on attracting a few hundred people, especially in a Test ground. Maybe the outgrounds need to be used more often. Perhaps we have to maybe accept the horrible thought that cricket (county cricket especially) just isn't that popular to the general public here in UK. The saturaton coverage of football can't help either - but the status quo surely can't continue.
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Comment number 10.
At 22nd May 2011, kevinhowellsbbc wrote:As yesterday at Liverpool and every week somewhere shows the county product especially the Championship is worth fighting tooth and nail to maintain. Ofcourse you hold valid opinions and fears but in isolation nobody has yet persuaded me that day night cricket should be played in this country any other time than June, July and an early part of August.
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Comment number 11.
At 22nd May 2011, hainba wrote:So many people place too much emphasis on attendance at county games, the quality and ability to devevlop cricket professionals who can adapt also to One Dayers, T20 and rise to international level is surely the ultimate objective.
The use of day nighters seems to be at the whim of individual counties & of course TV contracts. T20 twenty has shown that there is a vast spread of financial models, ground sizes and followings across the counties. A monday evening game maybe profitable for Hants but not for Lancs.
Unless the counties can structure the county, OD & T20 seasons in a way that benefits all the supporter will continue to be frustrated.
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Comment number 12.
At 23rd May 2011, kevinhowellsbbc wrote:Again good points and certainly the first paragraph is the popular view. The lesser heard voices look at the struggle to fill grounds for the Sri Lanka series and they wonder if the domestic audience should be given more respect and care than it is at present. They may have a point after all were are talking about third v fourth in the world!
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Comment number 13.
At 23rd May 2011, hainba wrote:Murali & Malinga helped sell tickets also the nature of the ICC rankings often limits the impact of a single series. Neither team will be able to overhaul India or SA.
For International T20 (or ODI) should consider returning to three or even four way competitions to change the format and increase interest. The format of ODIs after tests does not always work with september day/nighters!
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