“Technically speaking, a player doesn’t have to be registered with a county to be eligible for England. But, practically, it’s in the best interest of the player and the England management that he is registered with a county” – so the spectre of Freelance Kev may be some way off yet, if the ECB has any say about it.
“However it is wise to tread warily over any stories that sound unlikely at Derby, to avoid the fate of the distinguished Press Association correspondent who was done up like a kipper on his first visit here, and filed various pieces involving the famous – but unfortunately non-existent – Derby slope” – Andy Wilson at the County Ground for The Guardian’s sports blog.
“Surely at some point the integrity of team sport gets lost. Surely team sport is not just about artificially putting on a show” – Wisden’s John Stern is unconvinced by the prospect of Brian Lara’s abbreviated appearances at Surrey.
“Usually the drinks waiter is a lowly young hopeful but on this occasion it was the former Test player and captain of the county, Robert Croft. It was a poignant reminder of the passage of time, of how the end of a lengthy career can often resemble its beginning” – Different Strokes reflects on how county cricket can encapsulate a player’s entire career.
“The real highlight was the abuse heaped on some hapless ancient in the pavilion who was holding up play by doddering down the steps. ‘Sit down. Either that or drop dead,’ shouted a stripling in the Grand Stand. A stripling of about 60, that is. Only at county cricket can the middle-aged feel young again” – Stephen Moss soaking up the colour at Lord’s for The Guardian.
Like many fans, we were all geared up to welcome the new county season with exaggerated enthusiasm as a means of defending it from threats pressing in on all sides. Until the first weekend threw up a series of excellent games that were their own best advert.
“‘Gentlemen, your attention please,’ said Frankie. ‘This is a dark day. County cricket faces the threat we feared most.’
‘Is it a very slight reduction in TV funding that could lead to the end of civilisation as we know it?’ asked the committee member.
‘Worse even than that,’ sobbed Frankie” – Alan Tyres gives Cricinfo readers the inside line on the Essex match-fixing allegations.
“If a complete or partial pull-out this summer – in defence of national honour and ‘face’ – is the worst-case scenario for England, then six Tests without Kaneria would be a minor disaster on the playing side, because it is almost inconceivable that Pakistan could win a Test without him” – The Telegraph considers the potential implications of the latest match-fixing kerfuffle for the summer’s fixtures.
“As sure as any cuckoo’s call or swallow sighting, one of the surest signs that all is not lost and that the warmer months will come is the beginning of the English cricket season” – Bradders at The Compulsive Hooker waxes so lyrical that we can already feel the sunburn.
“I think from a county squad’s perspective you’ve got to think how to get the best out of the players you’ve got and that might mean rotation policies or resting players occasionally, especially the bowlers, in order to make sure the team is still functioning well come September” – Andrew Strauss is fretting about the County Championship’s early start.