Somerset has never won the County Championship title
Somerset has told the English and Wales Cricket Board that the current national schedule is “unacceptable”.
The club’s response to the game program comes after a board meeting at which the ECB’s ongoing review of men’s football was discussed.
A smaller top division in the County Championship and fewer cricket days are among the proposals of the review.
Final recommendations are expected by the end of September, with changes agreed by all 18 counties.
Somerset said they “welcomed” the “overarching objective” of the Sir Andrew Strauss-led review, which aims to bring sustained success to the England side and help them become the best in the world in all formats within five years .
They also agreed that following the impact of the pandemic and the current “macroeconomic” challenges, reform was needed “to ensure the game is sustainable in the short, medium and long term”.
With each borough still set to play 14 league games in 2023 – regardless of the report’s final recommendations – Somerset’s board do not want a repeat of the schedule for this summer at Taunton.
“The current national fixtures programme, which has resulted in just four one-day matches being played in 43 days at Taunton this midsummer year and 17 Somerset players being unavailable, is unacceptable to the club, its members and south west cricket public”, a statement said.
“Across a season, a cricket diet in all formats is required that is satisfactory for members, paying spectators and players.”
Those games – in last month’s One-Day Cup against Nottinghamshire, Durham, Middlesex and Sussex – all ended in defeat for Somerset, who won just one of their eight group games after winning the competition in 2019.
High-quality barbecues can “thrill” children.
Cricket director Andy Hast had said the club was in on it “fined” for producing quality players after losing eight key members of their roster to this year’s Hundred, which was played alongside the 50-over format.
The club’s board added it was “vital that the highest standard of domestic cricket for men and women in the South West is available throughout the summer” to meet the “enormous” demands of members and supporters and “to enable children.” to get inspired and fall in love with cricket during the school holidays”.
Other recommendations to the ECB include establishing a “sustainable funding model” to allow clubs not participating in Test venues to “thrive” and continue to create a path for talent to play county and international cricket.
The club says districts will be given “ample time” to discuss any proposed changes with their members and fans, as well as match and support staff, before anything is finalized.
The ECB was contacted by ` Sport for comment.
Will Smeed (right) scored the first century in The Hundred this season while playing for Birmingham Phoenix
Comments are closed.