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Sods

Leicestershire County Cricket Club

By Sods, in General Football and Sport

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Corky

Corky

Posted
Posted

Having complained on this page about the recent seasonal schedule, pleased to see many Championship games starting on Fridays meaning there should be plenty of cricket over the weekend days and the T20 clustered into a set of weeks to get everyone going and staying up to date. Next season looks far more structured in terms of scheduling so well done to the organisers. Will definitely try and get to more days/ games at Grace Road.

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HybridFox

HybridFox

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Posted

I posted this in the general cricket thread but after seeing a Leics one, it seems more relevant.

 

But there was an interesting article in The Times today about the prosed changes the ECB have for our domestic T20 competition.

 

Starting from 2020 (the year!), we will have 8 city-based franchises competing in a tournament designed to rival the IPL and Big Bash League. 

 

Having grown up watching county cricket here and a regular spectator at Grace Road, I'm concerned how this will affect Leicestershire. Specially given that T20 is the format that brings in the most fans.

 

Think about it, 8 teams, so it's bound to be the big grounds - Trent Bridge, Edgebaston, Old Trafford etc. So our nearest team would most likely be Nottingham. Could a Leicester man support a Nottingham team? Hell no! 

 

It may end up a profitable tournament, but I feel it will alienate the more die-hard fans who have grown up watching their counties. 

 

Interested to know your thoughts? 

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purpleronnie

purpleronnie

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I suppose that's where the money is these days, but as normal only a chosen few will benefit. 

 

Like you I couldn't support a Nottingham team.  Maybe they should have an east midlands team made up of all 3 counties.

 

I can see forest/derby/Leicester fans all getting on famously.

 

We could be named The East Midland foxeyramtree's.

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GazzinderFox

GazzinderFox

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Posted
3 hours ago, TK95 said:

I posted this in the general cricket thread but after seeing a Leics one, it seems more relevant.

 

But there was an interesting article in The Times today about the prosed changes the ECB have for our domestic T20 competition.

 

Starting from 2020 (the year!), we will have 8 city-based franchises competing in a tournament designed to rival the IPL and Big Bash League. 

 

Having grown up watching county cricket here and a regular spectator at Grace Road, I'm concerned how this will affect Leicestershire. Specially given that T20 is the format that brings in the most fans.

 

Think about it, 8 teams, so it's bound to be the big grounds - Trent Bridge, Edgebaston, Old Trafford etc. So our nearest team would most likely be Nottingham. Could a Leicester man support a Nottingham team? Hell no! 

 

It may end up a profitable tournament, but I feel it will alienate the more die-hard fans who have grown up watching their counties. 

 

Interested to know your thoughts? 

Weren't they on about having a second 20/20 tournament for all of the counties and this city based thing would be in addition?  

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GazzinderFox

GazzinderFox

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I like...

 

Pierre de Bruyn has warned his Leicestershire players that complacency will not be tolerated under his leadership.

De Bruyn has ruffled a few feathers at Grace Road since his appointment as the county's new head coach following the departure of Andrew McDonald at the end of 2016 season. But he is unapologetic about challenging attitudes at a club he feels has been coasting for too long and said he is prepared to deal with some unhappy senior pros as a consequence of producing more opportunities for younger players.

"The club has underperformed massively," de Bruyn said. "The fact is, we've been at the bottom of the Championship for a few years and, though we showed some signs of improvement in red-ball cricket, we've been very poor in white-ball cricket. We can't accept that. It's time to take a look at ourselves. We owe the supporters better.

"If we are serious about taking the club forward, we are going to have to have some tough conversations. If any of the senior players are complacent, I don't mind challenging them and I don't mind putting myself under pressure.

"If you have a squad of 25 players, more than half will not be playing and that means that some of them will be unhappy. But I want to focus on this club producing England players again and, in the likes of Zak Chappell and Ned Eckersley, we have guys with the talent to do that. We can't be accepting batsmen averaging in the mid-20s any more."

That would appear to be a reference to Angus Robson. He was the club's highest Championship run-scorer in 2014 and second highest in 2015, but endured a tougher 2016, averaging 27.11 with a top score of 84. As a consequence, it seems he can no longer be assured of his place.

"I don't blame him if he feels his position is under threat," de Bruyn said. "We have a big squad and competition is fierce. He has played more than 50 games and only made two centuries. He has had more than fair opportunity and there's no doubt he had a poor season. Averaging 27 in Division Two is not getting us promoted. I told him to go away and focus on making hundreds. I hope it drives him to work harder. I hope he comes back motivated and ruthless.

"But it's not just him. Our top order - the likes of Paul Horton and Mark Pettini - failed to score the runs we needed in limited-overs cricket and we need to do better.

"I am keen to create opportunities for younger players. Lewis Hill made a century at The Oval a couple of years ago [in his second first-class game], Harry Dearden is young and promising and we've signed Callum Parkinson, who is another who could go a long way in the game.

"Senior players will be treated fairly and respectfully, but places are up for grabs and that's exciting."

Leicestershire's first-class performances actually improved in 2016. After three successive seasons in which they had finished bottom in Division Two, they rose to seventh (and, but for a late season slide, it could have been better), though they continued to struggled in the shorter formats. They were bottom of the North Group on the NatWest T20 Blast and second from bottom of the North Group in the Royal London Cup.

 

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SMX11

SMX11

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Posted
5 hours ago, GazzinderFox said:

I like...

 

Pierre de Bruyn has warned his Leicestershire players that complacency will not be tolerated under his leadership.

De Bruyn has ruffled a few feathers at Grace Road since his appointment as the county's new head coach following the departure of Andrew McDonald at the end of 2016 season. But he is unapologetic about challenging attitudes at a club he feels has been coasting for too long and said he is prepared to deal with some unhappy senior pros as a consequence of producing more opportunities for younger players.

"The club has underperformed massively," de Bruyn said. "The fact is, we've been at the bottom of the Championship for a few years and, though we showed some signs of improvement in red-ball cricket, we've been very poor in white-ball cricket. We can't accept that. It's time to take a look at ourselves. We owe the supporters better.

"If we are serious about taking the club forward, we are going to have to have some tough conversations. If any of the senior players are complacent, I don't mind challenging them and I don't mind putting myself under pressure.

"If you have a squad of 25 players, more than half will not be playing and that means that some of them will be unhappy. But I want to focus on this club producing England players again and, in the likes of Zak Chappell and Ned Eckersley, we have guys with the talent to do that. We can't be accepting batsmen averaging in the mid-20s any more."

That would appear to be a reference to Angus Robson. He was the club's highest Championship run-scorer in 2014 and second highest in 2015, but endured a tougher 2016, averaging 27.11 with a top score of 84. As a consequence, it seems he can no longer be assured of his place.

"I don't blame him if he feels his position is under threat," de Bruyn said. "We have a big squad and competition is fierce. He has played more than 50 games and only made two centuries. He has had more than fair opportunity and there's no doubt he had a poor season. Averaging 27 in Division Two is not getting us promoted. I told him to go away and focus on making hundreds. I hope it drives him to work harder. I hope he comes back motivated and ruthless.

"But it's not just him. Our top order - the likes of Paul Horton and Mark Pettini - failed to score the runs we needed in limited-overs cricket and we need to do better.

"I am keen to create opportunities for younger players. Lewis Hill made a century at The Oval a couple of years ago [in his second first-class game], Harry Dearden is young and promising and we've signed Callum Parkinson, who is another who could go a long way in the game.

"Senior players will be treated fairly and respectfully, but places are up for grabs and that's exciting."

Leicestershire's first-class performances actually improved in 2016. After three successive seasons in which they had finished bottom in Division Two, they rose to seventh (and, but for a late season slide, it could have been better), though they continued to struggled in the shorter formats. They were bottom of the North Group on the NatWest T20 Blast and second from bottom of the North Group in the Royal London Cup.

 

Whilst it is good to hear that he will be demanding more consistency over the formats, I am not sure publicly naming 'failed' players is necessary or helpful in the long run. That being said, I am looking forward to see if we can progress and push for promotion this year.

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Mark 'expert' Lawrenson

Mark 'expert' Lawrenson

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No doubt County will get loads of criticism for having quite a few non English players in the side, which is harsh, as to get out of the doldrums they were/are in experienced Pro's were needed, it's a bit of a no win situation, finish bottom of the league and it's "what's the point of Leics" and now it's "what's the point of Leics they're full of foreigners" I hope to see a few young English lads coming through in the near future and that they are better than the over rated bunch of Leics products we had a few seasons ago.

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HybridFox

HybridFox

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Posted
46 minutes ago, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

We keep comparing our T20 to the Big Bash and the IPL but there are 2 major differences, 1 the weather and 2 cricket is probably the No1 sport in both Australia and India.

I enjoy the simplicity of our game and we actually see high quality cricket at times. T20 finals day is second to none with the semis and final happening at the same place. Great day out for all teams involved

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GazzinderFox

GazzinderFox

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On 10/02/2017 at 14:48, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

We keep comparing our T20 to the Big Bash and the IPL but there are 2 major differences, 1 the weather and 2 cricket is probably the No1 sport in both Australia and India.

I think it's the demographics that kill it too. Oz is perfect for it because it has a small number of relatively large cities. Cricket supporters in this country are evenly spread across probably 30+ cities/large towns which almost certainly means that games will be watched by smaller numbers of spectators. Yes there's people in Leicester not wanting to support a team in Nottingham but will Liverpudlians support a Manchester team and people from Sheffield support 'Leeds'?

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GazzinderFox

GazzinderFox

Posted
Posted
On 10/02/2017 at 15:37, TK95 said:

I enjoy the simplicity of our game and we actually see high quality cricket at times. T20 finals day is second to none with the semis and final happening at the same place. Great day out for all teams involved

Love finals day. I've been to 4. Long day though and there's carnage in the stands by 8pm!

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Mark 'expert' Lawrenson

Mark 'expert' Lawrenson

Posted
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1 hour ago, GazzinderFox said:

I think it's the demographics that kill it too. Oz is perfect for it because it has a small number of relatively large cities. Cricket supporters in this country are evenly spread across probably 30+ cities/large towns which almost certainly means that games will be watched by smaller numbers of spectators. Yes there's people in Leicester not wanting to support a team in Nottingham but will Liverpudlians support a Manchester team and people from Sheffield support 'Leeds'?

Not a chance is the answer, huge rivalries will not just be put to one side.

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GazzinderFox

GazzinderFox

Posted
Posted
20 hours ago, Voll Blau said:

On a similar topic, what are the odds are 'regional training hub' would be based in Nottingham... :rolleyes:

 

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2017/content/story/1082417.html

Indeed. But they do have a fantastic record of nurturing the driving skills of young players as they travel from wherever they live in the UK to Nottingham.

 

Mick Newell give a hilarious interview last year trying to defend Notts record of bringing through youngsters compared to Leicestershire, I must try and dig that one out again. The general message was, well they're rubbish so younger players are bound to get a chance. lollollol It was around that time they decided to dump him as coach...  

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Bert

Bert

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Posted

You're on about Stewart Walker. He's currently the referees secretary for the alliance league. I don't think that's him though in the picture. Heard he went to try and get on the board at the county or something like that but didn't get voted in. 

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