There is certainly plenty of talking points surrounding all forms of cricket in the past week or so, writes Merv Colenutt.
England’s 3-0 whitewash of the West Indies was hugely entertaining with big crowds at all 3 games and although the county championship has been put on hold through the middle of the summer campaign, excitement still surrounds Somerset who I believe are the one county side who have the ability to challenge Surrey the present red ball champions.
Somerset I also feel have the best side equipped to win what can only be described as a second eleven competition, despite the one wicket defeat on Sunday at home to Derbyshire and despite dominating for 80% of the game, there is always a chance on a well prepared wicket that the outcome might change late in the game.
I do however have continued concerns about the Hundred and the continuation of our red ball game with finances and the shorter white ball game becoming the dominant feature in the future of our summer game.
The Hundred competition to put it bluntly is all about money, but in recent times I feel sure along with so many thousands of others, the true cricket followers, do have negative vibes that the overseas franchises will eventually hold talks with one or even more of our counties , to make a breakthrough and buy out one of our county sides, with Hampshire at the moment being under scrutiny.
County cricket and 18 counties have dominated since the beginning in 1890, but now there is every likelihood in the near future, that this is about to change.
It has been suggested that Hampshire surprisingly could be taken over by Delhi Capitals, with a £120 million pound deal put on the table, at present it is only a possibility, but there has to be concerns about our red ball game if that does come to fruition.
Whatever the outcome, true or false, red ball cricket as we have known it for more than 130 years, could change completely as I feel sure that if an Indian Overseas Franchise buys one of our county sides, the more struggling second division county sides, could reluctantly follow suit, where money will only be the saviour of some of our county teams.
Red ball cricket at present is governed by the ECB, but will the money orientated Indian Franchises if they get their feet through the door, take a stranglehold of our red ball game in the future and change things as we know them.
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