G&C 264
GOOGLIES & CHINAMEN
An Occasional Cricketing Journal
Edition 264
December 2024
Spot the Ball
Out and About with The Professor
The Board of Yorkshire County Cricket Club has a new strategy: “reaching out” to the members. “Reaching out”, or “talking to” as it was formerly known, involves a series of half a dozen “Road Shows” at venues around the County plus a virtual on-line meeting for the tech-savvy.
The first reaching took place at Headingley. It was hosted by Gordon Hollins, late of the ECB and CEO of Somerset, and it consisted of Gordon asking the reached (about a hundred, almost entirely elderly, white, and – with a couple of noble exceptions – male) a series of questions: What is the long-term purpose of Yorkshire CCC? What would you like the Club to look like in 5 years? (sounds a bit like an interview, I know). What are the most important lessons to be learned from the events of the last few years?...and so on. The answers were not hard to predict. We want to “win trophies”, “produce England players”, “preserve first class cricket”, “bring pride back to Yorkshire”, etc. In a way, the “pride” thing was at the heart of many responses. This was a highly selective audience and one sensed almost a feeling of hurt about the racism scandal (seldom referred to directly, by the way, more often by means of a euphemism…”What went on a couple of years’ back”, etc.). One member expressed it as formerly being proud to say he was a Yorkshire member and now, “After what went on…” almost ashamed. There was a lot of murmured support for this. Not that there was much in the way of contrition or acceptance of blame, there is still much denial both within the membership and, more alarmingly, the retired Board members and grandees of the Club – “it was just one man’s word”, “we never had a chance to defend ourselves”, and so forth.
There were some useful suggestions, most especially the use of the ground for non-cricket events (cf. Lancs), the need for greater transparency in dealings with the members and the public, a possible return to 3-day matches, better facilities for the players, better catering facilities (according to Hollins, “better catering” is always and everywhere a response to this question), etc. But hovering over the whole discussion were two issues: the financial position of the Club and “demutualisation”.
The finances of YCCC have been dire for many years now. Last year’s accounts showed a turnover of (roughly) £17 million and a deficit of £7 million. Debts amount to some £25 million the servicing of which cost around £2 million pa. The Club would have gone into insolvency many years’ ago but for the loans provided (twice now) by Colin Graves. Graves was at the meeting and gave the jolly (and unsurprising) news that we are “staring into the abyss, again”. The Club, he said, “has six months to make some crucial decisions”. And what are they? Well, there appear to be two.
The first is easy, and relates to The Hundred. As most Googlies readers will know, the ECB appears to be ridding itself of complete ownership of the franchises for this competition. “Project Gemini” (no less) launched several months’ ago, looks to sell off 49% of the Hundred franchises, distributing the proceeds among the 18 first-class counties. The remaining 51% will be gifted to each of the “host” counties, of which Yorkshire is one. There appear to be details and discussions still taking place but it seems possible that the host county could then also sell its 51%. Salvation! A whopping windfall that would wipe out all the debts and secure financial stability.
Well…one or two other things to consider. First the much-reported contention that the ECB’s valuation of the Hundred competition (at around £500 million) is a touch on the optimistic side, not to say “fanciful”. If Yorkshire raised as much money as possible from the sale it still isn’t clear that there would be sufficient to wipe out all debts, and there is still the problem of the recurring annual deficits. And then there is “demutualisation”. This is another euphemism – it means selling the Club. It means that Yorkshire would follow Hampshire, Durham and Northants in ceasing to be a members’ club. “Members” would in effect become season ticket holders, much in the way that Arsenal or Man City have supporters, but no members.
Why do this? Well, the argument advanced on the night (and over several months before) is that commercial organisations are uncomfortable with investing in a club of 6,000 members who could (at least constitutionally) call a general meeting, oust the Board, and reverse all previous decisions. Moreover, most members, when asked (sorry, “reached out to”) say that the things they value about membership: free entry, sit where you like, access to the Long Room, etc., are really no more than the rights of season ticket holders. What would be lost, of course, is ownership and a right to vote and have a say in how things are run.
Is this much to lose? After all we have all had a say in how things have been run in the past twenty years and things have been run, in general, shockingly. Could private ownership be worse? This, unsurprisingly, was the most animated part of the evening. It was encapsulated by another of Mr Hollins’ questions: “Is remaining a membership club more important than success?” It would be fair to say that most members struggled with this Faustian proposition. What guarantee is there that demutualisation would be a success? How’s it going with Hants, etc., who still have substantial debts? Doesn’t seem to have worked too well with some rugby union clubs. One member declared himself to be a former Halifax building society branch manager, his personal experience of demutualisation was, shall we say, a little mixed. If some hedge fund bought the Club, what would the team look like – would it be like Man City, players from all over the world with little more than Yorkshire shirts on.
And so on…”Membership or Success”?
One member had no problem with this question. Audrey has been a member almost all her life. She must be well into her 80s, goes to every home match and most of those away. She is an ever-present voice and a Yorkshire woman not to be trifled with. Towards the end of the meeting Audrey stood up, and we all went quiet. “My membership of this Club is third most important possession I have”, said Audrey, “the other two (raising her left hand) are the rings on this finger”. Not difficult to imagine the reception she received.
But, but, but…what should we do? If we do agree to sell the Club, it would require a 50% turnout of the 6,000 members and a 75% majority of votes cast – a pretty high bar (cf., Brexit). Moreover, who would buy it? And here, there is always the (often unspoken) undercurrent of suspicion (perhaps unfair?) about Colin Graves motives in bailing out the Club a second time. The local MP is a voluble critic of the idea and, to be frank, no one is very keen. But a decision will be needed soon because these two issues (selling the Hundred franchise and selling the Club) come together in the question of whether to sell the 51%. Clearly such an income stream would make the purchase of Yorkshire CCC a much more attractive proposition. How would it be sold: private buyer or some sort of floatation? I sensed that the latter, if it is permissible, would be more popular but possibly produce much less revenue. If they do sell shares, I might even buy one myself.
Well, it would be a way of “reaching out” to the management.
This & That
In the fourth T20I in St Lucia England racked up a seemingly match winning 218 for 5 with Bethell scoring 62 not out from 32 balls and Salt making his customary 50. But in reply openers Evin Lewis and Shai Hope scored 136 from the first nine overs before Sherfane Rutherford hit back-to-back sixes in the penultimate over to seal a five-wicket win.
When England lost their test series in Pakistan it was their first time losing a three-match series they had led 1-0.It is just the second series they have lost under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, though it also means their balance sheet for 2024 is not in credit. Played 14, won seven and lost seven.
The last tour of Pakistan, a 3-0 win in 2022, was the peak of the Bazball movement. The Test that followed, against New Zealand in Mount Maunganui, took England's record under Stokes and McCullum to played 11, won 10 and lost one. Since then, England have played 21, won 10 and lost 10. As it stands, they are sixth out of nine in the World Test Championship table. India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka all have something to play for.
In the fourth T20I at the Wanderers India made a staggering 283 for 1 before bowling South Africa out for 148. Sanju Samson (109* from 56 balls) and Tilak Varma (120* from 47balls) added 210 for the second wicket. Left-hander Varma hit nine fours and 10 sixes after joining Samson at 73-1 in the sixth over, following the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma for 36 off 18. Having made an unbeaten 107 in the third T20, Varma is the second Indian and only fifth batter overall to hit centuries in consecutive men's T20 internationals. Samson and Varma’s partnership is the sixth highest in all men's T20 internationals, the highest for the second wicket and highest for India. India's 283-1 is their second-highest total in men's T20 internationals, after making 297-6 against Bangladesh in October. Varma reached his ton off just 41 balls, making it the third-quickest century by an India batter in men's T20 internationals after Rohit Sharma (35 balls against Sri Lanka in 2017) and Samson (40 balls against Bangladesh in October).
I missed the first week (30 matches) of the Abu Dhabi T10 and some would say that was no bad thing, but it did mean that I missed Sherfane Rutherford’s 103 not out in Match 12. He faced 40 balls and hit 10 sixes and 7 fours to help his side, Northern Warriors, reach 142 for 4. But this wasn’t enough as Gurbaz and Fletcher, for the UB Nomads, knocked them off with almost an over to spare. But I was in time to see him bat against the New York Strikers when he came in after six overs with the score a precarious 56 for 2 and proceeded to score 46 not out from 17 balls. But once again his efforts were in vain as Kusal Perera equaled the fastest fifty (15 balls) in this year’s tournament and went on to 74 not out from 27 balls. I also saw Alex Hales (remember him?) make 50 from 16 balls. But it hasn’t all been high scoring and the bowlers have become more streetwise with the wide yorker the most favoured defensive weapon. The quality of wicket keeping though has been awful. It seems that they pick a side and then ask if anyone has a pair of gloves in their bag and anyone who says “yes” gets the job.
A 13-year-old has become the youngest player to get a deal in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the world's richest cricket tournament. Vaibhav Suryavanshi from the eastern state of Bihar was bought by Rajasthan Royals (RR) for 11m rupees ($130,500; £103,789) in the recently-concluded auctions in Saudi Arabia. The left-handed batter has represented his state in national championships, such as Ranji and Mushtaq Ali trophies, and India in the Under-19 internationals. Delhi Capitals and RR bid for him starting from 3m rupees but RR, where he had trained previously, managed to seal the deal. In his five Ranji matches, he has scored a highest of 41. But the highlight of his career has been his 58-ball century as an opener in an Under-19 unofficial Test against Australia a few weeks ago – which also made him the youngest to score a century in youth cricket. He has also made an unbeaten 332 in an Under-19 tournament in Bihar.
The people who watch West Ham are the latest to demonstrate that they are West Ham supporters and not football fans. As their side performed creditably in the second half after trailing 5-2 at half time against Arsenal the London Stadium stands started to empty and by the end were only half full.
Thompson Matters
If there have been more depressing and frankly absurd comments made by one of sport’s international elites then I have yet to hear it. Enter Rory Mcllroy two days after the election of a multiple convicted felon as President of the United States. According to Mccllroy Trump could mend the fractured world of golf more especially because, ‘he’s got Elon Musk, who I think is the smartest man in the world beside him.’ Mmmm. Maybe line that putt up again Rory.
Trump himself said it would probably take him, ‘the better part of fifteen minutes to get that deal done.’ which is probably good news for golf and for America since as Rory sagely observed...’ I think as the President of the United States, he’s probably got bigger things to focus on than golf.’ He probably has Rory; but they sure as hell won’t be in your interests.
Still if it’s good enough for golf I’m sure there will be someone out there from the world of cricket loading up Elon’s number on speed dial with a franchise that needs an injection of a few million. At the risk of upsetting The Old Wanker a month ahead of his prophecies I can see, given the nod, our new leader of the free world taking our game into a whole new dystopia.
January 2025 - There having been no takers for the remaining 49% of the London Spirit Franchise. MCC President Mervyn King contacts Musk to see if he is interested in a deal.
February - At a hastily arranged press conference King announces Musk has offered to buy 49% of the Spirit on the understanding that MCC’s right to veto an investment partner is withdrawn. It is. Musk pays ten million Bitcoin in return for the entire franchise and all rights.
March - Donald Trump becomes lifelong president of MCC. In his acceptance speech the President tells members in the newly refurbished Trump Room that when he was younger he was a, ‘Very very good cricket player. I once scored 200 rounders in one go. It was so easy.’ He also reveals, to rapturous applause from the members, that his cricketing idols are Seechan Tindeekee and Veeran Ko-Lee.
Late March - Musk appears in the Long Room in front of the world’s press introducing the new renamed franchise, The Tesla Tossers along with the squad of fifteen Amish lob bowlers.
The Grace gates are renamed The Melania Gates.
April - Trump announces the chinaman is banned from all forms of cricket.
Bradman’s portrait is removed from the Trump Room to be replace by a portrait of the President for life.
A caption below reads: The Real Don.
4th July The Tesla Tossers win The Hundred. Controversy surrounds the win as Umpires Vance and Trump Junior create history in giving all ten of the Tossers’ opposition out LBW in all of their matches.
5th July Andy Saltzman publishes his latest book Cricket’s Great Record Breakers but there being no American cricketers in the lists he is banned from Lord’s for publishing ‘alternative stats’.
August - Trump becomes President of World Cricket. The Cricket World Cup format is renamed ‘The One’ as Trump says the current format takes too much time.
September - Clacton Cricket Club are surprise winners of the National Club Knockout.
And finally: Which Middlesex cricketer from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s went to the same West London school as Trump’s newly announced controversial Deputy Assistant and Senior Director for Counter-Terrorism, Sebastian Gorka?
Was it a) Mike Brearley
b) Keith Tomlins
c) Phil Tufnell
or d) Mike Gatting
Answer: Keith Tomlins who attended St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic, Ealing as did Gorka.
Crocks Corner
In this era when bowlers spend more time on the treatment bench than actually bowling we introduce this feature to celebrate their manifold complaints. Feel free to submit anything you notice
England fast bowler Josh Tongue will step up his return from a 15-month injury lay-off by joining the Lions on their tour of South Africa. Tongue, who played two Tests in the summer of 2023, has not played since August of the same year because of a pectoral injury. His comeback was delayed by a hamstring problem sustained at the end of the English season, but the Nottinghamshire man is now back bowling and will join the Lions when they travel to South Africa. "I should be hopefully towards my full run by the end of the South Africa tour". Highly rated by England management as one of the brightest prospects in a new crop of fast bowlers, he was given a two-year central contract in October 2023.
Tongue's return is another boost for England, who have been hit by a number of fast-bowling injuries. Jamie Overton and Saqib Mahmood, who have both struggled with back injuries, have been bowling on the white-ball tour of West Indies. Hull, who made his Test debut against Sri Lanka but missed the tour of Pakistan with a quad injury, is back in training and will join the Lions in South Africa. Dillon Pennington, part of England squads in the early part of the summer, then out with a hamstring injury since August, is also included in the Lions squad.
Stokes abandoned his bowling spell three deliveries into his fifth over of the morning in Christchurch. He revealed he hurt his back diving in an attempt to take a catch on the first day. "Wear and tear is probably the best way to describe it," Stokes told the Test Match Special podcast.
Geoff Norris
I received the following from Jeff Coleman
Very sad news that Geoff Norris has died after a long illness.
He was the manager of Barclays Bank, St John’s Wood where he managed the MCCC account for many years. A useful cricketer for Barclays in the days when the banks had strong teams and still invested in top class facilities. Particularly the Barclays ground at Ealing which Middlesex should have acquired and developed when it was on offer many years ago.
He gave long service to the County club including as a successful Treasurer where he built the assets to a very respectable level. A far cry from where we are today. He became president in 2011, one of the few non-first-class cricketers to be appointed to the position. In the role he was always approachable to members who will remember him fondly. He was then honoured in becoming a Life Vice President and continued to be a frequent visitor to Lord’s for as long as able.
I spent time with Geoff as we often walked back to our cars consoling each other on another poor QPR performance. Geoff was a season ticket holder for many years until his failing health forced him to give it up. As an Old Dane he attended one or two of our early Shepherd’s Bush reunions reminiscing on his Danes days, which I believe included during WW2.
Ged Matters
Ged (Ian Harris) explains the inexplicable
DAISY: So, who are the Sunrisers?
GED: They are the women’s franchise comprising Middlesex and other neighbouring counties, such as Essex and Northamptonshire.
DAISY: I thought that was London Spirit.
GED: London Spirit is a “The Hundred” franchise – except we’re not supposed to call those ones franchises – whereas Sunrisers is a franchise for 50-over and Twenty20 cricket.
DAISY: That makes no sense.
GED: None of the domestic cricket makes sense at the moment.
DAISY: Where’s the DJ? Where’s the razzamatazz? Where’s the crowd?
GED: The ECB wants to promote The Hundred, so domestic Twenty20 gets the dregs.
DAISY: How many of the players do you recognise?
GED: Frankly, apart from the international players I don’t recognise any of them. This is only the second time I have been to a women’s domestic match.
DAISY: They aren’t very forthcoming on the big screen or the tannoy either. How many Middlesex players are playing for Sunrisers today?
GED: No idea.
DAISY: Are any of today’s Sunrisers actually Middlesex players then?
GED: Possibly not… (Googles a bit) …I don’t think so.
DAISY: Then why should we support Sunrisers?
GED: Because they are Middlesex’s team, that’s why. Sunrisers are the team included in your Middlesex membership.
DAISY: I’m sold.
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