Why isn't the county circuit producing battle hardened cricketers for England?

[ahmedwaqas92]

Ever since I started watching cricket I have been led to understand that almost all Pakistani greats who went on to become the heros I grew up watching learnt their craft and honed their skills in the competitive county circuits of England.

Players like Wasim, Waqar, Imran, Zaheer, Mushtaq, Saqlain and even now the likes of Amir, Abbas et al went and became better cricketers who challenged the worlds best after a few grueling county seasons.

What I don't understand is that if foreign Pakistani cricketers can go and obtain a skill set to enhace their overall game then why are we not seeing battle hardened crickters for England straight out of the county circuit?

Is it bad administration? Bad selection policy on part of England or something else? I am not entirely sure myself on why this could be happening but it should be looked upon with concern as the players coming out right now don't exactly seem to be all too comfortable with International Test Level Cricket.

 

[MenInG]

With emphasis on IPL, expect an even worse situation.

 

[babajee]

I think most of them lack the hunger to reach the top.

 

[big_gamer007]

Interesting question if I have to give a theory I would say the top notch English athletes go into other sports like football, rugby etc.. Maybe that’s why england have never been dominant in cricket?

 

[ahmedwaqas92]

Interesting question if I have to give a theory I would say the top notch English athletes go into other sports like football, rugby etc.. Maybe that’s why england have never been dominant in cricket?

Ok Fair Enough, then how is it that Pakistani stars of yesteryear all have come out and claimed that they got better as professional cricketers when they all underwent a season or two of county championships? If the overall quality of athletes is lower then overseas professional shouldn't also be able to raise their game as they are not touted against the best athletes in these county games!

 

[big_gamer007]

Ok Fair Enough, then how is it that Pakistani stars of yesteryear all have come out and claimed that they got better as professional cricketers when they all underwent a season or two of county championships? If the overall quality of athletes is lower then overseas professional shouldn't also be able to raise their game as they are not touted against the best athletes in these county games!

Because at that time county cricket had top notch players from around the world.. Home cricket was totally unprofessional and coaches in home leagues were novices compared to systematic coaching professionalism and technology in County cricket..

 

[Sidilicious]

With emphasis on IPL, expect an even worse situation.

And how about the Indian team? Last I checked they were no.1.

 

[Markhor]

One of the problems is that the County Championship is being increasingly pushed to the margins of the season, i.e. April/May and September, when conditions are friendlier for seam/swing and difficult for batsmen to construct long innings.

That'll only get worse with the introduction of the Hundred competition.

 

[Robert]

Ever since I started watching cricket I have been led to understand that almost all Pakistani greats who went on to become the heros I grew up watching learnt their craft and honed their skills in the competitive county circuits of England.

Players like Wasim, Waqar, Imran, Zaheer, Mushtaq, Saqlain and even now the likes of Amir, Abbas et al went and became better cricketers who challenged the worlds best after a few grueling county seasons.

What I don't understand is that if foreign Pakistani cricketers can go and obtain a skill set to enhace their overall game then why are we not seeing battle hardened crickters for England straight out of the county circuit?

Is it bad administration? Bad selection policy on part of England or something else? I am not entirely sure myself on why this could be happening but it should be looked upon with concern as the players coming out right now don't exactly seem to be all too comfortable with International Test Level Cricket.

Too little competition. Too many professional places available, so players can coast along.

Too much cricket played, so fast bowlers become medium pacers to prolong their careers.

Homogenous pitches produced by County groundsmen for fear of getting fined by the ECB - no fliers and no turners - so batters are exposed overseas.

Too much emphasis on OD cricket where spinners don’t learn their craft - they are expected to bowl ten or four overs tightly, rather than take wickets, then come out and slog a few boundaries.

 

[hadi123]

The current structure of domestic cricket hampers England's chances of winning Tests away from home, says acting director of cricket Andy Flower.

The majority of County Championship matches are played at the beginning and end of the season, often during the coldest and wettest weather.

England have won only one away Test series since the beginning of 2013.

"We are missing out on the best chance of replicating Test conditions," Flower told BBC Test Match Special.

England have not lost a home series since 2014, but are without a victory in their past 13 away Tests.

While home victories are often forged by England's skilful seam and swing bowlers, wickets have been harder to come by in foreign conditions that call for high pace or quality spin.

"Can our system produce cricketers that can do that? Absolutely it can," said former England coach Flower, who has temporarily replaced Andrew Strauss while his wife receives treatment for cancer.

"But, at the moment, I don't think it is geared up to produce those players."

The first five rounds of matches in this season's Championship were played between 13 April and 14 May, before the 50-over One-Day Cup began.

There are only four rounds of Championship matches in June and July, while the remaining matches take place between 19 August and 27 September. The T20 Blast occupies much of July and August.

Asked if a change in the schedule would give players better preparation for the Test arena, Flower said: "I don't think it is controversial to say that.

"There are too many medium-pacers who are dominating some first-class games. We need to replicate conditions as closely as we can to Test-match cricket, when fast bowlers and spinners really come into the game.

"We should, in how we structure our domestic competitions, as much as possible try to replicate those conditions."

The England and Wales Cricket Board has set up a panel to review the structure of the domestic game, with potential changes coming in to force in 2020.

However, any move to bring the Championship back to the height of summer would be complicated by the introduction of the new 100-ball competition, which is also slated to be played in the middle of the season.

Flower coached England from 2009 to 2014, winning the Ashes against Australia three times.

Towards the end of his reign, he split his duties with Ashley Giles, who took charge of England's limited-overs teams.

Flower, who played 63 Tests and 213 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe between 1992 and 2003, does not believe that arrangement worked, but acknowledges the strains on current England coach Trevor Bayliss.

Australian Bayliss will step down in 2019, following a summer when England host the World Cup and an Ashes series.

"You have to manage the coach's workload just like you do the players," said Flower. "I'm pretty sure that in 20 or 30 years time they will be split roles.

"It can work and it's definitely an area not only the ECB will be looking at but also every other nation."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/44258291

 

[CadPakFan]

And how about the Indian team? Last I checked they were no.1.

Even the BCCI doesn't put that much trust into IPL performances!

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A list of overseas players in County Cricket when I started:<br>Warne<br>Blewett<br>Cairns<br>Waqar<br>Murali<br>Mushtaq<br>Hussey<br>Langer<br>Donald<br>Pollock<br>Hayden<br>Sehwag<br>McGrath<br>Lehmann<br>Fleming<br>MacGill<br><br>There’s your academy for learning! <br><br>Name 3 of that quality playing now?</p>— Kevin Pietersen&#55358;&#56719; (@KP24) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1091972639705493506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Mobashir]

Not saying that James Vince is a genius, but when guys like Jos Buttler can play as specialist batsman in front of guys like Vince, why will someone even want to learn how to bat correctly.

There aren’t many in the current county circuit, but the few that can be given a chance are ignored for LOI’s cricketers.

 

[GoUgandaCranes]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A list of overseas players in County Cricket when I started:<br>Warne<br>Blewett<br>Cairns<br>Waqar<br>Murali<br>Mushtaq<br>Hussey<br>Langer<br>Donald<br>Pollock<br>Hayden<br>Sehwag<br>McGrath<br>Lehmann<br>Fleming<br>MacGill<br><br>There’s your academy for learning! <br><br>Name 3 of that quality playing now?</p>— Kevin Pietersen�� (@KP24) <a href="https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1091972639705493506?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 3, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He's pretty harsh on the Kolpak players here. International players would come there if they need exposure to English conditions, Pujara played last year, Kohli almost did and even though his stock has fallen Azhar Ali will again be playing a full season of county. Then there are some others who pop in and out of the country cricket circuit as well ala Williamson. There's so much cricket and so much money to be made in T20-leagues that no serious cricketer worth his salt would want to grind playing five days a week in a match away from global limelight in Derby involving Derbyshire and Worcester.

Times have changed.

Also, he was going all about when England batters will come to South Africa they will do this, they will do that and now he's going on about how poor the English talent is.

I like Pieterson the guy but sometimes his reaction to most things cricket is so OTT.

 

[Markhor]

Too much cricket in seam friendly conditions of April, May and September means batsmen aren't spending the time in the middle they need to develop.

Also affects England's pace stocks. Who needs to bowl quick when 70mph Darren Stevens can pitch the ball on a length and let conditions do the work.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

That's what happens when you keep out the foreign talent and dilute your pool with mediocre players who are just looking for a steady income.

 

[Hasan123]

KP is clueless. The problem is when county cricket is played. It's played in April and May where medium pacers are taking wickets for fun. You don't need a spinner during this period, also bowlers with pace aren't needed as they won't bowl the correct line and length for overcast conditions. Furthmore batters aren't getting a chance to bat against pace and quality spin , also they aren't batting long enough as the innings usually don't last more than 70/80 overs.

The competition needs to be moved to July/August when it's hotter.

 

[austerlitz]

April,may,september overcast conditions with the dukes ball.Common strategy now in county teams is to send expendable players in top3,and have good batters at 4,5 and even 6.Jason roy opener bats at 5 in county.