Thursday 31 March 2011

More pink ball and floodlights!

We are still in March yet the traditional County season opener has already concluded, once again the more reliable weather in Abu Dhabi was the selected venue as further trials were carried out with the use of a pink ball and day/night first-class cricket.

Crowds are generally sparse for the County Championship so any options that are being explored to swell the numbers through the gate for what is essentially a very good standard of domestic cricket and fiercely competitive, can only be worthwhile experiments.

Rahul Dravid is certainly keen for more trials in differing conditions and nations with the pink ball. He clearly had no problems in sighting the ball as he stroked his way to 106 runs in the MCC's second innings. Perhaps more importantly than his runs is the fact he is a member of the World Cricket Committee and give offer first-hand advice to the rest of the committee of how they can take these experiments forward and make this type of cricket a very viable option.

The game itself saw the County champions, Notts, largely outplayed for much of the game that lasted only three of the scheduled four days. For a variety of reasons Notts were some way from being at full strength, names such as Andre Adams, Darren Pattinson, and Andy Carter unable to make the trip. That did however give Wayne Noon the opportunity to hand debuts to Jake Ball and Brett Hutton.

The MCC included some exciting names, led by Aussie Chris Rogers, the side included new Somerset signing Steve Kirby, Stephen Moore, keeper Steven Davies, and the Afghan paceman Hamid Hassan. Unfortunately Simon Jones was selected to travel, but as ever, an injury scare resulted in him pulling out.

It was supposed to be a batsman's paradise thought you wouldn't guess from first innings totals of 218, for the MCC, and 108 by Notts. Then Dravid took control with his century, ably supported by Stephen Peters, Moore and Davies, who all registered early season half-centuries.

The target of 468 was always most unlikely for Notts, espeically when they were reduced to 21-4. Mid-lower order resistance was essential, and Ali Brown, Chris Read, Steven Mullaney and Paul Franks duly obliged with fifties to give the match a look of some respectability.

Luke Fletcher missed much of the 2010 season and set about his work in 2011 with renewed optimism. He snared four wickets in each innings while maintaining a very good economy. Not to be outdone, the Afghan quick also caught they eye, Hassan took seven wickets in the match. Steve Kirby took a 5-29 for MCC in the first innings, but his game was cut short by a minor calf injury that saw him fly home for treatment. It is hoped he'll be fit for April 9th when Somerset take on Cardiff MCCU at Taunton. 

So is it worthwhile shifting this fixture to Abu Dhabi ? In my opinion, absolutely. Changes need to be made to get the bigger crowds into first-class cricket in England. Test cricket is exceptionally well supported so there is a love for the longer game, and if times can be shifted to play during the evening, then surely more people will fancy a night at the cricket after work, and not to watch some 'hit and giggle'. The pink Kookaburra ball and various other aspects of this experiment will naturally need further testing. Does the colour last on the ball ? Will dew play a big factor ? Will visibility be a problem during twilight times ?

The amount that can be gained from these experiments means the trials are absolutely worthwhile, the faster, the better.

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