THE DEATH KNELL for county cricket has been rung many times over the last century but the landscape of almost non-stop franchise tournaments has had those who love the traditional game more worried than ever before.
But this weekend, with temperatures hitting 20 degrees and a full round of the world’s oldest cricket competition the only show in town, cricket aficionados have come out in force to show that the county game is very much alive.
THE CHAMPO STRIKES BACK
After a rain-hit first round of fixtures, notable for Sam Northeast’s monumental unbeaten 335 (see photo below) – to go with his quadruple hundred two seasons ago – the County Championship was in danger of wasting the chance this time of year provides it.
There is very little other cricket in April, apart from the ubiquitous IPL of course, and all eyes are on the county game. Teams are jostling for position, players are looking to get on selectors’ radars, and fans are looking to renew their love of the game as they dream of the summer ahead.
And if the number of people coming through the gates for the second round of fixtures is anything to go by, let alone the hundreds of thousands listening to the BBC commentaries and watching the county live-streams, then the game is in rude hea
