Unless the question is being asked in the doorway to the wine cellar, only true cricket fans will know the choice and decisions being taken by County Championship bosses to sway favour back to red.
With the success of white ball in recent years, red ball specialists and purists have begun to scramble for ways to save their preferred format. So where has the interest gone? And is there any evidence that it will make a comeback?
The distinction between white and red ball cricket has maintained a huge level of diversity within the game, and allows talent to keep flowing from country towns into international competitions. Betting bonuses have never been more competitive for both white and red ball cricket, and this is testament to the strong community around both.
However, in recent years, white ball cricket has gained more popularity and financial success, particularly in the form of T20 leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Big Bash League (BBL). These leagues have attracted top players from around the world and have significantly increased the popularity and global reach of cricket.
While the success of white ball cricket has brought many benefits to the sport, it has also had some negative impacts on the red ball game. The County Championship – the top domestic red ball competition in England and Wales, has struggled to attract the same level of attention and funding as the shorter formats. This has led to concerns about the future of red ball cricket in England and the potential loss of talented players to T20 leagues.
One of the main challenges facing the County Championships is the lack of exposure and coverage compared to white ball cricket. With the proliferation of T20 leagues and the increasing popularity of white ball cricket, the County Championships has struggled to compete for media attention and sponsorship. This has had a knock-on effect on the finances of county cricket clubs, which have struggled to attract the same level of investment and revenue as T20 teams. It’s not accurate to say that CC clubs lose revenue from T20 cricket, however it makes more sense for CC clubs to invest in their white-ball players as success in those formats brings far more attention (and money) than winning the red ball County Championship.
Another issue is the scheduling of red ball cricket, which often requires players to be away from home for long periods of time, as well as the midweek nature of the games drawing smaller audiences than weekend cricket. This can be a major deterrent for players, particularly those with young families, and has contributed to the trend of top players choosing to focus on white ball cricket and T20 leagues instead.
Despite these challenges, there are still many fans and players who value and appreciate the tradition and excellence of red ball cricket. County championships continue to produce talented players and provide an important platform for the development of the game at the domestic level. The England Test team have played some exciting matches over the recent months, making red ball cricket more interesting to the casual fan. Could this have a knock on effect for County Cricket?
The current situation between white ball and red ball cricket in England and Wales is complex and multifaceted, but with the strong home support for red ball cricket, the debate will undoubtedly continue for many years to come, although a dramatic return to prominence for red ball cricket currently remains unlikely. You can definitely bet on that.
