sport news INSIDE COUNTY CRICKET: Rob Key's backing of Kookaburra balls has sparked fierce ... trends now
Rob Key’s claim this week that English cricket ‘would be much better off’ using a Kookaburra ball across a full first-class season has reopened debate as to the purpose of the County Championship.
For some, England men’s director Key included, it runs solely to produce cricketers for the national team.
For others, it is the worthiest of domestic competitions, steeped in 134 years of history and prestige - a marathon test of skill across spring, summer and autumn.
Truly, it should be an amalgam of the two, pitting the best players against each other and rewarding both individuals and teams for sustained excellence over a period of time with selection or silverware.
However, fiddling with its playing regulations and using the Kookaburra in early-season conditions has produced some pretty strong reactions from around the shires.
Rob Key has claimed that English cricket would be 'much better off' using a Kookaburra ball across a full first-class season
Surrey director of cricket Alec Stewart was unequivocal in his assessment of trialling the Australian-manufactured, machine-produced balls, calling it ‘the worst decision ever.’
The timing of the first of two fortnight blocks away from the more bowler-friendly Dukes has not helped, with rain reducing the number of overs in matches and catalysing the deterioration of ball with a reputation for going soft.
A comparison of the first two rounds of matches this year compared to last highlights the struggles for bowlers. On average, a wicket fell to the first ball of every 10th over 12 months ago, compared to midway through the 13th this April. In simple terms, it is taking a full session longer to dismiss opponents.
Key says the Kookaburra will develop fast-bowling skills, but a plethora of county coaches disagree, arguing that while that might be true on firm pitches, the lack of bite in the puddings of the early weeks is neutering genuine pace.
For example, Yorkshire’s Ottis Gibson was full of praise for Gloucestershire’s efforts with the new ball at the start of the round-two stalemate in Bristol - one of 17 from 18 matches thus far - but had sympathy for them as conditions made things easier from five wickets down.
‘I’m not in favour. I think it’s a nonsense when the wickets are the way they are at the moment,’ Gibson said.
‘When the hardness goes out of the ball and there’s no seam to work with, even the lower order can make a lot of runs.’
Leicestershire coach Alfonso Thomas went further, saying it made ‘average batters look very good,’ following a raft of huge scores from unlikely candidates, including Matthew Potts, of Durham, hitting 149 as a nightwatchman.
There has been some criticism that the Kookaburra ball goes soft prematurely in the damp, which makes it less than ideal outside summer
Alec Stewart called it the 'worst decision ever' to even trial the Australia-produced balls
The latest trial period has undoubtedly increased the number of spin overs bowled at a time of year when they wouldn’t normally get a look-in - and it is interesting to note that Cameron Steel and Alex Thomson top the divisional bowling charts - but it has come as a result of the faster men no longer being able to challenge outside edges with skilful swing and seam movement.
Removing that facet of the game, and the threat of a bouncer or two hurrying a batter up, has reduced the level of spectacle for the thousands of hardy souls that turn up to watch, suggesting that if Key is to persuade counties to buy into his proposal, it will be for a season of as few as 10 fixtures, starting in mid-April and finishing in mid-September rather than spreading into the margins of those months.
Worcestershire and Gloucestershire are both considering moving away from their traditional homes to safeguard their futures.
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