The English Summer of Cricket

[Trap1]

Drop in pitches (the actual square) are becoming more common in cricket as the game looks to expand its base and encourage bigger crowds by using bigger stadiums. Grounds in Australia and New Zealand where football share with rugby and Aussie rules have used them for many years. The 5th test at Sydney had a drop in pitch which was cultivated away from the main stadium. Drop in pitches often take three months to develop.

Portable wicket technology as it's known is very much the future, I have enclosed a link for those interested.

http://www.strathayr.com.au/html/turf/p ... ricket.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Trap1]

When Twenty20 first arrived, crowds were huge, with Lords getting close to 30000 for one game. However the counties have expanded the format too quickly, and crowds have dwindled as a result.

Despite this, it could bump up Essex's attendances, and maybe a one day series between India and Pakistan would really put bums on seats, and dare I say it appeal to the local population a lot more than West Ham vs. Wigan ever would.

Many of the counties have marketed the T20 badly. Last years competition was poorly planned by the ECB who spent too much time pandering to Sky Tv.

This years competition will see more games happening over the weekend or a Friday night. This will allow county execs to maximise audiences. Some including Kent have installed floodlights to also give the viewing public time to make arrangements. Somerset and Essex succeeded because they understood their marketplace through carrying out proper research and by getting cricket back into schools. I'm not sure what Essex are planning this year but Somerset have the kids able to buy a season ticket at £35, such a move has seen a 250% increase in subscriptions.

The Olympic stadium allows the game to host international matches at affordable prices and in turn gain bigger audiences. The audience is there but they won't pay silly money and they don't want to be there all day.

I can see an Ashes test at the O/S within 15 years.

[Trap1]

I'm not worried about the cricket .A drop in pitch will work for them .

My concern is the protection of our playing surface .With stories about the Chadwell Heath playing surfaces being contributory factors in players injuries , I would be alarmed were we to have a pretty stadium with a poor playing surface .

If it were Rugby, I would totally agree but cricket provides very little worries. Apart from the run ups there would be little damage because cricketers use totally different footwear.

[the pink palermo]

If it were Rugby, I would totally agree but cricket provides very little worries. Apart from the run ups there would be little damage because cricketers use totally different footwear.

Yes, I ws thinking of the edges around a drop in wicket - can it be so precise that the mesh is seamless between the drop in part and the permanent part ?

A stud , a bobble , a sliding tackle where you catch your foot ?

[Trap1]

Pinky,

They are seamless when they are put down.

On the Essex at the Olympic Stadium, I expect Essex will only play a couple of games there max. I wouldn't be too surprised to see the O/S bid for the CLT20 as the counties will make sure that their venues are not shut out for England internationals.

Are there any Kent fans on here? I'm surprised you aren't making enquiries.

[the pink palermo]

Trap - cheers .

My guess is we will see a few games involving the T20 teams from the IPL thing - if they can squeeze it into the calander.

Mr Mittal will be interested I am sure .

The AccelorMittal Olympic stadium T20 challange in front of 73,000 in the East End .

A definite sold out event .

[RichieRiv]

I had a long conversation with a Aussie Rule freak at work and drop-in pitches are whats used at the MSG. At the end of the Cricket season, the pitch including the wicket is lifted out and the Aussie rule pitch dropped in. Out in the provinces however the two co-exist.

I personally think that the 'corporate' aspect is being over egged. I've been client entertaining institutions from Canary Wharf and the Square mile for over 5 years and it has to be said it's a case of Arsenal, Chelsea, 6 nations at Twickenham, Lords / Oval for one days / tests, Cheltenham / Ascot and the biggest winner golf days.

Unless you're in construction, West Ham / Essex show little interest to the likes of Bankers etc.

[tonkaman]

Drop-in lumps of ground for respective sports? :shock:

Good grief, never realised! Damned ingenious! I'm sure I remembered years back Aus rules being played with what looked like a cricket square in the middle. I just assumed it was ruined and repaired as needs be.

Out of touch or what ?!

[JonG86]

I would go and see some 20/20 cricket if it was at Stratford...

Much easier to get to.

[Trap1]

To give you an example of how I see cricket operating inside the stadium...

Olympic Magic

A weekend a top quality cricket featuring seven to quality matches over a weekend from internationals to the T20 South Group

Fri Night T20 7.30pm Surrey vs Essex

Sat 11am England Women vs Australia

3pm Kent vs Hampshire

7.30pm Middlesex vs Somerset

Sun 11am Essex vs sussex

3pm Kent vs Surrey

7.30 England vs India

Basically bring together the South East teams and a couple internationals and you have a perfect corporate package.

[GeorgeParris'Pet]

Pinky,

They are seamless when they are put down.

On the Essex at the Olympic Stadium, I expect Essex will only play a couple of games there max. I wouldn't be too surprised to see the O/S bid for the CLT20 as the counties will make sure that their venues are not shut out for England internationals.

Are there any Kent fans on here? I'm surprised you aren't making enquiries.

The experiment has already been done, - we played a 'home' game on a Friday night against Essex at The Oval - in an attempt to make some money - our financial situation is dire - and whilst it made slightly more money than had the game been played at St Lawrence, it wasn't the success the club had hoped. Can't see it being repeated, not unless double headers are on the cards as you've previously suggested.

Crap game in comparison to CC anyway.

[James P]

Sat 11am England Women vs Australia

:shock:

I know we beat them pretty regularly these days but isn't that taking the piss?

[WestHamIFC]

Are there any Kent fans on here? I'm surprised you aren't making enquiries.

Kent can f**k right off!! :evil:

Stratford and West Ham has never been part of Kent, and they have absolutely no claim to play there (unless against Essex).

Today’s County Cricket teams are based on the old County borders, from when Stratford was in Essex.

This is also why Surrey still play at The Oval (these days London travel zone 2!), Middlesex still play at Lord’s, Warwickshire in Birmingham's Edgbaston (W.Midlands) and Lancashire at Old Trafford in Manchester.


And to think we were up in arms when Tottenham tried to move onto our patch!!

[hammers1954]

Trap

I was with you with your 'Olympic Magic' plan until until you mentioned Kent, Hampshire, Middlesex etc playing each other at the OS. How can we object to Spurs taking the OS as being outside their 'Manor' and then let counties other than Essex play at OS and besides how would our partners Essex feeling about sharing gate money.

No this is a sports stadium for teams who are based in East London and Essex.

[ForeverHammers]

Trap, like the idea re Cricket. But why Somerset?

[Trap1]

In my view Essex or any other county side will struggle to get anywhere near to 73,000. An international with Australia or India would be the only ones that come close. Olympic magic would be an opportunity for the game to put together a series of matches over one weekend for one price. Using several teams in the South East would help boost attendances and using a couple teams outside the area will also boost hotel revenues near the stadium. I use Somerset and Hampshire because they have a good travelling support, although to be fair Yorkshire would also be a good example. The example fixtures given are how I feel cricket may be able to fill a 73,000 stadium and give the game's image a massive injection, big stadiums that are full will have a kick on effect across the country. I know Essex supporters tend to like the matches against Kent and Surrey!!

[GideaParkHammer]

I think it would be a little like West Ham. Essex would need some big names, (like when they had players like Border and Waugh), to attract the crowds. It is probably likely that they would try to attract some of the Indian and/or Pakistani 20/20 specialists.

[Rocket]

Presumably (depending on how regularly the OS is used for cricket) there will also be a period at the beginning of the football season when the stadium is used for both sports. Might this be problematic?

[GideaParkHammer]

Presumably (depending on how regularly the OS is used for cricket) there will also be a period at the beginning of the football season when the stadium is used for both sports. Might this be problematic?

Only when Cole has been successfully man-marked by a set of wickets, and Kovac is stretchered off after heading the wrong ball.

[jon253]

Would be much better with a fully closing roof - cant trust the English weather - that way guarantees games go ahead and the revenue keeps coming in