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[ProCricketer1982]

i would love to be playing cricket earlier could even stretch to late september/ october on the weekends. it would beat the agonizing wait for teh season to begin.

i just think there would be lost of issues with grounds and players availability but still worth a go

as you say, the main stumbling block would be grounds. I think for the first year or two you'd find players (who play footy etc) would be hard to convince to play but if you think long term.. you'd just find that those who want to play cricket would leave football earlier. Currently they don't need too so don't. It's not that people prefer football all the time, it's sometimes that 'we' as a game perceive they do so don't look to compete. Again, the number of adults playing amateur sport is declining, so the game needs to look to get a larger share of those who are still playing by putting on games at ever available opportunity.

Personally, I see no reason why games could be sheduled from mid march to late oct, every saturday and sunday. with midweek 2020 games starting when they do for light. Would I play on sat/sun if it was short format? No, and I don't think as many as people think would but some would.. so it's worth doing

[ProCricketer1982]

In the middle of my survey rant I suggested the ECB fund astroturf outfields if they wanted March/April cricket! Also questioned which country they were talking about these games being played in.

Seriously, I'm surprised nobody has devised some form of autumn/spring cricket involving astroturf football pitches and wind balls.

You could play games in those big air filled domes?  We used to play tennis in them when they were first the rage and tbh, Im sure you could get them big enough for a game. Ok, so you can't hit it 10 miles in the air but it's high enough really. Just have a net over the roof and have it that you can be caught off the roof.

[uknsaunders]

i would love to be playing cricket earlier could even stretch to late september/ october on the weekends. it would beat the agonizing wait for teh season to begin.

i just think there would be lost of issues with grounds and players availability but still worth a go

Climate wise September is better than April. Up until late October is statistically warmer than mid April (don't ask me to dig out the stats - I looked at it last year). The problem is league cricket finishes in late August or early September, killing the primary reason for most clubs to continue you playing.

I had thought of creating an "Autumn Club" and get 6 fixtures together from the first week of Sept onwards, problem is always finding people willing to use their grounds in late September/October. In Yorkshire Arthington CC have an Autumn Festival that goes on until the last week of October. A few clubs willing to do that would not only be helping participation but also making a handsome profit.

[ProCricketer1982]

Climate wise September is better than April. Up until late October is statistically warmer than mid April (don't ask me to dig out the stats - I looked at it last year). The problem is league cricket finishes in late August or early September, killing the primary reason for most clubs to continue you playing.

I had thought of creating an "Autumn Club" and get 6 fixtures together from the first week of Sept onwards, problem is always finding people willing to use their grounds in late September/October. In Yorkshire Arthington CC have an Autumn Festival that goes on until the last week of October. A few clubs willing to do that would not only be helping participation but also making a handsome profit.

good idea. I doubt as you say many clubs would do it though.. they'd be some that will 'play away only' but how many would host??  Should do it though, good for bar takings, match fees etc etc.. more use of the facilities is always a winner I'd have thought. especially if you hosted sat and sun games etc

[ProCricketer1982]

I reckon my club could put a side out from the start of march, every sat and sun until november if the games were available.

[uknsaunders]

good idea. I doubt as you say many clubs would do it though.. they'd be some that will 'play away only' but how many would host??  Should do it though, good for bar takings, match fees etc etc.. more use of the facilities is always a winner I'd have thought. especially if you hosted sat and sun games etc

Most clubs will quote groundworks as the reason they can't host. They all like to get seed down before the first frost and temperatures drop. However, I've know a few clubs do groundworks late into October so why couldn't they play? Wickets are generally pretty firm and the damage minimal on a well maintained square.

Spring is different matter, if the ground hasn't seen any sun or warmth then you run a real risk of wrecking large parts of the square. You would need it covered from Feb onwards to get it dry but it won't be hard and would probably cut up. Astroturf wickets are a solution but trying to cut a soft/wet outfield in Feb to a decent standard for cricket wouldn't be easy.

[ProCricketer1982]

Most clubs will quote groundworks as the reason they can't host. They all like to get seed down before the first frost and temperatures drop. However, I've know a few clubs do groundworks late into October so why couldn't they play? Wickets are generally pretty firm and the damage minimal on a well maintained square.

Spring is different matter, if the ground hasn't seen any sun or warmth then you run a real risk of wrecking large parts of the square. You would need it covered from Feb onwards to get it dry but it won't be hard and would probably cut up. Astroturf wickets are a solution but trying to cut a soft/wet outfield in Feb to a decent standard for cricket wouldn't be easy.

ECB with all it's cash could quite easily do a deal with the actual manufacturers of roll on/off covers and side sheets to supply them at a genuinely respectable cost though. TBH, they could probably 'loan' them to clubs  whot hem pay a set fee per year and maintain them (paying ECB back if damaged etc). That would enable clubs to get a square dry

[Seniorplayer]

I have played 40 over freindlys outside on the first Saturday in April through to the first Saturday in October Either side of the league with an earlier start (12pm in October) on  tracks cut on the edge of the square ground was soft and clothes became muddy but much better than nets also seemed to shorten the winter.

[Tailendfielder]

Above all else sky is the death of cricket. People keep sighting great coverage. I think the beeb and c4 did a better job. Ive filled in the survey. As you've said its leading questions well worded as with all questions.

[keysersolze]

If matches are rained of we should be allowed to use indoor facilities, we have an indoor facility here at paignton where we regularly play 11  a side indoor matches in our sports hub.

[ProCricketer1982]

If matches are rained of we should be allowed to use indoor facilities, we have an indoor facility here at paignton where we regularly play 11  a side indoor matches in our sports hub.

Only thing about playing alternative games (202, 303 or indoor), some players might have no interest in doing that. How do you stop them sacking it off its its not full length?

[smilley792]

Only thing about playing alternative games (202, 303 or indoor), some players might have no interest in doing that. How do you stop them sacking it off its its not full length?

You do realise they'd be rare and one off situations? Not converting the entire season into short format or indoors?

If I picked my eleven, they arrived. It rained for 2hrs, the umps then said we are good to go in a shortened game, But one or two said ,"yeah we arnt interested now it's only 30 overs each" and they went home. then I doubt I'd pick those players again.
Obviously selfish players with no interest in the clubs fortunes.

[ProCricketer1982]

You do realise they'd be rare and one off situations? Not converting the entire season into short format or indoors?

If I picked my eleven, they arrived. It rained for 2hrs, the umps then said we are good to go in a shortened game, But one or two said ,"yeah we arnt interested now it's only 30 overs each" and they went home. then I doubt I'd pick those players again.
Obviously selfish players with no interest in the clubs fortunes.

maybe, but now the club is down players, cricket loses playing numbers.. Equals no better than now

[cricketbadger]

Filled it in, but its absolute (No Swearing Please)