County championship format

What are your thoughts on the current format of the County championship? Is there something that could be done to help improve fan interest?

Fireworks, music, dancing girls. 

Lol not the game just the season structure. Currently there is a two division setup with a double round Robin is there potentially a better format.

It doesnt help that so few of the championship games are actually in mid Summer.

Corporalhumblebucket wrote:It doesnt help that so few of the championship games are actually in mid Summer.

The Corporal is absolutely right. By way of example, Surrey play just 3 (of their 16) CC matches in July and August this year.

Also, whilst central contracts have benefitted the national team, it has been an unfortunate consequence that they have undermined the game at county level with the best players rarely available to play for their county sides.

One change for this season that might help increase attendances is the majority of CC matches beginning on a Sunday rather than mid-week as previously.

The consensus, among both players and fans, is that the Championship format works well. 16 games is a good length of season. Anything shorter would leave supporters and players short-changed, anything longer would cause a scheduling nightmare given the short length of the summer. It ensures that each team plays each other an equal amount of times (this has not always been the case, and under many proposals for change wouldn't be the case again).

The lack of games in mid-summer is an issue and has only been slightly addressed for this year - a month block of T20 in June/July has been replaced by a similar block of 50-over in July/August.

Three divisions of six has occasionally been mooted by those that would like to see a shorter season. However, this has a number of issues. Supporters would get just five home games, inevitably wiping out out-grounds, and each team would see only five other opponents.

I think the switch to Sunday-Wednesday from Wednesday-Saturday as the most common pattern is a positive. It guarantees (assuming good weather) some weekend cricket for supporters and avoids Saturday, which is unpopular with those that like to play/ support/ officiate in club cricket.

At least this year, for the first time for a while, there is a chance that some people might actually be able to see some Championship cricket as most matches start on a Sunday.

Given a good summer I'm sure this will lead to an increase in attendances. There is even a chance to see cricket in London on a bank holiday Monday - can't remember the last time that happened.