MCC 221 all out
Yorkshire CCC 372 all out
MCC 13 without loss
at close of Day 2
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Monday 23 March 2015
Twitter @ball_sup
I worry sometimes about cricket's future & its administrators. They're Blind Faithers. The Holy Grail of Cricket's Legendary New Audience is out there. All they've got to do is make the tweaks & they'll come running.
I can be harsh. Here's a shot from the hip. The only way (English) cricket can fill the grounds is with people who have no interest in cricket, with no interest in developing an interest in cricket and who NEVER WILL develop an interest in cricket.
Groups of young men out on the piss & the easily distracted. That is what is down for us. In some senses, the Aussies have it more nailed down than us. They openly market ODIs on the Party Atmosphere. We call it Fancy Dress. They call it Dress Up Party. They market "the biggest dress up party in Queensland this year". A section of the stand is cordoned off and marketed as The Dress Up Deck. Groups of Flintstones characters are invited in, maybe even given a free drink. But their real job is to gurn for the cameras. Self-Perpetuation. Somewhere out in TV Land the next potential group of Scooby Doo characters are thinking, "the Flintstones have just got on the tele, we'll have some of that next year".
I'm going down that road because this MCC v Yorkshire game is a small part of that plan to entice the New Audience. Trial 4/5 day cricket under lights. Trial the Pink Ball. Build Day/Night Test Cricket and New Audience, he come running. I blogged yesterday that I found the Pink Ball tricky to follow against the grass under the lights.
Out there, somewhere, an Administrator is thinking "we're not worried about that, the New Audience are not there to watch the cricket anyway". I can be harsh.
I'll confess that I'm not sure which market we're chasing. Is it the "nip down after work, catch the 2nd half" crowd? Because poor facilities & horrendous ticket prices & (in England) no Membership options for Test cricket, work against that market.
More positively. The large, spacious Australian stadiums. With clean, well managed & well staffed Members areas/lounges/bars/restaurants. With large unreserved areas. (The Australian phrase is the delightful First In Best Dressed) They are much more set up for polite, civilised socialising at the cricket.
In Australia, there is an existing tradition of people dipping into and out of a day's play. Some coming for "breakfast" until Lunch, and then heading to the factory/office. Some starting the grind early & unwinding at the cricket after Tea.
I do happen to think that Day/Night Tests may work down under in that context. And I am supportive of the initiative and trials. But, I am more sceptical about Day/Night Tests in England. There may be a novelty value. The never will have an interest in cricket merchants may be out in force at some point.
Maybe until they realise it's costing them a Ton for a single days play. But, our grounds don't have the same high quality "socialising options" that you get in Australia. Plastic glasses of fizzy sugar water lager. Amid the detritus under the stand. It's just different.
I'm already beginning to enjoy The Moments in the 2015 season. Lyth's ton. Rhodes 50. Rashid's strokeplay. Compton bringing Carberry on and him strangling a wicket straight away.
And The Frustrations. Patto, having done a superb job as Nightwatchman, getting out just before Lunch, exposing Bairstow, who lasted 6 balls.
Not gripping. But a lovely, cameo, entertaining day.
104/244
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