English Counties & Champions League T20

Warwickshire 165 All Out Lost to Durham (166-7) by 3 Wickets (with nearly 10 overs to spare)

Saturday 20 September 2014

Lord’s Cricket Ground - Royal London (50 Over) Cup Final

Twitter @ball_sup

To Lord’s, as a neutral, for the domestic 50 Over Final.  I thoroughly enjoyed the cricket.  Using my Middlesex Membership, I’m able to use the Lord’s Pavilion for the domestic final.  A low scoring affair - received wisdom has that because of the early morning start in late-September.  But, you know, both teams have to bat & other cliches.

As it happens, I’m going to use the game as a little Op Ed excuse to discuss English Counties & the Champions League T20.  The Champions League is up and running in India - Domestic (State, Province, Island, Franchise, Region, etc) T20 teams from India, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & the West Indies all competing. Everywhere but England.  Scheduling is the main issue. At the time the Champions League T20 is going on, we’ve still got our Domestic one day cup & final round of 4 day First Class cricket to complete.

In the past, some Counties (including Yorkshire) have been able to go to the Champions League.  That was primarily when it was scheduled for October not September.  Maybe, the new ICC arrangements, with the “Big 3” of India, Australia & the ECB taking the lead, may lead to better scheduling to support the English Counties.

I prefer 4 & 5 Day First Class Cricket. But T20 has a role to play & crucially they use a bat & a ball.  It is plainly ridiculous that we have a Domestic T20 Blast competition & the winners can’t go to the only major international competition. Particularly given the amount of money involved & the hole in many County’s finances.

Here's how. Play 4 Day & T20 cricket much as now. Invitation to view Sunday starts & T20 Friday nights. But blitz that. Do not have the window break for 50 Over cricket we've seen in 2014. Get the Championship & T20 done & dusted by end August. Then have a September window for the 50 over stuff. But. Send 2 Counties to the Champions League T20. Play the 50 overs as a 16 County competition.  You're welcome. Never going to happen.

Six bottles today purchased from Highbury Vintners. I was concentrating on specific London breweries. There was a great London range. Quite a few others (Wild Beer Ilkley). And lots of internationals. The guy in the shop was very helpful. I'd recommend them.

Hammerton Time.

Islington Lager at 4.7%
N1 Pale at 3.4%
N7 Pale at 5.2%
Pentonville Oyster Stout at 5.3%

The N1 was a bit thin & the bitterness was harsh salad or dandelion leaves. Not unpleasant. But not my taste.

The N7 had a better malty backbone. I thought some tropical fruit on the nose. Good no nonsense pale.

The stout claims the previous Hammerton Brewers were the first to ever use Oysters. Wow. Did not know that. It was lovely. Nice head & deep flavour.

I also had Rocky Head Pale Ale at 6.5% and Imitera IPA at 7.2%. Both were nice. The IPA was very much to my taste. And I think the sweetly balanced abv kick of the Pale knocked out N1 & N7 from Hammerton. Although that's a little unfair as they're not really like for like.

But the standout beer of the day was the Hammerton Islington Lager. Unfiltered & you could taste it was. Crisp. Refreshing. Sweetness going on. Bursts in your mouth. Excellent.