The start of the Men’s First-Class cricket season in England and Wales. Tradition meets 2024
Friday 5th April sees the start of the men’s first-class cricket season in England and Wales.
Unless you are enthusiast you may not have noticed (you might struggle not to notice the start of the football season even if you are not a fan).
There won’t be all that many spectators in person but in 2024 games are live streamed with BBC Test Match Special ball by ball commentary. Hopefully this will spark interest.
Coverage and publicity for the start of the season will be limited no doubt. The current focus in cricket is the Indian Premier League, the biggest draw in world cricket
There is I a wider angle now.
In times past the start of the domestic season was a chance to follow some live cricket for the first time in months, the England winter overseas tours having been completed some-time since. In 2024 you can watch and often enjoy cricket games in a range of formats day and night on Sky and TNT from all around the world.
The County game is the basis for cricket. Of course not enough watch it and for most clubs finance is a real issue but these have both been true for a long time. Reducing the number of Counties (a media obsession) won’t broaden its appeal. Really tackling racism in the game and significantly improving the path into the County game from the structures that exist at the grassroots might. In short fashioning a cricket fit for 2024, fit that is for those who enjoy playing and watching cricket, not for those who see it is another vehicle for profit making for their own ends.
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