Darren Gough: Colin Graves is right about cricket's lack of appeal

ECB chairman Colin Graves has taken some criticism for saying that the younger generation are not attracted to cricket.
Colin Graves: Deserves to be heard.Colin Graves: Deserves to be heard.
Colin Graves: Deserves to be heard.

But, for me, in a lot of ways he is telling the truth and getting unnecessary stick.

I would like to defend Colin a little. He is a very good businessman, who has been brilliant over the years, rescuing Yorkshire from a dire financial situation.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He has actually got a point. We have not got a problem getting kids into cricket at primary schools at 8-11. That is a very strong age group and we have things like Chance to Shine which are making a big difference. Forty-five per cent who play are female – another huge positive.

Read More
Botham prepared to give '˜Hundred' plans time to develop

But you have to admit that the drop-off in interest comes from the ages of 12 to 16. Colin is right to say that we need to do something to make cricket appeal to that audience more.

I have to admit that I have been thinking long and hard about The Hundred format and it is growing on me a little bit.

That is because we cannot compete with India’s IPL and Australia’s Big Bash.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In England the T20 Blast is good fun, popular, does what it says on the tin and works.

So I kind of get that they want to do something slightly different with The Hundred format and I have always been a fan of the eight-team franchise. I ‘get’ The Hundred concept. The one thing I am not a fan of is how we get to the 100 balls at this point. If they can tweak it here and there, there are lots of things to be done to move it forward.