Start in March or end in October? Former Yorkshire pace bowler Oliver Hannon-Dalby unhappy with schedule
OLIVER HANNON-DALBY, the former Yorkshire pace bowler, has said that the latest County Championship schedule remains “so far from optimum” that one solution might be to effectively start the season in March or end it in October to protect player well-being.
Speaking in his capacity as chair of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), Hannon-Dalby said that the opening to next summer (six Championship rounds in seven weeks) was “challenging” and the conclusion to it (six rounds in six weeks) “concerning”.
He said that the PCA “will actively be canvassing opinion on how we could avoid this congestion in the future, with options such as starting the season slightly earlier or ending it later”.
His comments come after the full county fixtures were released on Thursday, with next season starting on April 3 and ending on September 27.
“The opening to the season has been relatively consistent for a few years and while it is challenging, we maintain a minimum of three days between four-day games for vital rest, recuperation and preparation,” observed Hannon-Dalby of the latest fixture list.
"While we understand the intricacies, the Championship block at the end of the season is concerning.
"At a time when many counties have threadbare squads, to start six four-day games and a 50-over final in the space of five weeks is so far from optimum it is something that needs addressing. Conversations need to continue to prioritise the well-being of players.”
Hannon-Dalby, who left Yorkshire for Warwickshire in 2013, welcomed changes to the T20 Blast, which will now be played in one block before The Hundred.
"In the men’s Blast, it is clear there is significant progress with the flagship Finals Day taking place ahead of The Hundred, a vastly improved schedule and less travel,” he said.
"For the first time in a number of years, I feel the men’s Blast will have the energy and priority within the schedule to show everybody just how great this competition is.
“The Vitality Blast lining up on an equal platform with men’s and women’s teams is something I’m very passionate about, and is absolutely the right way to grow the game.
"We’ve seen the success in The Hundred, and double-headers should be an opportunity to attract bigger crowds for all.”