The 100 have taken over the end of summer, for better or worse. Photo: Getty Images/Nathan Stirk
To Beckenham last Sunday, a cricket event that could be conceived as the opposite of the 100. The One-Day Cup is a low-octane, unmissable drink that sits behind your seat. Each ball matters, but it's wise to keep a few. No pyrotechnics, no player cosplays, as Quavers bags and DJs only participate if someone shows up starkly naked. It was blissful.
Beckenham County Ground is not the archetypal country cricket setting. It's a presentable suburb, but the view dominates the all-weather Crystal Palace training ground next door, where football literally looms over neighboring sports. But, most importantly, it is within walking distance of my house.
The standard was amazingly high and all newcomers watching cricket were ticked off. Screams, gatekeeper further than they show on TV. Wow, this is an accurate long-range shot of the ball, seemingly without effort. Yes, I'm going to start my four cans before noon, reevaluate my intake and I need to go to bed while it's still light.
Pluses also for the players, none of which compares to Barbie the brainless guy from Love Island. It wasn't enough to seduce Zach Crowley, who could help Kent. Leicestershire gave them an impressive 380, although my buddy, an avid Kent fan, has repeatedly mentioned that this is perhaps the best wicket in the country. Kent was duly wiped out with 116 balls in less than 24 overs, just 43 balls above the random hundred.
This competition is a forgotten brainchild of the domestic game, but compares favorably with the new format. On Tuesday night, Sky Sports were treading water in the rain, which ended up robbing us of the male half of the London Spirit's ancient rivalry against the Southern Brave.
Once first-class cricket had a more sporting cousin, domestic one-day cricket has fallen somewhat down the pecking order. Photo: Getty Images/Harry Trump
Footage from Lord lingered on families in miserable anoraks huddled under umbrellas. The commentators still stuck to the expansive mode, like Paul Whitehouse on the Fast Show calling everything brilliant. The kids, we heard, are desperate to stay in case the game resumes. They didn't look.
They would have had a better time at the thankfully mostly dry Beckenham, with a bouncy castle behind the main stand, a relaxed attitude about wandering the outfield between innings, and a satisfying clang of boundaries meeting old good billboards without LEDs.
Some children played fast cricket behind the viewing screens, others ate ice cream with a terrible blue syrup on top. One serious boy snarled at me from under the tiger paint on his face. Now I know how the Australians felt as they walked through the long room of the Lord.
Better not to underestimate children. Haven't we learned anything from Oh, those kids? Even they understand that if your event isn't on bonfire night, but is still mostly about fireworks, then you're probably hiding something. It seems just as shrewd to involve them in cricket like this, gently and unobtrusively. If it matches them, even by a few overs, a new fan is born.
I'm sure I'll enjoy a more invigorating evening watching the 100 in person at some point, but many are too overwhelmed by it. a format to support this, even as a potential cure for moving on to difficult tests and slow-burning four-day county championships.
Cricket is good for this, if you don't like one format, there will be another one in a minute. So if it's at least half local, why not cover your county with the rest of the summer? Imagine the spike in One Day Cup attendance caused by those who voted with their feet against the 100. Imagine bewildered ECB meetings. How did it happen? None of these teams have been approved by Frazzles!
Your chance starts this Sunday. If close to South London, Kent returned to Beckenham. Just don't expect to see a winning team.
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