What does the future hold for clubs like Northamptonshire and Somerset? Photo: Getty Images/Harry Trump «I believe every county needs to add value to the game and justify ECB funding if it is to be sustainable and grow the sport,» said Hollins, who has worked in cricket for more than 15 years . “Some counties have fallen out of favor as the game and society have changed. I think what's the point of just existing? It's not easy, most counties are owned by a relatively modest number of members, some of whom want cricket to be the same as it used to be.
“The game is in a transformation phase and there will clearly be changes. It's really important that strong clubs that have a real impact in their communities and inspire their communities through cricket, which is our aim in Somerset [to inspire the south west], it's important that those clubs have a strong future.»
“It is important that the southwest participates in the Hundred”
Hollins believes Somerset has a strong case to become home to one of the two new franchises and fears for the club's future if it remains on the sidelines if the competition widens and thus remains without cricket in the August hundred window.
< p>“I'm encouraged by some of the discussions around The Hundred for the game. It is important for cricket in the south west that we compete for the top table,” he said. “If not, then I worry about the future. We definitely said that we would like to be one of the eight or ten. There are six million people in the southwest, all of whom are alienated and do not support this competition [The Hundred].
“Sky, the BBC and the ECB have done a great job of making the competition work, but there are still six million people who don't feel part of it and it's important that this is fixed. Domestic competitions are top level and if the South West doesn't play a role in them then our ability to inspire people to play cricket is severely limited. We haven't played first XI cricket for 43 days since our last championship match on July 27, so we're trying to inspire kids during the school holidays.»
Hollins will retire at the end of March and will be replaced former Somerset opener Jamie Cox, who joins from MCC where he was head of cricket. Hollins intends to work as a consultant to the counties, using his experience in Somerset and the ECB. A new partnership agreement between the ECB and the counties, which provides the framework for financing, is due to be concluded next year.
The success of The Hundred has a knock-on effect on county cricket. Photo: Getty Images/Nick England
“The reality is [counties] are having a really hard time,” Hollins added. “We have older grounds that require investment, less income post-Covid, higher cricket inflation when players have alternatives elsewhere, and larger grounds that can invest more in cricket. Costs have risen but revenues have remained the same.
“The easiest thing we can do is take money out of the cricket budget, which is what many clubs have done, to balance the books. But then your income drops because you have fewer membership and sponsorship sales, and it's harder to inspire your region and keep the club relevant in the community.
“Money from The Hundred may be the answer, but it's not everything. You can get money from The 100 and build a lot of beautiful new stands in the country, but no one will sit on them because this club doesn't matter. I think it's dangerous.»
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