This week:
- WBBL – Why have the Sixers been at sixes and sevens?
- County Cricket – Does a groundswell of support mean the ECB should u-turn?
- Football – What can the WSL learn from The Hundred?
- Jan Brittin – Charlotte Edwards’ idol inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame
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CRICKETher 
The recently issued 2022 fixture calendar from the ECB again shows four dates for Women’s County T20, once again all in the early weeks, and no other senior county cricket for the rest of the year. I agree that the current system of official T20 cricket for a few weeks followed by unofficial 50 over cricket for those counties that can afford it is somewhat iniquitous. The recent contributor suggested a new county game populated by players who don’t make it to regional level, but that’s at odds with statements from regional directors who say they really value the county game as a stepping stone from club to regional level, and it also doesn’t address the “problem” that many of the top players remain totally committed to representing their counties. I am concerned that players from counties who can afford to continue with 50 over county cricket will find it easier to secure a place in a regional squad and that we will therefore create a ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ situation. However, there is evidence to show that, if you can create a high quality club cricket product in your county, the appetite for senior representative cricket diminishes. I’m not sure how many readers of this blog will have noticed that Cheshire – who spent several seasons in Division 2 in the 2010s – no longer run a women’s senior county side? I can’t speak for everyone, but not many people in the county seem to miss not having Championship cricket either.
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