Let us suppose it is only ascribable to the weather and the effect a gloomy, wet and perhaps not unexpectedly storm laden English summers day can have upon one, but yesterday I had something between an epiphany and a horribly lucid idea that goes against the grain of all of crickets' stolid virtues of Victorianism and antipathy to the modern world.
In trying to follow the ICC champions trophy final between the erstwhile athletes of England and India one could feel a mounting sense of tension. Not based in exciting play or a closely contested match (although in a T20 format that would come later and England would again fail to win a one day final *sigh*).
No, the tension came from the fact that the weather was pushing the potential for play further and further backwards and the ICC had inexplicably thought better of having a backup day (have they not encountered an English summer before this?!?).
Thus, as the storm raged one potential outcome was a shared trophy. Try suggesting that in another sport! Our cross Atlantic cousins would have a seizure at the prospect! A draw brings them to near apoplexy as it is.
Thus the insidious idea crept into the fore of the old grey matter. Why don't we have one, just one stadium in this country, for cricket, with (gasp) a retractable roof. I'll leave a pause here so people can have a stiff whisky and soda at the club after contemplating such heresy......
OK, back with me? good. Even something as venerable as Wimbledon does this for heaven's sake. Yes, yes I know the weather plays a vital role. What other sport is there where the coin toss can almost debilitate one sides chances even before they've begun if they lose it? That is all part of the joy, the tradition, the venerability of the leather on willow world.
Yet, we are in the 21st century and perhaps, just perhaps we should make some concession to modernisation. It isn't always a bad thing. There may be those who loath T20 but it has undeniably breathed new life and money into the sport globally. Perhaps modernising to the point of being able to actually stage a final wouldn't be such a bad thing?
The heresy is over now, the suggestion has been made and I'm moving on. I'll just let all the administrators busy themselves with sticking pins in their newly created voodoo effigies of me now.
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