All entries for December 2004

It's just not cricket

Today’s announcement that the ECB has sold all rights to England’s home test matches exclusively to Sky is the latest disgrace to the sorry authorities that pervade English sport.

The thirty five days or so of circket screened on BBC/C4 each summer birghtened up many people’s miserable childhood and, indeed, introduced them to the game. Apparently future generations will be deprived of this, while the pensioners who make up one third of the game’s audience will be forced to read books about the good old days or turn over their heating costs to Rupert Murdoch. In a world where “there will always be people in certain walks of life who cannot afford certain things,” to quote ECB board member Michael Leach, perhaps it is better to freeze to death.

In an act of incredible short termism, the ECB seek to cash in on England’s recent success by depriving viewers of enjoying it after sitting through years of mediocrity. Support your national team, but don’t expect to see them win anything.

: 15 Dec 2004 22:24 |  Comments (10) |  Close comments |  Report a problem