A RUMBLE OF THUNDER ?

I`ve been watching the first few games in the brand spanking new cricket competition `The Hundred.`  It seems to be the T20 - which comprises 120 balls - but reduced to just 100 balls, so it`s difficult to detect any real difference apart from the introduction of some odd rules such as having `strategic time-outs,` a time limit for each innings and having five or ten ball `sets` instead of the more traditional six ball overs.  (This has the annoying innovation of the umpires holding up a white card at the end of each `set` rather than calling `Over` at the end of an over.)

It`s all a bit bish-bash-bosh, to steal a slogan from one of its sponsors;  there`s live music in between `innings,` there`s fireworks, a `match hero` instead of a player of the match but also the crowd bringing their repertoire of chants, songs and insults direct from their T20 experiences.  The idea is apparently to attract a younger audience to the game by introducing almost American style razzmatazz, deafening noise and ancillary `attractions` all the while the serious business of playing the game is going on.

Traditionalists - like me, I suppose - will baulk at the gimmicks but I wonder whether the England and Wales Cricket Board have made a fatal error in underestimating the power of history.  Most cricket clubs in this country have more than a century of history behind them which seems to engender a feeling of loyalty and devotion to the game which goes far beyond mere results on the pitch.

But for all that, given the extensive BBC and Sky Sports coverage and the attendances at the games so far, it is perhaps refreshing to see that audiences seem to be very much into the atmosphere and enjoyment of the occasion and what is perhaps telling is the sheer fun and enjoyment displayed by the younger members of the audience - some of them very young indeed - which was apparently one of the reasons for coming up with this version of the game;  to spread its appeal, get more young people involved and in the process generate more revenue to feed back into the more `traditional` game.  (I was interested to see that the one county which `did not vote` for the introduction of The Hundred was Kent - I wonder if they will miss out on the £1.3million promised by the ECB to each county.)

In the end, despite my reservations, I`m finding it compelling viewing - even Mrs. Snopper is mildly interested - and in a way I hope it succeeds in the longer term rather than simply being an expensive stop gap before football starts up again.  If it does succeed, I worry what its effect will be on the county game, the established T20 format and the 50-over competition.  The simple game of cricket could get too complicated and in its effort to be all things to all cricket followers it could leave its history and tradition floundering in the wake of its own desperation.  I really hope not.

Here in Kent today we have a Met. Office weather warning for heavy showers, torrential downpours, lightning and thunder and I thought I detected some thunder rumbling away down the other end of the county as I watched The Hundred unfold last evening.  On the other hand, it could have been EW (`Jim`) Swanton turning in his grave down at Sandwich.