Trent Rockets v London Spirit
Spirit represent the historic counties of Essex, Middlesex and Northamptonshire. But not the most famous city in the world. Please explain that one in plain English.
So no great need for any of the squad to be born in London. Who’s the odd-woman out?
Ellie Anderson, Wolverhampton; Erin Burns, Wollongong; Charlie Dean, Burton-on-Trent; Abbey Freeborn, Eastbourne; Danielle Gibson, Cheltenham; Sarah Glenn, Derby; Eva Gray (unknown); Cordelia Griffith, Islington, London; Niamh Holland, Yeovil; Hannah Jones, Manchester; Heather Knight, Plymouth; Meg Lanning, Singapore; Sophie Munro, Lincoln; Tara Norris, Philadelphia; Georgia Redmayne, Lismore, NSW; Deepti Sharma, Agra, India.
Who’ll buy the kit on offer?
Answer: thousands of fans of all ages. So the London Spirit favours can be seen all around the ground, despite the lack of Londoners on the field. Even the by-name ‘Spirit’ isn’t obvious. ‘London Pride’ would be far more appropriate, but unfortunately it’s already claimed by the producer of the best beer in the world.
What am I worth?
The Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) called for equal pay between men and women in England by 2025, but the ECB didn’t commit to that. Still, the pay bands have risen noticeably. Not perhaps out of sense of fair play, more a desire to attract the best overseas players, who have found the much higher rates of pay in India and Australia more rewarding.
So at least this year The Hundred has been able to welcome the topmost top names like Lanning, Mandhana and Perry. But – you may have realised it already – cricket is a funny old game. The player paid £1m+ for putting her nose through the door may well be out first ball and drop a sitter. As Charles Dagnall said: “High-quality players are in such demand”. But do they produce the goods?
No names, no pack-drill
But it all goes to discourage me from accepting The Hundred and its dissimilar sisters with an open heart. Can a squad operate effectively when one or two players are being paid far more than their team-mates, when they only occasionally produce the goods? It’s all too reminiscent of the bygone age of Gentleman (amateurs) and Players (professionals). The upper-crust gents would play only part of the county season, coming into the team (most likely in the summer holidays), to leave the pro-player unused and unpaid.
The parallel is uncomfortably close, since the big stars may not be available for the whole of schedule. But somebody is forced to make way when they deign to turn up.
And there’s an abiding curiosity of the undertaking. Why introduce yet another new format of cricket, with no parallel anywhere else in the small world of cricket?
Can you hear me?
If you’d like to apply to be a PA at The Hundred, you’ll need to take an extended training course run by PAs at World Heavyweight bouts. Source a sound-proofed room and start screaming.
Moments in the Match
The highest opening partnership (74) was halted only by an ever more frequent form of dismissal, a run-out by the bowler deflecting Grace Scrivens’ straight drive on to the stumps. Bryony Smith walked straight off. Michael Gough did an elegant high-jump, while keeping his eyes fixed on events passing in front of him. Ebony Rainford-Brent revealed her ignorance of the Laws by wondering if Smith might not have deflected the ball away from the bowler’s grasp. Luckily James Anderson was on hand to put her right. “Obstruction to the field”.
“Plenty of (batting) power to come” says Ebony. But only 55 deliveries remaining. How does all that power find the space to advertise itself? Do I sacrifice myself for the common good, or carry on? The batter knows how common huge collapses are.
Deepti Sharma threatened to run out Nat Sciver-Brunt at the bowler’s end, but didn’t. Scrivens’ riposte was to hit her for 4.
Annabel Sutherland doubted she could find a decent cup of coffee anywhere in England. She hasn’t thus far taken a tramp steamer back to Oz. Money has its charm.
Sky cricket prefers to employ overseas commentators who, for all their talents, may remain ignorant of the English game. Thus the admirable Mel Jones: “The start of an impressive career in English cricket” referred to Scrivens as she made her first Hundred 50. Jones ignores all of Scrivens’ back-story.
Then she said “From grade cricket all the way to international cricket”. I’m not sure the people the Hundred is trying to attract will know what grade cricket is.
The many youngsters in the crowd wearing the local colours will have their favourite players; they may even get their autographs. Then next year – “Where have they all gone? Where’s Lauren Bell?” “They’ve all joined another team, darling.”
The Reply
Alexa Stonehouse beats Lanning past the outside edge. A first five consisting of four dots and a 4. Not bad against a top-ranked player.
But with the game safely won, NSB did not ask AS to bowl the last five. Instead, she invited Heather Graham to finish the job, thus denying an English youngster a rare opportunity to share the limelight. Graham has played one ODI for Australia and four T20s. That’s franchise cricket for you.
As Jones said, the position gave Graham the chance to try one of her less familiar deliveries against Sharma. That’s precisely how the Hundred supports English players. Jon Lewis might like to ask NSB what she was thinking.
The Also-rans
There were nine squad members not invited to play. One was an overseas player, Erin Burns (Australia); the remainder were English hopefuls denied the chance of improving their game.
Result
Trent Rockets 158-5
London Spirit 127-7
TR won by 31 runs
