Worth a read

I came across an interesting, though worrying article this morning while surfing the web. It is on Somerset's club web site and paints a worrying picture of the future if the Government go ahead with the free to air Crown Jewels of the sporting calendar idea.

You can read the article by clicking on this link:

http://www.somersetcountycc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/Newsdetail/0,,11333~1956259,00.html

Gentlemen (and ladies) of a certain age will pine for the days when Tests and county cricket were a regular feature of the summer broadcasting highlights, but this article suggests that a return may be to the detriment of the game.

No one could deny that Sky do cricket brilliantly. They have brought a lot to the coverage over recent years and although one or two of the commentators/analysts can be annoying, they are thoroughly professional.

The BBC? I'm not so sure. As an example, why did they not have the Derby v Forest game as the main match on the Football League show last week? There were a number of flashpoints and talking points and there were always going to be in such a fixture. So why did they show Cardiff and Doncaster as a main match? Up here in Scotland, it would be like preferring St Mirren v Aberdeen over Rangers v Celtic. Very strange and suggesting there are fingers that are a long way from the pulse.

Back to cricket though and the long term future of the game has to be more important than showing the game without paying of the going rate. If I'm given a choice between Derbyshire's long term survival and seeing the next Ashes series, the old urn isn't remotely in the frame...

Other news this morning says that Leicestershire have returned a profit of £689 for last season after a couple of poor years. Its not a massive amount but at least on the right side of the line and there would be a few counties would happily trade with them. There's something quite satisfying in seeing that counties some people would like to be rid of are the ones that seem to be the most professionally run. And yes, I include Derbyshire in that.

Thanks to those who have sent e mails after yesterday's piece on our second overseas professional. As I replied to Gareth on the blog last night, my guess - only a guess - is that in the light of John Morris' excellent contacts in South Africa we may be chasing Albie Morkel . That is based on the fact that he doesn't make their Test side and is the only one of the big names who is likely to be available.

Of course, Morkel has made a name and big money in the IPL and will not lack for suitors. I may be well wide of the mark and he may be outside our financial compass (I wish I'd had one of them at school!) He will, I'm sure, play T20 with someone and he'd be a huge asset to Derbyshire.

Of course, so too could Loots Bosman as a cavalier batsman at the top of the order, or Alviro Petersen in the middle order, or Charl Langeveldt as, at the risk of sounding like an advert, probably the best 20 over bowler in the world...

As I said last night, I don't think we should all spend the next few days scouring the world's press for news as I can't see it happening just yet. What happens if Wayne Parnell is left out of the South African Test squad in the Caribbean, or Australia decide to blood youngsters in the one day tournament this summer leaving some big names available?

John Morris is far from daft and will have his plan A, B, C and probably D. He'll still have to wait though, like the rest of us.