Jimmy Anderson bowled over 40,000 balls in Test cricket over an international career encompassing 5 FIFA World Cups, 6 Harry Potter movies, 8 British Prime Ministers, 8 full-time England captains, 11 Taylor Swift albums, 20 ICC Men’s tournaments, formation of four independent nations, a worldwide recession, advent of generative AI, and a global pandemic. Sir Andrew Strauss debuted after him, retired before him, captained him, took slip catches for him, became the Director of England cricket, and stepped down between the ends of Anderson’s career.
Anderson has lived through the birth of T20 cricket and what feels like the death of Test cricket (joking, joking…or am I?).
Why I Will Always Remember Jimmy
I will always remember Jimmy Anderson because he made me fall in love with swing bowling.
I was just a six year old when I started following cricket – must have been around 2003-04. After the India-Australia Adelaide Test, I wanted to be a batter like Rahul Dravid. Just keep on defending balls and bat all day long.
By watching Anderson, I realized cricket was a lot more than just batting. In English conditions, he could really make the ball talk. When he bowled, cricket became a true battle between bat and ball, with ample swings & misses, the outside edges, and the oohs & aahs.
When I immigrated from India to the US, Jimmy Anderson was bowling. I finished elementary school. Jimmy Anderson? Still bowling. I graduated high school, college, graduate school, and now working. Anderson? Yep, still there.
Between Jimmy’s debut and retirement, we all grew up. I definitely did.
Let’s Talk About That Action, Shall We?
He had it all, in swing, out swing, late swing, reverse swing, wobble seam, a bit of pace, but most of all, the perfect swing bowling action.
Every cricket fan has copied Jimmy Anderson’s action at some point in their lives. The steady run up, slightly angling in, the swift movement of the shoulders, arms going behind the back, bit of a jump, the follow through, and then the celebration. It’s magic.
The Moments that Lifted Anderson from Good to Great
Anderson had several great moments and stories in his illustrious career. Magnificent deliveries to VVS Laxman, Brendon McCullum, and Michael Clarke to name a few, consistent performances against West Indies, South Africa, and Sri Lanka, the 7/43 vs New Zealand, Ashes victories, 2015 ODI WC debacle, and the Steyn vs Anderson debate. I picked a few other characteristics in his career that stood out to me.
– Bowling Partnership with Stuart Broad
1308 wickets among them. The top two highest wicket takers for fast bowlers. Anderson took 537 wickets when Broad was involved. Broad took 502 of his 604 with Anderson in it. When Broad had one of THOSE spells, Anderson kept it tight. When Anderson was on a roll, Broad kept it tight. A partnership to behold, a partnership for the ages that made England a fortress at home for a decade.
– 2014 & 2018 Battle vs Virat Kohli
Anderson was the highest wicket-taker of the 2014 Pataudi trophy with 25 wickets, a class apart.Kohli was caught behind by Anderson on 25 (34) in the2nd Test, and later was out on 39 (75), 0(2), and 7 (11)later.
In 2018, the battle continued but Virat Kohli had his redemption. Aside from couple of dropped catches, Kohli returned with scores of 149, 51, 97, 103, 46, 58, and 49with no dismissals from Anderson.
– The Ashes
117 wickets in the Ashes with 8 four-fers and 5 five-fers, Anderson left his mark in the Ashes.
– Anderson vs Mitchell Johnson
In this video, you see a different side of Anderson. At the peak of his powers, Mitchell Johnson sledges Anderson. In reply, Anderson takes a wicket the next ball and gives one back to Johnson!
– Success in Asia and India
His last two tours in India were remarkable. He took 8 wickets at 15.87 average in 2021and 10 wickets at 33.5 in 2024. In all, he took 92 wickets in Asia at 27.51. Not bad for one mocked as ‘Clouderson.’ He adapted and evolved with age.
Also fun fact, even though Anderson didn’t play an ODI match for about a decade, he is STILL the highest ODI wicket taker for England.
What Can We Learn From Jimmy Anderson?
Anderson’s longevity as a fast bowler will be marveled at for generations, but it was his swing bowling that set him apart. He developed this skill and kept refining it year after year until there was no match for him.
He utilized the English conditions like no other, kept himself fit for two decades, became a leader to the next generation, and was a great bloke all around. Rarely has someone come along who has single-handedly impacted England cricket, cricket as a whole, and the art form of fast bowling.
From the iPod 3rd generation to iPhone 15 Pro Max, from Beckham to Kane (Are the Euros coming home?); from the historic Volkswagen Beetle to self-driving Teslas, from Andrew Flintoff to Rocky Flintoff, and from Queen Elizabeth II to King Charles III, Anderson has seen it all.
Salute to you. There were never be another Jimmy Anderson.
Thank you for a special 20 years, I will cherish it forever.
****
What were your favorite Jimmy Anderson moments?
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Once upon a time, a father observed his three sons arguing. So just like any dad, he decided to teach them a lesson.
He gave each of his kids a bundle of sticks and asked them to break it.
The first son went in with confidence, but fell short of breaking it. The second kid tried really hard as well, but couldn’t break through. The third son also ended up with the same result.
Then, the father separated the bundle, and asked his sons to repeat the task. To their surprise, each of them was able to break all the sticks this time around, one by one.
What did they learn? Unity is Strength. By keeping the sticks together, the whole became stronger.
Much like this tale, India’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign was marked by unity. There was no one performer or one star this time around.
Virat Kohli, the golden boy of Indian cricket for over a decade, could not make a run for his life. India found a new match winner in every game—Bumrah, Arshdeep, Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya, Rohit, and Axar all produced player of the match performances while Rishabh Pant and Shivam Dube played handy cameos throughout the World Cup.
In the final, Kohli steadied the ship with a 76, Axar’s 47 marked India’s recovery, and Dube’s 27 (16) provided the finishing spark that was much needed. In the second innings, Bumrah started with one of the balls of the tournament to dismiss Reeza Hendricks and Arshdeep took out Markram.
What followed was a brilliant counterattack from South Africa through Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, and Heinrich Klaasen, who unleashed one of the most memorable innings in a World Cup final.
But then, South African ran into the bundle of sticks.
Rishabh Pant helped India get an injury break and disrupted South Africa’s momentum. Pandya then dismissed Klaasen with a clever wide delivery, Bumrah gave nothing away and went through Jansen’s gates. Following up, Arshdeep bowled a cracker of a 19th over and stifled Maharaj, Hardik kept it tight in the 20th, and SKY, who had a middling tournament by his standards, came through with one of those acrobatic catches when it mattered the most.
Even if one of those pieces in the last 28 balls had not come together, India would have lost. But together, they proved to be too strong to break.
Ludwig van Beethoven, perhaps the most recognized composer of them all, left his best for last.
Beethoven’s wrote his Ninth Symphony when he was almost completely deaf. The fourth moment, Ode to Joy, is often regarded as one of the greatest pieces of classical music of all-time. Composer Tan Dun states that
“Everybody loved Beethoven. The enemy loved Beethoven. The friends loved Beethoven. The dictatorship loved Beethoven. But also, the gentle, the people, the kids, the mothers, the women loved Beethoven.”
Rahul Dravid, one of the greatest cricketers of all-time, left his best for last as well. Although Dravid is not going deaf, his hairs have definitely grayed. The WTC Final and 2023 ODI World Cup Final losses would have been hurting deep into his heart.
Everybody loves Rahul Dravid, friends and foes alike. Dravid is one of the most loved and respected cricketers out there (and was also named India’s most sexiest man in 2005, fun fact). He has accomplished everything..well almost everything except for a World Cup. He had won a World Cup with the U-19 team earlier team, but this was different. This was personal.
In 2007, India crashed out of the group stage under Dravid’s captaincy in the Caribbean. History must have been weighing on him. The weight of the nation must have been weighing on him.
17 years later, Dravid came back to the Caribbean yet again with the quest of a World Cup. At last, Dravid orchestrated his most famous symphony.
“Something needs to change. Otherwise all that will be left is broken dreams.”
After the semi-finals loss against England, Rohit Sharma insisted on a change of approach, which was apparent in the dream 2023 ODI World Cup run at home (until the final). By the time we got to June 2024, the change was complete.
Both Rohit and Virat had transformed their playing styles. Rohit Sharma’s 92 against Australia will be talked about for years to come.
What about Virat Kohli? If South Africa had won the final, Kohli’s final knock may have been criticized. In hindsight, it was exactly the knock India needed from its talisman. The 2014 semi-final knock vs South Africa, the 82* at Mohali, the 82* in Adelaide and those sixes against Haris Rauf. People will always remember those, but they will now also remember how Virat Kohli & Rohit Sharma helped India win a World Cup.
Their leadership and legacy is now etched in history with this World Cup dream. Broken Dreams no more.
Jasprit Bumrah was the section leader for India’s bowlers.
He delivered with several solo performances, but also guided the rest of the bowlers along with him.
When there is a Bumrah, there is always a way. How does he keep doing it? Regardless of the format, pitch conditions, opposition, he delivers day in and day out. Player of the tournament for a reason. We are seeing the development of one of the greats in front our eyes.
India should appreciate, cherish, and keep Bumrah in cotton wool for as long as possible.
“It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.”
– Deiter F. Uchtdorf, German aviator and religious leader
This quote embodies Hardik Pandya. He is always in the news for one reason or the other, but this season has been really tough for him.
Hardik Pandya was booed all throughout IPL 2024 after he became Mumbai Indians’ captain. MI did not qualify for the playoffs and to make matters worse, he was in abysmal form himself. There were calls to not select him in the World Cup squad.
And the way he reacted to this adversity and came back is a story to behold. He kept his cool in the press conferences in the IPL and let his performances do the talking in the World Cup. He struck first against Pakistan, had a couple of great all-round shows, and capped it off with Klaasen-Miller’s wickets in the final.
Hardik Pandya, India’s bonafide match-winner.
history will always remember you hardik pandya, your father must be feeling so proud of you ❤️🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/K5ON33ipte
Pastor T.D. Jakes once said, “A setback is a setup for a comeback.”
Rishabh Pant has endured the unimaginable over the last couple of years. The fact that he survived is a big deal on its own. To have the motivation and drive to play cricket again and that also at the highest level, is spectacular.
And then to make a comeback in the IPL and later in international cricket is out of the world. His scores of 36*, 42, 18, 20, 36, 15 might not blow the opposition out, but it is exactly what was needed by the #3. Kept the momentum going.
And boy, he was quite active behind the stumps! Not to forget the Gulbadin moment in the final.
Axar Patel was the missing ingredient India did not realize they had.
Over the last few ICC events, India have carried both Jadeja & Pandya in the XI, but somehow were always missing a bowling option or batting depth that ended up haunting them. Recall batting collapses in 2017 Champions Trophy Final & 2019 ODI SF or lack of bowling options in the 2016 T20 WC SF or 2023 ODI WC Final.
With Axar, Rohit could rotate the bowling around, add Kuldeep or Siraj based on conditions, and switch up the batting line up. The Grade Cricketer podcast sums Axar’s impact really well.
“The versatility is unrivaled….What..What a cricketer. He can bat 5 and make 47 in a World Cup final and also spin teams out in Test matches. I don’t know who else can do that!”
You can’t help but feel happy for Kuldeep Yadav. After all that he went through from 2020-22, Kuldeep is back with a bang!
He did not play the first few matches in fast bowling friendly USA, but the difference in the Caribbean with figures of 2/32, 3/19, 2/24, 3/19 before the 0/45 in the final. With Bumrah and Kuldeep in your XI, opposition just has 12 overs to hit.
His selection in the squad was courageous. His selection in the XI was courageous. Even though he started with scores of 14 (16), 0*(2), and 3 (9), he was persisted with. That was courageous.
And just like the lion in Oz, he lifted himself up when it mattered the most. Staying till the end of the chase with 31*(35) when India were struggling against USA, 34 (24) vs Bangladesh, 28 (22) vs Australia, and saving his best for last—27 (16).
For a known spin basher, he started off with a six against Marco Jansen in the final. Courage.
From 108/4 in 14 overs, India scored 68 in the final 6, and the rest, as we say, is history.
In this WC, Jadeja did not bat much, bowl much, and did not even inflict a direct hit. But the fact that he was there made all the difference.
Rohit Sharma was able to rotate the bowlers, keep flexibility in the batting order, and kept the opposition at bay with the thought that India still has a #8 with three first class triple centuries, a luxury South Africa did not have. Also announced his retirement along with Rohit & Kohli.
Ended with figures of 3-0-13-1, 4-0-19-0, and 4-0-25-0. Pretty solid returns.
Yuzvendra Chahal
Although Chahal is India’s highest wicket taker in T20Is, he is yet to play a T20 World Cup match. But does that really matter anymore?
Sanju Samson
The victory you know. The luck factor, you don’t. In all seriousness, if you have someone with the skill of Sanju Samson on the bench, you must have an absolutely amazing team.
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Jaiswal’s time will come. He will carry the torch of Indian cricket for the next generation along with Shubman Gill and a few others.
Rinku Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Khan
Although the reserve players did not get a chance in the final 15, they traveled with the squad throughout the tournament and attended several matches. Not once, did they show their disappointment. When India were happy, they were happy.
Ajit Agarkar and co have been criticized for picking the seniors and dropping Rinku Singh. At the end, it all worked out, didn’t it?
Also we cannot forget the contributions of the physios, data analysts, support staff, and several hundred others who played a role in the background. India’s victory could not have been possible without them.
Final Thought, Thank You Team India
In an orchestra, everyone from the first chair to the last stand must be focused and switched on at all times. The bows need to go in the same direction, the entrances need to be spot on, the solos need to be spectacular, the tempo should be consistent, and the instruments need to be in tune. Finally, the director needs to ensure all the sections—the strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion are all on the same page.
And when everything comes together, it is just so beautiful.
Thank you to India’s bowlers, batters, fielders, coaches, support staff, and the fans. They joined together and delivered when it mattered the most.
And the celebration was felt around the world. Robin Uthappa, R Ashwin, Rayudu, Ishant Sharma were visibly emotional on camera. So many cricketers before them have helped India grow and many such cricketers will continue to move Indian cricket forward.
Recently, I posted a research article on the financials of County Cricket, which revealed the recent profit & loss trends of each County Cricket Club.
However, one piece of feedback I received was that it only painted part of the picture.
It was a valid critique. So I said to myself, why not go through the annual reports all over again but from a different perspective.
This time, we will look at how much debt each County is in, and how much asset they possess.
Key Takeaways
Yorkshire (£ 26.1 million), Hampshire (£ 14.3 million), and Surrey (£ 12.8 million) have the have the highest net current liabilities, while the MCC (£ 27.6 million), Warwickshire (£ 2.1 million), and Lancashire (£ 1.2 million) have the highest net currentassets.
Similar to last time, I separated the first class Counties (from worst to best) in terms of how much money they owe currently (net current liabilities/asset).
Note: It is not necessarily a bad thing to have liability. The MCC, for example, has £ 91 million in liabilities, but also have a mammoth £ 174 million in assets.
How Do You Read a Balance Sheet?
First a quick accounting lesson.
While the main instrument of our previous analysis was the ‘Profit and Loss Account’ statement, this time, we take a deep dive into the ‘Balance Sheet.’
Indian investor, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, is accredited to have once said
“You know, a balance sheet is like a bikini. It shows more but it hides what is vital.”
– Rakesh Jhunjunwala
During this process, I had to teach myself how to read a balance sheet before I could start analyzing! So, I’ll try my best to condense the balance sheet information into digestible pieces of information for you.
In a balance sheet, everything basically needs to add up. The main equation to keep in mind here is:
Equity = Assets – Liabilities.
Assets are made up of fixed assets (like value of stadiums) and current assets. On the other, liabilities include amount falling due within one year (short-term debt) and amount falling due after more than one year (long-term debt like bank loans).
In long-term debt, we have included “creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year”, “less deferred income”, “provision for liabilities,” and “unamortised grants” among others.
So, which County Cricket Club has the Most Debt?
We rank the clubs based on the net current liabilities/debt or net current assets.
Since most clubs have healthy total fixed assets, we look at net current liabilities to see how much amount is owed by the club in the upcoming year or so.
(Note: I use Debt/Liability interchangeably but liabilities is the proper term because it can include debt, loan, deferred income, etc.).
1. Yorkshire (£ 26.1 Million Debt)
Assessment: Yorkshire is probably in the worst financial state of any of England’s first class county cricket clubs. The club has high liability (both short and long-term) and negative reserves.
They are currently going through refinancing and Colin Graves’ family trust loans are keeping the club afloat. Graves himself has stated that a private ownership model is needed for club’s financial health.
Debt Status:Red
“In the event that sufficient funding is not obtained, Colin Graves has undertaken to provide the necessary support.”
Net Current Liabilities: £ 26,129,858 (2023), £ 8,717,446 (2022)
Total Assets less current Liabilities:– £ 1,938,730 (2023), + £ 19,450,848 (2022)
We can see the CJ Graves and his family trust is owed a lot of money (about £ 15 million) by the Yorkshire County Cricket Club (see section 8: Creditors: amounts falling due within one year below).
Net Current Liabilities: – £ 12,815,000 (2023), – £ 7,075,000 (2022)
“As in previous years, net current liabilities includes deferred income – relating to membership subscriptions, advance ticket sales and hospitality deposits – which does not represent future cash outflows.”
Total Assets less current Liabilities:£ 62,992,000 (2023), £ 59,909,000 (2022)
Assessment: Gloucestershire’s short-term debt sky-rocketed in 2024. Clearing these liabilities as soon as possible would be in their best interest, even though their fixed assets are holding them up for the time being.
Assessment: Their long-term debt continued to go down and the value of their assets continued to rise. However, their short-term liabilities are also on the rise, which they need to keep in check.
*Note: Their 2022 liability section in their financial statement was empty, but we were able to calculate the total liabilities based on the rest of their balance sheet for 2022.
Net Current Liabilities: – £ 3,270,947 (2023), – £ 2,363,519 (2021)
Total Assets less current Liabilities:£ 4,756,819 (2023), £ (2022), £ 5,487,663 (2021)
Assessment: In 2022, Somerset reduced their long-term debt and declared a ‘positive financial result in a challenging environment’ in their financial report. We have marked them as yellow, because current liabilities still outweigh the value of their current assets.
Assessment: Middlesex took strides in decreasing their current liability from 2022 to 2023. However, their reserves are extremely low, so they need to be careful (due to low-valued fixed assets).
Debt Status:Yellow
2023
2022
Total Assets
+ £ 1,596,000
+ £ 1,421,000
Total Liabilities
– £ 1,527,000
– £ 1,483,000
Equity/Reserves
+ £ 69,000
– £ 62,000
Breakdown of Assets
Fixed Assets: £ 538,000 (2023), £ 580,000 (2022)
Current Assets: £ 1,058,000 (2023), £ 841,000 (2022)
Assessment: Their current liabilities decreased massively from 2021 to 2022. They are in the right direction, and should be able to come out of debt soon if the trend continues.
Assessment: Northamptonshire are slightly in debt, but not by much. However, they do not have high valued fixed assets like some of the other clubs, so they may need to tread the next couple of years carefully.
Assessment: Essex has seen a recent drop in every department—Lower equity, lower asset value, but also lower liabilities, but overall staying above water.
19. Marylebone Cricket Club, The MCC (£ 27.6 Million Asset)
Assessment:£ 118 million in fixed asset is all that you need to know about the MCC. Even though have about £ 63 million long-term liabilities, they are well above water. High reserves, positive current assets.
July 27, 2004, Democratic National Convention—A relatively unknown American politician steps out on the field and delivers a rousing keynote address to capture the attention of the world.
Political commentators Robert Lehrman and Michael A. Cohen later mention that back in 2004, this leader
“was totally unknown. People were saying, ‘I don’t know who this guy is, wonder why they picked him…No one knew who this guy was. This was his chance to introduce himself to people.”
Before the World Cup, Team USA was totally unknown. People were saying, ‘I don’t know why they held the World Cup in USA…(why did they build a random temporary stadium in New York with bad pitches and dangerous outfields)…No one knew the potential of this team. This was America’s chance to introduce themselves to fans.
But this moment, a convincing victory against Pakistan, may well go down in folklore as the day cricket in America changed.
(Side Note: Only Pakistan can light up a tournament in such Pakistan fashion and open the tournament alive with this loss. Won’t be surprised if they come back and end up winning the whole thing as only Pakistan know how to do).
USA STUNS PAKISTAN AT THE MEN’S T20 CRICKET WORLD CUP 🚨
ESPNCricinfo’s article on Monank Patel, Noshtush Kenjige, and Nitish Kumar shines a light on some other American dreams.
If Saurabh Netravalkar, who had figures of 2-18 and bowled USA to victory in the super over vs Pakistan, wasn't disgustingly talented enough — ( He is an engineer at Oracle and an MS in CS from Cornell University.) he's also a damn fine ukelele player. (video from his insta) pic.twitter.com/vEErMccyXX
The squad is well balanced. They have plenty of bowling options spearheaded by the fearless Ali Khan, players with international experience, IPL experience, Major League Cricket stars, and homegrown talent from the minor leagues. The top order is so strong that Unmukt Chand, India’s victorious 2012 U-19 captain, did not find a place.
Team USA’s current T20 World Cup squad include South Africans, Kiwis, Sri Lankans, Pakistanis, Indians.
But at the end of the day, that is the beauty of America. A melting pot, a salad bowl, whatever fits your boat.
Regardless of where you come from, the United States of America is a land that provides opportunity to all. An opportunity to excel.
A place where you can build your own American story.
Cricket Wins Despite ICC’s Shambolic Marketing
After one week, there were doubts on whether this World Cup will be successful or not.
Grueling travel schedules for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, an untested pitch & outfield that has the potential to cause major injuries, several sub-100 T20 scores, empty stadiums, overpriced tickets, TV schedules that defy logic, a World Cup scheduled during the NBA Finals, broadcast access only from WillowTV (channel most Americans have not even heard of), and shambolic marketing by the ICC.
I missed the entirety of the USA-Pakistan despite residing in the same timezone as Dallas because the match was scheduled during work hours at 10:30 AM. Apart from a couple of news reports, the acquisition of Usain Bolt as a brand ambassador, and local awareness in the New York-New Jersey and Dallas-areas, there has not been much marketing of note. None of my friends are aware that the US is even hosting a Cricket World Cup.
Yet the cricket has succeeded.
We have already seen two Super Overs, a lovely Ugandan story, and Oman shackling Australia. Never again shall we go back to less than a 20-team World Cup. Please.
A few of my non-cricketing friends here reached out after the US victory today, sharing articles and tweets with me! Good cricket, word of mouth, and a bit of social media is doing its magic!
Local Coverage Gives Cricket a Boost on Social Media
Walked all around Manhattan, even past Macy’s, looking for some sort of parade for the big USA win over Pakistan but there was none & then saw these four important looking people talk about it on the big screen in Times Square & it was all worth it #T20WorldCup#TeamUSApic.twitter.com/dfKmgLUxj7
Peter has been traveling around the States for the World Cup, interviewing fans, providing live traffic information, etc. In some cases, he exposes the ticket pricing issues:
Met Jagan Vinyagam, 48, originally from Chennai but living in NJ for last 20 years. Paid $350 for a "premium" ticket, only to be randomly assigned to last row, top of the stadium, section 247. He feels like he got scammed. "there was no transparency in the ticket buying process." pic.twitter.com/UGC1zYRmgn
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) June 5, 2024
At other times, he conveys stories of new fans entering the game.
Met Dima Yakubovich, 47 from San Fran. Watching first cricket match in person in Texas . Got into cricket 18 months ago stumbling across "83" on Netflix. Favorite player is Shubman Gill. Having a blast. He's staying through Sunday to watch SF Giants play Texas Rangers on Sat/Sun. pic.twitter.com/cmc6cLTRc4
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) June 6, 2024
Finally, we get to see how the crowd’s reactions ranging from Nepal’s thunderous audience to the empty stands during an India game in New York.
Here's the scene for USA v Pakistan in Texas. About 6000 fans in here, but definitely some empty pockets of seats, including all the highest priced tickets above and behind the team dugouts. Crowd not nearly as large or as vibrant as the Nepal match on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/uHFvC5tmHt
— Peter Della Penna (@PeterDellaPenna) June 6, 2024
Hope in the face of Uncertainty
We can cherish today as the day USA Cricket Team achieved its first American cricket dream. Hopefully, first of many.
Honestly speaking, two years ago, I was skeptical of the initiatives in the American cricket circuit. However, a successful 2023 MLC and a strong showing in this World Cup from Team USA has given me a glimmer of hope.
Selling cricket to Americans is difficult. Not because of comparisons with baseball (that is a story for another day), but because of the numerous other sport options the American public has. Cricket is not yet mature enough to compete in the American market, but David-Goliath stories like today definitely help in making a case.
Obama concludes his speech by saying that
“My story is part of the larger American story…and in no other country on Earth is my story even possible.”
Similarly, the journey of Team USA’s cricket team is just like any other American story.
“The hope of immigrants setting out for distant shores….The Hope of a skinny kid with a funny name who believes that America has a place for him too…Hope in the face of difficulty. Hope in the face of uncertainty. The audacity of hope.”
We don’t know if cricket will succeed or fail in the US, but if there is any place where we can hope that such an audacious experiment has a slight chance of succeeding, it is the United States of America.
****
America, Pakistan, Obama. But in a cricket context. Now you didn’t expect that, did you?
That’s what we like to do here. Cricket, but slightly outside the box.
Anyways, thanks for reading and thank you for your time.
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The ECB have managed to get approval from the 18 counties and the MCC for a ‘direction of travel’ (whatever that means) as a next step towards privatizing The Hundred. This will change the revenue model currently in place between the ECB & the Counties.
This made me wonder why the ECB had come up with The Hundred in the first place and why they are now moving towards privatizing the tournament.
Are all County clubs struggling financially? If yes, how bad are their situations?
I wanted to get to the bottom of this. So I researched all 18 Counties’ (and MCC’s) Annual Reports & Financial Accounts.
Here is what I found out after perusing through about 617 pages of annual reports.
Key Takeaways
Surrey (£ 8 Million – 2023), Lancashire (£ 2.4 Million – 2022), and Warwickshire (£ 1.3 Million – 2023) saw the most profit in a year, while Yorkshire (£ 7 Million Loss – 2023), Hampshire (£ 1.3 Million – 2022), and Gloucestershire (£ 1.2 Million – 2023) had the largest losses.
I separated the Counties in three categories based on their current financial health status.
Several teams highlighted inflation, rising interest rates, and rising energy costs as points of concerns looking at the future.
Although Test cricket is usually costly to host and results in losses for most cricket boards, County Clubs benefit when they host Ashes Tests (and ODIs). Membership soars, tickets are sold out, and the general interest in the County game increases. That is why many Counties experienced a boost in 2023 (except for Yorkshire).
The Counties below are arranged by the profit/loss in their latest released financial statements (not their overall reserves). We have summarized quotes from annual reports, factors contributing to growth, future outlook & concerns, etc. to provide a holistic view of the club. We made our financial health assessments as follows:
Green: Annual profits (mostly) for two years in a row and surplus reserves.
Yellow: (1) Recent annual losses but overall surplus reserves, (2) recent profits but negative reserves, or (3) concerns from the treasurer/CEO/chair in their written statements despite positive financials.
Red: Annual losses for two years in a row as well as negative reserves.
If debts and loan repayments were called out in the report, we mention it. However, other important metrics like detailed balance sheet and long-term debt analysis for each County is a deep dive for another day. (All the sources are linked at the end of each section if you are interested to learn more).
*Note: Results are presented from the club’s most recent Annual Report. Some clubs have already released their 2023 reports (that covers both 2023 & 2022 financial reports) while some others have only released 2022 reports (that cover 2022 & 2021 financial reports). The reports are sourced at the end of each section.
**The annual total represents the total comprehensive income for the club after taxation.
1. Surrey (£ 8 Million Profit)
Division: Division One
Home Ground: The Oval
Financial Health Status:Green
Assessment: Positive annual returns pushed their reserves even higher, but they are expecting a tough 2024.
Surrey’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
Annual Total
+ £ 7,999,000
– £ 1,332,000
Total Reserves
+ £ 29,200,000
+ £ 21,167,000
Treasurer’s Report Summary
“We have delivered an excellent financial performance in 2023 and look forward to continuing growth over the medium term. In the short term however, we expect a difficult year in 2024. We have a Friday start in our Test match, and an IT20 not an ODI.”
Positive Highlights from Surrey’s Annual Report
Membership grew by 18,739
Men’s Ashes Test (Sold Out), India vs Australia WTC Final (Sold Out)
Women’s Ashes IT20 (20,000 tickets)
Strong T20 Vitality Blast Attendance
Financial Concerns for Surrey County Cricket Club
Inflation, Increases in Rent
Overheads expenses increased by £6,300,000 compared to 2022
Staffing Increase Costs (recovery from COVID staff reduction)
Assessment: The Ashes helped boost Warwickshire’s 2023 return. Financial growth moving in the right direction for the club.
Warwickshire’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023 (10/01/2022-12/31/2023)
2022 (09/30/2021-09/30/2022)
Annual Total
+ £ 1,310,068
+ £ 123,791
Total Reserves
+ £ 8,783,073
+ £ 7,233,214
*Note: + £ 277,600 revaluation reserve was added to the + £ 1,310,068 for a total growth of + £ 1,588,069 in the 15-month period.
Chief Operating Officer’s Report Summary
“In summary, revenue for 2023 was substantially higher than in 2022, principally driven by hosting the men’s Ashes Test match. Costs were also substantially higher in 2023 primarily due to the increase in Major Match day (MMDs) staging fees paid to the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the additional 3 months salary costs…”
Positive Highlights from Warwickshire’s Annual Report
Men’s Ashes Test
Catering and hospitality revenues (driven by the Ashes Test)
T20 Blast and Hundred ticket revenue increases
Partnership revenue increases
Financial Concerns for Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Expenses increase (cost of sale, administrative cost, overhead costs)
Inflation
Operating EBITDA decreased 6%
*Year ending on 31st December, 2023 (Note: Warwickshire changed their annual report date from 30th September to December so had 15-months to account for in this latest report instead of just the 12).
Assessment: Although 2022 was not as profitable as 2021, the club retains its massive surplus.
Nottinghamshire’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2022
2021
Annual Total
+ £ 689,623
+ £ 1,331,476
Total Reserves
+ £ 6,726,973
+ £ 6,037,335
Treasurer’s Report Summary
“Although there were some positive and negative movements in comparison tour budget for the year, the end result was closely aligned to our forecasts. he continued generation of surpluses has ensured the club continues to meet all of its debt repayments, minimising any interest charges accrued…”
Positive Highlights from Nottinghamshire’s Annual Report
Hosted Test, T20I
“Larger-than-forecast number of membership subscriptions
Strong catering and retail return on Day 5 of Test match
“Successful staging of The Hundred…to a significantly better level than in 2021.”
Financial Concerns for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Scheduling concerns (Friday start to Test match caused hospitality and Day 4 financial concerns)
3 home Vitality Blast games in five days
Rising electricity prices, rising national minimum wage
Assessment: From the financial statements, Somerset is growing and has ample surplus. However, the annual report suggests that the board of directors are wary of challenges that may impact them in this straining economy.
Somerset’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2022
2021
Annual Total
+ £ 399,328
+ £ 149,087
Total Reserves
+ £ 10,231,772
+ £ 9,833,700
Financial Review Summary
“…the year…represented a return to something resembling a more ‘normal’ year, although operations were negatively impacted by challenges emanating from the legacy of the pandemic…We are well positioned financially to absorb potential economic shocks over the coming months and to take advantage of opportunities that we are proactively seeking out, as we operate in an economic, political and cricketing landscape of rapidly-changing variables and volatility.“
Positive Highlights from Somerset’s Annual Report
Surplus in these two years meant that ‘debt levels remain manageable’
+ £ 540,562 resulting from membership subscriptions and match receipts
Strong year by the commercial team as it relates to business partners and sponsors
Financial Concerns for Somerset County Cricket Club
Inflation, conflict in Europe, rising interest rates
Assessment: Durham has benefitting from external events to add to their surplus and recent profits.
Durham’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
2021
Annual Total
+ £ 1,531,190
+ £ 333,033
+ £ 1,560,754
Total Reserves
+ £7,888,727
+ £ 6,357,537
+ £ 6,024,504
*Note: In 2023, £ 285,756 was the profit for 2023, while £ 1,531,190 was the total comprehensive income for 2023 (including £ 1,245,434 was the revaluation of tangible fixed assets)
Chairman’s Review Summary
“With our events business performing strongly and the strong financial management of the last few years continuing, I am delighted to report a profit of £333,0333 in the current financial year as we look to continue strengthening our financial position for the challenges ahead…The key business risks affecting the group are considered to relate to staging of international cricket and the share of money we receive that is generated through the ECB…Failure to stage international cricket beyond this date would have a financial impact on the group through lost turnover.”
BusinessLive Article Summary
According to BusinessLive, who had access to Durham’s 2022 Annual Reports and financial statements, they quoted Chairman Lord Botham as follows:
“Current year turnover has risen to £ 8,048,739 as a result of the Durham Cricket Events business performing strongly over the year.”
*In 2021, the turnover was + £ 7,108,908
Positive Highlights
Plans of building a hotel on site
Concerts & events provide financial boost
Two fixtures two host (in 2026 & 2028)
Food and beverage income almost doubled
Potential Concerns
Average number of employees decreased by 16 (135 to 119)
*Year ending on 30th September, 2022
Note: I could not initially find Durham’s annual reports, so had to rely on the Business Live article. Special thanks to Reuben Herbert and Graham Smith for sending me Durham’s updated financials and pointing me in the right direction!
They should still publish accounts at Companies House.
“Middlesex Cricket can today announce that for the financial year ending November 2023, the Club has recorded a profit after tax of £ 131,000...After such an extended period of posting significant losses, to turn the business around a time when the game is under financial pressure is a credit to everyone involved.
“After two years of extremely heavy losses caused by the pandemic and the pension scheme deficit, in 2022 we began the slow journey back to financial stability…The net assets of the Club that were less than £ 200K at the start of the year have now been exhausted. What this means is that making a profit in the year ahead is non-negotiable and that our activities and ambitions must be focused on meeting this target.“
Positive Highlights from Middlesex’s Annual Report
ECB county partnership agreement fees increased
Member subscriptions, ground receipts, sponsorships, hospitality/events saw an uptick
Financial Concerns for Middlesex County Cricket Club
Wages and salaries cost increased
Insurance, social security, pension costs, etc. increased
Assessment: Not as much of a surplus as some of the bigger clubs, but they have been profitable and are slowly moving return to normal from the financial consequences of the pandemic.
Northamptonshire’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
Annual Total
+ £ 110,164
– £ 1,474
Total Reserves
+ £ 1,361,920
+ £ 1,251,716
Directors’ Report Summary
“Post pandemic the club benefitted as the local community looked to enjoy life again. Season ticket sales, gate income, and conference & events revenue not only recovered, but far exceeded pre-pandemic levels.”
Positive Highlights from Northamptonshire’s Annual Report
Hosted T20I vs India (Sold Out)
Financial Concerns for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Increasing energy costs (now investing in solar panels to counter costs)
Assessment: An excellent two years means Derbyshire has accumulated a bit of surplus for themselves.
Derbyshire’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Total
2023
2022
Annual Total
+ £ 70,000
+ £ 138,000
Total Reserves
+ £ 3,087,000
+ £ 3,017,000
Finance Director Summary
“From a financial results point of view, it has been another very good year for the Club, showing a strong income and expenditure performance and an improvement in the long-term balance sheet position…Looking ahead to 2024 and beyond there are a number of challenges we face which will inevitably make future years more difficult financially.”
Positive Highlights from Derbyshire’s Annual Report
Sponsorship, Advertising, Hospitality
Conference and Events
Financial Concerns for Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Inflation
“Commercial sponsorship is proving difficult across England….we will have to work hard to ensure we don’t see a drop in this income.”
Assessment: Although Worcestershire have a decent surplus for five years running, the losses in 2019 and 2022 were far greater than the minimal profits made in 2020, 2021, and 2023 respectively.
Worcestershire’s 5-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Annual Total
+ £ 13,340
– £ 203,287
+ £ 8,477
+ £ 21,635
– £ 81,810
Total Reserves
+ £ 2,184,117
+ £ 2,170,801
+ £ 2,374,044
+ £ 2,365,567
+ £ 2,343,977
*Note: Worcestershire documents 5-year profit/loss on their annual reports rather than 2-year profit/loss as other clubs.
Accounts Commentary Summary
“There has been an uplift in revenue across nearly all sectors of our operations…Financial sustainability remains a paramount concern for the Club, as well as for other venues not hosting Test matches or The Hundred. It is imperative that we generate sufficient profits to ensure debt repayment. A strategic focus for 2024 will be the development of new revenue streams beyond cricket and the expansion of existing operations.”
Positive Highlights from Worcestershire’s Annual Report
15% increase in match ticket sales (both red & white ball games)
Catering Department delivers profit of £282,000
2 Music concerts
Financial Concerns for Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Assessment: Although Kent is in the profits over the last couple of years and have ample reserves, the chair of the board voiced his concern in the seismic shift that County Cricket is facing and what this uncertainty implies for the club.
Kent’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
2021
Annual Total
– £ 469,448
+ £ 6,488
+ £ 282,235
Total Reserves
+ £ 6,986,301
+ £ 7,455,751
+ £ 7,449,232
Chair’s Report Summary
“Two of the High Performance Review’s conclusions – structure and schedule – presented an existential threat to both our Club and the essential fabric of the county game…There is no question that Sir Andrew did a high quality piece of of work in the context of his brief. He has come up with many good ideas and the game has gained useful insights from subject experts across sport. However, it was when suggesting a County game structure and schedule that had the sole purpose of improving the England teams, the matters became more vexed…Reducing County Cricket in Kent to five home Championship games, five T20s and potentially one or two 50 over games would have rendered the Club completely irrelevant. Four days of cricket a month throughout the season would have meant that we became invisible.“
Positive Highlights from Kent’s Annual Report
Development of media and marketing
New ‘state-of-the-art ticketing system’
Digital match day streaming service grew
Stable ticket sales
Financial Concerns for Kent County Cricket Club
“Inflation, labour shortages, rising interest rates, and higher energy prices”
The Hundred’s negative impact on T20 Vitality Blast crowds (due to change of schedule)
Assessment: From a five year outlook, we can see that Leicestershire has had 4 years of losses. Since surplus are still in a relatively healthy condition, I went with a ‘Yellow’ financial rating for them.
Leicestershire’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
2021
Annual Total
– £ 440,112
– £ 320,341
+ £ 482,892
Total Reserves
+ £ 2,109,609
+ £ 2,549,723
+ £ 2,870,064
The past 5-year annual total summary for Leicestershire are as follows:
“Encouragingly the reliance on the central funding dropped from 78% to 65% during the year. However we must continue to reduce this number and become more self-sufficient. This will remain one of our key targets during during the short and medium terms.”
Positive Highlights from Leicestershire Annual Report
Facilities and commercial revenue grew
Increased hospitality
Record numbers for T20 attendance
Financial Concerns for Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Assessment: Losses for consecutive years, but still holding onto decent reserves.
Essex’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2022
2021
Annual Total
– £ 378,983
– £ 508,226
Total Reserves
+ £ 2,336,488
+ £ 2,715,471
Essex’s Notes to the Accounts Summary
“Based on current forecasts, total cash outflows exceed total cash inflows in the forecasted period to December 2024. The Club is actively looking to address this loss and cashflow situation to avoid having to sell part of its investment portfolio to cover this shortfall. These matters indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt over the ability of the Club to continue as a going concern.”
Positive Highlights from Essex’s Annual Report
Matches, commercial activity, and membership resulted in the most profit for Essex
Financial Concerns for Essex County Cricket Club
Buildings (net – £ 690,254) and cricket operations (net – £ 435,987) resulted in the most net loss in 2022
Assessment: Massive positive reserves but the direction of annual losses are not going in the right direction.
Glamorgan’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
Annual Total
– £ 528,294
– £ 39,248
Total Reserves
+ £ 9,767,471
+ £ 10,295,765
Chair’s Report Summary
“The club is reporting a reasonable financial outcome for the year…2024 will be a challenging year financially and the club has had to reduce its cost base in order to produce a budget with a similar EBITDA to 2023.”
“…It is worth remembering that the game of cricket is undergoing generational change as the rise of Indian cricket and the Indian Premier League has the potential to shift the old order and orthodoxies. While this process will undoubtedly be disruptive and challenging, it will also potentially provide opportunities for individual clubs to reset their financial, strategic, and operational activities onto a more positive and sustainable basis. Rest assured that the Board will work to ensure that Glamorgan is positioned to take advantage of these trends as they develop.”
Positive Highlights from Glamorgan’s Annual Report
International stadium
International match staging agreement with the ECB till 2031
“Stable financial position with minimal debt”
Hundred team/host based in Wales
Financial Concerns for Glamorgan County Cricket Club
“Adverse macro-economic environment in which we currently operate” (ex: higher interest rates)
Assessment: Similar to Glamorgan, two consecutive years of losses (and 2023 was way worse than 2022) is a bit of concern, but overall, they are still holding up well.
Sussex’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
Annual Total*
– £ 735,616
– £ 39,418
Total Reserves
+ £ 8,461,170
+ £ 9,196,873
Note: In the annual report, both Sussex Cricket Limited and Sussex Cricket Foundation’s earnings have been reported. We only state SCL’s profit/loss (since it is based on membership, matches, etc.)
*Even though Sussex had + £443,929 operating profit in 2022, the total comprehensive income was – £ 39,418. Similarly in 2023, they had an operating loss (- £ 121,918) but an even larger total comprehensive loss (-£ 735,616)
Treasurer’s Report Summary
“Income decreased 5.6% in FYE 2023 while expenditure increased 2.8%.”
Assessment: Two consecutive years of losses (Losses for 2023/2024 almost doubled), but they do not have the luxury of reserves like Sussex & Glamorgan.
Gloucestershire’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Total
2024
2023
Annual Total
– £ 1,190,000
– £ 570,000
Total Reserves
+ £ 1,790,000
+ £ 2,980,000
*Year ending on 31st January, 2024
Treasurer’s Report Summary
“This year has been a challenging year financially for a number of reasons and there is no doubt it is disappointing to be reporting a second consecutive financial deficit…Fundamentally, our finances have been impacted by the fixed nature of the majority of our central funding and the fact the growth of the business has not kept up with the rate of inflation…”
Positive Highlights from Gloucestershire Annual Report
Hosting England v Ireland (Men), Hosting Women’s Ashes ODI
Second fastest growth of any county in terms of ticket sales (although it still fell short of expectations)
Cheltenham Cricket Festival
Sponsorship and BS7 Gym
Financial Concerns for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Assessment: Things are not looking that great for Hampshire, who are on the verge of becoming one of the first County teams to sell shares to IPL team owners.
Year
2022
2021
Annual Total
– £ 1,346,883
– £ 1,535,292
Total Reserves
+ £ 2,440,783
+ £ 3,787,666
Group Strategic Report Summary
“The Group will look to consolidate its position as a leading leisure destination and international cricket stadium, although the Directors anticipate that a return to significant levels of profitability is unlikely in 2023 and 2024 given the poor allocation of international cricket in this period.”
Positive Highlights from Hampshire’s Annual Report
Hotel and events saw a rise in operating profit
Men’s Ashes in 2027, Women’s Ashes in 2031
Financial Concerns for Hampshire County Cricket Club
Net debt at 31st December, 2022 is approximately £ 61,423,363.
Assessment: Despite an Ashes season, Yorkshire reported devastating losses in 2023. Financial (and social) overhaul is required at Yorkshire.
Yorkshire’s 2-Year Profit/Loss
Year
2023
2022
Annual Total
– £ 7,050,776
– £ 2,169,332
Total Reserves
– £ 9,106,154
– £ 2,054,488
Chair’s Statement Summary
“The 2023 financial statements presented to you are very clear—it was an Ashes year for us, which should have been productive and profitable, but in the event there was a huge trading loss for the Club. The reasons behind this are explained throughout the financial statements but 2023 was definitely Yorkshire’s ANNUS HORRIBILIS!“
“The Hundred continues to generate significant income for the Club.”
Positive Highlights from Yorkshire’s Annual Report
Hosted Ashes at Headingley (provided £ 18.2 million revenue)
Membership numbers increased
New investment to come in
To host Men’s Test again India in 2025 along with some other T20Is
“The conversations around the Hundred are potentially extremely beneficial for us”
Vitality Blast sales increased 14%
Financial Concerns for Yorkshire County Cricket Club
More staffing in the executive team
Cost of running a stadium
Rising Interest rates
Cricket Disciplinary Committee investigation, legal and professional fees, settlement of employment claims, governance, EDI plans, etc.
No major capital investment
Restructuring of County Age Group pathway
Hosting and Administrative costs for Ashes
“It should be noted, however, that the costs of hosting the match, which include a staging fee payable to the ECB, stewarding and security, and the cost of delivering hospitality packages, were proportionally higher too, totalling £ 3.3 m.”
19. Bonus: Marylebone Cricket Club, The MCC (£ 7.7 Million Profit)
Financial Health Status:Green
Assessment: The MCC are doing really great at the moment on all accounts.
Year
2023
2022
Annual Total
+ £ 7,735,000
+ £ 2,849,000
Total Reserves
+ £ 82,916,000
+ £ 75,181,000
MCC Committee Report Summary
“We continue to evaluate the potential to own and manage a Hundred franchise based at Lord’s. It is anticipated that the ECB will put in place a new financial model from the start of the 2025 season and subject to more detail on the structure and economics of the tournament, we believe that owning a Hundred franchise could have a positive impact on all four of the Club’s objectives
“On the commercial side, income surpassed previous records across Retails, Tours of Lord’s, the Indoor Cricket Centre, Marketing and Advertising, Events and Experiences, shown within Catering and Hospitality, whilst performing strongly, was around 10% lower than the record World Cup year of 2019.”
Other Positive Highlights from MCC’s Annual Report
Lord’s Test, Women’s T20I, and the Hundred saw 500,000 spectators at Lord’s
Financial Concerns for the MCC
High Inflation, rising Employment Costs, rising energy costs
In the past five years, the ECB have made strides to bring financial stability and increase their standards in Test cricket (after success in the white ball game).
It is evident with Yorkshire and Hampshire, for example, that things need to change. However, we also found that not all County teams are struggling. In fact, a majority are doing just fine and many of them have bounced back from the days of the pandemic.
With the IPL increasing its influence around the world, international schedule tightening, number of freelance players increasing towards the growing franchise leagues, County cricket and ‘traditional’ old school cricket is definitely under threat.
Will ECB’s new financial model change things up for the better or the worse? Will it help all the Counties or only some?
Only time will tell.
What do you think? Let me know below!
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed reading this and learned something new. Cheers!
****
Financial Glossary
Here are some of the definitions of terms we have used in the analysis above. The definitions are derived from various sources like Investopedia.
EBIDTA: Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation, and amortization
Fair Value Reserve: Represents cumulative revalution gains and losses in respect of historic investment properties.
Operating Profit: Total earning from its core business functions for a given period. An operating loss occurs when core business income ends up being lower than expenses.
Total Comprehensive Income: Includes net income and unrealized income (ex: hedge/derivative financial instruments, transaction gains, etc.)
Also Read
If you liked this in-depth research article, you may also like the following articles:
The women’s victory fueled social media with calls for Full Membership to Scotland. That made me wonder—What exactly are all the criteria to become a full member?
Full Member Criteria: What Do The Official ICC Documents Say?
According to ICC’s website, Clause 2.1 outlines 22 conditions that need to be satisfied to even apply for full membership.
You read that correctly, twenty-two. Here are some of the major highlights.
Have appropriate structure for both men’s and women’s cricket
Generate a minimum of 10% of their own total revenues for four years prior to applying
A debt to equity ratio of not more than 2:1 in the past four years
Features on the Men’s ODI Ranking table
Should have qualified for 3 Men’s ODI & T20 WC in past eight years
Have defeated at least one Full Member in the Top 10 in a Men’s Cricket World Cup, World Cup Qualifier, or the T20 World Cup
Have won at least four times against two or more Full Members in bilaterals in the past 8 years
Have participated in at least one Women’s WC (ODI or T20) in the past 4 years or feature in the women’s ODI ranking table
Have participated in two editions of the U-19 WC in the past 8 years
Have domestic structure (Men’s 50-over and 20-over competitions with List A status and at least 3 teams)
Have ‘satisfactory’ women’s pathway structures and junior men’s pathway structures in place
Have ‘sustained and sufficient pool of players’ in senior men’s, women’s, and U-19 men’s teams
Have ‘strong domestic participation levels’ and ‘evidence of significant growth’ in the past 8 years
Have 2 ICC accredited venues
Has talent/coaching/umpire/curator development programs over the past 4 years
Once they fulfill all the conditions, boards can write to the ICC with an ‘intent to apply’ and complete the written application after which there will be a preliminary assessment, reviews, and even a possible inspection.
How Did Afghanistan Qualify?
I know what you must be wondering. How in the world did Afghanistan qualify (and not lose their status) after the Taliban takeover, where higher education was banned for girls?
At the very end of the document, the ICC conveniently slips in Clause 3.5, which states
“In its sole discretion, and where the Applicant is able to demonstrate exceptional circumstances justifying its inability to satisfy one or more of the applicable Membership criteria, the Membership Committee may recommend the acceptance of the application notwithstanding the fact that the Applicant does not satisfy all of the relevant Membership criteria.”
Scotland now meet more of the ICC full member performance criteria than two current ICC full members.
— Andrew Nixon (@andrewnixon79@mastodon.world) (@andrewnixon79) May 5, 2024
Full Membership No Longer Equals Test Status
Growing up, I always had the impression that Full Membership = Test Status, but the word ‘Test’ does not even appear once on the ICC Membership Criteria document.
“Full Members are the governing bodies for cricket of a country recognised by the ICC, or nations associated for cricket purposes, or a geographical area, from which representative teams are qualified to play official Test matches (12 Members).”
“Associate Members are the governing bodies for cricket of a country recognised by the ICC, or countries associated for cricket purposes, or a geographical area, which does not qualify as a Full Member, but where cricket is firmly established and organised (94 Members).”
Hence, Full Membershipmeans there is a pathway to Test status, but nowhere does it claim that playing Test cricket is a necessity for Full Members.
Should Newer Full Members Even Play Test Cricket?
Okay, a slight digression. Should newer full members even play Test cricket?
As Ireland have found out, it is not cheap to host Test cricket. In fact, it causes more financial strain to the national boards. Ireland won their first Test seven years after their Test status, but scheduling Test matches? Well, that’s a whole another matter.
Cricket Ireland famously cancelled a Test against Bangladesh and replaced it with a T20 series because they would lose a million pounds for that one Test.
I am all for a ‘Test fund’ that was proposed a decade ago, innovations in Test cricket, or a two-tiered World Test Championship with relegation & promotion, but forcing a cricket board to play Test cricket can bring down the financial situation of the entire sport in the country.
"We should give the Scotland men's team Test Status" is a pretty weird reaction to the Scotland women's team qualifying for a T20 World Cup to be honest. https://t.co/ve8eb7dQZt
Apart from finances, Ireland’s elevation to Test status did more harm than good.
Irish cricketers used to be considered domestic players and therefore, the golden generation – Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Tim Murtagh, etc. played as domestic cricketers in the County circuit. However, post 2017, they have had to sign up as overseas players which County teams may be reluctant to do.
If Scotland does accept to play Test cricket, adjustments would need to be made in County Cricket rules.
Show Me the Money
If not Test cricket, what is Full Membership all about?
*Top 8 Teams (non-India) include England ($41.33 million), Australia ($37.53 million), Pakistan ($34.51 million), New Zealand ($28.38 million), West Indies ($27.50 million), Sri Lanka ($27.12 million), South Africa ($26.24 million), and Bangladesh ($26.74 million).
Ireland ($17.64 million), Zimbabwe ($17.64 million), and Afghanistan ($16.82 million) relatively earn less but a larger chunk than the Associate nations.
Currently $67.16 million is divided among 94 Associate Members. On average, each Associate member gets about $714,468, which is substantially less than what Ireland and Afghanistan now receive.
If a cricket board receives Full Membership, then they are ensured a small piece of the annual funding pie. What’s more? They will get regular FTP matches against the top teams helping them improve further. ICC already earns enough money from World Cups that they have surplus to distribute to their members. Adding two more members and changing the redistribution of wealth will not change much.
Should Scotland and Netherlands Receive Full Member Status?
Let’s get back to the heart of the topic, should countries like Scotland and Netherlands receive Full Member Status?
In 2000, Bangladesh were gifted Full Membership and Test status after winning the 1997 ICC Trophy, defeated Kenya in 1998, and defeating Scotland & Pakistan in the 1999 ODI World Cup. Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Women’s Team only made their international debut in 2007 and gained ODI status in 2011 (qualified for the 2014 T20 WC as hosts, qualified for the 2022 ODI WC), much after they were elevated to Full Status.
I argue that Scotland and Netherlands have already done much more than Bangladesh ever did prior being elevated to Full Member Status.
Scotland in ICC Tournaments
Let’s look at Scotland. The men’s team has already defeated the likes of England & West Indies, featured in multiple World Cups, have a growing women’s team, and have a couple of solid venues.
Timeline
Here is a quick timeline of their recent past. Scotland have perhaps suffered more than any other team with the curtailed 10-team World Cup format, narrowly losing out on two consecutive ODI World Cups despite playing extremely good cricket.
1992: Becomes an independent cricket Associate Member
1997: Ends 3rd in the ICC Trophy and qualifies for the 1999 ODI World Cup
2004: Wins the ICC Intercontinental Cup
2012: Defeats Bangladesh in a T20 match
2017: Defeats Zimbabwe in an ODI match
2018: Defeat Afghanistan, UAE, Nepal, Hong Kong, (and tied against Zimbabwe), *lost against West Indies due to DLS/rain
2018: Defeats England by 6 runs after scoring 371
2022: Defeats West Indies in the T20 World Cup
2022: Scotland women team get ODI status
2023: Defeat West Indies, Zimbabwe, Ireland, UAE, Oman but fall one spot short of the 10-team ODI World Cup
2024: Scotland women qualify for the T20 World Cup
World Cup Records
ODI WC: Qualified for the 1999 (0/5), 2007 (0/3), 2015 (0/6)
*Note: Scotland have featured in 4/5 U-19 World Cups in the last 8 years.
*NR – No Result
Netherlands in ICC Tournaments
Timeline
Netherlands have had a dream couple of years and even qualified for the 2023 ODI World Cup. They have defeated South Africa, England, and West Indies, and their women’s team even reached the quarterfinals in 1997.
1988: Women’s team qualify for the 1988 ODI World Cup
1994: Men’s team ends 3rd in the ICC Trophy and qualifies for the 1996 ODI World Cup
1997: Women’s team qualify for the quarterfinal
2001: Wins the ICC Trophy
2003: Defeats Namibia in the 2003 ODI World Cup
2006: Get ODI status
2007: Women play a Test match against South Africa
2009: Defeats England in the T20 World Cup
2010: Defeats Bangladesh in the ODI World Cup
2014: Chased 193 in 13.5 overs against Ireland to qualify for the Super 10s
It’s clear that these two countries have done more than Bangladesh and Afghanistan for over three decades now (and are doing better than Zimbabwe has been in recent years).
Sure, there may be a checkbox here or there that these two cricket boards may not have hit, but they have done almost everything right.
Dear ICC, it is my honest request. I plead with you to give Scotland and Netherlands Full Membership.
If that means, use Clause 3.5, wave some hands, and give out some funds, then why not?
If not now, when? Take the chance.
It’s time for the European Cricket Dream. Let’s make it happen.
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