Cricket’s new test
That Yorkshire supremo Colin Graves fears that a county club, the bedrock of the game, could go out of existence is a stark reminder that a funding structure is still required to help provide the next generation of players, like the exciting Jonny Bairstow, to sustain England’s giddy position at the top of the Test world rankings.
Mr Graves is also right to acknowledge how Headingley Carnegie’s status as an international venue is under threat from a myriad of new grounds that have been built. Until recently, Leeds was guaranteed a Test match each year. His club’s challenge now is to formulate a compelling financial case that makes it difficult for the England and Wales Cricket Board to refuse any future bid by Headingley to host such matches.