Franchise cricket...

A remarkable summer of cricket has ended with an England win. Those unable to see the games live had to catch the action on Sky. The only game shown on ‘free to air’ TV was the final of the World Cup: one of the most exciting sporting contest in living memory. Nevertheless, I’m sure that a lot of people engaged with test cricket - the longest form of the game - as well as the one-day game. Test cricket may have its longeurs; sometimes it can seem attritional. But there’s something special about the fluctuating fortunes of a sporting occasion which takes place over five days.

Next summer the ECB is introducing The Hundred: yet another form of cricket, even more abbreviated than Twenty-20, which will feature city-based franchise teams rather than the traditional counties, with each match designed to be completed within a three-hour ‘window’. There’ll be music, fireworks, dancing girls, and every other ball will be hit for four or six. Will I be supporting a team of cricketing mercenaries, called the Northern Superchargers, based at Headingley? Not a chance.

The River Hull, today, near Beverley...