Northern Diamonds, the regional facet within the north east, have predominantly been based mostly at Headingley since formation though they may even play dwelling video games at Chester-le-Road, Scarborough and York in 2024. Durham will host a Tier 1 county within the preliminary eight-team construction from 2025, which Yorkshire’s board described as “robust to take”.
“We consider we hit all the standards set out as a part of the tender, so we will likely be taking time to research and perceive the element behind the choice,” Yorkshire’s board stated in a press release, which additionally highlighted Yorkshire’s giant lively taking part in base of ladies and ladies, and the county’s success in producing gamers which have gone on to play internationally for England.
However Gould denied that was an element within the ECB’s choice. “It is actually not [that Yorkshire are] being punished for previous sins,” he stated, at an occasion launching a nationwide tape-ball competitors. “That is not our function. Our function is to advertise the sport, not punish. We’ve accountability when we have now a chance comparable to this to get the very best outcomes nationally.”
Gould, nonetheless, insisted that such robust choices must be a part of the method. “That is skilled sport,” he stated. “It is no dangerous factor. If you wish to be paid to be a participant on this set-up, you are going to be a Tier 1 participant.”
The Skilled Cricketers’ Affiliation anticipate some “teething issues” and have additionally, together with the ECB, pledged to carry counties to account in delivering on the proposals that fashioned a part of their bids. “I am in a area [Western Storm] that has three totally different counties,” Knight stated. “You do not have one county that is accountable for you. Hopefully, that is going to alter.”
Gould stated he welcomed scrutiny from the PCA on counties. “There are all the time native points: who will get into the gymnasium at what time, who makes use of the nets at explicit occasions. These are small issues, however they’re necessary issues that have to be ironed out. That is all a part of the training that we’re going by, however individuals will likely be held to account.”
In addition to Yorkshire, seven different counties have been unsuccessful of their bids – although Glamorgan, like Yorkshire, have been informed they are going to obtain funding to host a Tier 1 staff from 2027. Kent, Leicestershire and Middlesex all issued forthright statements in response. “Numerous golf equipment are disillusioned,” Gould acknowledged.
Knight believes the size of that disappointment is a “signal of the progress that has been made” since she first performed in Berkshire’s age-group system.
“It seems like there are some counties who’re disillusioned, which is a disgrace – but additionally fairly cool,” she stated. “After I was taking part in a very long time in the past, a variety of counties weren’t .”
The ECB say that their funding in ladies’s home cricket – which will likely be round £19 million per 12 months by 2027 – may develop the variety of feminine skilled gamers within the nation by 80% within the subsequent 5 years, and Knight believes there may be sufficient expertise to maintain that construction. “It is all the time an argument that the depth is not there… however it’s an argument that shoots itself within the foot,” she stated.
“In the event you do not make investments, you do not develop the expertise. There’s so many ladies which have seen cricket and wish to become involved, in order that they want that construction to get them in and hold them within the recreation. Hopefully, this may do this. Funding is vital to rising the depth. There’s a variety of sports activities on the market and it is necessary that cricket is a viable [career] choice.”
Knight believes the revamp is “the subsequent logical step” within the professionalisation of ladies’s cricket in England and Wales. “It is going to be actually fascinating to see the way it performs out. It is tremendous thrilling to see the plans which have been introduced, and I suppose now it is about seeing how they’re enacted and the way ladies’s cricket is put alongside the boys and provided that equal alternative.”
Matt Curler is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
