In its wisdom it appears that the EWCB is ready to jettison the 50 over Friends Provident Competition. This is the domestic tournament that helps to prepare England players for 50 over international cricket, a major element of the global cricket calendar culminating in the World Cup staged on a four-year cycle and is a form of cricket where England has failed to excel since 1992. In dropping this competition from the domestic season the prospects of an improvement are remote. While the England team attempts to restore itself for the forthcoming Ashes decider, the EWCB appears keen to re-invent some form of 40 over competition on a Sunday afternoon, an idea they dismissed in 2008. This misconceived idea reveals the EWCB as prone to shooting itself in the foot. It is now time for the governing body of cricket in England and Wales to recover some authority, as it is only a matter of months since they severed all links with Allan Stanford.

Sorry to say - I like the idea of 40 overs on a Sunday. They were happy times.

Andy Weltch, Weltch Media