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CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 16 Review - 25 Aug, The Oval Fulton calls for county shake-up

Kent's David Fulton has called for a shake-up to the English first-class structure in light of the expanding chasm between county and international cricket.

Fulton, who has failed to secure a Test call-up despite being the country's leading run-scorer this summer, spoke out on Saturday's Cricket Roadshow, broadcast live from The Oval.

"The breeding ground that we have is still county cricket and if the guys that are scoring runs and taking wickets in county cricket aren't getting a look-in then it suggests that the system needs to be changed. If we're to stick with the system we've got then surely the guys at the top of that have to be in contention at least," said Fulton.

"I've been advocating a change to the system for a while, for looking at regional sides and things like that, because if they say county level is here – low - and Test level here – high - and guys like myself are not up to Test level - I'm not saying they're saying that - then we need something in-between perhaps to test our skills."

But England coach Duncan Fletcher warned against restructuring just for the sake of it.

"People have to be very careful about that but I think it's quite important that we have regional games against touring sides. At the end of the day you've got to have purpose, you want to go out there and play for your team and play for a title. Sometimes regional cricket at that level could come around whereby people are just playing a game of cricket, but for what purpose? Sure it might be to try and get into the Test side but there are many factors that make people competitive."

Which turned the conversation to selection and Sussex captain Chris Adams' criticism of the current process.

"Let's face it, we've got four selectors and one of them's the England captain and another is the England coach," he said. "So let's be honest, there's only really two people who can get round and see all the cricket at county level – David Graveney and Geoff Miller - and it's just not possible for two people to get around the county and see enough of the people. There has to be a better system."

Fletcher conceded it was difficult to view everyone as much as they would like but Miller explained there was a system in place.

"Obviously we can't be everywhere but we do try to identify and monitor the kind of player we want in the Test side and then we follow that kind of player throughout the county circuit. We get to as many grounds as we possibly can," he reasoned.

Technique and mental ability are two of the key ingredients but he also admitted a regional level of competition could be beneficial.

"That could help. There's quite a big gap now between the county system and the Test arena and that would help our cause certainly. It's very hard to identify players just from playing county cricket."

In the studio, Graham Gooch, Dermot Reeve and Mark Nicholas took up the debate.

"I think there is a big gap between county and Test cricket," said Gooch, "and I think the selectors now are looking at the character of the individual – the type of person and how strong they are – as well as the performances they're giving in county cricket."

Reeve suggested mental toughness was the key factor. "I think what it comes down to is big match temperament. You can have perhaps an excellent temperament and be a very fine county player but when you make that step up the standard goes up and also the pressure. That's what you need, people who can get into the Test arena, play in front of big crowds and still enjoy their cricket."

Elsewhere on the programme there was the usual round-up of domestic and international cricket, with Darren Gough celebrating Yorkshire's title triumph but refusing to be drawn on his tour availability: "The decision's happened and I'll make an announcement after the Test match," said the England fast bowler.

There was also a report from Friday's promotional event on Clapham Common with Sir Viv Richards demonstrating the finer points of beach cricket, while a visual montage paid tribute to Michael Atherton's international career, which is likely to end with his retirement at the end of the 5th Ashes Test.

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