It is two weeks since we heard the shock news that Cardiff, and not Old Trafford, would entertain the Aussies, and I'm still seething about it.
Loyalty has flown out of the window. Money is the only thing that counts now, and I'm afraid that is a sad thing for cricket.
Some may ask why the England and Wales Cricket Board should show us loyalty when Glamorgan have put what must be a huge amount of cash on the table.
Well, what about the money we have invested to keep Old Trafford as a Test Match ground? Only recently, we spent nearly é1m on replacing the pavilion roof. We spent é2m on the Cricket Centre, which is recognised as one of the best in the country. More than é50,000 more went on new nets, basically with Tests and One Day Internationals in mind, although Lancashire players also benefit.
I'm not saying that Glamorgan should not host Test cricket. Far from it. In fact, it's something I suggested at a meeting of the county chairmen.
But I do feel that, just like Durham, they should have served an apprenticeship. Give them a Test or two, see how they deal with it, and then consider whether they deserve Australia, the biggest one of the lot. Instead, the ECB have made their decision purely on commercial grounds, and Glamorgan had a head start because of backing from the Welsh Assembly and Cardiff City Council. Judging from the figures - é6m-7m - it doesn't sound as though they are thinking of a massive, state-of-the-art stadium. If we decide to re-develop Old Trafford, for instance, it could cost é25m-30m. And, if the Cardiff capacity is limited, what will be the price of the tickets?
The ECB have changed the face of cricket. It seems open now for clubs to get financial backing, maybe from regional funding or a cricketing Abramovic, and just bid for the big matches and shun the less attractive ones. That can't be good for cricket. Tweet
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Jack hit the nail on the head when he (correctly) gave the ECB its full title of England and Wales Cricket Board. Welsh players represent England but until now all the matches are played on the English side of the border. Well done, ECB - and role on 2009!