AMRIT MATHUR

England’s days of dominating world cricket are long over but in beauty and old-world charm, it is still the ‘home’ of cricket. There is something magical about cricket in the English summer, with players in whites playing on lush green outfields in sunshine that is warm and soothing.

Some would dismiss these thoughts as outdated, silly and romantic. The MCC ceased to run cricket many years ago though they still make laws that govern the sport. The ICC moved out of their cramped office at Lord’s to set up camp in Dubai, the commercial hub easily accessible to all major Test-playing nations.

Even as the sun continues to shine across cricket turfs in summer, dark clouds surround English cricket. The youth ignore cricket, football is their firstchoice sport. Among school-going children, cricket has completely fallen off the radar -- they are just not interested.

The results of a recent survey to find out the sports preferences of youngsters came as a rude shock to the ECB. The survey confirmed cricket did not figure in their priorities and, worse, kids recognised English wrestlers but not top cricket stars, Joe Root and Ben Stokes.

County cricket, in steady decline for a while, is struggling to survive. In years past, this was the ‘nursery’ where cricketers, both aspiring and accomplished, came to complete their cricket education. Five months on the road, in the company of hardnosed disciplined English professionals, was considered essential cricket experience. Prominent Indian players bought into this thinking. Batsmen from different eras (SMG, SRT, Rahul Dravid to Cheteshwar Pujara now) and bowlers (Bishan Bedi down to Kapil Dev,Srinath and Zaheer Khan) admit a county stint was an enriching experience that improved their cricket.

County cricket is not anymore the preferred destination of cricketers.