‘Unfashionable’ finalists enjoy revival in shadow of Hundred

Retaining the World Cup, which Eoin Morgan’s men won by the narrowest of margins, is far down the official list of priorities. If the England and Wales Cricket Board had wanted England to retain it, it would not have downgraded the 50-over domestic tournament to the point where there has not been a 50-over match between counties at full strength since that epic final.

Not staging a 50-over competition in the limited time available in 2020 was inevitable. Downgrading it this year, by turning it into a competition for the hundred or more county cricketers not wanted in the Hundred, was not.

The upside is that the Royal London one-day final, being staged at Trent Bridge as a midweek daynighter, not the glamorous Lord’s final on a Saturday as previously, will showcase the revival of two “unfashionable” counties, Durham and Glamorgan, who have been close to full strength.

Durham and Glamorgan topped the North and South groups, before winning their semi-finals at home. Both counties have strong men in charge. Both are emerging from crises, Durham from bankruptcy, and Glamorgan from an over-reliance on South African players.

In the absence of five Glamorgan players engaged in the Hundred, Glamorgan’s captaincy fell to Kiran Carlson, a youngster unfettered in his stroke play. Even though Essex fielded Alastair Cook, Glamorgan won their semi-final on the back of an all-round display by Joe Cooke.

Durham have lost three of their pace bowlers to the Hundred, and were forced to bring in veteran Chris

Rushworth. In the semi-final he flushed out Surrey’s top order, except for Mark Stoneman, who hit 117. Durham knocked off the 281 target with five wickets to spare.

If Rushworth makes inroads into Glamorgan’s top order, Durham are good enough at chasing to win. Glamorgan similarly rely on newball thrusts by a veteran bowler, the Australian Mike Hogan.

Whoever wins the final, this Royal London competition has proved a good breeding ground for new cricketers, and for enhancing England’s 50-over World Cup prospects. Not in 2023, however, but in 2027.