Ripley admits he is 'torn' over proposed structure of 2021 County Championship

Northants head coach David Ripley admits he is ‘a little torn’ on the best way forward in terms of league structure for the 2021 Specsavers County Championship.
Northants head coach David RipleyNorthants head coach David Ripley
Northants head coach David Ripley

There has been no confirmation yet on whether or not the competition will go back to being played in two divisions, or stick with the three conference format that was used in the 2020 campaign, which was reduced to a just couple of months due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Northants were due to play in what would have been a 10-team division one for the first time in six years last summer, having won promotion from division two in 2019, but they were denied that opportunity.

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It was thought the conference format used for the Bob Willis Trophy would be a one-off, but it was deemed such a success that the ECB are seriously considering a similar format for next summer and perhaps even beyond.

Details are still sketchy on exactly how it would work, but the main difference would be that groups would initially be sorted out on league placings from the 2019 season rather than geographically as they were this summer.

The season would once again end with a grand final at Lord’s between the two teams with best records to decide who would be champions.

And although Ripley admits is would be a format that would have its merits, he would also love to see Northants get a crack at life in the top flight again, having worked so hard to get there on merit.

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“I think it is a bit short term, long term,” said Ripley when asked for his thoughts on the structure for next summer.

“In the short term we worked pretty hard for our promotion that felt great.

“It was brilliant to get up, and I was really looking forward to having a go at division one with the team having fallen so short the last time were up there.

“I also do understand the longer term view, that perhaps not making the division one element such a massive thing so that players are just drawn to leave clubs and making a bit more of a level playing field at the start.

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“You would perhaps have counties really think about developing young English players, without too much of the stress of being bottom of division two, or getting relegated from division one.

“That is the concept, but there has to be a split and if that split happens and you are at the bottom of division three every year that that will just be a similar feeling.

“It won’t disguise it too much, even though you can think you could win the County Championship at the start of the season.

“So counties will still be wary of where they would like to be, but the fact is each county would start with a chance of winning the championship.

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“That just feels a bit tricky at the moment, and we would feel a little bit robbed as we would have been one of 10 who could win it and we haven’t had that opportunity on a regular basis.

“So I am a little torn on it to be honest, but we will see what comes out of it.

“I like the thought of 10 in a first division. There’s been a lot of talk about the format over the years and that was the format I liked the best.

“It gives you more chance to see some new faces in division one and then more chance of staying in there.

“I quite like that and we haven’t actually tried that yet.So it’s a bit frustrating that hasn’t been given an opportunity. But I can also see the benefits of a conference system as well.”

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