Could County cricket hold the key for world Test cricket?

Cricketing authorities, fans, coaches and commentators seem to constantly ask the question about how we save Test cricket.

With an ever busier calendar and increased focus and investment into T20 cricket, the traditional format does seem to struggle in comparison. In the last 10 years, the big three nations in cricket of England, India and Australia are the only sides with the capability to spend time and money preparing players for Test cricket. Many other cricket boards have struggled to get the best out of their players and even get them to commit to red-ball cricket due to the earning potentials in franchise leagues - from a players perspective, it’s understandable why you’d be keen to make the most for a short career.

The result of this is that the quality of the average Test cricketer has decreased for its heyday at the turn of the millennium from plenty of even Tests to many more one-sided affairs now. 

Ben Curran's youngest brother Sam has been the standout international cricketer

Various solutions have been proffered more recently which do seem to have slowed the unstoppable dominant tide away from red-ball cricket. The World Test Championship has provided more context to each Test match despite Ben Stokes implying that it’s still not something the England camp think about hugely. England have also become the first nation to trial a ‘touring fee’ next year to Zimbabwe who have a notoriously hard-up cricket board.

One player who is likely to be a part of Zimbabwe’s first touring party to the UK in 20 years is Ben Curran, brother of England duo Tom and Sam. 

Whilst Ben Curran’s career has not been anywhere near as high profile or glamorous as either his older or younger brothers, it has certainly been interesting. Unlike Tom and Sam, Ben’s career took a little longer to get going and he started off at Northamptonshire in 2018 making his own debut after his brothers had already both been handed Test caps. A fairly consistent if but unremarkable time in Northampton eventually ended with his release in 2022 which for many would have signalled the end of a career - Curran had other ideas though.

After learning the ropes of professional cricket in England and finding out how tough it could be, Curran returned to the country where he grew up and the one his late father, Kevin, represented - Zimbabwe. Now after time at the Mid West Rhinos for the last two seasons, Ben received his maiden call up for the white ball series against Afghanistan following in his Dad’s footsteps.

One thing that has always been a big part of cricket is a more relaxed approach to international eligibility which has allowed many players to pursue international careers where they may not have been able to otherwise.

This is a tradition that runs deep in cricket, Albert Trott, Kepler Wessels, Roland Butcher, Basil D'Oliveira and the Nawab of Pataudi of days gone by are just some of the names who have switched allegiances to get a chance to play on the world stage.

Lately though, the ability for players to use different forms of eligibility has given a lot more opportunities to strengthen sides and Ben Curran is the latest in a long list. The most prominent exponents of this kind of eligibility are Associate Nations who are trying to build cricket support and participation. Steven Taylor, for example, was the only member of the USA’s squad in the T20 World Cup to be born and raised in the US. Notably, Italy have recently been on a recruitment drive to gather a squad which, on paper, looks like a strong outfit with the likes of Wayne Madsen, Joe Burns, Gareth Berg and Emilio Gay in their ranks.

T20 in a lot of ways has become a more equitable form of the game with so many professional leagues round the world which has elevated more associate cricketers and non-internationals to the public consciousness.

T20 is one thing, but Test cricket is a much more closed shop.

The USA's Aaron Jones qualified to play for the US whilst also making his way through the Caribbean system (Credit: CPL)

There are 12 cricketing boards in the world that have a First Class system to prepare their domestic players for the rigour of Test cricket and the standard of these leagues varies massively from one cricketing nation to the next. Out of these systems, very few allow for outsiders beyond those local players who have decided to take an Associate nation route such as Aaron Jones qualifying for USA whilst playing for Barbados in the West Indies domestic league.

Only one competition in the world truly embraces overseas talent like no other, and that’s the County Championship. The English First Class system has a rich history of bringing over the best talent from around the world. More recently though, the County Championship has also proved to be a place for internationals to get more experience in red ball cricket. Due to the fact that overseas pros have more earning potential in England than elsewhere the format does entice players over - you only need to look at the amount of South African and Australian born players around the competition.

The example of Ben Curran is somewhat different though, having come through the latter stages of his schooling in the UK at Wellington College and heading into the county system. His elevation to international was built on the foundations in the county system and rounded and developed by his time back in Zimbabwe - and Ben Curran isn’t the only one…

Gary Ballance, whilst having an England career of his own beforehand, also went onto represent Zimbabwe later. Many of the inaugural Test side for Ireland had previous careers in England which prepared them towards the 2018 elevation to Test cricket.

The comparative strength of County Cricket means that overseas players have an opportunity to gain exposure to red-ball cricket that is limited back home. A fully available domestic West Indian player, for example, has a maximum of 7 red-ball fixtures a year. Ireland last season had only one! Of course Associates now have no option to play red-ball cricket since the disappearance of the Intercontinental Cup since 2017. 

Whilst much is made of international sides not having enough Test match experience going into a series, sometimes the First Class experience for an aspiring international is just as limited or with dubious standard. Sri Lanka for example has gone through many iterations of First Class competitions with a huge number of sides meaning that in some cases, the quality of cricket is not always there.

Other strong red-ball competitions around the world like the Indian and Australian leagues are cautious about overseas players. Much was made of the decision by New South Wales to select Englishman Mason Crane from Grade Cricket in 2017 - the first overseas player for NSW in 33 years for example.

There is no doubt there is certainly still a lot wrong with the County Championship; inconsistent squads, playing at strange times of year, small grounds and quality that doesn’t perhaps match up to hyper-concentrated competitions with 6 sides like the Sheffield Shield…but we love it and it does produce good players. 

Without having a saviour complex about the English game, it’s a fact that the standards of First Class cricket in general are not quite what they were and County Cricket is unique in it’s view that overseas players will aid local players rather than hinder their progress so perhaps we haven’t seen the last of a Ben Curran-eque path to international cricket. A brief look around the counties suggests there are plenty of dual-nationals in squads: Emilio Gay (West Indies), Jack Carson (Ireland), Nathan Gilchrist (Zimbabwe), Conor McKerr (South Africa) to name but a few. The standard of cricket that they have played in the County Championship, undoubtedly, would put them in a better position for international cricket in the future. All of that before even mentioning the Associate Nation players such as Bas de Leede, Fred Klaassen, Brad Wheal and Andy Umeed who would struggle to find any red ball cricket otherwise.

In a world that increasingly devalues red ball cricket, the County Championship does seem to be a beacon currently as a melting pot of nations to play the diminishing art of First Class cricket.