RICHARD CLARKE
AKA The Grumbler

It has been suggested that outground cricket represents the county game on its holidays.
When you think back to traditional, evocative seaside venues such as Scarborough, Weston-Super-Mare, Colwyn Bay, Southend-on-Sea and Bournemouth, it certainly used to.
But the bucket-and-spade brigade do not seem to be the target demographic for English cricket anymore. Therefore, as we enter peak outground season, we need to understand the purpose this romantic but expensive practice fulfils.
Do not get me wrong, if it is all about bringing the game to the people an...