Lord’s last One-Day Cup final? MCC head of cricket John Stephenson on Hampshire v Somerset, the domestic 50-over competition’s future and The Hundred
John Stephenson knows a thing or two about one-day cricket.
As a fan, player and now head of cricket at Marylebone Cricket Club, he has watched, participated in and enjoyed the format as it has evolved.
As a child his interest was piqued by Gloucestershire’s Mike Procter, who scored 94 in a win over Sussex in the 1973 final, and Glamorgan’s Mike Llewellyn, whose straight six onto the top of the Lord’s pavilion caused quite a stir in 1977’s final.
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Having been on the Essex staff for the 1985 win over Nottinghamshire, he progressed to playing for his home county, and although he lost both of his Lord’s cup finals he has fond memories of the format.
Stephenson has seen sponsors come and go, from Benson & Hedges to NatWest, seen the number of competitions reduced from two to one, and the number of overs fluctuate between 60 and 40.
And on Saturday he’ll be in St John’s Wood to witness another landmark for English cricket’s middle format, as defending champions Hampshire play Somerset.
It will be the 56th Lord’s one-day final, and potentially last, with Trent Bridge taking over hosting duties in 2020 for five years. From next summer the Royal London One-Day Cup, as it is now known, will become, in the words of England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) managing director Gordon Hollins, a “development competition”.
The One-Day Cup final has been held at Lord's for 56 years (Source: Getty)
“We’ve seen one-day cricket evolve over the years and the showpiece event being at Lord’s has been very important for county players,” Stephenson tells City A.M.
“It was, and still is, an absolute dream to get to a one-day final. It’s always an amazing feeling being out there in front of a big crowd as a county player. They’re moments I’ll never forget.”
Players from Hampshire and Somerset could be the last ones to get that unforgettable Lord’s final atmosphere, with 2020 seeing the English summer schedule rejigged.
“We’ve always tried to prioritise having two Test matches per year in the allocation, so we understand why it has moved,” says Stephenson. “We’re obviously disappointed in a sense, but it moves to Trent Bridge with our best wishes.”
Positive outlook
Next year the One-Day Cup will move from April and May to July and August and no longer include overseas players in order to accommodate a fourth new format: The Hundred. The One-Day Cup will be played alongside the new competition and will involve those not picked up for the ECB’s great new hope.
Hollins’ characterisation of the 50-over tournament as a “development competition” sparked criticism, with some accusing the governing body of devaluing one of its key assets, but Stephenson has a positive outlook.
“I don’t really see it as that,” he says. “I don’t think it’s being downgraded to a huge extent. We’ve got a great opportunity to broaden the appeal of the game, get to a wider audience, including families, with the new hundred-ball competition coming in. And it provides opportunities to develop more players in the shorter formats of the game.
“The game is evolving and we can’t stand still. When I was playing 50-over cricket we were playing in whites with red balls – things are always changing and we have to move with the times to try and make sure the game continues to appeal to a wider audience.”
John Stephenson joined the MCC in 2004 after playing for Essex and Hampshire (Source: Getty)
Stephenson believes that once The Hundred was voted in by counties, the decision to play the One-Day Cup alongside it was inevitable and that it also has the advantage of allowing players to focus on one format at a time, with the County Championship, T20 Blast, Hundred and One-Day Cup distinct.
“Scheduling four formats into a summer of cricket in England is incredibly challenging and I think that’s the only option,” he says. “I applaud the ECB for being brave and taking a bit of a risk and bringing in a new format.”
Unprecedented summer
Those are considerations for another day, however. The focus at present is on the final, before Lord’s then looks forward to hosting an unprecedented summer of action.
“I think it’s going to be a great game, between the two stand-out performers,” Stephenson says.
Tom Banton (left) and Peter Trego show Somerset's mix of youth and experience (Source: Getty)
“Somerset have been really good this year in both formats – they’ve got some exciting young players, and older heads like Peter Trego, who has flair and smashes the ball.
“Hampshire are very consistent. [Captain] James Vince is a superb player and a very good leader. They’ll be tough to beat because they know how to play at Lord’s and won’t be overawed.
“If the weather stays dry we’ll produce a good pitch. The white ball doesn’t tend to do much, so I’d imagine it should be a high-scoring match.”
The Royal London One-Day Cup Final is the first piece of silverware to be won at Lord’s during this historic year of cricket. Be part of the action as defending champions Hampshire take on Somerset for the final time at Lord’s. For more information and to book tickets, visit lords.org/tickets