Welcome back to the Bishop and Bear.Most guests in this pub would probably agree that they want cricket to grow and be healthy. They want it to be more diverse, inclusive and attractive to new younger fans. They also, want to watch national teams to play entertaining winning Test cricket and be successful in other formats too. For many of us, that is England. But by no means exclusively. Those of us that follow English counties want them to entertain us a play great cricket and, ideally, win things.And yet, in a theme we constantly return to in the B and B, for English cricket, the lure of money and the proliferation of franchises sets traditionalists against modernists, romantics against pragmatists. Even your ursine Landlord and episcopal barman, feel a little, well dirty, frankly as we cover the IPL.Our guest today on the Barstool of Bravado, is Ben Bloom, who spent last summer travelling the country speaking to more than 100 of the game’s most important figures for his book – Batting for Time: The Fight to Keep English Cricket Alive. The concern and discontent he uncovered from all quarters was palpable and left him concluding that English cricket is in crisis.It gets brilliantly under the skin of English cricket, giving a fair voice to those who represent all sides of the argument, including many of those we know as friends, not least Annie of course.It’s a great chat with Ben, so do have a listen. And we can thoroughly recommend the book, available, as they say, from all good booksellers, including here.Cheers!Your Ursine Landlord and Episcopal BarmanLearn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices