Martin Darlow’s vast experience in cricket administration is now being put to use for the benefit of National Counties cricket.

Darlow had seven years as a board member of the England and Wales Cricket Board, latterly serving as Deputy Chairman and interim Chairman, as well as representing the ECB on the International Cricket Council.

During his time at Lord’s Darlow, a former senior detective, sat on the Minor Counties Review Group which oversaw the formation of the National Counties Cricket Association in 2019 and the creation of the existing format of National Counties cricket – promotion and relegation in the NCCA Cluberly Championship – when cricket resumed after the Covid lockdown in 2020.

Earlier this year Darlow was elected Chairman of NCCA as successor to former Staffordshire captain Nick Archer and he is delighted to see the highest level of recreational cricket in England and Wales flourishing.

“I chaired the Minor Counties Review Group that included Nick Archer and Paul Bedford, who was the ECB’s Head of Recreational Cricket,” Darlow said.

“There were so many experts telling us that we would fail to make changes, but we pressed on regardless and after lots of consultation managed to secure the name change to National Counties, introduce the league format for three-day cricket, develop a white ball format structure and make some regulation amendments to improve and enhance the competitions.“

This also enabled a funding increase via the County Partnership Agreement.  Not much has fundamentally changed since the review so I regard that as success.

”As NCCA Chairman Darlow represents an organisation which covers 19 English counties and the whole of Wales, in a larger geographical spread than the 18 first-class counties and providing opportunities and exposure for players, coaches and umpires from some of the cricketing outposts.

Around a quarter of players involved in any round of Rothesay County Championship matches will have played National Counties cricket at some stage in their careers with that figure increasing for the Metro Bank Cup when players such as Berkshire batter Johnny Connell (Somerset), Dorset wicketkeeper/batter Joe Eckland (Gloucestershire), Shropshire batter Joe Johnson (Sussex) and Cambridgeshire leg-spinner Mo Rizvi (Leicestershire) are recruited on short-term contracts.

Any new recruit to the First-Class Umpires’ Panel will also have got there having officiated in National Counties cricket while on the National Panel with Sam Hollinshead  and former Lancashire wicketkeeper Gareth Cross the most recent to graduate.

“It is important the NCCA showcases talent and provides a route where appropriate into the professional game. This applies to players, coaches, umpires, scorers, physios, administrators, etc. who were it not for the NCCA would not be identified,” Darlow said.

“The strength of the National Counties is in the 20 clubs who provide opportunities for players, officials and supporters to participate or watch the pinnacle of the recreational game.  This is augmented by the rich and long history of Minor Counties and now National Counties success. 

“Other strengths are live streaming and commentaries providing more eyes and ears on our games and the pathway for players and officials as once again this season we have witnessed more players and umpires given Metro Bank opportunities following strong performances in NCCA games. 

“We are also very fortunate to have an experienced, well respected and expert Operations Director in Richard Logan and a strong, diverse, knowledgeable Board of Directors.”

Darlow’s own connections with National Counties cricket are strong. One of his sons, George, plays for Cambridgeshire and previously played for Bedfordshire and another, Ally, works as Berkshire Cricket’s Schools Development Manager.

Darlow himself umpires in the East Anglian Premier League – a competition which features many National Counties players - each weekend in the summer months and he is Chairman and assistant groundsman at the Southill Park club whose stunning ground in the grounds of the Whitbread family home  is one of Bedfordshire’s home venues.

But it is Darlow’s experience and knowledge of the ECB that have been of most beneficial to National Counties cricket with meetings with ECB Chairman Richard Thompson and Chief Executive Richard Gould already held and Gould a guest at Sunday’s National Counties T20 Finals Day at Wormsley.

“I have had a number of meetings with senior ECB staff including Richard Gould and they appreciate what the NCCA offers and delivers. I have met with Richard Thompson and have a further meeting scheduled this month,” Darlow said.

“I am challenging the ECB with two questions:  1. How can the NCCA assist the ECB with delivering the Inspiring Generations strategy? and 2. How can the ECB further support and assist the NCCA?

“These have led to some exciting discussions on collaboration and access to ECB resources.    

“Andy Lees is our operational ECB lead and I know Andy well having worked with him for many years whilst I was an ECB and ICC Board member. The support and advice from Andy to Richard Logan, the Board and me has been first-rate.”

As he completes his first season as Chairman, Darlow  has also identified areas of improvement for National Counties cricket, to further strengthen the pinnacle of recreational cricket.

“The areas I am keen to enhance or improve are to further professionalise what we deliver from boundary to boardroom, to increase the number of eyes and ears on NCCA games through technology and digitalisation, to Promote and support pathway opportunities for players, officials and administrators and to explore taking responsibility for Tier Three Women’s cricket,” he said.