Mark Alleyne on why The Cheltenham Cricket Festival is always a good time but will likely come at a crunch time in the season. And the Gloucestershire Head Coach gives us his theory on why media criticism is inhibiting England’s stars.
Watch the full chat with Mark Alleyne below:
Mark Alleyne played cricket for Gloucestershire for 21 years and is in his second spell as head coach. So he knows a thing or two about The Cheltenham Cricket Festival. And he has a hunch it will arrive at crossroads in the season for his team.
“Cheltenham always comes at a key time of the season where you’re either really challenging for something or you need a victory to get back amongst it,” Alleyne told Sport and Life.
“It just seems to land that Cheltenham seems to be pivotal and the players respond really well to that because after Cheltenham, this is now the end of the season that we’re kind of managing. So a good Cheltenham is always a really healthy thing for the club.”
Gloucestershire cricketers have been playing games in Cheltenham since 1872 in the picturesque setting of Cheltenham College. And Alleyne says the beautiful backdrop tends to inspire gripping contests.
“A lot of the games are just quite dramatic. Although as a coach you want to get in front, stay in front and humiliate the opposition. But I imagine it’s quite nice from a spectator’s point of view that everyday something different is happening and normally it comes to a lively conclusion.”
Alleyne’s also aware that the festival highlights one of cricket’s big pluses – it’s ability to create buzzing social events with the College hosting a variety of food and drink outlets. And he’s looking forward to kicking back with the fans come this year’s festival in August.
“It’s a great place. It’s often right in the middle summer. So even at the end of play, you’ve still got a nice summer’s evening to sit somewhere pleasant and have a relax.”
Gloucestershire are based in Bristol and Alleyne says a key aspect of the Cheltenham Cricket Festival is alerting people to the fact first class cricket is played in the county.
“Gloucestershire (County Cricket Club) is so well placed. Based in Bristol, which is a lovely city and then having access to the Gloucestershire countryside and towns like Cheltenham around it.
“Even Bath. Even though it’s North Somerset, it’s very close by. We’ve just got to let people know about that a bit more.”
While Alleyne is focussed on the men’s first team, he’s also keen to spark interest in cricket in young boys and girls across the county.
“We’re working really hard on our identity as a club. If we can just get some more cricket clubs playing regularly, getting the kids playing in the evenings that always helps. And it’s ongoing. This is something you need to invest in over a long period of time.”
“Cricket needs to be played in all schools and try to get some healthy competition amongst those age groups. But I think clubs can do a really good job in terms of welcoming and help develop kids participating in their local community.
“They should have a club reasonably close by where they can jump in and have a bit of fun, meet some people and talk about cricket, play cricket and even if they don’t go on to be players they can be supporters of cricket.”
Alleyne says one of cricket’s big selling points for youngsters is that all body types can flourish in the sport. But Alleyne says you have to be prepared to practice your skills to excel as a bowler, batter or both.
“Definitely all kinds of body shapes and heights can excel at cricket. In fact, I can’t think of a type that would be a disadvantage. But it is a very heavily skilled sport.
“I’m not saying the other sports aren’t skilful. But we know, first instance, in rugby there’s such a huge physical element that with the right work ethic and body shape you can probably cover some ground pretty quickly.
“But the skill element of cricket you’d need to invest some time and energy in terms of getting that up to speed.”
While Alleyne’s priority is Gloucestershire, he’s at his core a cricket man. He wants the sport to prosper, to attract more players and more spectators. And with that in mind, he’s a supporter of Brendon McCullum’s England teams and their attacking style.
“It’s a bit of cat and mouse, of course, but I quite agree with it (the style of play). I don’t think you can just sit in and wait and see what happens because that’s not taking charge of the game and it’s not a great spectacle either.”
Alleyne also thinks the tone of media coverage during the one-sided Ashes this past winter contributed to England’s 4-1 series humbling in Australia. Alleyne believes journalists’ doubts over the tactics affected the confidence of the fans, and that nervousness spread to the players.
“I kind of blamed the media a little bit on this one. Blame, as in maybe a slightly different narrative might have helped the team better. Before you know it the whole stadium is starting to not trust what you’re doing.”
While cricket has been the central thread of Alleyne’s life he spent a lot of time in the winter watching his son play football. His son, Max, 20, is a centre-back for Manchester City and England Under 21s and spent the first part of the season on loan at Watford.
“When get got his chance, you know, he got to play on some big stages, which he loved. Newcastle away, Man United away. Obviously playing at home at the Etihad. So I think as a young boy trying to make his way, those moments you’ll never forget.”
