My understanding is that the ECB is also open to suggestions as to what to call “franchise-type cricket” when the squads are not franchises.

The original Arndale you mean.

We’re aware it’s not a franchise tournament but after giving it some thought we couldn’t settle on anything else. Open to suggestions.

Presumably you are talking about the new Arndale there, rather than the old Arndale.

I went to the old Arndale when it was quite new (late 1970s) but only visited the new Arndale relatively recently (a few years ago) when it was already quite old.

Regarding The Hundred, I find myself underwhelmed by the draft concept. Perhaps it works better for the IPL and/or franchise tournaments of that kind.

BTW, I have it on authority that we are not supposed to describe The Hundred squads as franchises – apparently they are not franchises in the sense that franchise tournaments are franchises. I hope that is clear to all KC readers who might be hanging on every word of this article and my comment thereon.

The Arndale is so rarely associated with the word ‘new’ these days.

Ah, OK – it’s a fine line between clever and stupid after all.

Wasn’t sure if it was a New Seekers thing, a New Yardbirds / Led Zeppelin thing, or a Joanna Lumley New Avengers thing.

There is a clothing brand called the New Originals, as well. Probably the sort of thing you can buy in that giant new Sports Direct that is opening in the Arndale today.

I don’t remember forgetting the reference….

You have somehow both got the reference and not got the reference.

It feels like maybe you have previously known but now forgotten the reference?

Or a TV spinoff/reboot, like the New Avengers or something.