Four-day county cricket has been known as the game’s poor relation as far as crowd turnout goes. With Twenty20 pulling huge audiences – witness the IPL – and one-day competitions like the Friends Provident Trophy and the Pro40 enjoying good turnouts, sparsely populated County Championship matches may not seem overly impressive, but they attract fans nonetheless. Of course, there is plenty that could be done to increase the popularity and attract bigger crowds.

1. Televise more games
Without physically getting up and going to one, how does the average fan get to see a County Championship match? They receive scarce to zero television coverage and this cannot be helping its popularity. A few more televised matches would give new fans the opportunity to see a match, or for fans to watch day one of a fixture and think “this looks like it will be a good match, I think I’ll go to day two’. As it is, the County Championship is almost inaccessible to those who cannot physically make the matches.

2. Free entry after 4pm
With annual leave minimal, it can often be a tempting prospect to nip to a match after work but being charged full ticket price for a couple of hours play is not only expensive, it’s illogical. Those giving the game a try for a few hours may soon be buying their tickets at 10am for a full day’s play.

3. Cheap pavilion passes
Is there any point letting the scattering of fans who’ve turned up in Arctic conditions freeze to death in the rain just because they aren’t club members? Opening up the pavilion turns the prospect of frostbite into one of shelter, good view and good food, not to mention significantly decreased risk of pneumonia. £1-£5 pavilion passes could make spectating a much more comfortable option.

‘Is there any point letting the scattering of fans who’ve turned up in Arctic conditions freeze to death in the rain just because they aren’t club members?’

4. More sporting declarations
Watching a spirited run chase and a result is always more interesting than watching a side bat out for a dull draw. Incentives to captains to make sporting declarations would liven up many county games that seemed condemned to dullness, not to mention encouraging fans in for the final days of matches.

5. Bring back the two overseas players rule
It’s always a highlight to see the overseas talent the counties bring in – bring back two overseas players and release the national side to play for their counties more. People will always turn out for big names.

A few changes here and there could adapt the County Championship to the 21st century and reclaim some of the popularity it has lost.