**Rory Burns Speaks in Favor of Maintaining the County Championship**
As the new cricket season approaches, there's a palpable sense of excitement in the air. The County Championship, a cornerstone of English cricket, is set to commence on Friday, with Surrey aiming for a historic fourth consecutive title against Essex in Chelmsford.
In the midst of this, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced some intriguing developments. Two new faces, Jacob Bethell and Shoaib Bashir, have been selected for England's Test team, not on the basis of their established first-class records, but on their perceived potential in international formats.
Meanwhile, Surrey's England-contracted players, including Gus Atkinson, Jamie Smith, and Ollie Pope, will participate in the season opener. Their availability is being managed by the ECB, ensuring a strong Surrey line-up from the outset.
Rory Burns, Surrey captain and England opening batsman, has expressed his commitment to continue striving for standout performances. He aims to catch the selectors' attention by scoring 1,000 runs each season. Burns, known for his intensity during Test matches, particularly during the final days, emphasises the importance of preserving the County Championship.
Burns is also advocating for a balanced County Championship format that allows teams to compete home and away. He voiced concerns about the unpopular suggestion of reducing the number of Championship matches from 14 to 10. Burns believes that performance metrics from the County Championship remain significant for England's Test team selections.
Key stakeholders within the sport, including the ECB, must take steps to safeguard the future of the County Championship. ECB Chairman Richard Thompson has publicly warned about player burnout and called for a review of the cricket schedule to ensure sustainability and support domestic cricket reforms post-2028.
As for the commentary, BBC Sport will provide comprehensive coverage for every County Championship match, along with important highlights from men's and women's white-ball events. The commentary team will consist of BBC Local Radio's expert commentators and pundits from across the 18 Professional Counties.
Burns is optimistic about the upcoming season, stating that he thinks it's brilliant that T20 and The Hundred exist, but also believes it's important to protect the best format, red-ball cricket. He suggests that the game should fully commit to a chosen format, and proposes a schedule that allows for real blocks of games where players can give their best effort.
In conclusion, the new season promises to be an exciting one, with the County Championship and England's Test team both set for significant developments. With Burns at the helm, Surrey will undoubtedly be a team to watch.
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