Former Gloucestershire and England wicketkeeper Jack Russell has hit out at the ECB, claiming the organisation has “done absolutely nothing” to promote the “importance” of the County Championship.

The 2022 season started last week with a high-scoring opening round that saw just two sides – Nottinghamshire and Hampshire – claim victory.

In a Twitter thread posted on the second day of the new county season, Russell criticised the English game’s governing body for a lack of publicity surrounding the County Championship.

Russell initially alleged that the ECB’s marketing department had done “nothing” to promote the new County Championship season, labelling the lack of promotion a “disgrace.” Russell also questioned whether the ECB’s appreciated the “importance” of the competition.

The legendary gloveman went on to warn of the possible dangers of neglecting the domestic first-class competition, saying: “This is beyond reckless [sic] beyond common sense.”

There has been some criticism of the ECB’s lack of promotion on its own social media channels. The official England Cricket Twitter handle boasts over 1.2 million followers and is yet to post about the County Championship this season.

There is, however, a dedicated official County Championship Twitter account that has over 91,000 followers that has regularly posted on the competition since it began last Thursday. Its overall social media presence – including its accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram – has over 377,000 followers. At the time of writing there is no official ECB presence on TikTok.

1/3 Well @ECB_cricket #CountyChampionship has started and unless I’m mistaken you have done absolutely nothing to promote its importance Who runs the #Marketing Dept? I hope you haven’t got the nerve to pick up your wages at the end of this month? Because this is a disgrace

— Jack Russell MBE (@jackrussellart) April 8, 2022

2/3 Do you not understand it’s importance? Do you not understand that future England players are nurtured #CountyCricket Players that will hopefully go on to greatness and win #TheAshes and generate millions of £’s for you to run @englandcricket So short sighted its beyond belief

— Jack Russell MBE (@jackrussellart) April 8, 2022

3/3 @ECB_cricket this is beyond reckless beyond common sense You have future success of @englandcricket under you stewardship You dont understand this basic #CountyCricket2022 is pivotal Where do you think the players will come from if you choke this competition to death #Cricket

— Jack Russell MBE (@jackrussellart) April 8, 2022