Implications of Changing the Wetherby Cricket League Structure

You may remember reading that the WCL planned to change the format of the league for the coming 2010 season to a 1st XI and 2nd XI league structure, each comprising of three divisions. You can read the original blog with the link to the WCL website HERE.

It would be fair to say that this was not given much thought by East Keswick CC and therefore any possible negative consequences were not looked at. I (along with other league clubs) received the following e-mail from Wighill Park regarding what they see to be the effects of the new changes.

I'd encourage all players to read the below text as the potential consequences will have an effect on everyone who plays cricket for the club. Please feel free to respond using the comments box at the bottom of this post as any reaction will have to take into the views of everyone at the club.

Implications of Changing the Wetherby Cricket League Structure

Background

At a special WCL meeting held on 31st March 2010, the WCL Chairman presented the case for changing the structure of the Wetherby Cricket League. The case had already been considered at the AGM, but the split vote was insufficient to endorse the new format.

The meeting was called by the Management Board so they could re-propose moving the WCL to two 3-division structures separating the 1st XIs (ABC) from 2nd XIs (123). Unfortunately the meeting was not mandatory and low attendance levels indicated that all clubs were not represented.

          The arguments for the change included:

• The new structure would enable 1st XIs play more competitive cricket, and allow 2nd XIs to play more participative cricket. Different rules would apply to 1st XIs and 2nd XIs.
• 1st XIs have missed out on playing an odd match, when the opposition 2nd XI was unable to raise a team.
• The split structure would be easier to administer.
  
  Arguments raised against a change of structure included:
  
  
• Players and teams are better if they compete at their own levels.
• One attendee said another league had tried the split structure a few years ago, but considered the experiment a failure and so reverted to the combined open structure.

Although the arguments for change seemed laudable, the arguments were finely balanced. My own instincts told me that the current open structure was more likely to provide closer competition. When players and teams find their own levels, competition and enjoyment is greater.

Pre-Season Meeting 7th April 2010

One week later on 7th April 2010, the Pre-Season Meeting was presented with a document in a barely readable font size.

After the meeting, I was able to read the document properly and discovered that our Chairman claimed “overwhelming support” for a move to the new structure, and as a result the League would move to this format in 2011 with a formal review after a 3 year period.

I later checked with other attendees of the two meetings and they were equally surprised by events!

They too felt that the arguments had been balanced and they too could not recall any “overwhelming support” for the proposed changes.

Furthermore a small majority from a meeting of representatives of only some of the clubs does not seem to represent a true mandate for such a major change.

Since the meeting, I have re-considered the issues in a little more depth. Initially my concern was for the survival of Wighill Park Cricket Club, but further thought has made me realise that the proposed structure will not achieve the desired objectives for most clubs.

My analysis of the situation is below.

Effect of the Changes

1.    Divisions 3 and 4 will suffer and Competition will be reduced. Divisions 1 and 2 will be much the same, (except for Leeds Police A who will have to compete at a lower level), and will be re-named A and B. Equally Divisions 5 and 6 will be much the same 2nd XIs, (with 1 or 2 exceptions) and get re-named Divisions 2 and 3. The current Divisions 3 and 4 will change significantly, with a much wider range of abilities in the lowest 1st XI division and the highest 2nd XI division. In these two divisions the cricket will become less competitive as the ability gap will become wider.

2.    Different Rules for Each Structure. The League wish to make changes to make 2nd XIs more participative, e.g. reduce the total number of overs bowled in a game to say 80 and reduce per bowler in 2nd XI cricket.

3.    Significantly More Lost Games. If there are 35 clubs in the WCL, then Div C will consist of 11 teams, causing each team in that division to miss two Saturdays cricket. Similarly it is also likely that Div 3 will have an odd number of teams, causing each team to miss two Saturdays cricket there. (Please note that the lost games will be far in excess of the odd game lost each year when a 1st XI has no game because its opponents are a 2nd XI unable to raise a team.)

4.    Inflexible Structures will prevent sound Fixture Lists. The split structures work best when there are exactly 36 1st XIs and 36 2nd XIs. The structure of 12 teams per division is ideal for a 22-Saturday season. If one or two more clubs pull out of the WCL, or if more clubs wish to join, then a healthy set of competitive fixtures would no longer be possible. (For instance, if there were only 33 1st XIs left in the WCL, what then? The split structure of separate 1st and 2nd XIs becomes totally unmanageable and increasingly unsatisfactory for member clubs.)

5.    Lower Morale leading to Apathy and Undesirable Practices. Wider ability gaps between regular opponents will reduce the element of competition. The weaker teams suffer poor morale and a reduction of enjoyment amongst younger players, which can lead to apathy. (Conversely closer competition heightens enjoyment and develops a healthy interest in sport.) Furthermore if 1st XIs in Div C cannot be relegated, then the undesirable practice of better players being demoted to support the 2nd XI will take place.

6.    Death of Village Cricket. Wighill is a very small village and the club has been trying to re-build over the last 2 or 3 years, after losing many first teamers 3 years ago. In fact all small clubs like Wighill Park will have increased difficulty trying to persuade 2nd XI players to step up to the 1st XI when required, if they are aware the opposition is very strong. Despite its history of 120 years of cricket, the widening of ability levels within the same division could lead to the end of a club like Wighill Park and possibly others in the WCL. (Note: Clubs at the bottom of the pile like Wighill Park have few players in their prime. Wighill Park serves two functions: first, older players can play longer than would otherwise be the case; second: younger players get match action and useful experience and learn from older players. Younger players then move onwards and upwards after two years at this level. Reducing the number of clubs at the bottom tier of the game would not be good for the sport of cricket.)

Conclusions

The objectives described in the ‘arguments for change’ are not proven:

Q1    Will 1st XI cricket be more competitive?

A1    Unproven. Most 1st XIs will be unaffected by the proposed changes. 1st XI cricket in Div C will be less competitive, as there will be a wider range of playing abilities. Nor will the lack of relegation inspire anyone!

Q2    Will 2nd XI cricket be more competitive or more participative?

A2    No. 2nd XI cricket will not be more competitive. Leading 2nd XIs may suffer as there will be no promotion and they will be playing more lower-level opponents.

At this moment in time, nobody knows how many clubs want their 2nd XIs to play ‘participative’ cricket instead of competitive cricket.

Q3    Do the majority of clubs want separate rules for 2nd XI cricket?

A3    We do not know! The demand is said to come from some 2nd XIs currently in Div 5 and Div6. If that is true, the answer is to amend the rules for those two divisions, without applying possible amendments to ALL 2nd XI teams.

Q4    Will the change stop the situation where 1st XIs have missed out on playing, when the opposition 2nd XI was unable to raise a team?

A4    Yes. This problem will be eliminated. No. It will be replaced by a worse problem! Many more clubs will suffer blank Saturdays, regardless of the weather. The proposals will result in Division C or Division 3 teams missing many more fixtures.

Q5    Will the split structure be easier to administer?

A5    The opposite is more likely! This is only true in the unlikely event that there are 36 1st XI teams and 36 2nd XI teams. If the proposals are implemented, it is highly likely that the numbers of WCL member clubs will continue to fall, causing serious administrative problems trying to allow for increasing imbalance of clubs.

Q6    Will the new structure stop clubs leaving the league?

A6    We do not know! The Management Board wishes to strengthen the WCL, and assumes the split structure will solve the problems. The Board does not appear to have conducted any surveys to identify the real problems so as to propose solutions wanted by a healthy majority of clubs.

We Should Consider the Issues in More Detail

It appears that the Management Board believes that the major change in structure will solve a number of problems. I believe that the Board should survey the clubs before proposing a solution that will cause more problems than it solves.

If you are able to discuss the proposals and possible consequences with your club, you may agree that we need to re-think a little.

In that case, the only route at this stage is to call for an Extraordinary General Meeting, so that we can arrive at the best possible answer for all clubs.

This is only possible if we can get 12 or more clubs to support the idea of an EGM. If you support the call for further debate, please let me know as a matter of urgency.

Kevin McCarthy                 

Wighill Park CC                  

 April 2010