Pland for change in the Drakes League have been broadly welcomed by clubs.

Chairman Trevor Atkinson and the Executive have formed a Modernisation Sub-committee to look at how the League’s cricket is played.

Back on the agenda are issues like fielding circles, leg-side wides, restricted overs per bowler, power plays, earlier starts, the ‘three-hour rule’, bonus points and the directives governing rain delays.

Representatives at the pre-season League Council meeting – the 38 clubs swing into action on Saturday, April 19 – felt it was a positive step, especially as recommendations will first go to captains at First and Second XI level for consideration before being presented to club chairmen.

Those on the sub-committee are Atkinson, administration secretary Norman Clee, life vice-president Roger France, new Drakes Executive member Craig McCreadie and Umpires Association secretary Ron Tindall, who has been co-opted back onto the Executive.

They have already had two meetings and intend to present their initial proposals mid-season, in the hope an agreed package can be brought in for 2015.

One change has already been implemented. Monthly Council meetings have been ditched in favour of getting together only in April, July and September with the annual meeting remaining in December.

Tied into these changes will be another player survey from the ECB and YCB which all players will be encouraged to fill in and return. The more players who give answers, the more money will eventually be filtered down from the governing bodies for Drakes clubs to make use of.

Meanwhile, all Drakes clubs have received a card so they can access Club Support on the ECB website. The section provides details of how best to run every aspect of a club and League officials believe it supplies plenty of helpful advice.

In addition, the League are considering paying membership for every club to have someone in the Institute of Groundsmanship, in an effort to improve playing conditions overall in the Premiership, Jedi Sports Championship and Cedar Court Conference.

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