BARKISLAND have made a suggestion the Drakes Cricket League should consider starting their season a week or two later.
Historically, the League have always kicked off on the third Saturday in April, but Barkisland's representative Keith Colman and professional groundsman Steve Casaru have spelled out a case for starting and finishing the season later come 2008.
"We believe the League should think about changing the start date as the season's are now making a climatic change," said Colman.
"For the last two or three years, we have started to play cricket when the grounds are clearly not fit, yet we finish in early September, when conditions are still very favourable."
Casaru added: "Even given the equipment I have, it is almost impossible to prepare pitches properly in early April, while at the end of the season we are now still cutting the grass well into October."
Undeniably, the growing season is now going on longer, so being able to play an extra week in September would not be an unreasonable assumption.
Drakes League chairman Roger France said despite the early start, the first two weeks of the season had gone ahead as planned.
He also expressed the opinion that because the light drops quickly in September, it would probably necessitate a noon start, as neighbouring Leagues Bradford and Yorkshire, who do start and finish a week later, have had problems in finishing games late in September.
He also warned of problems in clashing with the start of the fooball season, with many cricketers wanting to change sports in autumn.
The reverse of that, however, is that many cricket clubs do struggle to put out full sides early in the season as some of their members are still playing soccer - many of whom will have finished by the end of April!
Mr France told the Barkisland representatives that, if they so wished, they could again bring up the suggestion midway through next season, with a view to putting forward a proposal to be voted on before the next annual meeting in 12 months.
* A young Indian player, now studying at the University of Huddersfield, is keen to find a Huddersfield League club for next season.
Amardeep Singh, who has just gone 20, is a right-hand top-order batsman and off-spin bowler who has just joined the university to study Mechanical Engineering.
Singh plays for the Kharar club in the Punjab, and has also played for the Punjab state side twice and three times at zone level.
The 6ft tall all-rounder has impressed all through the junior ranks and scored three centuries and a fifty in seven matches at Under 19 level, winning the man of the match twice.
He has also notched four tons and five fifties in 10 games against PCA at open age level in Mohali.
Any club interested can contact Amardeep at home (Fartown) on 01484 431453, mobile 07810 186204 or by e-mail: amusaini28@hotmail.co.uk
