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Warwickshire Cricket
League
LEAGUE STRUCTURE
MORE PEOPLE PLAYING MORE FREQUENTLY IN TEAMS
What are we proposing to do
To Take note of the 2014 player survey
◦ 400 WCL players took part in that survey - 10% of our players
Consider the change in mix of teams in the WCL
Consider the different types of players and team make up between
top and bottom
Focus on the needs and wishes of the players
Provide good competitive cricket, played in the correct spirit
Overview
Background
Who is playing in the league
What players are saying – National player survey
Proposals for change
Background
Nationally - From 2013 to 2014 – 7% less people are playing cricket
In WCL in 2014 there were 4171 players in the WCL in 2013 that was
4543 – 8% less
This drop off of players is a major concern to the ECB and leads to
clubs / teams folding
◦ It should concern all clubs
Background – WCL make up
In 2009 the WCL had 84 Clubs and 181 teams, in 2014 85 Clubs and 199 teams
◦ Note 21 teams came from the west midlands 3rd XI league
In 2009 – 2 Division Structure had 71 clubs with 1sts and 2nds, in 2014 this was 64
In 2014 – 16 of 30 in Divisions 4 thru 6 where not traditional 1st team 2nd team setups
Who is playing in the WCL
Of 4171 people playing, many played once
1976 scheduled matches – 1842 played
31000 appearances recorded on Play Cricket
The National player survey is using terms
◦ Core – Means plays most weeks
◦ Occasional – plays 5 or more times a season
◦ Cameo – plays rarely often once a season
Differences by division
Appearances By
OcassionalCameo
Division
Core
Premier Division 1st XI
69.16% 17.88% 12.96%
Division 1 1st XI
66.78% 20.51% 12.71%
Division 3 1st XI
59.33% 21.01% 19.65%
Division 2 1st XI
58.64% 16.41% 24.95%
Division 4 1st XI
54.05% 19.73% 26.22%
Premier Division 2nd XI
47.16% 25.99% 26.85%
Division 1 2nd XI
41.29% 24.90% 33.81%
Division 3 2nd XI
40.12% 25.93% 33.95%
Division 5 1st XI
34.95% 21.99% 43.06%
Division 2 2nd XI
34.63% 23.10% 42.27%
Division 6 1st XI
34.04% 21.16% 44.80%
Division 5 2nd XI
29.46% 24.09% 46.45%
Division 4 2nd XI
27.25% 27.12% 45.63%
3rd XI and Single Team - Division 2 West
16.76% 30.80% 52.43%
3rd XI and Single Team - Premier
14.98% 29.19% 55.83%
3rd XI and Single Team - Division 1 East
14.68% 31.54% 53.78%
3rd XI and Single Team - Division 1 West
13.86% 31.01% 55.13%
3rd XI and Single Team - Division 2 East
11.63% 35.63% 52.74%
The higher divisions have more core
players
Lower down teams are dependent on
Occasional and Cameo Players to get
sides out
Given the number of 3rd XI in Div 5 and
below it is not surprising Premier 2nd XI
are more “stable” than Div 5 and 6
What are players saying
The National Player survey has been done the last 2 years
◦ 50000 players responded in 2014
◦ 400 players in the WCL responded
Here are some views on
◦ WCL to national on game day factors
◦ WCL “the perfect day”
Game day factors
The Game Day factor that cricketers are most happy with is
All
100%
Format
Percentage of People Happy With Each Game Day Factor
80%
Game Day Factors: Whether cricketers are happy with
five game day factors
60%
Core
40%
The Game Day factor that cricketers are most happy with is
100%
Format
20%
Percentage of People Happy With Each Game Day Factor
92%
86%
77%
74%
67%
Format
No of Overs
Length of Day
Start Time
End Time
0%
80%
National*
60%
40%
The Game Day factor that cricketers are most happy with is
20%
0%
100%
91%
85%
75%
72%
64%
Format
No of Overs
Length of Day
Start Time
End Time
National*
Format
Percentage of People Happy With Each Game Day Factor
Occasional
80%
60%
40%
20%
90%
81%
66%
63%
49%
Format
No of Overs
Length of Day
Start Time
End Time
0%
National*
What is a Perfect Day – All ?
Maximum Travel Time
Most people said
40%
Start Time
30 minutes
Most people said
1pm
1pm most popular but
many want to start
earlier, only a few want
to start later
50%
30%
40%
20%
30%
20%
10%
10%
0%
0%
15
30
45
60
90
More than Doesn't
minutes minutes minutes minutes minutes
90
matter
minutes
Match Duration
Most people said
9-10am 11am
1pm
2pm
3-5pm 6-7pm
Number of Overs
National*
6-7 hours
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
12pm
Most people said
50 overs
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Up to 2 2-3
3-4
hours hours hours
4-5
5-6
hours hours
6-7
7-8
More
hours hours than 8
hours
50 overs
40 overs
45 overs
Unlimited
*Top 5 answers
20 overs
50 over matches are 6.5
hours
What is a Perfect Day – Core ?
Maximum Travel Time
Most people said
40%
Start Time
30 minutes
Most people said
Similar to overall
picture
1pm
40%
30%
30%
20%
50 over matches are 6.5
hours
20%
10%
10%
0%
0%
15
30
45
60
90
More than Doesn't
minutes minutes minutes minutes minutes
90
matter
minutes
Match Duration
Most people said
9-10am 11am
1pm
2pm
3-5pm 6-7pm
Number of Overs
National*
6-7 hours
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
12pm
Most people said
50 overs
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Up to 2 2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
7-8
More
hours hours hours hours hours hours hours than 8
hours
50 overs
40 overs
45 overs
Unlimited
*Top 5 answers
20 overs
50% said 50 overs
What is a Perfect Day – Occasional ?
Maximum Travel Time
Most people said
40%
Start Time
30 minutes
Most people said
1pm
Want to start later than
Core but still not after
1pm
50%
30%
40%
20%
30%
20%
10%
10%
0%
0%
15
30
45
60
90
More than Doesn't
minutes minutes minutes minutes minutes
90
matter
minutes
Match Duration
Most people said
9-10am 11am
1pm
2pm
3-5pm 6-7pm
Number of Overs
National*
5-6 hours
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
12pm
Most people said
50 overs
50%
However, more than
50% said less than 50
overs
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Up to 2 2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-7
7-8
More
hours hours hours hours hours hours hours than 8
hours
Like 50 overs but don’t
want to play as long,
more in 5 to 6 hour
band
50 overs
40 overs
45 overs
20 overs
*Top 5 answers
30 overs
WCL change proposals
Linear structure
◦ One league “ladder”, not separate 1st XI and 2nd XI leagues
◦ Less 12 team divisions, pressure on players and grounds in April and September and teams
at 2nd XI level
◦ Why – the league structure has changed
◦
◦
◦
◦
we have many 3rd XI playing against 1st XI
Cricket will remain more competitive if 2nds XI play the weaker 1st XI and strong 3rd XI can play 2nd XI
Some clubs 2nd XI strength is close to 1st XI, others are vastly different
Some 1st XI and 2nd XIs are blocked by ground standards from going higher
Caveats
◦ No 2nd team can play in same or higher division than their 1st XI
◦ Must have 3 teams for 1st team to be in top 2 divisions
◦ Must have 2 teams to play in top 4 divisions
Who else does this
◦ Growing national trend, Derbys, Staffs, Leicester, Hampshire all recently moved this way
◦ Feedback from these generally positive at the “40 leagues meeting”
WCL change proposals
Regionalisation extended at lower end
◦ Tackles length of travel time = earlier end / home times / or time to socialise
◦ Why – Occasional players are more likely to be in lower divisions
◦ Occasional players favours short match durations
Earlier Start times
◦ All matches start at 1pm
Fewer Overs in lower divisions
◦ To match shorter game wishes from occasional and cameo players go from 50 to 45 overs
Club Standards
◦ Still require cover and screens etc at various levels but 2nd XI and Single teams can now reach much
higher levels
◦ Lowers the barriers to improving a club
◦ Softens the blow if a club gets into trouble and loses their 2nds
Concept
Divisions
Division 1
Division 2
Division 3
Division 4
Division 5
Division 6
Division 7
Dvision 8 east
Dvision 9 east
Dvision 10 east
Dvision 11 east
Dvision 12 east
Dvision 13 east
Teams
Dvision 8 west
Dvision 9 west
Dvision 10 west
Dvision 11 west
Dvision 12 west
Dvision 13 west
Overs
12
12
12
12
10
10
10
Restrictions
50 Band A Facilities - 3 teams
50 Band A Facilities - 3 teams
50 Band B Facilities - 2 teams
50 Band B Facilities - 2 teams
50 Band B Facilities - but 1 team OK
50 Band B Facilities - but 1 team OK
45 Covers and screens recommended not mandated
10 each
10 each
10 each
10 each
10 each
10 each
45 Covers and screens recommended not mandated
45 Covers and screens recommended not mandated
45 Covers and screens recommended not mandated
45 Artificial surface allowed
45 Artificial surface allowed
45 Artificial surface allowed
How
The top and bottom of the structure sort themselves out
◦ Premier thru 3 firsts ae the top 4 divisions
◦ The 3rd XI and single team divisions plus Division 4 to 6 seconds form the lower divisions
The middle needs the 2nd XI divisions of the higher leagues merging with the 1st XI in
Div 4 to 6
◦ Premier 2nds for instance with division 4 1st **
Do the following
◦ Apply any promotions and relegations
◦ Form a sub committee to agree the details of the merger by division in the “middle”
◦ As a guide the top halves of Premier 2nds and the top of Division 4 = Division 5 etc
Agree the proposal (or not at the 2014 AGM)
Approve the details at divisional meetings
Implement for 2015
Collycroft Proposal
change from 50 over cricket to 40 over cricket
10 overs maximum per bowler
1pm start on every game
straight win or lose (no winning or losing draws)
bonus points to be gained by losing team.