Meeting held over structure
Statement on the future of League Cricket in the West Midlands
A meeting was recently convened to discuss the future of League Cricket across the West Midlands and in particular the future of the structure of the ECB Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League.
This meeting was comprised of at least one formal representative/lead officer from the following bodies:
Birmingham and District Premier Cricket League
Shropshire County Cricket League
Staffordshire Club Cricket Championship
Warwickshire Cricket League
Worcestershire County League
County Cricket Boards – Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire
ECB Leagues and Clubs Executives
ECB Regional Team Executives
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the recent proposal at the AGM to restructure the league to 2 divisions (24 clubs in total) from the current 48 clubs with associated adjustment within the County Leagues that support the current League set-up.
The proposal was defeated by a narrow margin of 23-25 votes. Following further discussion it has been decided that there is sufficient appetite amongst the above stakeholders given the closeness of the voting process.
Outcomes of the recent meeting were as follows:
Moving Forward
1. How would Leagues wish to move forward from here:
3. Role of County Cricket Boards
a. CCBs are integral to the change process – up to now they have been on the fringes of the process and need to be more aligned with the Leagues
b. Identify the benchmark between Senior Club Cricket and Recreational Club Cricket
How Can We Improve the Process?
Next Steps
1. Consultation should continue during the season
2. Offer regular statements of progress via direct communication plus via the media/social media informal and formal gatherings
3. ECB’s role will only be leadership and facilitation not direction unless specifically requested
4. All five Leagues will sit tightly together over the next 12 – 18 months, senior representatives of the Leagues and CCBs to be in regular dialogue.
Vision for cricket across the West Midlands:
The role of the Birmingham League and County Leagues together is to “raise the standard of cricket, facilities and increase participation across the West Midlands”
For more information please contact:
Cricket Shropshire Director of Recreational Cricket Adrian Collins by email: adriancollinsscb@btconnect.com or call 07482 241268