Thank you for all your contributions so far.
The Board discusses your contributions at each board meeting.
We have listed below some of the ideas and suggestions raised, we will over the coming weeks add all of them. Please take time to read these and add your thoughts because we are still accepting suggestions and ideas on all elements of the operation of the league and you can add to the discussion here.
Response: This is very much the aspiration and we certainly hope to have sufficient volunteers in place to cover the junior competition in 2018. We recognise that the volunteers will probably have to come from the pool of club workers and we wouldn't want to impact on our clubs by taking their volunteer time.
Action: If anyone wishes to be a junior divisional or junior age group administrator we would love to hear from you at juniors@gtrmcrcricket.co.uk. For the senior competitions we would welcome volunteers on GtrMcrCricket@mail.com
We have had a number of suggestions here, thank you
Response: This is something we have considered; the issues are that some of the bigger clubs have the bar take for a home game to cover the costs and the umpires costs and visitors may resent paying half when they can see the home side bringing good money in on the day. But we also know that the smaller clubs use the opportunity of an away game to boost their coffers by taking match fees from players with no expenses.
Action: We need more thoughts on this across wide breadth of the clubs in our competition please take time to add your club's thoughts on this using the link above.
Response: Across the breadth of our competition this is difficult to make mandatory because some clubs don't have the funds, resources, people nor the sponsorship opportunities to make it workable or cost effective and for some it may mean paying for the clothing for just one game a season. If we don't make it mandatory there will be games of coloured clothing v traditional whites which wouldn't look good. We do like both ideas in principle.
Action: We would welcome any solution proposed which could resolve this dilemma across the breadth of the league, maybe it can only be applied to the top 1st XI cup competition for the top 32 ? but would others lower down also like to do it? Is there a cheap option for shirt and coloured pants combo for a large number of clubs bought in bulk, maybe a GMCL branded range? All thoughts / offers on this are welcome.
Response: Leg side wide rules were introduced to improve bowling standards because at the top level of all club cricket competitions in our own league, premier leagues, county competitions and national competitions these rules are applied. GMCL operates the rule at our Division 3 level at the top of the championship and we do not believe it is unreasonable to ask for the same in our cup competition at 2nd team level.
Action: Without a compelling reason we will not amend this to halt our aim for improved standards however we may be open to changes to pitch markings to make the decision making process clearer for the umpires. Another suggestion has been made in this area and we recommend that this "line" is followed to bring change for leg side wide rules.
Response: The only change to our current rule proposed here is where the game starts but is rained off where the first innings is not completed, that is usually the circumstance where the game starts on time but rain comes later and stops the game. In all other circumstances the start is usually delayed and a decision can more easily be made on starting or postponing until the reserve date. Our dilemma is that we have a huge Sunday League competition to organise and due to the number of cup days , league games, LCB games and National KO games, it is difficult for some clubs to complete calendars if their senior teams qualify for later rounds of any cups. We therefore have to do everything we can to have games completed on the day to avoid impacting Sunday teams.
Action: We do not propose to change this rule at this time.
More to be added soon ........