SCRAPPING the traditional cricket tea could help slow the decline of the Hampshire Cricket League (HCL).
That is the left-field view of Tony Oxley, a non-executive director of the Hampshire Cricket Board (HCB) and president of Fair Oak CC.
The provision of sandwiches and cakes by the home side has been a feature of village cricket since time immemorial, writes Daily Echo Senior Sports Reporter Simon Walter.
But Oxley argues that doing away with the popular tradition could be in the long-term interests of the HCL, which remains the world’s biggest cricket league, despite losing 28 teams in the last year.
“It sounds outlandish but cricket teas are a pain in the a**e to organise and cost too much money,” he said.
“We pay £2,000 a year for our four teams’ teas, so let’s ask players to bring their own food, instead of taking half an hour between innings.
“When I first mentioned it at our club a lot of the youngsters – and by youngsters I mean 25 to 32 year-olds – didn’t like the idea.
“They grew up with their mum and dads doing their teas, but we have to bring in outside caterers.
“Not providing teas would be radical but it would save time and money.”
That is the left-field view of Tony Oxley, a non-executive director of the Hampshire Cricket Board (HCB) and president of Fair Oak CC.
The provision of sandwiches and cakes by the home side has been a feature of village cricket since time immemorial, writes Daily Echo Senior Sports Reporter Simon Walter.
But Oxley argues that doing away with the popular tradition could be in the long-term interests of the HCL, which remains the world’s biggest cricket league, despite losing 28 teams in the last year.
“It sounds outlandish but cricket teas are a pain in the a**e to organise and cost too much money,” he said.
“We pay £2,000 a year for our four teams’ teas, so let’s ask players to bring their own food, instead of taking half an hour between innings.
“When I first mentioned it at our club a lot of the youngsters – and by youngsters I mean 25 to 32 year-olds – didn’t like the idea.
“They grew up with their mum and dads doing their teas, but we have to bring in outside caterers.
“Not providing teas would be radical but it would save time and money.”
