The region’s leading club cricketers will be wearing their pyjama kit on a regular basis next summer when ‘white ball’ cricket, played in coloured clothing and pads, using black sightscreens and including power plays is set to revolutionise the ECB British Gas Southern Premier Division.
Nine rounds of top flight 50-over matches, using one white leather ball per innings, will be played at the start and end of the season, as at present.
But, whilst agreeing to bring Saturday afternoon recreational cricket into line with the professional game, clubs did not agree to start 50-over games any earlier than 1pm as at present, save the last two weeks in August.
All-day ‘time’ matches, starting at the earlier time of 11 o’clock (instead of 11.30), will continue to be played in traditional white kit with the games set down for mid-season in June and July.
Bowlers will be limited to 18 overs each in Time pennant games.
Fifty-over games in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will continue to be played in traditional white clothing.
The Southern Premier is believed to be only the second ECB accredited competition in the country, behind Yorkshire, to play limited-over cricket using coloured ‘pyjama’ kit and following the A-list cricket regulations.
A host of local sides already wear coloured kit for T20 Sunday afternoon cup matches.
James Hayward, captain of four-time Premier Division champions South Wilts, described the coloured kit switch as ‘a brilliant move for local recreational cricket.’
“It's hugely important that as amateur players and leagues we continue to develop and progress with the professional game: we have to stay in touch in order to do our part of developing the future stars of tomorrow.
“Playing white ball cricket next year is something that many of us players will find exciting and a new challenge, it will maybe even pull in a few more spectators/players as it certainly comes with a different sort of energy to the traditional red ball game with jam and cream scones at tea!
Alton skipper Scott Myers continued: “There is an undoubted opportunity for clubs to use this to entice new potential sponsors and attract new players to the league.
“It will be a great test for all the players, and will provide a real differentiation between 50 over cricket and timed cricket, to which we’ve become accustomed.
“I really think it will open up the league a lot more as well, as it will be all about which teams can adapt to this change the quickest, and use it to their advantage.
The Premier Division’s youngest captain Michael Porter is also all in favour of the switch to white ball cricket next summer.
“The feeling at Bashley (Rydal) is that 50-over cricket, in its previous guise, had become a little stale.
“But this is a new dimension, in keeping with the first class game and we’re buzzing to take part in it.”
Matt Hooper, captain of newly promoted Andover, added: “It will be great for league cricket in Hampshire and I am pleased the Premier League are doing what they can to be aligned as much as possible with the professional game.
“I also think it is something a bit different for the players, which is always good.
“It is good to know we play in a league that is forward thinking in keeping cricket relevant and this is one step to doing that.
“Andover are excited to have been promoted to the Premier Division anyway, but I think this adds another positive dimension to it.”
It is expected the 2017 season will begin on Saturday May 6 and end on September 2.
Nine rounds of top flight 50-over matches, using one white leather ball per innings, will be played at the start and end of the season, as at present.
But, whilst agreeing to bring Saturday afternoon recreational cricket into line with the professional game, clubs did not agree to start 50-over games any earlier than 1pm as at present, save the last two weeks in August.
All-day ‘time’ matches, starting at the earlier time of 11 o’clock (instead of 11.30), will continue to be played in traditional white kit with the games set down for mid-season in June and July.
Bowlers will be limited to 18 overs each in Time pennant games.
Fifty-over games in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 will continue to be played in traditional white clothing.
The Southern Premier is believed to be only the second ECB accredited competition in the country, behind Yorkshire, to play limited-over cricket using coloured ‘pyjama’ kit and following the A-list cricket regulations.
A host of local sides already wear coloured kit for T20 Sunday afternoon cup matches.
James Hayward, captain of four-time Premier Division champions South Wilts, described the coloured kit switch as ‘a brilliant move for local recreational cricket.’
“It's hugely important that as amateur players and leagues we continue to develop and progress with the professional game: we have to stay in touch in order to do our part of developing the future stars of tomorrow.
“Playing white ball cricket next year is something that many of us players will find exciting and a new challenge, it will maybe even pull in a few more spectators/players as it certainly comes with a different sort of energy to the traditional red ball game with jam and cream scones at tea!
Alton skipper Scott Myers continued: “There is an undoubted opportunity for clubs to use this to entice new potential sponsors and attract new players to the league.
“It will be a great test for all the players, and will provide a real differentiation between 50 over cricket and timed cricket, to which we’ve become accustomed.
“I really think it will open up the league a lot more as well, as it will be all about which teams can adapt to this change the quickest, and use it to their advantage.
The Premier Division’s youngest captain Michael Porter is also all in favour of the switch to white ball cricket next summer.
“The feeling at Bashley (Rydal) is that 50-over cricket, in its previous guise, had become a little stale.
“But this is a new dimension, in keeping with the first class game and we’re buzzing to take part in it.”
Matt Hooper, captain of newly promoted Andover, added: “It will be great for league cricket in Hampshire and I am pleased the Premier League are doing what they can to be aligned as much as possible with the professional game.
“I also think it is something a bit different for the players, which is always good.
“It is good to know we play in a league that is forward thinking in keeping cricket relevant and this is one step to doing that.
“Andover are excited to have been promoted to the Premier Division anyway, but I think this adds another positive dimension to it.”
It is expected the 2017 season will begin on Saturday May 6 and end on September 2.
