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[JTtaylor145]

We play 18 league games a season, and find it harder every year to get sides out for friendlies at either end of that. Wouldn't mind a longer league season personally, but that's partly because I wouldn't be playing all of them anyway.

I think the days of blokes committing nearly half their Saturdays a year for most of their lives are fading, and club cricket will have to wake up to it eventually. 40+ overs takes out a whole day and it's too much to do every single week for half a year. Flip side of course is that t20 as a format for amateur cricket has it's own downsides. That said, I play more LMS (100 ball t20) than traditional league cricket these days and love it - good game of cricket and you're done in two hours. Would join a Saturday t20 league in a heartbeat.

@edge I appreciate your point of view but it does sadden me also. Whilst I would love to see a bit more commitment to Saturday matches I know that the time is rapidly approaching where leagues will and have to change to 20 over cricket only on a Saturday (especially lower down in the structure). I guess I realize that my playing days are coming to an end and that cricket is changing and has to change. Shame but all things evolve I guess.

[alba caerulea]

Is that really too much to ask for players to commit too!!!

Meanwhile there is a silent force of volunteer groundsman, who roughly speaking give in excess of 40 days of their lives for no monetary payment, so that cricket can happen every year.

40? I suspect closer to 200 if your playing surface is anything half decent.

The commitment to any sport in reality comes 2nd to many things now and unless you are a paid player for a club I think its fair enough. Your time is your own and I dont feel anyone should put recreational cricket as a priority.

We all play it because we enjoy it. If you enjoy doing something else with your time more do that instead. You aren't under contract.

And then theres work to consider on top of that!

I personally have been averaging about 14/15 matches out of 22 for the last 5 seasons. I do however love still playing 50 over cricket and would never want Saturdays to change to t20