COULD cricket teas – traditionally regarding as the cornerstone of the game – become a thing of the past in the Darlington and District League?
The future of the tea interval was raised at the league’s annual meeting by Jonathan Milroy, representing Lands CC.
It came in the same week that the Sussex Cricket League – the world’s biggest recreational league – voted to allow clubs to decide if they want to provide teas or not.
Mr Milroy said feedback about the playing arrangements for the shortened Covid-hit season had been positive.
“We thought the 1.30pm start time worked very well. The 30-overs-a-side rule with no teas was also a good idea.
“We thought we could debate it at a future meeting.”
League president Brian Jones responded: “It is interesting what you say about the teas. In future we could maybe look at that.”
The restrictions under which recreational cricket was played last season meant pavilions – and organised teas – were out of bounds.
It was left to individual players to bring a snack for themselves if they wished.
Sussex Cricket League chairman Gary Stanley told the BBC said changing times were behind the decision not to insist clubs provide teas.
Instead, there will still be a 30-minute break between innings while umpires will have a slight increase in their match fees to cover their own tea.
Mr Stanley said: “Decades ago there was the quaint idea of every club having a lady that prepared the teas for their teams out of love.
“There are clubs that are still fortunate enough to have that, but large numbers don’t and often it’s a case of which player will provide it this week?
“As a result you quite frankly get some poor teas. I’m sure some clubs are annoyed by providing a great tea at home and a curled sandwich and a packet of value crisps away.
“It’s possible that this may be a moot point as come April or May we may have to operate under the same rules as we did in 2020 if Covid is still around and we still have to provide our own teas,” he added.
