Devon Cricket Board - Join the great weather debate!

WERE Devon League bosses right to refuse a request from Budleigh Salterton to either extend the season or suspend promotion and relegation for a season?
Here are a selection of captains’ views – to join the debate email your thoughts to conradcopy@btinternet.com
YOU cannot suspend promotion or relegation for the season at this late stage just for one club. That wouldn't be fair on the whole host of teams in the A division working for promotion who have spent time, money and effort recruiting this season.

If you look at the league table, Budleigh have had four no-results (which is only one more than us and Plymouth), not the six they were on about.

The other two rain-affected games came down to run rate in games they were very unlikely to win.

Every team has had at least two games come down to run rate, as well as at least two rained off. It hasn't affected their 1st XI that much to date.

However, if they aren't able to play any more matches (i.e. can't find another ground), then it may become unfair and a play-off match could be an option between the relegation and promotion teams. I wouldn't agree with it, but it's an option.

As it stands, I think the league is a fair reflection of the cricket played so far. The weather affects everyone, and some seasons it will cost a team promotion/relegation when other teams play and win when they are rained off.It's never fair, but sport never is!

Gary Chappell (pictured left) – Bradninch

It may be good for us, but I am not sure it wouuld be fair to suspend relegation for the top teams. Rules are rules. Extending is a better option if this is workable, but some teams may be playing into November. Probably teams just need to accept the hand they are dealt.

Justin Dollow – Shobrooke Park

Fixtures should be thought through more with first teams with dual-purpose pitches playing away in the first week, as going from a rugby pitch to a cricket pitch in a week isn't feasible.

A change which completely out of the question, but would be a good experiment, is the toss is only conducted in the first half of the season. Toss losers get decision in second half. First half rain-offs, toss completed as normal.

Adrian Hewings – South Devon

Also to consider is which games should be re-arranged, just those completely rained off or those that started but didn't finish.

For Cornwood 3rd XI, we have had only game rained off from the start and three abandoned just after the beginning of the second innings - what is the cut off point for re-arrangements?

To Adrian Hewings (fixtures should be thought through more), as fixture secretary of the DCL, a great deal of thought, time and effort is put into the fixtures.

It is not for the DCL to decide if teams should be away if their ground has been used for rugby the week before, fixtures are already extremely complex without having to consider this.

There is a rule (11c) where clubs can advise known unavailability of their ground.

Most of the clubs suggesting suspension of relegation are those near the bottom of the table although respect has to be given to Justin Dollow.

Phil Bees – Cornwood

There are always a couple of games abandoned due to bad weather so I don't feel the need to change promotion/relegation. However it’s not great for cricket or teams down the bottom.

Richard Lake – Hatherleigh
Rain is nothing new and by the looks of things will become more common! Extending the season and/or double league weekends can’t be viable as if you have such a high number of games cancelled would have the time to replay them all, only replaying some would not be fair.

If teams don’t feel the 6 points for an abandoned fixture is fair would they be prepared to risk those six points in a ‘bowl out’ type scenario or something else for maybe a 12 point and zero point split with the opposition?

Whilst you can’t help but feel for Budleigh with their loss of facility and the cost incurred i think it’s just an unavoidable part of another English ‘summer’ ruined by the weather.

David Knowles – South Devon CC captain 2008-2010

I would like to think the season could be extended but the reality is it is very unlikely to happen with clubs such as ourselves not having the ground in September - plus overseas players tend to go home in September.

I think promotion and relegation should stay as it is, only because in my opinion the teams in the A Division are currently placed where they should be regarding the first half of the season.

However should the rain continue the league officials have a lot to think about.

Andy Kingdon - Paigtnton

Too early to talk about suspending relegation, if you look at all tables they look to be a fair reflection.

In any case, bad weather has always had an impact, we saw that last year we were cancelled against Cornwood but sandford played on the same day and won they went up by one point.

That could have been the deciding factor, but there are plenty of others throughout a season!

Jon Tipper - Exeter

I don't think the relegation should be suspended. At the end of the day we have still played a chunk of games that teams have to win or lose. It's not like we have only played three games all season.

I believe we should think about bringing in the double weekends again. A couple of times this season we've not played Saturday and played Sunday in the cups.

It is very difficult to extend the season. Teams lose players to other sports and grounds get transferred back to football and rugby.

Mark Orchard - Brixham

The weather is tough on all clubs, financially as well as on the field! You have to feel for Budleigh, but we are all having games rained out every other week!

But if there was no promotion and relegation how would you explain that to Cornwood and Exeter after all their hard work and good performance this year! Very difficult situation! The only way you could do it is a vote but I feel that would not even be fair, plus I wouldn't be the one who had to vote!

Callum Whittaker - Plymouth

With the lack of games and how tight some leagues are,it would be hard for someone to be relegated due to rain.

Shaun Daymond - Tavistock

I am not sure extending the season would work with some players’ football commitments. Maybe scrapping relegation and promotions would be an idea, but we still have 90 per cent% of the second half left and hopefully a lot of cricket to be played!

Paul Fielder - Thorverton

Not sure if the season could be extended as I see a lot of problems in scheduling games. Maybe there could be some alteration to promotion but not complete suspension.

Could be one up and down as the all teams at the top have worked to get there and it makes next season more interesting when you have a couple of different teams to play.
Kalon Veale - Dartington

No I do not think promotion and relegation should be suspended, it would make the effort of trying to get games on and probably the remainder of the season pointless.

Charlie Hughes - Lewdown

If you tried to suspend relegation, there would be uproar from the teams denied the chance of going up.

Richard Baggs – Exmouth

I remember the 2007 season, which was very wet, when we won the A Division. Had we been told then ‘sorry, you can’t go up’ we wouldn’t have been very happy. I look at it from someone like Exeter’s point of view. They have worked hard to get to the top of the table and are desperate to get back into the Premier. It would be a real kick in the teeth for them to be told there is no promotion.”

Will Murray (pictured) - Sidmouth