Having read with interest and some dismay an article about Menheniot Cricket Club having to withdraw from the Cornish premiership this season - they follow Mullion and St Buryan who have also withdrawn in recent seasons - it begs the question why?

It would appear that the advent of directives from Lords - ie, longer games, winning and losing draws, etc (I am still trying to understand how you can win a drawn game) - is for the benefit of the few to the detriment of the many. Whilst I understand these type of games are supposed to improve the standard of cricket, it surely defeats the object if fewer people want to play the game?

When the Cornish management committee, in their wisdom, decided a few years ago to accept virtually every directive from head office, it is my belief that the demise of local cricket started. We have a system now in the lower leagues that if you put out two sides a minimum of eight bowlers have to be found. Many small clubs do not have half that number who can bowl to a reasonable standard, so how can that be of benefit to batsmen when they face a sub standard attack?

Look at the number of runs being scored by some batters in the lower leagues in recent seasons. We now do not play games that have been cancelled due to the weather, making a short season even shorter, it is now possible if unlikely that a side could win their league having played and won one game and drawn the rest.

Those in favour of the new system will say there is a Sunday competition as well now, but a lot of people do not wish to commit the whole weekend to cricket. It is difficult enough to fulfil Saturday fixtures without trying to put out a side every Sunday as well.

In conclusion I would respectively suggest that the league management committee address the reason fewer and fewer young people are turning away from our glorious game and spend less time implementing every little directive from Lords. I look forward to reading the views of others on this subject.

T J Parrell, Praze, near Camborne