Promoted to Herts League Division 1 this season our 1st Xl have performed marvellously well winning 7 of the 15 matches played to date. At times in recent weeks we have also put out winning Reed 1st Xl teams that have comprised 11 x Ex Reed Colts. A great achievement, and possibly unique, at SHCL Division 1 level!!

As of this morning our 1st Xl sits in 2nd position in the Division 1 table, but some 41 points behind league leaders Hertford (relegated from HCPL East last season). In the last 2 weeks Hertford recorded wins off the last ball of the match against Flitwick, and then this week beat Old Finchleians when 9 wickets down. Those 2 hard fought and narrow wins put Hertford in a seemingly uncatchable position at the top of the Div 1 table with only 3 matches left to play.

For some weeks now our Club Focus has been on achieving wins to get to 2nd spot in the league, and grab that perceived 2nd promotion spot! Having impressively won 4 matches in a row and put ourselves in that position where 2nd spot is now ours to lose – we then find that because of the historical “idiosyncrasies” of the HCPL/SHCL promotion/relegation relationship – there is seemingly likely to be only ONE promotion place from the SHCL Div 1 to HSPL (E) in 2013! Equally, there would then also be only ONE promotion spot from SHCL Division 2 into SHCL Division 1. As we know, to our cost, Division 2 is a very difficult division to get out of, but having only ONE promotion place available to 20 Clubs who have fought a 19-match season is surely not fair in ANY circumstances?

We all know the reasons why this situation has existed, and perhaps IF the proposal for a “Standalone” Hertfordshire Premier League and supporting/linked SHCL League are finalised, that problem will “Go Away” – and in my personal view the sooner the better!

So, currently Reed are flirting with competing with the real “big boys” in Hertfordshire Cricket, but seemingly this season, even if finishing 2nd in our league, we might, as described above, ultimately be thwarted in our promotion ambitions by the frailties of Potters Bar, Welwyn Garden City and North Mymms 1st Xl’s in the HCPL – events obviously totally out of our control!

Of course, if promoted this year, under the current “Premier League” match format there is not just the matter of competing and testing ourselves against stronger opposition, there is also currently the matter of moving into a completely different format of Cricket, comprising an “All Day Game” in HCPL (E) and then, if promoted again, encountering in the actual HCPL an “All Day Game PLUS Extensive Travel”.

Now we know that this extended match format is NOT universally popular amongst those teams currently undertaking it. Many are allegedly finding a number of good, long-standing, and established club players voting with their feet and unprepared to commit to a 16 hour day for a Cricket match. Hence the current review of the situation and the proposal/discussion for a Herts Premier League and SHCL structure focussed on a shorter match format and less travel.

So that is the door we are almost knocking at! It seems that barring a complete Herts Premier League re-structure, for this season that door might have been slammed shut by external factors in HCPL.

However, if the proposal for a new Herts Premier League structure goes ahead, then the 5 Herts Teams in HCPL, plus the 10 Herts Teams in HCPL (E), might be joined with the TOP 5 TEAMS in SHCL Div 1 to make up a 10 team Herts Prem Div. 1, and a 10 team Herts Prem Div 2?

In that case a “Top 5” finish in SHCL Division 1 is the real aim? (and pretty much ALREADY achieved by Reed).

However, if the League Structure remains unchanged, as a current Reed 1st Xl Player will you be happy or sad at that prospect?

Would you have been keen on All Day Cricket starting at 11.00am with possibly 8.30 am meets for some away matches, and getting home around 9.30pm or later? Some observers question whether those that find it difficult to get up early enough to make an 11.45 meet would relish an 08.30 meet!

When it also takes you all morning (or longer!) to get over your “Friday Night Out experiences” do your really want to be starting to compete in a high level Cricket Match on the field at 11.00am?

When the wife and kids, or girlfriend, who barely see you during the working week will now hardly see you on a Saturday either – is “she who must be obeyed” going to be happy, or tolerate missing you all day on a Saturday as well? As for Sunday Cricket – forget it!!

Do all the team members really want to play the longer game?

Some with tight family finances, or notoriously deep pockets, might also find the increase in match costs associated with the new match format comprising higher umpiring costs, and the need to finance a match “Lunch” as well as a “Tea”, not to their liking!

For any team of 11, and a required squad of 16/18, the answers to the above questions might produce some unpalatable answers in terms of availability!

It only takes 2/3 key team members to say “that format is not for me” and a fine Division 1 team is reduced in effectiveness to that of a Division 2/3 team!!

Such a situation could represent a real “Tipping Point” for any team and any Club.

Circumstances in 2013 seem to have conspired to avoid Reed Cricket Club from having to face that “Tipping Point” decision.

Perhaps that is no bad thing?

(This Weekly column is written by John Heslam Club Chairman of Reed Cricket Club. The views expressed in the article are his own and do not necessarily comprise those of the Clubs General Committee)