Cricket teas are back on the table

Sussex Cricket League teams have voted against the proposal to remove the obligation of home clubs to provide teas in the 2021 season.

Last week. the 1st Central Sussex Cricket League passed a motion removing the obligation for clubs to provide a cricket tea.

The decision got national publicity with the BBC, The Times, Piers Morgan and former England captain Michael Vaughan all picking up on our story.

And after a backlash over how the votes were cast initially, league chairman Gary Stanley said they had no choice but to do a re-vote by email.

Yesterday, in a letter to all clubs, Stanley said: “On behalf of the Executive Committee, I can now confirm to you that, following the re-vote, the proposal to remove the obligation of the home club to provide teas in the 2021 season has been defeated.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the rules around teas are therefore UNCHANGED from current rules. This is of course subject to any restrictions that maybe imposed due to Covid, which we hope will not be the case.”

The original decision caused unrest among teams across the county - mainly because of the way the vote was run.

The poll to remove the provision of teas was carried 114 to 89. However, it appeared that those not present at the meeting were deemed to have voted FOR the motion.

Chairman Stanley said: “The league had absolutely nothing to do with proposing the change, but it was properly proposed and seconded and under the rules we were obliged to put it to the clubs.”