If clubs can focus on making their cricket clubs at the heart of their respective communities, then the Eden Valley Cricket League can, not only survive, it will thrive.

That was the message to go out to the league’s AGM from acting chairman Keith Richardson who said that, at a time when grassroots cricket was facing many challenges, regionalised leagues and clubs had the qualities, the opportunity and the ability to ensure a positive future.

Flexibility and being prepared to change with the times was of vital importance.

"As a sport, we live in challenging times," he said.

"For the most part, the talk around grounds all summer-long these days is of players not committing to playing the game as often as they used to, of captains being driven to distraction by back words, unavailability and a lack of commitment and loyalty; of teams struggling to field 11 players week in week out, of stag dos, weddings, race meetings, parties, quite literally anything taking preference over a game of cricket on a Saturday afternoon and evening.

"It never used to be like this but it’s no good bemoaning what went before.

"And being critical of what is happening now serves absolutely no purpose at all."

"Society is changing and it is increasingly difficult for amateur sports clubs to survive, let alone thrive, in the face of competing interests and significant changes to the way in which people manage and choose to spend their leisure time," he added.

"In addition, individual sports are undoubtedly having an impact on team games."

In identifying the many plus points associated with club cricket in the Eden Valley, Richardson went on to outline his view of how clubs could cope with what he described as the “perceived threat to our game - a game so many of us are passionate about and a league, the Eden Valley Cricket League [EVCL] which is right up there with the best in the UK, if not at the top of the tree.”

The answer, he believed, did not come in a single sentence or statement. It involved a number of different aspects:

"We must endeavour,” he added, "to make our clubs at the heart of our communities, so that they are not simply a venue for a game of cricket but become a hub of activity for the community with cricket at the centre of the operation.

"We must be prepared to widen the scope of our clubs, to try and get a women’s team or squad playing and practicing on a regular basis out of our clubs.

"It gives a club fresh energy and this, combined with ECB [England and Wales Cricket Board] initiatives such as the "All Stars" project, can make your club really buzz.

"We must make our clubs a centre, not only for the community, but a place where families want to meet, to take part or be supportive.

"But the main point is this. We must be prepared to change and adapt, both on the field and off it. The key word here is flexibility.

"We must not be afraid of change and the Eden Valley Cricket League has shown that it is open to change and new ideas.

"It is up to us to make our league and our clubs the most attractive proposition, to widen our appeal and make our clubs a place where families and players want to be.

"If we do all or just some of those things, then I believe the sport of cricket under the auspices of a positive-thinking Eden Valley Cricket League, will not only survive. It can thrive."

In a new initiative, the league clubs endorsed a management committee proposal to introduce a new format for a T20 competition to be played on a Saturday during the season.

In the Senior Cup, 16 clubs will be drawn into four groups of four to play at four grounds and the group winners will then go forward to a finals day on a date to be determined.

Host clubs will be encouraged to make the group stage "finals" a real community occasion.

Clubs also agreed to introduce fielding circle restrictions for the cup competition.