Amateur Footy wrote:We ran a front page story in Hills and Valley messenger and only got one phone call....less people wanting to play cricket than ever I reckon.
This is something I've talked about a lot with people over the past few years, especially with older guys at our club.
People in general these days, have less time to commit to something that is as time-intensive as cricket. Take section 1 for example, we get to the ground at 12pm, play from 1pm to 6:30pm or 7 depending on over rate, then back to the club for a drink or two, you're lucky to be home by 8. That's a lot of hours for time-poor people which many of us are.
Then there's practice (1 or 2 sessions) and so-on.
More and more people are asked (or asking) to work on Saturdays these days as well, especially retail + tradies. It wasn't common 10 years ago for people to work Saturday afternoons. It certainly is now.
Its also not a sport many of the wives/partners/girlfriends get into (unlike footy), so I have no doubt there's often a lot of pressure put on by them to maybe not play.
So, what are you left with? A lot of older guys who play because they can - you can play competitively up until your in your late 50s in the lower grades. You have your young guys who are at school/uni and of course you're always going to have the guys who just love the game.
You don't have nearly as many mid-late 20s guys there used to be. Whether its due to one of the reasons mentioned, or the fact they just want to laze at the beach - who knows.
I hope I'm wrong, but I wonder if 60 or 75 over a side cricket is a dying sport...