THE proposed alliance between two of Oxfordshire’s major cricket competitions took a step forward, with the election of Brian Standish as chairman of the Cherwell League.

Standish, who succeeds Clive Ricks, is already chairman of the Oxfordshire Cricket Association, with whom the Cherwell are in talks over restructuring league cricket within the county.

Speaking after the election, Cherwell League secretary David Beck said: “It was thought that talks over the

links would proceed more smoothly with just one man at the helm.”

Standish’s election came at the Cherwell’s annual meeting, which agreed to extend the split season of timed cricket and limited overs games from Division 1 to Divisions 2 and 3.

A move to rescind the rule in which teams forfeited matches if one of their bowlers delivered more than the maximum allowed overs, was rejected.

The meeting approved OCA champions Minster Lovell’s election to the league, and voted to retain Chearsley and Kimble, who had to seek re-election after forfeiting games last season.

It was also agreed that clubs should pay £10 for each new ball in 2017, a reduction of £5.

OFFICERS ELECTED

Chairman: B Standish. Secretary: D Beck. Treasurer: L Payne. Committee: M Dove (Witney Mills), D Warner (Kingston Bagpuize), N Megson (Banbury), J Howe (Sandford St Martin), N Hinks (Bledlow Village), I Murdoch (Bledlow Ridge), D Prior (Didcot), G Murton (Stokenchurch).