I FEAR that we have seen the slow death of local cricket during the past decade.

What’s more, I believe it’s likely that this process is irreversible.

It has always been more difficult to attract young players to cricket than rugby or football because the game makes greater demands on time.

Consequently, it’s not an easy game to play if you’re on shifts and/or have the demands of a young family.

There are local clubs, such as Hunwick, which work tirelessly to keep the game alive at a local level, but they get little support from those who run the national game.

In a short-sighted stratagem, and for maximum financial return, the game’s administrators sold broadcasting rights for top class cricket to payto- view channels. At a stroke, top class cricket disappeared from public service television.

Young fans without pay-toview channels no longer see their cricketing heroes and those that can have myriad other sports as a distraction.

Of course, go for money, but not to the exclusion of all else.

Top class football should serve as a warning of the consequences of a sport selling its soul for a pot of gold.

VJ Connor, Bishop Auckland.