THE Bradford Junior League are in talks with the JCT600 Bradford League about revamping under-17 cricket in the area.

The oldest age group in the junior league has always been the most vulnerable, with many of the participants already playing senior cricket on Saturdays, being weighed down by exam revision or falling out of the sport completely if they haven't made it to second-team level.

Bradford Junior League chairman Paul Wiseman announced the rethink at the recent junior league prize presentation at Cleckheaton Sports Club, and expanded on it at the under-15 cup final at Buttershaw St Paul's.

He said: "We had a meeting with Bradford League officials Keith Moss, Ziarat Hussain, Alan Birkinshaw and Steve Raistrick as we feel that under-17s cricket is going downhill, with the majority of many of the teams being formed by under-15 players.

"We would like to move under-17s matches from Wednesday nights to Sunday (afternoons) and play it over 35 overs per side (rather than 20) and allow four over-age players to mentor the youngsters in what will be an Academy-like set-up.

"Hopefully this switch will also keep under-17s involved in cricket for longer.

"Under-15 matches would therefore eventually move to Wednesday nights from Sundays, and we would like clubs to make Sunday a family day by staging under-nines cricket in the morning.

"We aim to trial this under-17 idea next season with a view to bringing it in completely in 2016, and Pudsey St Lawrence's Iain Priestley is one senior player who has already welcomed the plan."

JCT600 Bradford League development officer Birkinshaw said: "One of the problems in switching from 20-overs-per-side junior cricket to 50-overs-per side senior cricket is the mental side, and hopefully this move will address this."

The Bradford League have discussed the revamp at their management board meeting at Pudsey St Lawrence, while the junior league's executive committee will also talk it through.

Wiseman added: "I intend to speak to the Bradford League clubs at their league meeting at Pudsey Congs following the league's annual meeting on Thursday, November 20.

"Ideally, we would have 16 clubs taking part in four groups of four, with the group winners going forward to semi-finals and the winners of those competing in a final.

"The new under-17 league probably wouldn't start until after the second round of the Priestley Cup."