ENGLAND having a World Cup quarter-final against Sweden on Saturday at 3pm have caused cricket leagues some real headaches - and some potentially quirky solutions.

The All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League have decided that clubs can start earlier - at 9am if they want to finish before the World Cup clash starts or at 11.30am if they want to have an extended tea interval - as long as both clubs agree and the appointed panel umpires can staff the game.

However, the league have set a deadline of midnight tonight for clubs to decide so that both the Umpires' Associatuion and Cric HQ (results system) can be informed.

Meanwhile, the Aire-Wharfe League have had an emergency committee meeting and decided that matches may start earlier than the scheduled 1pm start time and that the tea interval may be extended up to 2hr 20min (allowing for extra-time and penalties!).

The tea interval shall end ten minutes after the football has finished, but if either club disaagrees with either an earlier start or an extended tea interval then matches will begin at 1pm as normal with a 25-minute tea interval. 

The Spenser Wilson Halifax League, who have already moved their executive meeting from last night to tomorrow night at Pellon Social Club due to the clash with England's last-16 game against Colombia, will decide then what to do this weekend.

League president David Normanton said: "We are thinking on similar lines to other leagues, but ultimately it will be up to the clubs and we will announce something after the meeting."

The Dales Council League were chewing over the Aire-Wharfe League e-mail about earlier start times and extended tea intervals and may well do something similar if both clubs agree.

Sara-Louise Butterfield, secretary of the Bradford Mutual Sunday School League, said: "If both clubs are in agreement and the umpires are in agreement, and as long as applications are made through the proper channels, then matches can start earlier.

“All applications, which must be made in writing to me, will be considered on an individual basis and must be made by 8pm tomorrow so that clubs can be informed by midnight.”"