Is it time to call time on tea time?

As the rain hammered down on Saturday afternoon, frustrated cricketers around the country spent the day looking for things to do to keep them from boredom. With such a young side at Kimberley, it is normally the case that the changing room becomes a ‘play area’ with different versions of one-hand-one-bounce, slip catching, and football keeping the young pups occupied!

For myself and Sam on Saturday, we were able to enjoy the build up to the FA Cup Final, where his fiancée Victoria was singing Abide With Me and the National Anthem as part of her brilliant classical group Amore (they are definitely worth a listen!).

Losing time in a cricket match though is always a frustrating experience, as the reason everybody gives up their time on a Saturday, as well as their match fee, is to come and play. While I love a good game of changing room cricket, it is not the same as being out in the middle. One way that we often try to ‘save’ a bit of time in the game on a rain day, is to take tea early. It is this that has got me thinking this week.

What on earth are we doing have tea in the middle of a sporting match? On the face of it, it is just ludicrous that we stop the game then sit down to have a meal at an arbitrary point in the fixture. Could you imagine a 30 minute half time in the Six Nations or Premier League where both teams sat down to eat a nice spread of sandwiches, crisps, pizza and cakes before heading out for the second half? Or Sir Chris Hoy chomping on a some sausage rolls and chips with his cycling opponents in between sprint heats at the Olympics? It would hardly fit into the ‘marginal gains’ approach of Sir Dave Brailsford. Yet at over 6,000 cricket grounds around the country each week, we put down our bats, balls and gloves and break off for a nice spot of tea.

A typical cricket tea involves sandwiches and cakes

Some would say that this is an institution that is vital to keeping the traditions of our sport going. But that is just poppycock. Sport, and cricket in particular, are constantly evolving to meet the needs of its participants, and also their desires to maximise their performance. Quite frankly, an arbitrary tea break, does not meet those requirements in the vast number of situations. I would like to add at this point that this article is by no means a slight on the quality of the teas at Kimberley (which are exceptional, especially Karen’s chocolate cake) or on any of the teams in the Nottinghamshire Premier League. My argument is however a simple one, move the meal until after the game.

If the main tea was taken after the game, players would not only be able to eat without the worry of participating immediately after, but they could do so in a much more social environment, where they could have a (soft) drink and reflect on the game with the opposition. It would put an end to the real shame of teams, rushing off at the end of fixtures and encourage them to socialise with opponents, something that has sadly been lost from our sporting landscape.

So what would players and umpires do for food during the day I hear you scream!? Well I imagine the players they would do what they do one the other six days of the week, and eat when they want to making their own arrangements. For instance, an opening bowler might choose to eat a sandwich or spot of pasta they brought with them during the first innings if his team are batting first, while the opening batsman can eat when he is out. For umpires, a small spread could be provided to keep their energy levels up, and all players would be able to get some biscuits and cups or tea mid innings.

I know cricket is a game steeped in tradition, but in my opinion this is one tradition that needs to be evolved.