CHRISTCHURCH Cricket Club chairman Steve Donaldson admits he fears for the future of the Dorset Sunday League.

He was speaking after Christchurch had been forced to scratch their latest fixture due to a dearth of available players.

Christchurch, who compete in the top flight of the Dorset League, had just four names on the team-sheet for Sun-day’s aborted trip to Winton.

This came on the back of them fielding nine men against Fovant the previous week and 10 for the season’s curtain-raiser at Corfe Mullen. The Hurn Bridge outfit also run teams in Division Two and Division Four of the Dorset Saturday League when, says Donald-son, they have no problems with player availability.

“Sundays have been an absolute nightmare,” he said. “We had two teams last year but struggled to field two teams every week. We went down to one this season thinking we would be okay but, a lot of the time, people can’t commit to both Saturday and Sunday.”

Asked whether he was concerned about the future of the competition, Donaldson replied: “Yes and that is not just from our club, I think it is across the county. I think the number of teams in the Dorset Sunday League has gone down from 80 to 45 in the past five years.

“They did suggest a Twenty20 competition instead of the 40 overs but a lot of the villages didn’t want that because of the revenue from games, teas and bar takings so they went against it. Something needs to be done because I think it will just die on its feet.”

Players looking for a club can contact chairman Donaldson on 07515 027673.