CRICKET Column: As with all good organising bodies that govern the regulations of various sports, the Leinster Cricket Union is not afraid of a bit of change. Over the years, we have witnessed some excellent initiatives that have improved the quality of the game and the competition for cricket in the province.

The abolition of the draw, the revamping of 20/20 cricket for all levels, the reduction of overs for lower leagues, the implementation of bowling and fielding restrictions and many other changes have been important in ensuring the continued success and expansion of the game in these parts.

That said, there is a lot more that could be done to improve the day's play for the couple of thousand regular players of all levels in Leinster.

Starting with senior cricket, it is important the clubs' first teams compete in conditions as similar to international one-day regulations as possible. For those players who aspire to representing their province or country it makes sense to replicate the sort of cricket they would have to get used to at the higher level. And for selectors it would be good to know, for example, how opening bowlers can cope with the first 15 overs when only two fielders are permitted outside the ring.

It is strange the three major competitions in Leinster have different regulations with the Dublin Grass Machinery League being a 45-over competition, the WM League being 50 overs and the Antalis Senior Cup being 60.

I have no major objection to retaining the 60-over knock-out cup as an unusual competition that has captured the imagination of players and supporters but it is time to standardise the other leagues to 50 overs with the usual regulations of ICC one-day cricket. And that includes the introduction of coloured clothing and white ball for all senior matches. Where is the benefit of John Mooney or David Langford-Smith bowling with the red ball at club level and then having to bowl for Ireland with the white ball that behaves very differently?

In junior cricket, it is time to get rid of the horrific experiment of applying the one-day wide rule to Senior Two and Senior Three Divisions. Many of the matches are lasting an extra 10 overs or more as each team bowls a series of so-called wides that just slip a few inches down the leg side. It is promoting poor batting by keeping the scoreboard ticking over without any real effort on the part of the batting side and it is ruining the confidence of young fast bowlers.

What happens after they bowl a few wides is captains tell them to slow down and concentrate on their line. We should be encouraging youngsters to steam in. If bowlers could consistently put the ball on a good line or just outside off stump, they would not be playing cricket down at Senior Two or Three level.

There are many other little things the LCU should implement to maintain everyone's interest. Encouraging earlier start times for matches (particularly in grounds where they don't have youth cricket on Saturday and Sunday mornings) and abolishing the archaic rule of the side batting second getting the other team's remaining overs if they are bowled out would help. The LCU is essentially made up of representatives of clubs so it is incumbent on those clubs to instruct their delegates to push for changes.

The union has a good record in this regard but it must continue to defer to those playing the game if the participant numbers are to remain high. We are living in a highly competitive era as far as sport is concerned and the danger of losing players to softball, tag rugby, golf, tennis and other games is a real one.