The start of the region’s biggest cricket league, the East Anglian Premier League, has been put back because of the bad weather.

The season will now begin on Saturday, April 21 and end a week later than originally planned, on Saturday, September 15.

In a statement, the EAPL – which includes Suffolk teams Sudbury, Bury and Mildenhall, among others – said the conditions were “playing havoc” with pitch and ground preparation.

“Several are still under water this morning and there are no signs of a prolonged period of drying weather,” said the league. “The management committee have taken the unusual step of consulting the clubs and they have given a clear mandate to effect a change.”

It means all games scheduled for April 14 are postponed and will be played the final day of the season. The promotion play-off semi-finals will be on Sunday September 16 with the final on September 22-23.

And, following the lead taken by the East Anglian Premier League, the Two Counties Cricket Championship Managament Sub-Committee have also taken the decision to postpone ALL the matches that had been scheduled for Saturday April 14 and re-schedule them for Saturday September 15. Any possible play-off matches would then be staged the following weekend.

There is already one Division Two match, Clacton v Copford, set for that date, but this can be re-arranged, or the two matches involving those clubs can be re-arranged to another date. Also, if any of the clubs that were due to play their matches on April 14th are now unable to play at home on the new date, can also re-arrange the fixtures for alternative dates. Matches can be re-arranged to a Sunday or Bank Holiday Monday.

If matches are moved to alternative dates, then can they please inform, Norman Atkins, Alan Rogers, and Steve Isaac of the new date.