TRUST a Jerseyman to come up with the idea to red card the Muratti.

You just can’t trust them down there.

Oddly, the man behind Thursday’s revelation that the oldest and keenest followed sporting event in the history of CI sport could be forced into a name change, goes by the name of Heaven which, of course, the diehard Caesarean has long believed to be where he lives.

But whether the Muratti name survives or not this is more legislative nonsense and yet another example of how our world is going more bonkers by the day.

I refuse to believe that the Muratti Vase football competition will die at the hands of the health environmentalists, regardless of what their surnames are, but I admit to being a tad worried as the man who is driving the plan forward is the sister isle’s very own health minister, Jim Perchard, who seems to be able to say what he likes in the Jersey States chamber and get away with it.

If he can urge a senator to ‘slit his wrists’ and retain his job, then perhaps the inter-insular football committee might be more worried than they should be.

THE thought had occurred to me that given the popularity of the ‘Best XI’ football series, that cricket might be suited to similar attention.

But I had better be quick and get writing as it’s quite obvious the summer boys haven’t got the same sticking power as the footy ones.

This week’s announcement that Sporting Club Francais – powerhouses on the CI scene for the best part of a quarter-of-a-century – is to quit the top echelon, is the latest example of a spreading trend in CI cricket.

That modern development is the urge to pack up and quit or merge as soon as the side is either no longer winning a title or has little chance of doing so.

Just think of the sides Guernsey cricket has lost since the millennium.

Pessimists, one of the island’s oldest sporting clubs, let alone in just cricket, was seen not to be competitive at the top and, from within, the rug was pulled.

Taverners, not as old as Pessimists but a regular Division One outfit nonetheless and a worthy one too, also fell by the wayside as both they and Pessimists joined forces for evening league battle as Corinthians.

But, saddest situation of all in my eyes, comes on the weekend scene where we now face the prospect of losing Optimists and Rovers for a hybrid side called Optimists/Rovers.

I keep hearing that the reason for these failures is the absence of a whole generation of players between 18 and 30. But is it simply that?

I’m not convinced.

The new hybrid nature of CI championship cricket may have the benefit of providing tougher players and a higher-class of game, but at the same time the rich heritage of club cricket, is being lost.

Rovers, to their credit, have done more than any club in recent times to develop their own junior talent which, islandwide from tonight, has the benefit of a fantastic new indoor facility at the Hougue du Pommier.

Let’s hope that Jon Ravenscroft’s philanthropy and the fine development work by the GYDC not only produces more and better young cricketers, but ends the trend of clubs merging to be successful.

Bring back the Pessimists and the Taverners of this world and long last the Salemites and Cobos.