CRICKETERS are calling for Oxford City Council to stump up the money for better facilities in parks.

Fans of the traditional summer sport say public pitches and practice areas have deteriorated so much that young players are often forced to travel across the city to find better grounds, including those owned by Oxford University colleges.

Richard Burton, secretary of Oxford Caribbean Cricket Club, wants the council to invest in new cricket strips and nets at sites around the city, including Marsh Park, in Cowley.

He said: “The practice nets at Marsh Park are now in a very bad state. Over the past 15 years, the council has steadily reduced its provision of cricket facilities in public parks.

“The surfaces in Rose Hill, Cowley Marsh, Headington Quarry and Blackbird Leys have all been removed.

“While it’s important to develop facilities for clubs and schools, it should be equally important to provide at least some cricket facilities for the general public.

“This is equally important for teams that don’t own their own ground and have to endure unnecessary hardship and expense just to practise.

“The city council’s current position is that there’s insufficient demand to warrant the installation of practice facilities for cricket, and that cricket isn’t commonly cited as a desired development during consultation.

“I would still argue that there’s a greater demand to play cricket than there is to play tennis and basketball, yet these sports are well catered for.”

Mr Burton said four years ago the Oxfordshire Cricket Association deemed the pitch at Marsh Park to be too dangerous to play matches on.

He added: “There needs to be much more investment by the city council in cricket facilities in their parks.

“East Oxford Cricket Club is in a similar situation and has to hire Lincoln College’s pitch to practise.”

Council spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We will be undertaking a review of cricket and cricket facilities after the summer.

“This will enable the council to make any necessary decisions about what facilities we can provide for residents.”

Bob Timbs, the council’s executive member for leisure, added: “Cricket has not been at the top of our agenda, but we hope it will come back to the top of our agenda soon.

“Recently have been dealing with other issues, including the renovation of Barton Pavilion.

“But we would like Oxford to be a centre of cricketing excellence and sports development meetings on this issue will be held in the autumn, so that we can make some progress.”

Rupert Evans, the cricket development manager for Oxfordshire Cricket Board, said: “We’re pleased the review is taking place.

“The council will see where the shortfall is and act accordingly.

“The board is very happy to work with the council and be consulted when the review is conducted in September.

“We have already discussed this with them.”