Roger Mitty and Clive Ricks go head-to-head to become the new chairman of the MP Sports Cherwell League tonight.

With Hanborough expected to be re-elected, 37 clubs will decide at the annual meeting at Bicester & North Oxford CC (7.30pm) who will succeed Martin Phillips.

And that means, barring abstentions, 19 is the magic number Mitty or Ricks need to win the day.

On the face of it – it’s a straightforward scenario.

But, almost inevitably, being the Cherwell League – for years a hotbed of intrigue – that’s not been the case in the build-up.

Mitty was nominated by the executive, while Ricks was put forward by Abingdon Vale with Horspath’s backing.

And Ricks fired the first shot in what has turned into a war or words by accusing league officials of incorrectly minuting an item concerning discussions to find a new chairman.

Then in an open letter to clubs, leaked to the Oxford Mail, a band of nine executive members launched an astonishing attack on Ricks.

Accusing him of acting in a “shameful way”, they claimed he had turning the election into an “unsavoury and ill-judged campaign”.

Ricks refused to be drawn by what he saw as “vindictive” comments.

Instead he preferred to concentrate on his ambitions for the league, believing it could be sponsored to the tune of £25,000 a year, while advocating a series of rule changes, including win/lose cricket in the lower divisions, and a re-examination of the rule on overseas players and the fines system.

Meanwhile, Mitty, who may not have been helped by the comments of those supporting him, has been playing a straight bat.

In a letter to clubs, he said: “I see this role as an opportunity for positive and constructive leadership in serving all member clubs and promoting nothing but the very best interests of cricket at all levels within the Cherwell League.”

The election also has a fascinating sub-plot.

Mitty and Ricks were both Cumnor stalwarts until they clashed over cricketing policy at the club a few years ago.

Ricks has since moved on to Horspath.

Which way the vote will go is anybody’s guess.

The general view seems to be that it will be tight.

But whoever triumphs, the Tudor Jones pavilion looks set to be the scene of another night of high drama.