Out of field, a battle brews between Yorkshire clubs

A TEA BREAK for a club cricket game in the sub-continent is typically a quick round of cutting chai. In Yorkshire, England's deeply traditional county with 800 clubs and over 125,000 recreational players, tea can't be light, nor can it be taken lightly.

- SANDEEP DWIVEDI

Around here, clubs have designated 'tea ladies', the honour bestowed on the wife, daughter or sister of a home player who plays host as sandwiches, cakes, scones, and, of course, tea is served.

But with that spread, a club can't expect to win the fiercely contested 'Cricket Yorkshire Tea of the Year' competition that's sponsored by, who else, Yorkshire Tea. In its fourth year, the contest has been announced and along with the smell of freshly cut grass from the cricket field, there's the ovens sending out the tempting whiff of cakes getting baked.