The rise of a new breed of talented young players in Sussex Premier League cricket is having a negative knock-on effect.

This as clubs of great tradition are finding it increasingly difficult to fill the large number of administrative posts.

In the past players were happy to work tirelessly for their clubs provided they were able to enjoy playing cricket at a high level. However, there are many who are now making way for emerging talent and, as they step aside, start to wonder if they should continue to do a considerable amount of work without the reward of playing in their club's best cricket.

Club cricket in Sussex has not yet entered the widespread level of payments to players that now forms part of the senior league in Surrey where the game has been declared open. There some players can earn enough money to live on and Sussex spinner Mark Davis was officially a professional at Sutton for the last three years.

Sussex professionals now play in the county's Premier League but the Sussex club pays a contribution to cover their match levies and subscriptions.

It is the other jobs at clubs such as secretary, team secretary, treasurer, bar manager and so on that are hard to fill.

Most top clubs still find the key jobs are filled by senior members and when they step down it is difficult to find younger people, arguably still playing, to fill the roles.

At Premier clubs there are a number of captains who believe their job is simply to lead a side on the field. This has come about with the emergence of some very young skippers.

In the past the club captain used to be a highly respected senior figure within his club who probably knew everyone from first team to fourth team.

Last weekend one captain stayed at home to watch the first half of the British Lions on TV before travelling to his home ground to arrive only 20 minutes before the start.

The question of collecting match levies, attending selection meetings, greeting the umpires, entertaining the opposition with a round of drinks are now, sadly, long forgotten pleasantries.

In some clubs selection committees no longer exist... a captain simply decides upon his team and rings them up causing problems down the line.

Long-serving Dick Roberts has been involved at Brighton and Hove for many years.

This week he said: "It is no longer club cricket as I know it we are running, we are simply trying to run a nursery for the county club. I honestly don't think the county realises how much work has to go into running a cricket club...we get taken for granted."

Young players need to understand how much voluntary work goes into making cricket available to them.

If clubs are to survive, somewhere we have to get a new enthusiasm from those not playing to play a part in the game - if not there will be no cricket for the players to play.

- Tony Millard