Oswestry cricket skipper Robbie Clarke believes forthcoming changes to the structure of the Birmingham Premier League can only benefit teams in Shropshire.

The league will streamline in 2019 by reducing from 94 teams overall to just 24 from 24 clubs, meaning some will return to their respective feeder leagues, such as the Shropshire Cricket League.

But Clarke, who admits he's not putting too much store by the changes with Oswestry currently part of the top 24, understands for some clubs it's difficult to take after working hard to reach the Birmingham League, but thinks the potential play-offs can be exciting.

"I don't think it's a bad idea but I say that as it doesn't really affect us, I know," he said.

"I know it's changed to the point that teams from Shropshire and Staffordshire will have to go into a play-off to get back into the Birmingham League. I know people won't like that because you play all year only to reach a play-off.

"But I think it's quite exciting and the league will benefit from better teams as well.

"I know for clubs like Whitchurch, it's going to be tough. Even if they win the league this year, they're still not going to go up so what do they have to play for? I do feel for teams like that as its a bit of a killer because the last few years they paid for players to be competitive but this year, they'll be twiddling their thumbs wondering what to do.

"I haven't thought about the actual consequences as I'm not sure how much it will impact on us. It could hurt us if we have a couple of bad seasons and we end up back in the Shropshire League. But, if we do have a couple of bad seasons then we're back in a league where we don't have to travel as far.

"For teams who are on the cusp of the Shropshire and Birmingham leagues, playing in the lower competition isn't that bad as they'll be playing against similar teams. You'll get 11 lads who can play week in, week out instead of not wanting to play in Birmingham because of the travel. Is it a bad thing they can all play in Shropshire?"