They always say defending a title is harder than winning it in the first place, but Teddington skipper James Keightley is hoping a change in the Middlesex County League structure could give his defending champions a helping hand next summer.

Keightley’s men lifted the Premier Division title in September for the first time since 2002 having finished as runners-up on five occasions in between time.

League officials voted this week to make half of next season’s fixture list 50 over limited-over matches as opposed to just playing all day 120 over all day games – as happened last summer.

It will mean each team will have to field a minimum of five bowlers rather than rely on one or two stand out wicket takers.

And Keightley believes the move will level the playing field a little next term while at the same time enhance the chances of club players getting a look in at county level.

“All of a sudden you cannot have two or three people bowling all your overs – you need five bowlers,” he said.

“For a team that has a lot of bits and pieces cricketers, we are happy because it suits us.

“We’re happy and I know Twickenham are happy with it, too.

“Richmond are not happy which makes us and Twickenham even happier.

“It is good to change with the times. All these other leagues – like in Essex and Surrey – do it, why shouldn’t we do it?

“I personally think it is the way forward for Middlesex cricket and developing cricketers for the county.

“If players are playing 50 over cricket and performing in the league, who’s to say they cannot go straight into the Middlesex 50-over side?

“If the county is using the league as a feeder then they need to play both forms of the game.”

Keightley, left, got his hands on the Premier Division trophy at the Middlesex County League annual dinner last week giving him a thirst to continue as skipper of the Bushy Park club.

“I’ll do it. I got to try and defend it,” he added.

“People have said I can walk away and be happy, but I want to try and defend it.

“To win it is brilliant, but to defend it would be amazing.”