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This correspondent is confused. South Africa's most inquisitive and sedulous sleuth when it comes to exposing "dirty linen" or things untoward in corporate bodies is undoubtedly the magazine Noseweek.

One of the stories in their latest edition says that the financial statements of Cricket SA (the tax-paying body that deals with the professional game) and the UCB (the non-tax paying amateur body) reveal a financial loss of R100 million, give or take a million or two. But elsewhere in the figures, they found "a tidy profit" of several million.

However, Don McIntosh, the UCB's commercial and finance general manager, is quoted as saying, "We're facing a massive negative [an operational loss of R32 million over the next two years with a R40 million deficit budgeted for the coming season]* which means bankruptcy longer term."

The Sunday Times quotes the treasurer as saying, "The company is technically insolvent." But which company?

How does all this affect cricketers at the local clubs? Closer to home, the WPCA warned clubs at a general meeting some months ago not to expect the same level of gratuity they enjoyed in the past.

The gratuity, about R6 000 to R7 000, depending on previous performance, was aimed at helping clubs meet their extraordinary expenses. The cost of equipment has risen alarmingly high. For example, a new Kookaburra ball (mandatory 4-piece for 1st league cricket) costs between R400 and R500. A club might need two on one day of a two-day game.

It is said that the WPCA's financial woes, some R32 million deficit, can be laid at the door of the cash-strapped UCB. But what on earth made WPCA think of expanding the expensive 1st league structure to 44 clubs? 1st league cricket requires certain sized grounds, rain covers, turf pitches prepared and maintained by groundsmen, official umpires (88 a week now!), scorers, and hundreds of expensive balls. It requires financial stability for clubs to cope with these expenses. How will the poorer clubs survive? How can they pay for balls at some R400 plus?

Cheaper balls are very hard and proven to break bats. How much do you think Fish Hoek CC's gratuity cheque amounted to for 2005/06? Answer: R100. At least they tried. Parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. The mountains are in labour; the product, a poor mouse. * Noseweek's parentheses.

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