One of the country's most eccentric and endearing sporting events could soon be a victim of global warming.

The annual Brambles Bank cricket match takes place in the middle of the Solent on one of the few days when tides, winds and pressure combine to reveal a 200-yard-long sandbank.

Members of the Royal Southern Yacht Club at Hamble and the Island sailing Club, on the Isle of Wight, dash out in cricket whites to play a frantic 40-minute game before the bank once again sinks under the sea.

But rising sea levels mean that, each year, the teams have a smaller pitch to play on-and less time to play the game.

The sailing clubs have played the bizarre game for more than 50 years. To passengers on the Isle of Wight ferries, or ocean-going liners, it appears as if the cricketers are walking on water in the middle of the ocean.

In fact, most are on the sandbank barely one inch above sea level, although the fielders have a tougher time: they can be standing in water four to five inches deep!

Fortunately-and not a lot of people know this-cricket balls float. It does mean, however, that a fast front crawl is as important as a strong right arm.

The only other pre-requisite is an ability to reach the playing field off Calshot. Over 50 rowing boats, inflatables, yachts and other vessels gathered in glorious weather on Wednesday evening off Brambles Bank and waited for the sea, Brigadoon-like, to give up the cricket pitch.

Then it was a quick sprint to set up the stumps and scoreboard. Also erected was the "Bramble Inn" to serve refreshments to the 200-plus crowd that had also sailed out for the occasion.

This year also saw, for the first time, commercial sponsorship for the event from Fastnet Marine Insurance, of Southampton, as they handed out Pimms to the watching crowd.

The world's press was also in attendance. To the Japanese and German film crews, this mad match represented the ultimate in eccentricity.

The game of cricket seems strange enough to many people, anyway, but a game played in the middle of the sea was clearly concrete proof of the madness of Englishmen.

Journalists were also surprised to learn that the winner of the match was known before the game had even started. The Island Sailing Club would be the 2004 winners, because it was "their turn"!

After a few overs each, the sea began to reclaim the pitch and everyone made a dash back to their boats. Weather and global-warming permitting, the Brambles Bank cricket pitch will return late next summer, when it will be the Royal Southern Yacht Club's turn to win.