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Graham,

You would think that the worrying thing here is the lack of knowledge of the laws not any potential disciplinary action taken against the player. So if he has been given out incorrectly not due to a perceived poor decision but due to the umpire not knowing the laws then of course he is going to fight his own corner. I think the umpires can decide if any action is required themselves without you trying to suggest they should.

Millpark Cricket Club.
Just completed very enjoyable league game. Cooke. Collegians v Millpark.
Surely the friendliest, most sporting and most hospitable club in the NCU.
My favourite fixture in the season.
Billy Dale.

Is it time to consider the scheduling of the season for the cups, especially in the case of Junior/Intermediate/Minor etc? In the Junior Cup we saw Ards and Dungannon first teams conceded games.

Academy and Ballymena 4s conceded in the 1st round of the Minor Cup, Ards 2s in the second round. There were 3 more walkovers in the opening 2 rounds of the Minor Qualifying Cup. In the Ulster Plate at the weekend 2 of the 8 games were decided by walkover.

While the leagues are the bread and butter the cups are more prestigious. The demands on players are more than ever, especially in May and June and teams, including 1st XIs who rely on our good and improving junior players are suffering due to clashes with exams and/or school cricket. Can we move the opening rounds back by 2 or 3 weeks, for example and have the finals held later in August? Many clubs are coming into June and are already left with only league games to play having had to field weakened sides or concede games.

Did you hear the one about the batsman who was saved by a 'Google'?
Great story coming out of Bangor at the weekend when a batsman was given out 'hit the ball twice' and refused to leave the pitch.
In normal circumstances this would result in a disciplinary hearing and possible ban.
However it transpires that the batsman was the only player or official on the field who knew the laws, not that that saved him!
He was indeed eventually ordered off. As he finally left the field he was passed by a member of his side who ran on waving a mobile phone and showed the umpires the error of their ways.
The batsman is recalled and goes on to win the game for his side!
All's well that ends well I hear you say, well maybe.
I wonder if the umpires will pursue the disciplinary charge?

The late John Caldwell
There will be a memorial service for John Calwell in West Church, Ballymena, at 2pm, on Wednesday (June 8) with refreshments afterwards at Eaton Park.

I had the pleasure of watching the final 10 overs of ci v inst at Belmont on Saturday evening. A superb advert for the local game. A thrilling finish was enjoyed by a large crowd. The balcony was full and what a great spot to witness a tense finish. It's a shame there had to be a losing side. Needless to say I will definitely be back at Belmont.

Perhaps it's a case of distance lending enchantment to the view Clarence! The state of NCU cricket, outside of the top 4 Premier sides, in my opinion, continues to decline. More walk overs again this season already and we,re not yet in the traditional holiday times. From what I have seen so far the standard is again lower. I know that there are clubs that are 'bucking the trend' but they are in a minority. A couple of games that I have 'done' this season have been on sub-standard pitches but the clubs don't have the finance to get proper equipment to help in preparation. Perhaps a 'pool' of equipment that could be shared would be a way forward. But in general terms, and in discussion around club houses with 'mature' alickadoos, there are guys playing at levels above their competence. On the subject of 'disgruntled parent' if that person has that perception then the forum is the place to debate it as I know this is read by more people than those who post on it.

"Disgruntled, gripes, and general ***t-stirring"
I feel the comments have been well aired and finished. Time to move on.
It would be welcome about general health or otherwise of cricket.

Re disgruntled parent I refer to my recent posting about young players being 'encouraged' to defect to other, more 'fashionable' clubs. When one reads the surnames of those selected at all age levels and the surnames of coaches/managers/selectors then one can see where the perception of 'disgruntled parent' comes from. I recall an instance where one lad was selected whose uncle was the teacher who put his name forward. Did he progress in cricket? No - but funny enough there was a boy in the same school team who made none of the 'age' squads but went on to full international honours. So 'disgruntled parent' don't be too disheartened 'their da can only get them so far'! Indeed I had a conversation with Mr. Angry at Derriaghy not so long ago!

re angry parent stop feeling sorry for yourself its the unwritten rule you have to play for the right school/ club to get recognition but thats life you should just be telling your son to carry on playing to the best of his ability there would be plenty on these forums could tell you that even if you played for the northern knights the step up to ireland A or IRELAND has a southern bias which is why a lot of players decide to go across the water and ply there trade in county cricket

Hi Mark,
People are entitled to opinions whether or not pseudonyms. I'd prefer they would be asked but perhaps a can of worms. Best to write the selector if he has a beef. Mind you, I recall an ex-Ulster Country cricketer a long time ago, who telephoned the selectors all the time to tell him how good both his sons were. To the best of my knowledge they weren't picked either.
Bias or otherwise it is as long as the hills. I can think about cricket and rugby schools dating over 50 years.

As someone with no involvement in the picking of the NCU U15 but who knows the effort that those coaching give (predominantly as volunteers), I would like to rubbish the claims of bias towards ex-players.

Tours to South Africa, Denmark, net sessions, trial matches, watching school games are all part of a service that a group of men do. They care deeply about NCU cricket and will pick a team that they feel gives the best possible chance of development of players, as well as interpro success, not for any other purpose!

To suggest otherwise is ludicrous and to do under a cloak of anonymity is cowardice! I think it is time for the Ulster Cricketer to refuse to post anonymous attacks.

Thank you to all those who volunteer to support cricket in our country: as umpires, scorers, union officers, selectors, coaches, development officers, groundsmen or otherwise - we are in a better place because of you.

Ref NCU U15'S

As someone who has not had a long affiliation with any club within the NCU I felt obliged to write and vent my anger regarding the selection of the NCU U15 team for the forthcoming tour to Denmark and the Interpros.

The players were told they would be picked on merit depending on how they performed in the two trial matches ! This is obviously not the case and the squad has in my opinion been picked in order to appease ex-players who are well known to the coaching staff or have strong connections with the coaching staff.

Disappointing to say the least !!!

Having been at Woodvale I now understand the reason behind Ronnie McAlpine's posting. Lots of postings about the decline in standards but socialising after the game was always one of the enjoyable parts of it. Perhaps BT4 is getting the Dublin D4 mentality!

The Knights v Warriors last night at Comber in the T20 proved again that when it comes to staging games North Down is a great venue. The Green was looking great and it was a pity the cricket didn't live up to it.
The Warriors won at a canter and the two full time Irish cricketers Stusrt Thomoson with bat and ball and Andy McBrine with the ball and in the field were the outstanding performers on show. McBrine leads by example in the field and his diving catch in the covers would have had the TV cameras running it over and over again .
A decent but probably disappointing crowd considering how nice a night it was and it was after 6pm before any semblance of people came in. Would starting at 5.30pm be a better idea?
These occassions are great for catching up with other cricket people you only see at events like these.
While the game was going on North Down's Friday night Kwik Cricket was happening on the top ground and from the numbers at that and the investment in improving the car park the Comber men don't look like a club feeling sorry for themselves .
From a Knights perspective it was a night to forget in all three disciplines.
Roll on the next inter pro.