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Andy Kennedy.
We now have 106 teams playing in 13 leagues a drop of 13% since 2000.
We have tinkered with number of overs, 20 over rearrangements , the death of two night matches so that more people would play !!!!!
We have more development officers, more summer camps , more publicity but less cricket being played . The Wesley Ferris cricket has disappeared , the East Antrim Cricket League is long gone.
It can't be down to the number of overs, the starrings etc etc surely otherwise we would have expected numbers to be rising not dropping.
I was involved in the NCU roadshow on league restructuring a few years ago and finishing times kept raising there heads but the stumbling block has always been schools cricket.
I have seen some schools cricket first hand in the last two seasons having been a volunteer umpire on three occasions . I just don't see what it provides what the clubs can't or aren't providing. On 12th July Parkhall College Old Boys played Antrim Grammar Old Boys and of the 22 players 17 of them have played senior cricket , 3 of them have played at under 19 World Cups ( Brian Dunlop, Neil Gill and Jason v de Merwe ) at least one ( Peter Bates) has played for Irish Schools , four of them have been PL league captains ( Dunlop , Gill,Richard Keates and Campbell Weir who skippered the RUC team) and neither school played Saturday cricket during these players development . They played midweek and between the school and the club they got coaching but got playing adult cricket at an early age. ( at least 14 of them got shouted at by me on their way up ( and a few shouted back ) and the other 8 probably got it from Harry McFadden and John McCormick ).
People want finished by 6 o'clock it doesn't mean they want to play a 20 over slog to achieve it.
Clarence's call for flexibility is honourable but for flexibility read " suspicion". " the if you want to start early or reduce overs " translates " must have guys who need to get a way early so NO.
Personally I think the overs per league are about right . I just think a definitive time for the end of play would help players and spectators .

Was helping Flossie to red out cupboards and I found a the Irish Cricket Annual for 2001. In the 2000 season 122 sides played in 13 Sections in the NCU - just sayig like!!

GREAT ARTICLE BY CLARENCE HILES
Far to MUCH COMMEN SENSE for the great article to get people to agree , take my situation wanted to arrange couple two nighters AWAY but wasnt allowed play 40 over instead 50 to make sure we get result win or lose in case of bad light and travelling thru rush hour traffic but cant because no flexibility in present format which is shambolic as this nonsense of playing 200 overs cricket sat/sun is ruining lives and driving people away from game we all love . NCU AGM In my opinion is shambles with Waringstown Cricket Club voting on what section three plays and vice versa (only using them as they biggest club in ncu ) and lots of time clubds with 3 or 4 reps actually vote againest each other AND thats not dig at NCUwho do a superb job but the whole agm process is outdated lets take the treasurers accounts (superbly done and explained ) but 95% dont even care or listen they should be published in advance and only clubs that have issue should contact the ncu and discuss . I would love see each club vote on whats best for each section there standard requires not the way it presently is as no way Donaghadee /Waringstown Cricket Club or Dundrum should hinder whatever there club requires ? the above views are my own and not in anyway a dig at any club just my own views.

Have two FREE tickets for world cup sat @mallahide anyone want ring me 02843751442/07730334479.
he Dundrum Cricket Club summer draw is not only to help run tours to Ayr and Dublin but to help run the club as it takes over 5000£ just keep going yearly so can all parents juniors and members try sell tickets as its your club and your children we are trying to benefit .
. If anyone would like buy raffle ticket in aid of the club and u-11/13 Dublin /17 Ayr tours be much appreciated .2£ ticket
prizes or 10£ for book SIX

prizes as follows

1st Slieve donard stay for two
2nd Bucks Head voucher
3rd Mourne Seafood voucher
4th Dundrum Inn voucher

Add in the fact that we are going back into six local primary schools next year and Shimna integrated college and St Malachys Castlewellan as we take the game of cricket to both sides of the community .
many thanks if anyone is interested.

Derek Scott
It was sad to learn of the passing of Derek Scott the former Irish Cricket Union Secretary and ICU President in 2001. Derek was a staunch stalwart of Irish cricket throughout his life and a pillar of the union, which he served with unparalleled distinction. He was a meticulous Secretary and arguably Irish cricket\'s greatest historian, especially relating to Leinster and Munster cricket. He was a great source of information and a willing contributor to any cricket research. He held the ICU library until his ill health forced it to be relocated. His death follows a long period of illness and we extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Ann and the family circle.
Rest in Peace.
Clarence Hiles
Editor

reducing overs any further in games would be detrimental for ncu cricket if todays youngsters had a chance to play live online cricket with their gaming consoles you would see a tenfold increase in participation overnight t20 cricket is so over rated and it doesnt really do much for players techniques and shot selection from what i see going down the route of shortening games is a one way street with no turning back how long will it be before someone proposes t10 cricket i do understand people have family commitments and dont want to be away all day and arriving home late so how about starting more games earlier there seems to be more competitions than the calendar and weather will allow is it not better to have more quality cricket than quantityl

Ideally and in a perfect world Junior One would remain as 50 overs. With six of the eight clubs being in both the Premier League and J1 it makes sense in many ways that J1 is 50 overs to match and prepare people for the step up to the Premier League (and that is a very, very big step).

It also makes sense that J2 and J3 are 40 overs, J4 is 35 overs etc, so as you work up the leagues you play more. (Senior Section 3 is, however only 40 overs I believe.)

Unfortunately we don't live in a perfect world. In particular we have issues in May & June of exams - increasingly you have 15-18 year olds unwilling to play any cricket never mind a 50 over game. In late August/early September we have the influence of other sports ever infringing on our season. Throw in family commitments for older guys as well and your player pool diminishes.

So I wonder what the options are. As Paul from Bangor mentioned we came up with an idea of allowing clubs in J1 to reduce to 40 overs with the prior approval (during the week before the game) of both captains. This would mean that the status quo would remain 50 overs. I know that probably half the clubs in the league would stick with 50. I'm fine with that.

What the potential for reduction helps with is fielding a competitive team. In the last few years I have played in and against teams with 2 or 3 adult players and then 8 or 9 players of 15 or under. What are those younger players really learning from that?

Outside of that, what other options are there? Should we open up the bottom 2 senior sections and allow those who want to play 40 overs there to find their level and allow the more ambitious 2nds to move up to a level where they're playing 50 overs?

Hi Paul

I agree. Reducing the duration of matches in junior one could actually improve the standard.

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Re Junior One Overs

Instonians had put a proposal to the AGM last year along the lines of if both captains agreed then a match could be reduced to 40 overs and this was broadly supported by clubs in the league, but Inst withdrew this on the night.

If the same proposal or one just to reduce overs in Junior One to 40 overs was put forward at this years AGM then it would probably be largely supported. There is no getting away from the facts, but largely 50 over cricket is not wanted by older players with families, and indeed by kids who are more interested in getting home earlier. If 45/50 overs continues in Junior Leagues then you will see a lot of people leaving the sport or the lower Junior leagues getting stronger as better players seek to play down club due to the attraction of fewer overs.

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more than likely junior 1 is premier league reserve team players and it gives them plenty of match practice to get into the firsts and they are dedicated to playing cricket i think it should all be 50 over cricket youngsters either want to play or dont its not all about t20 just my opinion

Why is junior 1 not 40 overs max ? Seems crazy in this day and age that a match at junior level is still 50 overs in duration

re Mick
That was my mistake earlier this evening (Sat 18th July). I've fixed it now.

Is junior one not done on run rate in league games if it rains so how was lisburn v wtown decided on dls