Forum

Nice question & answer interview on the feature page concerning Dundrum's pro/coach Raviraj Patil. Wonder what he thinks of our 'temperate climate' ?

And it's great publicity too for local cricket!
Not just for cricketers of all ages up & down the country, but the general public as well!

I heard BBC radio ulster interview him about it on last Monday evening's drive home from work and how his exceptional feat of six x 6's in an over is comparable to golf's 'hole-in-one', or snooker's '147' !

I personally reckon it's more unique than even those two brilliant sporting achievements, remarkable batsman-ship indeed!

Makes a refreshing change, the only other thing you ever hear these days on the radio concerning local cricket, are Ronnie Ingram's update of NCU/NW results, just after the 11pm ulster news on a Saturday night!

Even then, now it's only the premier league and senior N/W results you hear, nothing after that ?

( Must be this blinkin recession..I guess)!

As a captain of a 4th XI at a club that does put out all teams on the one day, when we are free of the dreaded examinations that now take up four years at least of your secondary education, I have to agree with Neil Fullerton and Andy Kennedy. Examinations play havoc with the availability of players because of their increasing importance and the longer period that they eat into the cricket season; hence with a youthful squad of players, and if you haven't then your club is on the road to nowhere, there are problems with fielding four teams before the start of July and indeed there are holiday problems to follow in July.
My view of the 4thXI agrees very much with that of Andy Kennedy in that it is an introduction to senior cricket for the junior players. Therefore a typical team will be 3 or 4 adults mixed in with 13 years and upwards and given that I need to start again every few years because some of the young players are gradually advancing through the levels means to me that the team is serving its purpose. Winning leagues and trophies is not important at least not at the moment.
I also noticed a posting from someone bemoaning the loss of grass pitches and who couldn't wait for his career to end (why keep playing if you're so unhappy came to mind). He appeared to blame the clubs for the loss of grass pitches (and I apologise if I have misconstrued) but in my experience, certainly for council and school pitches, this is more a question of economics. Ground staff cost money and it is so much cheaper to just keep the grass on the outfield trimmed. I expect that if clubs were prepared to pay the full economic cost that councils would happily oblige but some months ago we had a campaign to make cricket affordable for Victoria CC after Craigavon Council wanted to charge a more economical cost for the rent of their ground. Many clubs are strapped for cash so I can't see this changing.

Andy,
Maybe you should stay in Buckna with that thinking. You are obviously not getting it so I will explain it again. They have 4 teams, so they should in essence be able to field 4 teams on the same day if needs be. And its only your answer not one supported by too many I wouldn't think! A 4th XI is fine and dandy but I will not in the future arrange a fixture when it suits them.

Jim - stay down the loanin'. You query why there should be 4th XIs. The answer is quite simple - if a club is serious about club development then a group of young players mature to the stage where they need to be introduced to "adult" cricket and they find this in the 4th XIs. In my time I descriibed this as the combination of "decripit old age & youthful exuberance" where a couple of senior players/drivers who can drive will bring young guys into the game. I recall a comment from the late Tom Kyle at Ballymena saying "if you don't have wee lads you'll never have big lads" - and that was long before we had "professionals". This is a totally different concept to having a "paper" 4th XI (or even a 5th XI) that we have all come across in the past. I saw a classic example on Saturday with Waringstown 2nds on Saturday with Alan Waite & Geoffrey Heyburn and a host of great young cricketers - Mitchell, Kennedy, Wilson, Dennison & Hall to name but a few - what a combination they will be in a few years. So Jim - a club with a proper focus will use a 4th XI for progression.

Played cricket 40 years but witnessed some best hitting you could ever wish see as Woodvale were all out for 76 and after Indian Raviraj Patil hit the the first ball over extra cover for six it lit the touch paper for what was a remarkable 53 runs of just 15 balls including 6 sixes 4 boundarys in what could well be world record?

Re Neil Fullerton...

Last posting - Clearly if Ballymena are unfulfilling fixtures, then you don't have enough players - not unlike many other clubs I might add - the days of clubs having four and five teams are just about a thing of the past - fast becoming anyway...
It seems almost a 'badge of honour' to enter as many teams as possible, almost as if you'd be in 'demise' if you throttled back to reallity...
Putting your bottom teams captain under ridiculous pressure to get 11 'anybodys' on a pitch does not advance the game in this country - I would infact suggest it have a serious negative effect...?

Maybe Neil it's about time Ballymena also moved into the 21st Centuary - and started to play on Sundays ?

That alone would help you massively with your inability to play matches...!

Stevo

What planet do you live on? If you have 55 senior players you certainly don't enter five teams. In fact I would suggest you don't enter four.

We register between 70-80 players every spring and still struggle to get four teams out during school term. (I refer you back to my initial post).

Although I do agree with you that times have changed since the 70s (although I'm much too young to remember). People wanted to play cricket back then!

Regarding clubs having up to 4 teams.
I don't understand why clubs have up to 4 teams. During the fixtures meetings, you hear the usual cry, "Our 2nd XI" or "Our 3rd XI" are playing that day and we can't get a 4th team out and "We can play you Sunday though!" Why have them then? Is it because the leagues are now structured in such a way that the biggest clubs aim is to have each of their sides in the top divisions? If so, I'd love to see the 3rd XI play the 4th XI, who would be awarded the points if they couldn't field 2 teams. Since the new league structured was implemented I've never played on so many artifical wickets. Its a farce now and I'm glad I'm nearing the end of my playing career!

Re: Neill Fullerton...

Neill, in a nutshell...

If you have 55 senior players then enter 5 senior teams, 44 then four - 33 then three...work it out mate!

Times have changed, it's not the 70's...

Muckamore relaid half our square 3 years ago thanks to sportni. Last night we played on a new pitch v cliftonville and the bounce and carry were noticeably improved and drew compliments from
cliftonville. Credit to groundsmen newly trained michael kennedy and veteran "moley" craig. How are other clubs getting on with their new pitches?

congrats to woodvale back home after a lot of hard work by a number of people played there on sunday wicket fine no demons always enjoy playing there good banter with players and supporters

Great to see Woodvale back on the ground! The wicket will take a few years to bed in but the square and outfield look superb. Well done to all a great achievement!

Downpatrick CC are running the UPS T10 tournament on Monday. Should be a cracking day out. It is the battle of south down, with Downpatrick, Dundrum, Saintfield and Drumaness taking part. It should be a great family day with a bouncy castle, face painting, BBQ and a burger chips and a pint in the restaurant for just £6. So if you are doing nothing else come down for a fun packed day and hopefully loads of sixes. Check it out on our website downpatrickcricketclub.com

Good to see Woodvale back at their beloved Ballygomartin after two years as Nomads !! How was the newly relaid outfield and wicket - much improved or will it take a while longer to bed in ? Congrats to all the stalwarts at Woodvale for all their hard work !!!

In a nutshell, Steve, that's exactly what we should be trying to avoid... "clubs not entering teams."

And if you're club can do without schoolboys then you're in very fortunate position.

PS: So far this season our 4th XI should have played three times. They've taken to the field once. And our Thirds should have played four league games by now. Two of them have happened.
Hardly stats that should be ignored.