Forum

on the fast bowler issue, i think some people look to the past thru rose tinted glasses. sure, there were some quality fast bowlers, but i don't think they were any quicker than some today.
the first time i opened the batting for derriaghy i was facing russell adams of instonians, he was sharp but i dont think he was quicker than say coulter or connell.
there have been quite a few quicks in the ncu...mccrum, eagleson, mccoubrey...but i think the majority of quicks were overseas players. some pros were actually quite scary, especially when 15yrs ago you rarely seen anyone wearing a helmet and a thigh pad was a luxury.
and with the 15 overs per bowler rule you could bowl the lions share of the overs with only 3 bowlers. if you had a resonable opening bowler and a good spinner at a club all you needed was a decent pro and you had a good bowling attack. maybe with 5,6 or sometimes 7 bowlers being used now the quality of bowling is somewhat diluted.
i think the quickest bowler i have faced is probably Iqbal from rush a couple of yrs ago in the ISC...very rapid.

p.s. kimberly...as a former captain i know it was my responsibility to let the PLAYERS know if a match was off. i dont think i ever phoned round all the spectators. so maybe, as it was a good day, the spectators just didn't know the match was off.

Kimberley :

I would have thought Robin Haire would have been told be his own son that the game was off. I reckon Robin has gone up anyway just to wind things up, as we all know that is all he is doing and what he is best at, as many of his friends in Irish cricket will confirm!

robin , surely north down could ( maybe should) have exercised all clubs entitlement that if they not happy about cancelling the day before that they inform ian houston to send umpires and travel and let umpires decide if its fit for play.As match sec i offer clubs that option if they think that they not happy with some ones word , but personally id take steven hughes word everytime although sometimes any club can be a bit quick to call off a game as the forecast and good drainage can make a fool of anyone.

Mark - dry your eyes. Why did anyone travel since the match was called off the day before?

Interesting debate on the demise of fast bowlers. There are fast wickets in the West Indies yet the demise is just the same. Also look at the Asian countries and although they play on hard wickets spinners hold court. It has to be in the coaching and development. I'd like to hear Simon's views!

I think there's truth in some of your observations Nile but looking back were there really all that many fast bowlers around? We've seen a number listed by Gareth but that's over a long period. If you look at most clubs they had very few genuine pace bowlers and that's probably still the situation. Number 5 is probably the biggest factor!

Nice gesture Kimberley but too late.
Robin and the North Down supporters that travelled have already had their eyes wiped!

The only reason i see for the lack of fast bowlers is dedication, its takes a lot of fitness ( weights etc ) to have a body strong enough to cope with the fast bowling demands, then there is the hours of bowling required to have an action you trust ( run up, staying tall at the crease, wrist position etc ). This requires a lot of time which in an amateur support is hard to find. Im not overly convinced about the pitches as im not to sure if they have changed that much from when Patto, Eagy and Scooby were steaming in and bowling much quicker than alot of bowlers today.Still alot of fine bowlers playing NCU cricket though.

Lack of fast bowlers - possible reasons

(1) Slow Pitches
(2) The tighter interpretation of the wide rule (since mid 1990s)
(3) The 3 hr 15 mins rule
(4) Lack of quality slip / gully catchers (to catch off proper quicks in first 10 overs);
(5) Laziness - it looks like a lot of very hard work, training, dedication needed.

Anyone agree?

Can someone give me directions to North Down cricket club. I've an industrial sized box of Kleenex to deliver to a Mr R. Haire....

Why did you travel since the game had been called off the day before? Wuldn't be like you to look for something to cry about.

re Ryan McCarter - interesting that you don't mention the club so I have no idea to whom you refer! I suppose that the 2nds palyers must really enjoy that!! - A couple of years ago Derriaghy & CI were being lambasted on every forum for their spending and this one slips under the radar!

Unfortunately the pitches here will always encourage medium pacers who can nip it around. Thats why we struggle to find genuine opening bowlers for international cricket

Andrew , that would be great as i just need sort out transport & think 95% sure we travel & i will email you after ,thanks .

Hi Jeff

I tried emailing you but it wouldnt send,

Roger told me you where interested in a Under 13 fixture, would you be available on Wednesday 19th August for a Under 13 fixture at Carrick, we would be mainly playing a B Team.

Let me know your thoughts, my email is ajcowden86@yahoo.co.uk

Thanks
Andrew

coups playing on that wicket

you dont seem to know your home ground too well.the wicket which was uncovered and well prepared was perfect at 11am on saturday as you would have known if you would have joined the english umpire and many north down supporters who travelled to belmont.
ive been under the impression that belmont is one of the quickest drying grounds in the area, but thanks anyway to you and hughsey for thinking of our players health and not wasteing our time by adding another re arrangement onto our fixture list
sorry for being discourteous coups ,its just that i tend to say what i,m thinking, i know its a dying trait but there you go.