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has anyone heard any reason why the U-17 inter-pro has been changed from 25th May to 8th June?

Billy

Thanks for clarifying that I thought it was a one off game. I agree with you that Muckamore must take the blame. The rules are there to be followed and should be followed. There is no excuse. If this was a one off mistake then I'd side with Muckamore however why has it happened twice? I know if i'd been to the trials all through the winter and someone cried off that i'd be unhappy knowing that someone just walked straight in. I know I said in an earlier post that he should be playing and I still think that however if the system is being neglected then should he play? After all he is a member of muckamore.

NCU u15,
Some confusion here!
1. The game on the 3rd of June is not a trial match!
2. It is the final part of a long process- 120 players at 4 regional centres-reduced to 40 at 2 centres- reduced to 20 at Queens.
3. This coaching took place during the winter Nov.-March.
4. All schools and clubs were requested to nominate young cricketers.

Re- Craig Drummond (Muckamore)the club did not nominate him back in November and so he was NOT included in the winter programme and was not included in my 22 players for this game.
The same thing happened with the same club re. jason van de Merwe and Supreet although they both played for NCU u15s.
I have a cry off and I am pleased to say that Craig can come along and play in the game.
BUT PLEASE SCHOOLS AND CLUBS GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND NOMINATE THE PLAYERS!!!!!!!

Clarence

Regarding Ireland players. I don't think everyone else should miss out because players are away on International duty. After all the oppostion may have 3 or 4 out in the subsequent rearrangement. Let's just play all the matches as scheduled but award points to cover the discrepancy. For example Warinstown would get 3 extra league points, Instonians 1 and Cliftonville 1 as compensation for the equivalent missing players. Any thoughts?

Gareth
The saying "the cream always comes to the top" probably still holds true with cricketers but with so much expert coaching, video analysis, fitness, body strengthening and diet programmes available the earlier the talented ones get into the system the better. From what I have heard about the coaching of Andy McCrea and Ryan Eagleson for example they can make a difference. This will even be more so with talented youngsters.
I have been advocating for a while now that at Muckamore we should have our own Academy even if it's only for the best half dozen. Then put them under the guidance of our best coach and encourage him to hire in the expertise of other coaches and advisors. Maybe if a coaching team was appointed by NICA to work at club based Academies through the season (and winter) we could expand the number of good players currently available. However I think that this has to come first and foremost from the individual clubs. Maybe it's only at Muckamore this isn't already happening and I would be keen to have others share what's happening or not happening at their club to develop the better youngsters to play Senior cricket.

I always get the feeling that a lot of talented underage cricketers (and indeed it is probably true for most sports) miss out on representative teams because of the way trials work and how they are selected. Teams are usually as good as picked before the trial takes place with names the selectors already know, leaving trialists sparring for 3 or 4 spots perhaps regardless of performance on the day/afternoon/night. Hard to know.

Andy, I'm getting to the age where I forget the after match performances as well!!
However, I do remember a few......
Glad to see you are still enjoying the fray. Has Ivan's diet worked as I was thinking of starting it?

Re Ivan - as you know the post-match festivities are just as important to me as winning. I don't have a great memory for match details - but I can recall some great nights - isn't that right Clarence?

I maybe should point out that ( a ) Craig is first a batsman who can bowl quick. We at Muckamore have produced a couple of very good batsmen who could also bowl and suddenly they became bowlers and batted down the order.Namely Andy Clement who scored 600 runs in a season for us bating in the top four and Connor Breet who was scoring regular fifties in our 2nds as a teenager.If these two guys had never bowled a ball they would have played Senior cricket as batsmen.So it's something to guard against and ( b ) The trial system.This isn't the first time we as a club have "failed " to follow the system.Jason V de Merve wasn't originally selected in the NCU under 15 squad yet he became a regular in the Irish Under 15 team and is progressing to the Under 17's.He played all last season on our 1sts and top scored against Carrick on Saturday.So is there a need for spreading the net wider to make sure good players don't slip through the net.Both these boys and another 15 year old playing on our firsts Sunson Stephenson are all pupils at Parkhall High School where the PE teacher Glenn Martin is producing some good cricketers but the school isn't yet a " recognized " cricketing school.

Staffy didn't have to wait long to get his own back on David Edwards! Have to agree with Staffy on this one as David is wearing two hats. When you sit on NCU committees you have to accept majority rule even if you don't agree and someone else from Derriaghy would have been better setting out the circumstances. But let's forget the messenger and look at the message as the club appears hard done by.

Ivan I faced Craig on Sunday and at 14 he does have a lot of pace. I think the thing that will make him a very good bowler is his bowling action. I have to say it is a great action and one that will generate more pace as he gets bigger. I came down the wicket to him a few times on Sunday but he never lost his line and length which is a good sign. Regarding trials, is the point of a trial not to find out how good someone is? Surely if Craig is bowling in section 2 and bowling well then a trial is not required?

Ivan, if this kid is as good as all these people say then he should be at the trial. Bumper reads this forum so there's no excuse for not knowing about him and while the forum shouldn't be used to tout selections it seems this kid was only off the radar because the club made a mistake. That's not his fault so come on Billy, mistakes can be rectified. This isn't the old school trials where your school name got you a pick, this is 2008.

Jeff by the sounds of it the boys had a good day out at Dundrum. It's always better when you win. Re your posting about young Craig Drummond I really think if he keeps his feet on the ground (and hopefully there's enough of us old guys about to ensure that) he can play at the highest level. I saw Andrew White at 15, James Hall at 14 and Craig at 14 isn't far behind the standards those boys set. Unfortunately for Craig we didn't as a club put him forward for the winter nets for the NCU Under 15 side. I know John McCormick (who knows a cricketer when he sees one) has spoken to Bumper Dale about Craig but it looks like he will miss out as the trial 22 was already selected. Our professional Kami thinks he's the best youngster that he's seen in his five years here and at Downpatrick for the 2nds on Saturday Paul Linehan wanted a £50 bet Craig would play for Ireland. He was impressed when he saw him bat but was really impressed when he faced him bowling with real pace. So hopefully he can get a chance now to break in to the NCU under age set up. Benny Craig who has bowled probably the most overs of anyone still playing in the NCU (and played at Downpatrick on Saturday) is another reference if any selectors want another opinion.

A brief note to comment on a terrific day yesterday at Dundrum and to thank the club for their hospitality. No doubt they also will claim credit for the weather! but a really enjoyable afternoon in scenic surroundings - and in the Dundrum Inn afterwards - they certainly entertained the visitors well.

dundrum lost on sunday too a strong muckamore side & without darren mccann richard shilliday&gavin mcnerlin it was always a tall ask, they brought a good vocal support to the meadow&fully deserved the points& have a real star for the future in 14 year old chris drummond who can go too the top . it was great too see a big crowd at dundrum