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It was my understanding that Armagh were travelling on Saturday until their bus broke down and the team were left stranded !!

Was on the NCU website and see Armagh 1st XI couldnt field in the cup( or couldn't be bothered travelling to the NW) and Armagh 3rds could (which they won) so will we see Armagh 3rds removed from the cup? I'm sure a Big club like Armagh could of fielded a bunch of lads to head up the country? A lot of clubs in the past have been doing this and I actually don't have a clue why you would. Experiencing the NW cricket grounds is only a good thing.

Arthur,

When I should be enjoying a game of cricket (our game was called off last night), I find myself sitting here at home on a Saturday afternoon, reading your rather despondent, yet clinically accurate observations.

In life, I chose never to rise above my station despite many opportunities to do so, and now on reflection, I'm thankfully content and have no regrets, as I have remained free from the blinding, burdening shackles of hierarchy, officialdom and bureaucracy!

As I see it, the present day captains of industry, though often amassing great personal wealth and fortune, tend to lose the common touch, become detached from reality and aloof as to what really goes on around and beneath them.

And so in cricket as in the acumen of professional vocation, by way of a final bastion if you like? It's up to the few visionary people like you to offer a last chance saloon of advice and counsel to those in the corridors of power, by pointing out the obvious and articulating your thoughts, foresight and findings into manuscript for all to read and ingest....

For if none are to take heed and promptly act, then we are surely doomed to an artificial and unedifying eternal world of cyberspace and processed cheeseburgers?

Arthur

It is my understanding that your club contacted ours to request a 20 over match and an early start to facilitate youngsters who wished to attend the Ulster rugby match at 3pm, and because some had Duke of Edinburgh commitments. I think our captain reluctantly agreed In order to get some sort of match as no one at that level wants to see concessions.

Sadly, cricket appears to be falling down an ever lengthening list of priorities for many youngsters and one might opine that at least a few of them got some sort of game rather than none at all, which may have been the case had it been played with the full allotment of overs - which perhaps you and I would rather see.

A sign of the times I'm afraid

During the autumn of last year while convalescing from an operation, I made out a series of notes on the state of out game, as I see it. It was intended to put these onto the forum, but eventually I decided not to bother. However, I have had second thoughts, or should that be third thoughts?

The reason for this change of heart is partly due to the recent Umpires' Roadshow at Templepatrick, which, like all of the others was very poorly attended. There were no representatives from those great bastions of the game, Carrick and Muckamore. There were representatives from the three Section 1 clubs in this area, Academy, Cliftonville and Woodvale, and there were no representatives for the other Sections 2 and 3 clubs inn this area either. The only people there were the NCU President, the umpires and a few members from my own club. I may as well add that we had a very nice supper ready for 20 to 25 people.

The second reason for this change of mind concerns our 4ths home fixture with Lisburn 4ths on Saturday past. This was one of those rare occasions when we were able to provide a grass wicket on our main ground for our 4ths. There were some talented young players on both sides together with a few adults, which is the perfect mix for developing young players. But on a nice sunny and on a good grass wicket this match was reduced to just 20 overs. It is appreciated that a longer match could have been played, but the fact that 4th team fixtures can be reduced to 20 overs is the main problem.

With regard to the actual game, only about half of the players got the opportunity to bat, and for some of them it was very little. For only about 6 or 7 players was there any meaningful cricket. This game was a complete waste of time for the other players. So a nonsensical question: how can we hope to get young players to play cricket and stay in the game, if for whatever the reason, the cricket is not there for them to play in the first place?

It seems to me that there is the most appalling apathy within the game at present and we should all be concerned. The very radical changes that have been introduced in recent years have been far too radical in my opinion, and have changed the whole culture of the game, together with the mindset of the cricketers.

So the first of my notes, for what they are worth, and I have no pretensions whatsoever, will appear shortly if I am allowed back onto this forum. It is hoped that they will generate some constructive discussion.

They are presented exactly as they were written during the autumn of last year.

Ed. As they say up round here 'it's like a man pushing a wheelbarrow - it's always in front of you'! Or the bit that was left out of the Beatitudes 'blessed is he that expecteth nothing - he will never be disappointed.'

Andy I agree umpires should get free kit and more money but I'm talking about the junior leagues from junior 2 and below the amount of cheating to win is a joke blatant cheating and when you ask why the lbw was not out same repeated answer going down leg as captains have been heard saying to their players give no decisions as I said before some games will get very heated and ugly

So the debate about umpires starts again. Irish hockey took somewhat draconian steps to resolve the problem of lack of umpires. I can hear the howls of horror if such was introduced in cricket. Interesting that in NIACUS the guys have to pay for their gear. More interesting that everybody who appears to be involved in the Northern Knights at all levels from coaches to under-age teams has the kit. I know it won't attract more umpires but perhaps a bit of free kit would show perhaps the 'regard' in which umpires are held. Is this one for Cricket Ireland to take on board or perhaps the budget doesn't stretch THAT far?

jonathan played at weekend and again ill feeling at lbws as umpires don't give best bats out when it gets tight then everything is wided I can see some games getting ugly

Did Cliftonville 2nds concede their match v Cregagh yesterday because they couldn't get a team ? Its listed as "walkover" on the NCU website..........

I'm sure its difficult if not impossible go get new recruits at Mallusk so, with admiration for the Cliftonville stalwarts who have stuck it out for so long, I hope it wasn't a lack of players and was some other reason. Hope you get back to Greenisland soon because no one wants to play at Mallusk unless they're crazy.

Was at Malone RFC yesterday and wanted to pop over for a look

Watched muckamore v ci match at muckamore ground.what a win for home side. Never expected that against best side in NCU .I think muckamore will stay up this season.

Umpiring
Umpiring at any level is a daunting prospect for anyone. Having watched umpires at all levels of the game I have great respect for those who go out and seek to manage the game and apply the laws where necessary. The Premier league provided me with many good moments but the behaviour of everyone including fine leg appealing for a LBW or catch behind is sometime beyond the pale.
Players need to really catch themselves on. Our experienced umpires such as Alan Neill and Mark Hawthorne are not going to be intimidated but a someone new on the scene should not be fooled by players seeking a decision.
A scorer friend of mine once said that a good umpire was someone who went unnoticed during a game and perhaps this is true but as we strive to recruit more umpires, players need to act their age and behave like adults.
I can sympathise with those who umpire at lower leagues as sometimes the decision against you by a fellow player can create a bad atmosphere in the changing room afterwards but it is up to captains to ensure that those who go out have a reasonable knowledge of laws and how to play the game. The LBW law is such a contentious one but common sense needs to be applied.
So respect the Umpire and trust him do not forsake him and believe in the decisions that are taken. We are only human and mistakes to happen and put yourself in their position.

Sometimes against the odds it gives us a lot of pleasure in cricket.
With 25 years of mediocre test cricket the West Indies routed Pakistan for 81 to win the most unexpected victory yesterday. It won't restore former glory immediately, but it offers hope for better fortune.
Ireland are set to face England this weekend with a hope and a prayer.
The odds are stacked against them, but it has happened before?
Good luck Ireland!

RE Mark and higher scores.....
Mark I think that the driest April since 1981 (think I heard that on Radio Ulster) has really supported the groundsmen in their efforts. I know that Middle Rd (Carrick) had a good deck (and dry and hard square) first game of the season and also note the other match scores which seemed to favour the bat!

PS what a knock by Ryan Smyth from Downpatrick (I've seen him playing and he is one of a few talented younger batsmen at DCC). Hoping he kicks on and gets some good coaching / Pro support - that's another debate entirely though!!!

Re Coobs - I only ever guys a bollocking for getting out in stupid ways which you of course never did! This has been discussed over many, many years and there is no answer to stamping it out. It is not confined to cricket. One only has to attend under-age group rugby football & soccer games to see the behaviour of some so-called adults. There is a brilliant poster produced by Bath Rugby Club, a copy of which is displayed on the board at Ballyclare RFC/Templepatrick CC, which should be required reading for everyone involved in sport. As I say, it's not confined to cricket but let's call it by what it is - cheating.