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Re England Cricket Team

Andy I am not an England fan but I can see no difference there than with Ireland/South Africa/New Zealand / most of the Associate Nations & of course the NCU / LCU / NWCU as you have highlighted on many occasions.

It's the way of the sporting world and would be hypocritical of any of us, (including myself as my own club will seek assistance from an overseas player), to find the moral high ground on the topic as much as I dislike it.

Locally, I would love to see an accurate record of how many players are being paid at each club, I have always said I do not blame the players for taking the money but it's the egos behind "big clubs" that is doing the damage to our game.

Not a slight at any club more of a collective slight at all of us who pay people to do what most of us do for fun/leisure/getting out of the house.

Time for the England selectors to start trawling the world for players again?!

"Mike", you seem to have alot to say about my club. Why not put your proper name to all your posts instead of "mike", then people might take you serious pal!

how come north down 3rds are in junior 5 who made this decision and why

Sad to see ncu junior league only have 8 leagues instead of 9 leagues last year.clubs are dying. Only few clubes are growing.may be only muckamore added an other team in the last few years.they added a midweek team and they field 5 teams in the leage games if i am currect.god,we have to find a way to attract more young kids to play cricket.

Ref Mike's post on 22.11
I played about half of our clubs first 11 games & four or five for our seconds, when playing for our seconds it could be against clubs thirds or fourths. Nothing untoward regarding the starring system, just an anomaly of the junior league's.

Cooke Collegians leaving Shaw's Bridge:
I'm reminded that Cooke Collegians were the 'original' tenants of Shaw's Bridge and sad that it seems the 'rugby' section of that club seems to have called a halt to funding a cricket section.

Mixed blessing for Instonians I guess. They will probably Hoover up a few more players and will be undisputed masters of that bottom pitch.
On the down side they will have to raise even more funds to cover the cricketing activities.

But I fear for the survival of Cooke Collegians in anything longer than the short term.
As indeed I fear for others in the same position of being the 'junior' partner in a multi or even dual sports club.
I think back to the short-lived NICC / Harlequins 'merger' where cricket came off second best.
There is no doubt that Ballymena is a rugby club which would happily see the demise of cricket on 'their' ground.
Other less than happy arrangements are out there where battles are fought annually about when 'grounds' become and cease to be available. How short the grass can be cut and how much of the rugby club's fertiliser drifts accidentally onto the cricket outfield.

There are battles to be fought let's hope there are champions of our game out there who have the stomach for the fight.

The response to Andy Ks recent post is totally uncalled for. Inspite of Andy explaining things Michael has still failed to grasp that he was referring to Cricket Ireland not CIYMS. What Andy said is all too true; the overall standard of cricket has declined and Cricket Ireland trawling the planet for players is simply papering over the alarming cracks.

After winning 16 from 18 last season and the fact they have continually boasted about their talented up and coming youth, I would now be interested to hear the views of the young lads who will be playing Junior One cricket next season. It is now the case that clubs see success in Premier League as more important than giving their youth a chance to play at the top level and allow them to develop even further which may be the making of them as a cricketer. I would draw attention to Derriaghy last season who may not have stayed up but their young squad will have gained valuable experience which will only benefit the club in years to come.

ARDS SEEKS PLAYER/COACH FOR 2017

Ards Cricket Club is looking to recruit a locally-based cricketer for the 2017 season to fulfil both playing and coaching roles within the club.

We would expect the player/coach to assume a leading role within the 1st XI, working together with the Club Coach to coordinate training and coaching throughout the week, including match-day build up and preparation.

The player/coach will also assist with, and contribute towards, the on-going and continued development of our young cricketers. To this end, a coaching qualification, equivalent to UKCC Level 2 or above, would be desirable.

Anyone interested in such a role should contact Ards CC’s Honorary Secretary, Rab Dunn, on 07724 117026 or rabdunn@yahoo.co.uk. Any interest should be registered by Friday 16th December 2016 and we would be grateful for a brief CV at this stage, outlining playing and coaching pedigree.

Any dates yet for the cup matches strange have the draws but no dates yet

Does anyone know when the border league and Saturday league fixtures will be made? The website is still showing last seasons border league fixtures and there has been no mention of the new 2017 Saturday league.

with recent player employment at Moylena there can be no doubt that the Muckamore family are intent in surviving the 2017 Premier League season. If you spend the money you stay up and if you don't, you don't. It's the same for all clubs. it doesn't matter if you pay 2 players or 8. once you pay more that the overseas pro then your club has fallen into the trap. no club can take any sort of moral hugh ground in the PL anymore.

It's not that long ago when the all conquering Australian side seemed invincible,
though nowadays a pale shadow of their former selves, reduced to accusing their
opponents of cheating cause one guy was seen sucking a boiled sweet ?

Dearie me, how the mighty have fallen...

Ode to Arthur

They came from the land down under, where woman whinge and men blunder
dressed in yellow, donning baggy green caps, a touring team of cocksure chaps
each six foot plus and full of muscle, they'd journeyed far to pillage and rustle

Their coach a moustachioed man named Rod, a kind of loud, abrasive sod
stood on his soapbox and appealed, his likely lads were unbeaten on the field
his bowlers fast like Thommo and Lilly, his batsmen made others look rather silly

And so it proved to be no idle boast, they vanquished all from coast to coast
with county sides they wiped the boards, and even stuffed the M.C.C. at Lords
then just a week before the first test, they boarded a boat and duly sailed west

Their first port of call a country pub, who's landlord Arthur sponsored a cricket club
himself the chairman of that team, on recognising his patrons, began to scheme
' would you fine men consider a game, against our village side? ' He did proclaim

At first they scoffed at his bold address, considering it a pointless, no contest
Preoccupied, lapping up the liquid black, like thirsty dingos from the outback
But Arthur was not the least put out, offering the winners gallons of free stout

The temptation proved much to great, as up spoke Rod, ' good on ya mate
let's get it on straight after lunch,' then downed a pint with a stiff rum punch
So at two o'clock on a pleasant day, two sides faced off and began to play

The touring skipper called the toss, bowling first in hope he'd be back on the sauce
and yes they bowled at lightening pace, but most deliveries went all over the place
sundries aplenty kept the scoreboard moving, as Rod looked on so disapproving

Soon one hundred on the board, even though both batsmen had hardly scored
They turned to spin and a guy named Shane, but this caused Rod even more pain
as though it turned it must be said, every ball was short and pitched outside leg

With two hundred runs easily accrued, the home side declared, Rod now subdued
When his opening batsman took guard, the umpire remarked, 'towards you a yard'
And on receipt of the first red cherry, he swiped and missed, no more to tarry

So began a limp procession, ten hapless batsmen all dismissed in similar fashion
No player reached double figures and with each wicket, louder grew the sniggers
And as for Rod such was the disgrace, his coiffed moustache fell from his red face

As his rambunctious side began to chunder, Rod resigned and returned down under
bypassed the poms and conceded the test series, as to why there's lots of theories
The secret known only on the Emerald Isle, where a landlord pours a pint with a smile?

( chunder...Aussie slang for vomiting)

Andy Kennedy
so i was right this was just another in a boring long line of rants against ciyms. As to my being defensive i can only say i would defend any clubs right to operate as they see fit within the NCU rules. cannot see any connection between clubs spending their money and teams not being entered for cup competions that is a more complicated problem, would be interested to hear your solution to that