Forum

Ref. NCU Stats.

Loving cricket stats as a boy I find myself still checking the NCU stats at the end of every season. Some great performances and I would commend Hall and Thompson of Waringstown in particular.
One observation however that seems to go unnoticed in recent years is the demise of the Medium Pace Allrounder in the NCU.. I am of course referring to the home bread NCU players. JT of CIYMS is a very good player whom I enjoyed analysing as a team mate is a North Wester.
I don't think the NCU will ever dominate again, especially the Knights, unless something is done on the all rounder issue..
I know what high levels of fitness it took me to be an all rounder. Some others like Derek Heasley were just very naturally gifted.. Attention to detail is required to produce such an all rounder and the NCU should see this as a serious area to focus on for future success.

A few weeks ago in conversation with the chairman of a prominent NCU club he asked me "why don't we play all games on artificial ?"
When I queried this he said "it costs us £8,000 a year in keeping the square in shape and we still can't get playing some weeks".
As the weeks have passed and I have read other exchanges I am starting to ask "why not?"

The financial argument above can't be disputed so who loses out?

We will surely produce better batsmen as they will be able to trust the bounce and that will do away with the "front foot lunge" as batsmen don't want to be done by the delivery they should play on the back foot but it is likely to hit the stumps half up.

It will also encourage batsmen to play more expansive shots so it's difficult to see batsmen voting against this.

Wicketkeepers similarly would benefit so that leaves the bowlers.

It won't really effect the swing bowlers nor the guys who can flight it and / or spin it. The pace men will like it as they will see real bounce when they bend their back.

Now that brings us to the dibbly dobly bowlers who thrive on our wickets. Bowl stump to stump and let the demons in the pitch fill the batsmen with fear.

I think if 2017 was played on mats the league tables would look pretty much the same, the guys at the top of the runs and wicket columns would be more or less the same only the numbers would be higher , the cricket would be more exciting, spectators would enjoy it more AND more games would be played to their maximum overs.

Now the purists may not consider this cricket and some redundant groundsmen may not like it but just think if the square update money was reinvested in extra and better coaching. Coaching that encouraged more aggressive batting and taught real bowling skills like swing, seam, change of pace, bowling in the right areas etc.

Most club cricketers practice on mats and then go out on a Saturday and play on two paced, low bounce pitches.

Could this encourage more new clubs as they wouldn't need the capital or the annual running costs of a square.

I remember sitting with Garfield Harrison n the House of Sport in the early 90's when he was the NCU's first Development officer and he was championing every club to have an artificial pitch to help develop young players , well why not go the whole way now and play all cricket on mats.

Other countries play their cricket on mats and they have better climates than ours.

It would be good to hear other cricket lovers thoughts.

The NCU season may be over but next Saturday Sept 17th sees what could be the biggest club game of the season in N Ireland.
Ardmore v Donemana with the winner being the winner of the NW Premier League with the added appeal of being the game that could see Decker Curry score his 100th Senior century.
This is an incredible landmark when you consider that the next best is probably in the 20's.
I was fortunate to see Decker's 99th ton a couple of weeks ago at Coleraine. Against an inter pro / international attack he made it effortless.
This game will also feature probably Ireland's best current club cricketer in Andy McBrine and probably the most competitive - his father Junior McBrine .
If the weather holds I think we can expect a bumper crowd and a unique atmosphere. As a lover of North West cricket I'm really looking forward to this game and encourage real cricket lovers to get over the Glenshane Pass next Saturday .

Flossie has shown me how this Twitter thing works so this is just to confirm for a player from the heart of Co. Armagh that I'm not 'dying to see who has been done' (his words) - I was simply wondering why there had been a departure from previous years but the Newsletter fills in some of the blanks!! I hope this doesn't encourage more comments about the 'back pitch' at Muckamore!!

Re Bumper

Agree with 10 team leagues and 3 divisions but do not see the sense in restricting youth teams. it takes a hell of a lot of commitment to field one team at youth level never mind 3 but if clubs are able to do so then they should be encouraged.

youth fixtures are few and far between and clubs producing as many U17/U15/U13/U11 as possible should be encouraged not restricted.

Perhaps a much better idea to talk to your counterpart about the possibility of a shortened game rather than bypass him and go straight to the highest level for a permanent change, who knows, might even suit the other side as well if one just simply lifts the phone ?

Personally I blame all this social media, texting and the like, is the art of conversation now to be consigned to the history books along with common sense ???

The Desperate Plight of Cornelius White

Cornelius White and Alfonsus Brown
lived in the country not the town
neighbouring farmers who rarely spoke
each hoped he'd get rich, t'other go broke

When autumn time came round again
Cornelius was anxious to harvest his grain
acres and acres of golden ripe fields
ready to give forth, bountiful yields

So when he climbed upon the seat
of his big yellow combine to cut the wheat
he turned the key but the engine was dead
and Cornelius' heart grew heavy like lead

The old farmer cursed his woeful luck
knowing that rain could run amok
damped and spoil his splendid crop
because those mighty blades could not chop

Then a thought entered his brain
though it was tethered with some refrain
I'll ask Alfonsus for a lend of his combine
then set off to his house with a bottle of wine

But on the way Cornelius began to think
would his rival kick up an odious stink
gleefully laugh at his desperate plight
and the more he thought, the more he wanted to fight

So when he arrived at his neighbour's door
Cornelius could stand the strain no more
"I don't want your dam combine," he began to shout
While Alfonsus within, wondered what it was all about?

Then off he stormed back up the road
and the crop was lost which he had sowed
thus the moral is plain for all to see
talk to your neighbour, before committing, mutiny!

Let's revive league cricket and give clubs back their ambition and desire to play at the highest level matching the ability of each club.
Two simple changes.
1. Three leagues of ten with two promoted and relegated.
2. No club should be allowed to enter more than two teams at any youth level.

These views are my know etc etc....
I have to say I am struggling to find the reasoning behind the latest decision made by the NCU. This Saturday in the cut throat league of J4 Lvale 2nds were due to play two T20 games. All captains were in agreement!! So not only did I not have to work this weekend but I got 2 games of cricket, Happy days!!! Only to find out that the 2nd game had been blocked. Now I know someone is going to reply quoting the Book, page, chapt, verse and line but come on anyone would think we didn't want to play cricket. I sure being Sept the weather will be glorious between now and the cut off date and all players on both teams won't be playing football or rugby. So to Woodvale see you tomorrow hope it's dry and a good game of cricket is played and to Saintfield sorry about the awkward trip down some evening trying to beat the rush hour traffic and fading light!

Derek Steen
We are sad to report the passing of Derek Steen, our North Down distinguished Patron and former Chairman from 1982-87. Affectionately known as "Jock," Derek played a big part in returning the glory yeas in the 80s and was the catalyst to make change. He was extremely popular and loved the camaraderie in the clubhouse. He was also an excellent 3rd XI skipper and played well on and off the field. We have many wonderful memories to reflect on a great clubman.
Rest in Peace
Clarence Hiles
President

I have noted that the 'sentences' handed down by the Disciplinary Committee have not been posted on the NCU site this season. Is there any reason for this departure from other years? Also, if a player or players get suspended for, say, 2 games but the club for which he/they play have completed their fixtures does the penalty carry forward into next season? As we are under the umbrella of Cricket Ireland and the player/players move to a different Union on the 'Island of Ireland' does the sanction disappear?

I read a lot on forums and other articles about guys quitting cricket as if it was something new . I started thinking about the Graham Cup team that I captained in 1970 - 1972 at Muckamore .
Probably had 20 to 25 players over that period and only Noel McCurry and me went on to play Saturday cricket and Noel stopped within about ten years.
So people have always been quitting cricket. Think back to your Graham Cup team of the 70's , 80's , 90's and see how many moved on to Saturday cricket.
But it's not only cricket, think to the super footballers or rugby players you went to school with who never played the game as adults .
I'm just not convinced tweaking with the game year after year makes it better nor will it stop guys quitting or even bring guys back .

Every year I am amazed that, after some decent weather in September, people advocate using the month to rearrange fixtures. Every year clubs struggle to get teams out as soon as the football, rugby and hockey seasons begin. This is then compounded when school rugby starts on Saturday mornings and throw in the fact that many grounds become unavailable it is completely unworkable. A look at fixtures played in September every year shows plenty of walkovers and farcical matches.

Regarding the debate about the state of the game I definitely believe in reducing games below the Premier League to 40 overs. It is far too simplistic to say "If people love the game they will play it". I know countless cricketers who have stopped playing in recent years and none of them stopped because they no longer loved the game. In almost every case it was because of a change in priorities and the arrival of young families and notion of working all week and then being away all day Saturday and then possibly Sunday no longer appeals. Now I'm not saying that 40 over matches would have prevented all these players from stopping but those 90 minutes less cricket that may have allowed you to get home and have dinner with your family and see the kids before bed might have made a difference for some.

Re: Alastair Burton. Think you will find it is not a lack of interest in playing cricket and more that some teams bowling attacks are not suited to playing on a mat. Indeed had the weather not intervened this week our club would have played 10 matches in 8 days...(no lack of interest there)
I don't know what team you refer to but know this situation arose with Woodvale 2nds this week and as they are in with a chance of promotion, should they win their remaining fixtures, It made perfect sense not play on an artificial surface not suited to their bowling unit.

Teams win leagues and congratulations to them but then their team dramatically changes after then teams who are fighting relegation suddenly hammer the league winners not fair on other teams who are trying to stay up as well ncu should deduct points from them.

Alongside the contributions on various forums I have been chatting to journos/ club pros/ coaches and others over the last few weeks about our beautiful game and the issues at club level.

Unfortunately as with any problem there is no one remedy but the fact that the matters are being addressed / discussed will now hopefully focus all on the cure!

Every club/ community will be different and have varied challenges so be open minded, never give up and don't rule any idea out if untried in respect of making club cricket better!