It says much for our resilience that cricket still prospers despite some horrendous weather challenges, seemingly every season.
In cricket terms the dominance of North Down and Waringstown in the past decade has made pre-season predictions fairly easy. After all, there's barely a season goes by without the Big Two lifting at least one of the major trophies, and in some cases like last year winning all three. Waringstown were the 2011 Team-of-the-Year in every sense winning the Irish Senior Cup, NCU Challenge Cup and runners-up to North Down in the league, so all the smart money would seem to be on the Villagers with the Comber men their biggest challengers. But not so this season. Instonians will provide a serious threat as their well-balanced team matures and availability issues don't hamper them as much as last season.
And what of the ambitious men from the East?
CI seems to antagonize some people in local cricket because they hire players. In many instances this is pure jealousy as their strategy is not much different to other clubs down the years. However, like Chelsea and Manchester City in the Premier League, it is the strength of their buying power that seems to be the problem. However, most of the criticism is unfair and sour grapes as the Belmont club works tirelessly to foster youth cricket and build a bigger and better cricket base. Their recruitment of Kiwi Craig McMillan two years ago gave the local game a huge boost and while Jeremy Bray, Taimur Khan, Ryan Butterworth et al may not have the same aura, the visits of CI to every ground in the NCU this season promises entertaining and competitive cricket. Perhaps it has already started with their opening wins over Instonians and Civil Service North and even down the club, as Michael's Hingston's double century for their Seconds was a brilliant achievement. What a pity some people took the gloss off it with ill-placed comments regarding the strength of the opposition and CI's buying power, as neither should have been associated with his achievement. Well done Michael!
The 8-team format will ensure the Premier Division has meaningful matches all season as every match will count at both the top and the bottom of the table. Carrickfergus, Civil Service North, Lisburn and Ballymena, (despite their fine 2011 season), look likely to occupy the bottom places in a division that may have two distinct sections. But the gap may not be as wide as in previous years because of the lesser number of teams, and the fact that the top teams are all capable of beating and losing to each other. Perhaps the same could be said for the lesser lights, but after only a couple of weeks it seems they have it all to do to survive against the strength and deeper resources of the Big Guns.
Despite the resurgence at Instonians and CI it would be a brave pundit to write off either Waringstown or North Down. The Villagers go about their business in a very professional and focused way and following their pre-season challenges North Down have responded positively where it counts-on the field. Andrew Sutherland's 140 against Carrick was a welcome return for the popular Aussie after a season out with injury, and when the new pro arrives everything should settle into a familiar pattern at The Green. The top two teams needed a new challenge and both Instonians and CI will ensure that the 2012 season will not be another two-horse race. But don't write off the lesser lights as every club in the Premier Division has match-winners of the highest pedigree. Players like Nigel Jones, Andrew Cowden, Greg Thompson, David Simpson, Ryan Eagleson and David Kennedy may not have the playing strength around them, but each has the ability to win a game on their own. That's why they could be bigger threats in cup competition and another reason why this season promises to be the best for many years.
As long as the weather plays ball!
Best wishes to every team, player, umpire and scorer, and especially to our hard-working and grossly underpaid NCU officials!
Clarence Hiles
Editor
