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With all this talk about interpros would this be the strongest team in all forms (excluding pros, retired internationals and assuming everyone would make themselves available)

1. James Hall
2. Chris Dougherty (WK)
3. Ryan Haire
4. James Shannon
5. Lee Nelson
6. Max Sorensen
7. Jonny Thompson
8. Graeme McCarter
9. Gary Kidd
10. Jacob Mulder
11. Phil Eaglestone

Cheers Clarence. Always great to debate cricket with you. Nowadays it takes a lot less pints to make me loud and irrational . Lol

Ivan,
Agreed on NCU geographical boundaries. In practical terms anything 'artificial' could neither be defended in law or policed in practice. (Although they said that about the border when it was established in 1921). LOL. You have identified one method, namely where the player plays, and that's the current ruling. This is an interprovincial and not an international, so it works in practical terms, but not to the satisfaction of everyone. The North-West are unhappy because their best players are being pillaged by a rival, some of these players are unhappy because they can't play for their province and many NCU clubs are unhappy because their emerging young players won't get opportunities at the higher level. I can't speak for hard-working NCU youth coaches but I would guess they share this view. Some of the best NCU players are not enthused by the Interpros. If so many people are unhappy with the current set-up how can it be right?
We need to get back to managing and promoting cricket from the bottom up and not from the top down. At club level we need to develop a stronger base to secure a better future and there are signs within the NCU that union and visionary clubs have embraced this philosophy. However, I'm not sure CI has bought into it. The current Interpro tournament doesn't work other than providing a showpiece requirement for attaining test status. It has to be there, but currently it has too many flaws and in my opinion, doesn't serve club or interprovincial interests. This is a big topic, but compare Leinster to NCU and North-West and ask yourself is it a level playing field?
PS
My pint these days is water so the debate won't deteriorate the way it did in the old days! LOL

Clarence
Probably be more fun discussing this over a pint but surely the ultimate objective of the interpros is to identify players who are potential internationals regardless of age.
Will we only find out how good the likes of Gary McClintock is by having him face Max Sorenson and Graeme McCarter rather than lesser bowlers .
I don't accept that if they are good enough they will get selected is a throwaway line. As you move up the standards very few teams want to "carry a player " just because he's young .
Talk about picking players from other unions . Surely a player is only registered with one Union as a player and while he's with a club in that union then - that's his union. To penalise player movement by not selecting them for the inter pro's could surely be construed as an obstacle preventing a player from earning a living. I'm sure that's why the NCU have what seems a strange rule where a NW player is considered " in the NCU area ". I'm sure that's to stop any restraint of trade challenges under N I law.

Ivan,
I don't think it is about ticking boxes, it is about identifying the objectives and then setting a strategy in place to achieve them. We don't know the NCU strategy, but it seems somewhere in between trying to field a competitive team and bringing through emerging talent. If this is the case they are falling between two stools and getting criticized from both sectors. Better to have one objective and stick to it. And I don't buy that throwaway comment "if they are good enough they'll come through." It has no substance. Emerging young players need opportunities and nurturing to establish them at higher levels, not just in cricket but throughout team sports. The best results come from this approach. This doesn't close the door on older players either, because you can't ignore the form book. If the NCU pick the players from other unions then they are not only depriving our emerging players, but draining the other unions of their best players. This doesn't help the Interpro' tournament.

if you where to judge the northern knights games on spectator numbers its not really a runaway success i think you would find the money paid to the players is a divisise issue and is already ruining the premier league as a fair competition players who want to play for ireland usually get picked after county championship experience and that is not going to change in the near future so why not use these games as a showcase of young emerging cricketers who i suspect would gladly play for free but since they already get paid at their clubs a dangerous precedent has been set one which i think their is no going back

Clarence I'm not sure how picking your best team excludes the good young players. If they are good enough they will get picked. If CI have only a ticks a box interest as I think you are suggesting then we will get ticks a box selection, ticks a box interest from spectators.

Ivan,
Looking from the outside we don't really know what selection policy the NCU selectors have in place, but we do know they have an inherent loyalty to the development of NCU cricket. The issue might be-'do we throw all our assets into winning the Interpro' competitions or do we continue with developing our young players and bringing them through?' Other considerations are 'can we accommodate Ireland-qualified players and if players from other unions playing in the NCU don't want to play then they should be allowed to play in the union of their choice. It is not simply a case of playing the strongest team as the NCU selectors are in an impossible situation as they won't please everyone. For example, you appear to want to do this, but I disagree because it demotivates and removes opportunities for young players that we have invested heavily in over the past decade. Also the NCU 'boundary' makes plundering North-West players easy and is absurd and unfair to our cricket neighbours. I suspect CI sees this as a provincial matter and not that high up in their priorities as long as the competition takes place.

Come on guys the photo competition can't be that difficult for all you cricket buffs. Let's have a few more entries and don't be afraid if you don't have all the answers as it will a great achievement if someone has the complete set.

Re Poem : Farmer Fred

The 3rd line of the 8th stanza should read ' Awdry's portly controller '

And in case any are unfamiliar, the Reverend Wilbert Awdry was the creator of children's stories about Thomas the Tank engine, which featured amongst many imaginative characters, 'the fat controller.'

Wylie
No I haven't but it's a sad reflection on interpros that people like Johnny Thompson, James Hall and Gary Kidd don't get motivated to play regularly. The best opening bowler , best opening bat and best slow bowler in the NCU.
Is it a question of compensation for loss of earnings?
I seemingly wrongly associated the Inter Pro's as a stepping stone between club cricket and the Ireland senior team and on that basis would have expected it to feature the best players available.
It seems it's now more of a competition aimed at finding out which Union is the strongest but is that based on players currently playing in a Union or players brought through a Union's under age system.
A lot of emphasis seems to be put on young players. I see Tyrone Kane mentioned as a replacement for John Mooney. Is he a better all round cricketer than Johnny Thonpson ?
Adam Voghts made his Australia debut at 34 years of age and he hasn't done too bad recently .

Re Ivan McCombe and Knights Selection.
Have you checked that the players you mention that are not being picked have made themselves available for selection?
It is my understanding that Johnny Thompson for one does not wish to be picked for the Knights. Anyone from CIYMS confirm this?

I have just found this post on the Enniskillen Cricket Club Facebook Page, it relates to a basic introduction to cricket skills evening they are holding. Imagine of all 30 odd NCU clubs organised one of these evenings in their local Leisure centre, community hall or church hall. Do this twice a year for the next five years and I reckon the numbers playing Saturday cricket would probably double.
PS If you are ever in Enniskillen call in and get a pint in Pats Bar who are sponsoring this event.

Hi Folks we have decided to run this night in the New Year just to gage the interest for the sport in the Enniskillen area. Everyone is welcome, this night will consist of running through the basic skills in cricket and getting newcomers to grips with how to play the game, obviously a more established player will already know all these skills, however it does no harm to brush up on them on occasion and with 2 qualified coaches on hand you will have plenty of opportunities to enhance your knowledge of the game. No equipment is required and kindly the cost of the hall has been covered by our title sponsor Pats Bar so all we need you to do is turn up. In this particular session we will be focusing on the senior team so I therefore ask if only people above the ages of 16 and upwards attend.
As ever if you could spread the word both like and share this post with your friends.
And finally on behalf of the Enniskillen Cricket Club we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, hope to see you in 2016.

Re: Andrew Lytle - Ireland shirt
Sorry Andrew I didn't get back to you but have been dealing with death of close family friend.
Glad to hear that you have got sorted out though - surprised to learn that the "offical" suppliers couldn't help, wouldn't have happened in LS days.
Good luck with your tour next year.
John

Have been wracking my brains lately for material to pen a tribute poem in respect of another recently retired, legendary former player from my club, and then like a bolt from the blue, I was truly inspired....

Farmer Fred

A burly bunch of northern cricket players
sought a credulous cash cow,
so headed south to procure purveyors
not even taking time to say 'chow'

Stopping at a village quintessential
resplendent in flowering decor,
impressed by its apparent potential
for it was steeped in cricket lore

In order to attain premier top dollar
first, they must exhibit ware,
so from rooftops, loudly did holler
'We'll easily beat your team on yon square'

News travelled quickly of this bold impugn
and folk rallied to the cause,
their kinship collective and commune
just as it was, back in both world wars

Next day on green village square
large crowds congregated,
to watch their heroes debonair
face off, against northerners migrated

The toss fell favourably for north's skipper
straight off, electing to bat first
and with both openers looking chipper,
the home side began to fear the worst

But when involved in bloody, bitter battle
men of guile and guts come fore
and Fred, a farmer of purebred beef cattle
was called upon, to check advancing score

A most unusual, unorthodox slow bowler
he made that cherry dance like a fairy,
and in the mould of Audley's portly controller
assumed command, denying batsmen chance to parry

Both openers fell flatly, one after other
as did the rest just like collapsing cards,
for when Fred's on form, nothing's a bother
an exceptional bowler, between any strip of 22 yards

Despite oh so encouraging beginnings
the journeymen were soon skittled out,
and as for chasing such a paltry innings
Fred stood aside, as his colleagues completed the rout

So the moral of this tale is clear and primeval
grass always looks greener, when viewed far ahead,
and lure of easy money, oft causes unpleasant upheaval
especially if up against a wily bowler, in the form of farmer Fred !