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Re Neil Fullerton

You quote 'Not against players who are getting a house, a car and anywhere between 20 and 45 grand to lie about and scratch their rear ends all week and then win cricket matches' - what are you smoking?

All I'm saying is the majority of Ballymena's senior squad want to play against other players at other clubs like themselves - who work five days a week, practice a couple of times, play a match on a Saturday and have a drink in the bar afterwards.

Not against players who are getting a house, a car and anywhere between 20 and 45 grand to lie about and scratch their rear ends all week and then win cricket matches.

We are simply back to the hired gun scenario.
‘Ours is better than yours’ type of thing.
And, as a club, we are glad to have no part of it.
End of.

Neil . Good old fashioned CLUB cricket I think is alive and well in the NCU. Ballymena are a great example. Four Saturday teams and a strong youth set up linked to local schools. There are many other examples of clubs working hard at coaching kids , spending money on grounds etc. There was a great post on here the other week about Ards ambitious plans and Jeff Maguire at Dundrum recently posted about the work on an off the field they are doing.

However the cricket landscape has changed. Ireland in 2016 will play South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Roll back 10 to 15 years to see who the opponents were.
To keep up with this the infrastructure of club cricket needed to change and that meant adding a semi professional Inter Pro set up and now we need a proper Premier League where the best players both local and overseas play.
The current system allows any club to make there way into that Elite group and Ballymena played there for many season and I'm sure people like Michael Glass enjoyed testing himself against the best batsmen and the likes of Janes and David Kennedy enjoyed proving they could score runs against the best bowlers.
As I see it Ireland will get stronger , the Inter Pro series will get stronger and the Premier League will get stronger and below that there will be stronger, healthier old fashioned CLUB cricket with more people playing , more coaches , better facilities .
I think clubs then have a choice and that's for their players, officials , spectators and sponsors to decide - do we want to play good competitive CLUB cricket or do we want to play in the PREMIER league.
Those clubs with no ambitions to play in the PREMIER league and the funding and commitment that entails should then encourage any "gems" they discover to go and play at a PREMIER club and test themselves against the best and then be proud of their achievements and hope they go on to play against South Africa or Australia and if it doesn't work out come back at worst a better player.
I think cricket is healthy but it does need us all to realign our thinking to the realities of where we are now compared to 10 to 15 years ago.

It is great to see so many quality pros being signed for next season as well as the likes of Sorenson now coming to play in the NCU. Surely this can only help the standard of young cricketers getting to play with and against players of this quality.

You only have to turn on the TV to watch Van Der Dussen who played recently in NI with CIYMS to see the standard of these pros.

Should make for a competitive 2016.

... and thank God for that, Sam.
I can assure you.
The cricketers of Ballymena CC are glad to be out of the rat race for a while.
Bring back good old-fashioned CLUB cricket

Lovely happy cricket photos on your home page. Keep them coming as cricket is a fun sport and it is good to see so many people enjoying it.

Neil, no need to be fearful. You and your club are unlikely to suffer from the effects of this new law ! ! !

Some time down the line I fear there will be a new law in NCU cricket.

A33 reads: Only two players not normally resident in South Africa may play in league or cup competitions for a club in the Premier League, at least one of whom must be qualified to play for Ireland.

Back into my room quickly turning, all my soul within me burning
yet still the tapping, somewhat louder than before,
again, although uncertain, a faint rustle at my curtain
then the tapping more profane, now upon my window pane,
this mystery I must explore, so I will be pained no more!

Quickly, I flung back the shutter and without fuss or flutter,
in there stepped a black duck, from the days of yore,
not the least embarrassed was he, despite this blatant harass on me
then jumped onto my settee, and then onto the floor,
as it stood there staring, with beady eyes towards me, glaring,
said I, "What is thy name" ?
Quacked back the duck, just the word, "Nevermore"!

Then me thought is it a prophet, sent to warn me, it's time to to stop it"
so closer, I did draw, "Tell me duck, don't be a bore"!
even closer reclining, thinking and divining,
"Will a century I ever score"?
Quacked back the duck, "Not now nor nevermore!"

Ah, this bird it made me furious, yet still, I grew more curious,
was it some tempter sent to tempt me?
This ghastly duck, I really was beginning to abhor!
Again, I engaged it into guessing, if I was ever destined,
"Perhaps a fifty score"? Again the reply, " Not now nor nevermore! "

Crazy, yet more crazy I was going, but I had to keep on knowing,
"Quaff oh Quaff, prey tell and don't say, "Nevermore"!
Take thy bill from my heart's core and thy form straight out my door,
leave me for it is late, dare not stop to even close the gate!
and is it always a Duck, I am to score ? "
“Quack oh Quack," replied he, " You're spot on there mate"
and then vanished into the night, to leave me lamenting,
for now...And evermore !

As the witching hour is almost upon us, what better time to exhume one of my former works from the vaults of my library, but be warned, those of a nervous disposition or weak heart should read no further !

Once upon a midnight eerie, while I pondered weak and weary,
over score books dreadfully dreary, from the season past and before,
then I nodded nearly napping, when suddenly a tapping
as if someone gently rapping, rapping at my door,
"Tis just the wind, only this and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember, the cricket all as was September
and at my fire-side, flames cast shadows o'er the floor,
eagerly I wished the morrow, for these books brought only sorrow
as no runs did I score, none this season nor none before,
at my name always a zero, always this and nothing more!

Again the tapping at my door, rapping, tapping as before
then terror gripped, my nerves tore,
as now I stood there, heart fast beating
wondering who could be entreating,
entrance at my door, or was it my imagination,
maybe this and nothing more?

Presently my soul grew stronger, hesitating no longer
"Sir or Madame, truly your forgiveness, I implore,
but the fact is I was napping, when you came rapping
so scarcely I heard you tapping, tapping at my door"
and now I'll open onto you, only darkness there, nothing more ?

Deep into this darkness, I stood peering, wondering, fearing
dreaming dreams, no mortals dared dream before,
and the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token
was it some ghostly apparition, for adding to my suspicion,
when meekly I called out, “Someday will I ever make a decent score"?
Came back the echo, "Nevermore"!

Ards Cricket Club is on the lookout for new players for the 2016 season, not only at the senior level, but also for our U11, U13, U15 and U17 sides. If you have just moved to the Newtownards area, or are looking to take up cricket for the first time, why not look us up?

Based at a brilliant new complex at Londonderry Park – including a fantastic new pavilion, new high quality square, two astro-turf pitches, a new fully enclosed batting/net practice area, and scoring building – our ultimate aim is to bring proper senior cricket to Ards for the first time, be considered a centre of excellence for youth cricket within five years, and a progressive, forward thinking club. To this end, Ards CC plans to invest in, and improve, the playing facilities further in the near future.

With seven ECB qualified coaches, from Level 1 to Level 3, we are committed to providing opportunities for the young people from all backgrounds in the Newtownards area.

All players welcome, regardless of ability and experience. For more information about the club please see our website at www.ards.hitscricket.com. For further information please contact Hon. Secretary Rab Dunn rabdunn@yahoo.co.uk.

Bangor Cricket Club is looking to attract a locally based cricketer for the 2016 season to fulfil both playing and coaching roles within the club.

We would expect the player to assume a leading 1st XI role on the field and to manage and coordinate all aspects of training and coaching throughout the week, culminating in match day build-up and preparation.

Coaching duties would extend to our Youth Section, to assist with and contribute towards the ongoing and continued development of our young cricketers.

An ECB accredited coaching qualification would be desirable, although not essential.

A remuneration package will be offered, details of which can be obtained, along with any other queries by contacting Chris Yeates on 07816 777382 or chrisyeates@btinternet.com

Closing date for expressing interest - Friday 20th November 2015

Injury is no respecter of age, class or creed and can afflict any cricketer at any time, and sadly in extreme cases, force them into premature retirement, though, far too many never return to the game in any shape or form.

Both Andy Clement and Andy Kennedy are the epitome of expertise in their respective fields of craft and shinning examples to any ambitious cricket enthusiast, as to how much one can achieve outside the actual field of play.

However, having said that, not all can commit or wish to aspire to such dizzy heights, but, if like a certain player at our club, who sadly has suffered a career threatening blow, there' s no need to bury one's head in the sand and call it a day.....

Ode to Robbie Streat

Robbie Streat, could not be beat
a cricketer of substance
First out to bat, wearing his cloth hat
left-handed, in style and stance

And he could bowl, with pace and soul
always on the money
Deceptively quick, quite a unique trick
every batsman was his bunny

In he'd bound, right arm over or around
never conceding extras
His talent stretched deep, for he wicket-keep
was there ever one so dextrous?

Alas, he announced one day, “No more play
boys, this time I admit defeat
Due to a ruptured knee, from now, I’ll make the tea
the end is nigh, for Robbie Streat”

Sadly, his teammates sighed, some even cried
on hearing of his plight
for they knew, Robbie was the glue
which bonded flagging spirits in a fight

But their grief was short, as Robbie did retort
“I'm not one to hide my light under a bushel
By trade a fitter and no quitter
beyond the boundary, is where I'll flex my voice-muscle

I shall take my rightful seat, alongside a class elite
with Gerald, big Harv and many more
So uplift your hearts, for when the season starts
together, we'll give ‘em war! “

I'd like to wish Andy Clement a speedy recovery and hope his knee surgery proves to be a roaring success, amazing nowadays what these specialist surgeons can do, perhaps Andy may even don the whites again and resurrect his halcyon days as a prolific fast bowler ?

Coincidently enough, we too have a senior player threatening permanent retirement due to a 'gammy' knee and claims his doctor states the other one will go too if he continues to play on.

I advised him if nothing else works to try a squirt of WD40 or a little 3-1 oil to ease up his sore joint but the next day he told me it didn't work as he couldn't bear the taste !

You couldn't make it up, could you ?

It's very quiet on here. Is that an indication that Andy Clement and his NCU team are doing such a good job that everyone is happy.
Now that Andy's laid up for a couple of months recovering from his replacement knee surgery this would be a good time to give him more things to think about on how we can keep improving the game.
Are we all now happy with the number of overs being played in each league?

Are we happy with the five bowlers rule in lower leagues?

What's the feeling about playing into late September rather than trying to cram the season into 17 weeks?

Should the NCU fixtures committee be looking at a week's break next season to let the Northern Ireland soccer supporters among it's fraternity a chance to go to France for the Euro Championships?

What can the Union do to help clubs get ex players back involved ?

Or are their many more topics that can be debated here and help us "shorten the winter"?