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#positiveideasonly
Why was the Parks League discontinued? I hear about Park running being popular. Maybe the councils could install temporary roll-out cricket pitches in parks at weekends or summer evenings or in 5 a side football arena. Let anybody play. No fuss about whites. Use plastic balls so no pads or gear needed? I've not been in a park recently mind you.

Good debate guys and many good points including Staffy's email on the other channel. Michael's article is very graphic and confirms a lot of what we have for some suspected for some time. I'm not sure about his conclusions as the modern players don't drink any more than we did and I feel too much is made of the decline in schools cricket although it is a significant factor. Players working on Saturdays and Sundays may be just as significant and too many clubs have been complacent.
It may interest some people to learn that the same decline exists in Barbados, including a drop in the overall standard at every level. That said, you either sink or swim as most clubs have similar challenges and hopefully are trying to do something about it with Muckamore leading the way. Times have changed, even since 1996, and the challenge is adapting to these changes. If it's OK for some people to have 50-overs games but not for others then try and accommodate both. It doesn't have to be one or the other, surely we can compromise? I'd like Michael to address going forward after looking back, because people who live in the past become prisoners of the past. Time to be positive and look forward with more vision and enterprise.

P.S. - Nile Smith - I think that the team to which you refer was "Overton". If you contact Arthur Bowron of Templepatrick he should be able to enlighten you as he has been researching the old Parks League. And best wishes to Arthur and hopes for a fast recovery.

Re Ivan Mccombe - you mentioned the game played on 12th July and what a match it turned out to be - over 390 runs scored and a fair bit of "edge" to keep things serious. They were plaing for the Parkhall trophy and it was a pleasure to see Glen Martin along to present it. And that leads me to my point. I was really fortunate to come under the influence of Tom Greenwood at school and he instilled his love of the game into us. While Tom would not have been described as a great player but he had coaching skills that he "drilled" into us. Are there many "Tom Greenwoods" in schools cricket today?

Michael
That was good timing! I hope your batting is like that!
There doesn't seem to be any relationship with initiatives like coloured clothing, T20 or Premier League. It would also be interesting to list the defunct teams of yesteryear. I vaguely recall an entity called Everton wherever they came from I don't know.
It just goes to show if you don't want the answer don't ask the question.

Just reposting from last week as the weather appears to be okay and the game below may be a runner. Be great to see a bumper crowd....

Like to mention the Lagan Valley T20 final (Fri 24th) at Middle Road Carrick, between Cliftonville and Muckamore.
We are putting in the usual effort to make this a great occasion so if you are free then why not pop down for the 6 o'clock start. Music, BBq, competitions and beer promos all taking place.
Particularly appealing to players/members from other Section one clubs. Would be great to show how important this league is to cricket here with a great turnout.
Hope to see you there.

Was an interesting article Michael
Perhaps though as part of it you might want to offer some opinions on solutions to the problems. They may not suit everyone (nothing ever does) but offering some kind of way out may add a bit to the piece and perhaps stimulate the debate which is seemingly sought.

Nile, Ivan, and Andy,

See my latest column on CricketEurope: it analyzes exactly this subject,

Michael

Could someone - say a retired person or a student (!) - dig out the old NCU books from 1960, 1970, 1980 and 1990 or even every 5 years so that we could really put some proper data on this. And overlay with the timeline of initiatives in NCU such as coloured clothing, T20, and Ireland WC qualifications, etc.

That way we can have an evidence-based discussion without speculation or being vulnerable to criticism of rose-tinted stories.

Wonder how many teams there were in 1970 or 1980?

Andy Kennedy.
We now have 106 teams playing in 13 leagues a drop of 13% since 2000.
We have tinkered with number of overs, 20 over rearrangements , the death of two night matches so that more people would play !!!!!
We have more development officers, more summer camps , more publicity but less cricket being played . The Wesley Ferris cricket has disappeared , the East Antrim Cricket League is long gone.
It can't be down to the number of overs, the starrings etc etc surely otherwise we would have expected numbers to be rising not dropping.
I was involved in the NCU roadshow on league restructuring a few years ago and finishing times kept raising there heads but the stumbling block has always been schools cricket.
I have seen some schools cricket first hand in the last two seasons having been a volunteer umpire on three occasions . I just don't see what it provides what the clubs can't or aren't providing. On 12th July Parkhall College Old Boys played Antrim Grammar Old Boys and of the 22 players 17 of them have played senior cricket , 3 of them have played at under 19 World Cups ( Brian Dunlop, Neil Gill and Jason v de Merwe ) at least one ( Peter Bates) has played for Irish Schools , four of them have been PL league captains ( Dunlop , Gill,Richard Keates and Campbell Weir who skippered the RUC team) and neither school played Saturday cricket during these players development . They played midweek and between the school and the club they got coaching but got playing adult cricket at an early age. ( at least 14 of them got shouted at by me on their way up ( and a few shouted back ) and the other 8 probably got it from Harry McFadden and John McCormick ).
People want finished by 6 o'clock it doesn't mean they want to play a 20 over slog to achieve it.
Clarence's call for flexibility is honourable but for flexibility read " suspicion". " the if you want to start early or reduce overs " translates " must have guys who need to get a way early so NO.
Personally I think the overs per league are about right . I just think a definitive time for the end of play would help players and spectators .

Was helping Flossie to red out cupboards and I found a the Irish Cricket Annual for 2001. In the 2000 season 122 sides played in 13 Sections in the NCU - just sayig like!!

GREAT ARTICLE BY CLARENCE HILES
Far to MUCH COMMEN SENSE for the great article to get people to agree , take my situation wanted to arrange couple two nighters AWAY but wasnt allowed play 40 over instead 50 to make sure we get result win or lose in case of bad light and travelling thru rush hour traffic but cant because no flexibility in present format which is shambolic as this nonsense of playing 200 overs cricket sat/sun is ruining lives and driving people away from game we all love . NCU AGM In my opinion is shambles with Waringstown Cricket Club voting on what section three plays and vice versa (only using them as they biggest club in ncu ) and lots of time clubds with 3 or 4 reps actually vote againest each other AND thats not dig at NCUwho do a superb job but the whole agm process is outdated lets take the treasurers accounts (superbly done and explained ) but 95% dont even care or listen they should be published in advance and only clubs that have issue should contact the ncu and discuss . I would love see each club vote on whats best for each section there standard requires not the way it presently is as no way Donaghadee /Waringstown Cricket Club or Dundrum should hinder whatever there club requires ? the above views are my own and not in anyway a dig at any club just my own views.

Have two FREE tickets for world cup sat @mallahide anyone want ring me 02843751442/07730334479.
he Dundrum Cricket Club summer draw is not only to help run tours to Ayr and Dublin but to help run the club as it takes over 5000£ just keep going yearly so can all parents juniors and members try sell tickets as its your club and your children we are trying to benefit .
. If anyone would like buy raffle ticket in aid of the club and u-11/13 Dublin /17 Ayr tours be much appreciated .2£ ticket
prizes or 10£ for book SIX

prizes as follows

1st Slieve donard stay for two
2nd Bucks Head voucher
3rd Mourne Seafood voucher
4th Dundrum Inn voucher

Add in the fact that we are going back into six local primary schools next year and Shimna integrated college and St Malachys Castlewellan as we take the game of cricket to both sides of the community .
many thanks if anyone is interested.

Derek Scott
It was sad to learn of the passing of Derek Scott the former Irish Cricket Union Secretary and ICU President in 2001. Derek was a staunch stalwart of Irish cricket throughout his life and a pillar of the union, which he served with unparalleled distinction. He was a meticulous Secretary and arguably Irish cricket\'s greatest historian, especially relating to Leinster and Munster cricket. He was a great source of information and a willing contributor to any cricket research. He held the ICU library until his ill health forced it to be relocated. His death follows a long period of illness and we extend our deepest sympathy to his wife Ann and the family circle.
Rest in Peace.
Clarence Hiles
Editor

reducing overs any further in games would be detrimental for ncu cricket if todays youngsters had a chance to play live online cricket with their gaming consoles you would see a tenfold increase in participation overnight t20 cricket is so over rated and it doesnt really do much for players techniques and shot selection from what i see going down the route of shortening games is a one way street with no turning back how long will it be before someone proposes t10 cricket i do understand people have family commitments and dont want to be away all day and arriving home late so how about starting more games earlier there seems to be more competitions than the calendar and weather will allow is it not better to have more quality cricket than quantityl