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This summer has been horrible in terms of weather for everyone involved in cricket. It frustrates everyone and it is becoming difficult to maintain interest in the local game especially amongst our young members. However in Section 2 we are seeing a rather interesting league run in with four team battling to go up. I am commenting as an individual not as a club member here but the standard in our league is quite poor with the top clubs relying on two or three each week to win fixtures. My own club can hold their hands up to this however our team spirit and enterprise in the Junior Cup was quite outstanding and we were fortunate to have a good team each round. To date we have used 28 players this season and this reflects how difficult Sundays are for a club with families. Templepatrick are the form team at the moment and to be honest they were poor in the league fixture against us in May but were very good in the cup and their technical ability is a huge plus with the work that Andy and his colleagues have done proving the point on investing in coaching. Armagh are largely a one man team with Colin Russell being a class act. He is an excellent batsman and deserves credit. Laurelvale rely heavily on one or two players each week and Craig Irwin's addition has been a huge plus. Craig has been such a consistent and excellent servant to the game but you cannot rely on one or two players digging you out of a hole. At Cooke Collegians Richard Johnson and Graham Pollock have been our star performers this season but we know to go up would mean a huge challenge to our club. The standard is better in Section One and the standard in our Section has lowered in recent seasons. Their is a gap between each league and it grows each year. Anyone of the four looking for promotion would require a pro and at least two more players to stay up. Three bowlers and four batsmen are not enough to stay in Section One. As someone who has scored at all levels I am hugely disappointed at the standard of the game and the resources available to Premier league clubs means that the gap will widen in ability and performance but cricket is about enjoyment and perhaps clubs should seek to promote the game more and invest in our coaching. The performance of our Under 19s in the World Cup illustrates that we need to invest more in coaching and less in paying players and bringing in professionals who do not benefit our local game.
I hope so Andy, the local game can't afford to be losing any more teams and this horrendous spring/summer seasonal weather won't have done much to encourage folk either !
( I still haven't got that first post correct, it should read ' morale will take a boost ' as opposed to boast ' )
Andy
About 15 years ago Lurgan 2nds played CIYMS 2nds in a cup match at CI.
I was going well and John Stirling came on to umpire and said that did I know I was on 9. He said to keep it on the deck and get my 100.
Soon I was on 99 and I thought I would bring my ton up in style so I belted one towards long on and it looked like it was 6 all the way.
One of the CI players who was at long off ran towards the long on fielding postion and stuck his hand up and caught me one handed.
John Stirling was disgusted with me and did not talk to me for a few days after that.
A few years ago at the NCU dinner, a guy came up and said I bet you do not know who I am. I had no idea who he was and it was then that he introduced himself and said that he was the guy who caught me one handed on 99!!
Caleb - I believe that there is a possibility that the PSNI club side may reappear
Sorry, just noted the spelling error from yesterday evenings post.
It should read 'a ratings boost' as opposed to 'a ratings boast' ( my mistake. )
Oh and whilst I'm on, I also have just noticed who the guest speaker is at the annual NCU dinner later on this year, maybe if he reads my post before he attends, he'll have a very words in someone's ear !
He's obviously a good cricket man and I'm pretty sure he still would have a few connections in those circles !
Good afternoon !
Yes indeed Andy, congratulations to the PSNI cricket team reaching the semi-finals of the PAA competition and defeating the City of London Police on their way.
But is it not a very sad reflection and 'indictment' on them and their many support staff, which together must equate to somewhere in the region of ten thousand odd people or more, that they can't even turn out 11 players on a Saturday afternoon to play a game of cricket ?
Perhaps their bosses and many office managers etc. should just get out from behind their desks and computer screens and stop counting up how many tickets their boys in blue have handed out this week and encourage them to get back to playing sport again with the rest of the community ?
And by doing so they'll quite possibly realise, that not only will morale within that organisation be greatly boasted but their public image, which they value so highly, could also take a ratings hit, when folk start seeing them playing and enjoying the game with the rest of us !
A bit of common sense now and again can be worth a lot more than all the paperwork !
( And it helps save the forest trees as well )
big thank you to the ciyms guys michael hingston who along wiyh gary p had to put my shoes on and colin hunter who took me and collected me from a/e many thanks
Andy,
I think Peter Law was dismissed for 99 in a challenge cup game for North against RUC in 1996 or 97. In 1999 or 2000 D appeared to have been dismissed for 99 at Wallace Park but when the scorers tallied the runs at the close of the innings he had actually got 107......
RK
In the dank weather and waiting for Flossie to get back with the wet battery I was reflecting back on the last 2 week-ends with Chris Dougherty's consecutive centuries and James Kennedy's 92 when a century was in sight. Has any forumite any story of being out or witnessing someone being out on 99?
I remember a famous Taimur Khan 99 not out at The Lawn...
congratulations to the PSNI on reaching the semi-final of the PAA competition following their win over City of London Police. Good to see at least one aul' hand still enjoying it!
Good luck to Instonians under 11 in tomorrow nights league final - it would be nice to see a club who actually encourage their young players to play win the trophy !
Thanks dave. I didn't think with you being 3rd in command Mr Poots would give you time for internet.
Hi Jason glad to see you've got internet, that should make life easier. Thanks for your support and encouragement over the years from all at CI 4s
That is a very kind offer. Now that i am connected to the worldwideweb i will be able to keep an eye on fixtures. I hope to come down some saturday God willing.
Re ci man. Thank you for your kind words. I was at the junior cup final with the Reverand Wray and had a nice welcome from Jack and Mrs Mccullough
