Forum

Start times are obviously a hot topic. I don't think its fair for people like myself in their 50's to be making decisions or suggestions to the young player of today. I think my last Senior game at Laurelvale I poured in home at 2am thanks to having Harry Cook as a teetotal driver. That was the norm nearly 20 years ago but no chance today.
That's why I think a secret ballot among every player in every club can let us know the real feelings. There are arguments about PL cricket and the rest, about 1sts/2nds cricket and then that in the lower teams, discussions on the merits or otherwise of school cricket.
Social habits have changed and I think it's a bit unfair of the Editor to highlight the word " wasted ".Idon't think anyone who plays the game feel they are wasting their day. I think for the sport to grow we need to remember that the majority of club cricketers do not have ambitions or desire to play at PL level.However these people help provide the infrastructure to nurture the players of tomorrow.
T20 Cricket has not caught the imagination here as proven by the sides put out by some clubs in this years competition.
Have an open vote without lobbying to see the results. 11am , 12 noon, 1pm , don't mind.
As for captains agreeing starting times I think this 1. raises suspicions and 2. is not spectator friendly. We want people to get into a habit of attending and it's better if the start times are set.
The schools cricket argument will run and run and what Nile needs to consider is that in his day of schools cricket the underage cricket at clubs consisted of a Graham Cup match(s) and a Colt's Cup match(s) , but now we have Under 11 cup/leage , Under 13 cup/league and Under 15 cup/league and under 17 cup. Boys practice was 10 maybe 15 boys now clubs get 80/100 at youth practice. However these increased numbers of youngsters being introduced to club cricket are not converting to an increased number playing club matches on a Saturday. That's what I think we need to address.

A few points....

We have said that 50 over cricket puts off people who are new to the game. But surely people who are new to the game won't be playing Senior cricket of in Junior 1.

People don't want to ruin their Saturday nights? Some of the best Saturday nights I have had, come after a game of cricket, and beers with your team-mates.

Also, for the further away places, if we had an 11am start at Ards, Donaghadee or Clogher we would aim to be there for 10am, and would have to leave at 8.30, meaning being up at 7.45 on a Saturday morning. Even three times a season.... No thanks!!!

Schools cricket
Many of us emerged from the parks and streets to play our first proper cricket at schools as 12 year olds. It does seem perverse to be trying to introduce the game at more schools, while some are arguing to deny the schools space for a saturday morning fixture list for a few weeks in may and june. Presumably there are still classes and exams in midweek which make it difficult to arrange matches then. Schools cricket must surely still be an important part of the jigsaw.
I daresay lots of other sports are marketing themselves to schools. Don't take it for granted.

11am starts for a side travelling to Clogher from Ards or the 'Dee or vice versa, or to Ballymena or Larne from the craigavon area to mention two scenarios, would mean that the sides would have to leave at 8am or 8.30,hardly the most appealing prospect for someone that has worked all week. Many a time my saturday night has started after the last ball has been bowed, the last wicket taken or the last run scored. staying behind in Dundrum, going accross the road from londonderry park for a pint in the Ards rangers, or stopping off at the Green on the way home, or taking a mini-bus to Donaghadee and making an evening in Pier 36 was all part of the fun.
I have also been dropped off outside the Coach or the Belmont in banbridge, or dropped off our younger players there, and as things stnd, from the wekend after next, all the games I am likeley to play in will HAVE to start at noon, 35 overs per side, so 12 + 2 hours at 17.5 overs per hour means tea at 2pm, 30 minutes break, and another 2 hours and I will be finished for 4.30, 30 minutes for a shower and a change & I will be home for the final scores in the pre-season football games.
I know that i used to enjoy chatting to the opposition after a game over a pint (or if i was driving a glass of coke), and never minded what time I got home at (indeed, sometimes what day i got home at), and if people are interested in the game, they will play it, if not they wont.
As for the crowds at the Muckamore Waringstown game, many times when our game has finished early (when at home), i have stopped off at the Lawn or Pollock to see a bit more cricket, and have seen quite a few players from other clubs stopping off to watch a few overs, so the interest is there, but not I feel for earlier starts.

Jeff,

Here here! Reducing the game to 40 overs for leagues below the PL is the way forward!

re start times dont make laugh last year we wanted put senior cup back 1 hour so that we could play our best 2 schoolboys againest Waringstown who agreed but we wernt allowed and ive played cricket 38 years and ill get lot replies over this suggestion why not try all cricket below PREMIER league just 40 overs as its plain too me that the gulf between premier an below is a step to far and with 8 teams the smaller clubs imo will never break through unless they throw the cashbook and pay players. If say they try it for 1 year and if the clubs vote change it back then majority rules but i think you will find that the scores and enjoyment wont change alot and worth a try ? As i think that their never be stalwarts that all clubs have and never will be again unless we help try make the day a little shorter . ED I dont think anyone means awaste of time its just that 50 over cricket is aprox a 10 / 12 hour day example is if we play cliftonville away we leave 945 for noon start ,we try be early for warm ups etc an then game goes full 100 overs add tea stop for few beers( i dont drive so im always last too leave ) then negioate trafiic ill bet you we never back in Dundrum by 10 pm and im not complaining about that but the new players coming into the game and im speaking for outside the PREMIER think that is too long a day yes m8 it was lot different when me you ivan etc played but them days will never be repeated i personally would go for noon latest start and try 40 overs for one season then ask clubs stick with it or revert back to 50 overs ps im a gambler id say they try it the never go back to 50 in lower leagues but ive lost plenty bets before and will again

i think a complete overhaul of cricket is needed. but i will not bore everyone with my ideas of how things should be changed.
i will however say that school cricket on a saturday morning is a complete waste of time!!!
i know its a long time since i played school cricket but my memories of it were that half the team didn't want to be there because they were there purely to make up the numbers and the other half didn't want to be there because they were anxious to get away to their club matches.
i don't know why schools cricket is not played mid-week, these were the only school games i enjoyed.
i've always thought it madness to play club youth matches on fri nights...then school matches on sat morning and then play a club match on sat afternoon...and maybe even sunday?!?!

school cricket mid-week and earlier start times are crucial for our game to progress

yes, lashing in belfast now too... could be a fun three nights travelling up and and down for very little if any cricket. Still not sure if we start losing overs tonight or what the score is, any ideas??

Taito - dont worry about the floodlights, its the snorkel you'll need - torrential here in (usually sunny) Hillsborough!

simon- now your talking , i might play for a few extra years.

Just looking outside and wondering how the hell we are going to play a match tonight in that light, floodlights please.......

Re - Taito
pretty much agree with that...

Unfortunately cricket isn't that "Sexy" - we could sit and talk till we're blue in the face, but kids have bigger and probably tastier fish to fry...

What self respecting "stunner" is gonna be stood up by a plonker dressed all in white that has been playing rounders for the last eight hours...?

Maybe we should contemplate "Mixed Cricket" - just may save the day...

I think ultimately, by starting games earlier we might hang on to more young talent rather than lose them as they have other commitments (i.e partying with friends etc on a sat night). I think rather than catering for people who think they are wasting their time, i think its more a case of trying to keep as many people as possible interested in the game and possibly attract a few more. People unfortunately will want to enjoy their saturday nights so why not give them the opportunity to do both... play cricket and have their satirday nights to themselves?

Re ed...

I never said that - though when i'm skulking back to the hutch with my bat under my arm it does often feel like that...!

Either through obligation/loyalty or otherwise you turn out - there may be a million reasons why, just when you get a bit older you are maybe trying to claw a bit back...

I think Rodney maybe made the wrong choice of words - but his point is most perinent...

Re Rodney & ed's Response...!

Yes we do...

I work all week, i'm 40 years old and after 25 years do you not think my friends and family should be entitled to my exhillariting company when I'm only playing social cricket...?

If the senior leagues still wish to start at 1.00pm - crack on...!

Let the rest of us get done and dusted during the hours of daylight please...!

BTW schools cricket and people working Sat Mornings are two seperate issues - and should not be factored into this arguement

My view is that all senior games should start no later than 11am. Yes there is an argument that a lot of school cricket is played in the morning but I would be fairly certain that we are losing more people due to wasting a whole Saturday and Saturday night as opposed to being home at 6pm. If young players are good enough and they have the chance to play at a high club level then schools should allow them to play for their club side instead if there is an overlap in time.