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News Letter eight-page cricket supplement on 2011 season is out this Thursday, April 28. Full previews on NCU Premier League, Sections One and Two, and North West Senior One and Two. Don't miss it!

IRELAND -V- PAKISTAN

Everyone quite rightly aggrieved at the attempt to exclude associate nations from the World Cup or appreciative of the efforts of the Irish team in the sub-continent – I would urge you to turn up and support the teams return to Belfast. Games are on Saturday 28th an Monday 30th May. 28th has been declared a closed day for all other cricket in the NCU.

As a union we produce Irish Internationals on a regular basis. Lets turn up as a union, put our hands in our pockets and show our support.

Genuinely believe these games are very important for the immediate future of Irish international cricket. Big turn outs mean the chance of more big games and more chance of overturning the ridiculous ICC decision.

Neale

Andy
" The only "drawback" about Stormont is meeting the "Ballygomartineers" or the Victoria guys! Then it gets dark early!"
I dont know how many of the VCC lads will be at the two games but I do know that we will be represented, and have 19 going to Clontarf in August.
I agree that it is a very good idea foq a closed date for the saturday, and if we wish to watch top quality cricket in Belfast, then we need to start attending games.
The attendance for the bangladesh games last summer was terrible, and the India South Africa games at stormont a few years ago was frankly embarasing.
Get yourselves to the ground and back the boys, and lets hope for two home wins to make the ICC's decision with regards to the 2015 "World cup" even more ridiculous than it already is.

Oh, Ally B, If you want a Victoria contribution for the News letter, give me a shout and I will get the skipper or Vice of our firsts to get in touch.

Well done the NCU in getting the Ulster Bank on board with the senior cup sponsorship and well done the Ulster Bank to see the commercial and community benefits in supporting cricket.
Some people are quick to have a pop at our NCU committee men so let's give credit where it is due!

hi my name is craig mckinley and im a umpire from the lurgan area and if any club is looking a umpire for any pre season game please contact me on 07514575936 and ill happily umpire ur pre season game

Any one interested in the below - still some spaces left. Spread the word.

Cricket Ireland are delighted to announce that there are ICC Introduction to Cricket Courses being run with the support of the ‘Pepsi ICC Development Programme for Europe.’ One of these being mentioned below.

Wednesday April 27th 5.30pm till 9pm in Northern Cricket Union at Templepatrick Cricket Club, Ballyclare - cost £10

Contact – Andy McCrea mccrea.a@sky.com

The course is designed to bring in new people into the game, and has been made accessible through Regional Funding Support from ICC Europe.

To provide participants with:
A basic understanding of the game of cricket and a basic education in three important components of the game: Coaching, Umpiring, and Scoring.

The skills and resources to conduct/assist a cricket session with children.

It would be envisaged that this session would predominately include game based activities, but also some coaching components.

Target Market: Predominantly teachers, tertiary education students, parents and youth workers with little or no understanding of cricket. Also current players and cricket interested people, with little or no coaching, umpiring or scoring experience.

Bryan,
Possibly his two sons. We'll check out. They are very talented young cricketers and gave a terrific batting display. The Grasshoppers also met an old Cooke friend of yours Carl Broome at their golf outing at Rockley and he sends his best wishes. He told them a few stories about his days in Northern Ireland including representing Junior Ulster.

I was interested to read about Clint St Hill getting runs for Pickwick against the Grasshoppers in Barbados.

When Cooke played there in 1992 I captained our side against Pickwick at the Kensington Oval. Clint St Hill was the Pickwick captain. He was a great bloke and played for us in some of our other games.

Am wondering however if the Grasshoppers played aginst his son. Looking forward to hearing from the guys on this.

Car Insurance for oversea's professionals.

Hughes Insurance have an agreement again this year with AXA Insurance. If you require cover for car insurance for the period your pro is over, either Email myself or ring me on 07793 490157.

Cheers.

I just want to concur with all that has been said by the supporters of the game's development. It is indeed a travesty that the ICC in its "wisdom" could proceed with that decision on the heels of such performances by both Ireland and The Netherlands. Surely winning is not everything but spare a thought if Ireland for instance had another win and made it through to the quarter finals. The role of the ICC is to enhance and promote the global game. I dear say the decision has derailed an associate's train that was winning more and more neutral support for the game. Hopefully enough has been done by Ireland at the last 2 World Cups to keep the game alive not only in Ireland but amongst all the associate nations.

It's interesting to see that the ICC's website has no mention of the 2015 World Cup Debacle. Are they embarrassed? Interesting to hear Porterfield talking today about the Test Playing Nations support which he thinks may help.
For those of you like me, who are well travelled, perhaps you will come across the ICC ambassadors during the summer and a question to them may go a long way to support Irelands cause. ICC ambassadors listed below:-
Kumar Sangakkara
Michael Clarke
Paul Collingwood
Simon Taufel
Virender Sehwag
If like me, you are going to a summer Test in Blighty, Sangakkara and Collingwood may hear your calling!

Folks

The News Letter are again doing a preview pull-out on the NCU and North West ahead of the new season. The plan is for a April 28 publication date. To provide a comprehensive preview I'm keen to get more info from NCU Section One, Two and Three.
If clubs could email me their captain, overseas pro (if applicable) and any player moves in and out over the winter to busheajb@aol.com it would be appreciated.

I agree entirely with Wylie about the decision to cancel NCU fixtures thereby encouraging club cricketers to watch Ireland. I too generally prefer to play rather than watch cricket but this is different. If we don't get off our backsides and support the Irish team then there will be no more international cricket played in Belfast.

The Irish cricketing community is a small one and most of us have grown up watching or playing with/against players like Porterfield, Stirling, White, Wilson, Jones, or other fringe players. For me, that makes their performances for Ireland, particularly at the World Cup all the more pleasing. It gave me, at any rate, a sense of belonging.

After such an impressive WC and the outrageous decision by the ICC to prevent Ireland from playing at the next WC, I believe that we should give strong support to the Irish team and show that there is interest in top-class cricket in the NCU. Not to mention of course the chance to see one of the world's top sides, Pakistan, in action. It's a free world but if you care about cricket and in particular Irish cricket then surely you'd want to be there? As an aside, I know it doesn't suit all clubs but our 1sts will play instead on Sunday 29th which should mean the best of both worlds.

Despite Ireland's Call the ICC's Global Development 'plans' died today with their backward & unjust decision to decrease the World Cup to 10 teams 2015. RIP

What are the ICC trying to do to the 'minnows' of cricket? Ireland especially, have proved they can mix it with the big boys. I fear the ICC are now doing to cricket the opposite of what Kevin O'Brien and fellow countrymen did when they beat my side! Shame on you ICC, shame on you.