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Well said Andy. I don't know what makes a real player but I like you played 1sts cricket for over 20 years and have played everywhere in between before and since that. The Junior Task Force was made up of real cricketers. ( I would love to see this DK tell John Torrans he wasn't a real cricketer ) and the Development Committee is made up of real players and real cricket people ).With all these guys so unhappy I trust they will all come on to committees at the next AGM and revolutionise the game not only in NCU but at CI as well.

DK - As someone who has been involved in local cricket for some years now i have been called many a thing but never a blazer or coat - not sure what a real player is but if that means someone who has played cricket at a reasonable level or an a regular basis then i think most people would accept that i qualify as a real player. As Director of the NCU Development Directorate I can assure you there is no parochialism and lack of reality within it - in fact just the opposite. If you also want to ask all the guys who made up the junior task force last year the same questions i'm not sure you will like the answers you'll get - all those guys like the ones who sit on the Development Directorate are very forward thinking and keen to try and improve and move the local game forward as much as possible. Feel free to contact me if you would like to know what we are doing - maybe that way you might have some better insight into NCU people and its workings!

Re DK from Belfast

Perhaps DK would enlighten us with some examples of where the NCU etc have held the game back with our "parochialism and lack of reality". Also a definition of what a "real player" is would also help.
I for one would be glad if more current players would put their names forward to be part of the NCU set up - sadly when it comes to clubs nominating these players to serve on committees etc their names are absent.
DK also does a disservice to the NCU's excellent Development Directorate, ably lead by Andy Clement, which consists of members from all different cricketing backgrounds. Maybe the re-structuring of the Junior Leagues for 2011 and the Senior Leagues in 2012 has passed him by.
Would DK be willing to put his name forward at the 2011 NCU AGM?

Point being Andy - stop talking dribble............too many blazers and coats hold the game back in NCU/NWCU & LCU with all their parochialism and lack of reality..........get some real players into key positions but sadly that won't really happen as the equivalent of beating one's head against a wall...........not worth the hassle!

Re Davy Scott

Scotty,

Thanks for your message. A big well done to all at Woodvale CC for a fantastically well organised tournament. We at NDCC thoroughly enjoyed the past 7 weeks...im sure there will be a lot more clubs throwing their names into the mix for next years comp.

It was also great to see the developments going on at your ground...it's all coming along nicely.

Best of luck to all at Woodvale CC.

Russeller

thanks for that Wylie - I felt that the point that Boycott was making that if the ICC wished to see development among teams like Ireland then there should be a more equitable spread of funding.

Re: Money from ICC to countries

Andy,

As a former Cricket Ireland "blazer" (although I never did receive one from them!) I can tell you that the difference between the money say a test team and Ireland receive is about 10 fold. Eg. the Zimbabwe CU receive about 10 times more money from ICC than Cricket Ireland receive (when I was involved this equated to about $10million to $1million I think). When you take this in to account I would say that the Ireland cricket team is doing very well to compete with the lower level test playing teams and also doing very well to have the majority of their squad on full time cricket contracts.

Oh and one other thing, Geoff Boycott (and possibly yourself) did get something wrong – Bangladesh are not an associate team, they are a full test playing team.

to DK - your point is?

Would just like to congratulate North Down on becoming Woodvale 6's champions 2011 yesterday in a closely fought final match against Holywood. Congratulations also to Muckamore who were runners up.
A word of thanks to all clubs who participated and appeared to enjoy a competition played in the right spirit.
A competition we hope will be a yearly event now. Well done again North Down.

Andy - Excuse the NI 'spake' - "Like you would know anything about playing international cricket for Ireland or any other team"............!

Andy... tried that too, but the radio commentary tends to be a few seconds ahead of the T.V. satilite signal, hence you know what happens before seeing it on the screen.

Although Boycott is refreshing to listen too...speaks his mind and not afraid to over step the 'comfort zone', if he feels it's necessary and seems to always speak well in support of Irish cricket.

Of the Sky commentators David (bumble) Loydd is easy on the ear and also speaks well of the Ireland team when they're playing and big Paul Allott also seems a very affable chap and a good anchor-man.

As for them other commentators, they don't appear to have many compliments for the Irish team, but maybe they'll change their opinions though after this Wednesday !! Cause........

....'It's die dog or else evacuate the license time'... as my great Uncle used to say..when the enforcement officer came knocking on his door !

was listening to radio 4LW while watching Sky with the sound down - much better than listening Nasser No Mates! (giving away a wee professional secret there!!). Mr. Boycott was referring to the up-coming fixture with Ireland and he was commenting on the amount of finance that the ICC had pumped into Bangladesh - he was contending that it was more than any other associate nation vis-a-vis Ireland. I couldn't possibly comment but that might be a question for the "blazers" to address.

England did not ???

And Ireland will ???

At least we agree on something Andy. Although a bigger scalp for ireland would be nice, as long as its not england. I think if england get past this mammoth score with a win, then people like you will sit up and take notice

10 out of 11 full-time? shows the width of the gap then