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any word of what league dundrum 2nds are in and the teams that are in their
league.thanks

snow is now at about 8 inches up here so I have little to do other than to listen to Flossie going stir crazy 'cos she can't get out in the motor or to contemplate on matters of great import. Perhaps I'm being pedantic but surely only one team can "win" the Ashes, viz. Australia. As England currently "hold" the Ashes they would "retain" them. Might need Timmy Browne, Jonathan Hool or Michael Foster to adjuducate on that one!!!

Great to see the Aussies "making a game of it" at present. Worried about the England series win prediction after watching their frail batting on a "flat bouncy one".
Morgan in Collingwood out? Odds?

Andy-you could do well and turn on the highlights of the cricket- just for something to do!!!
Roll on melbourne on Boxing day.
Gonna buy the papers again in the morning!!!

has anyone noticed the use of substitutes in the current Test series? I see players going off without apparent injury sustained during the game and being replaced without intervention by the umpires. How is this permitted within the Laws of the game?

Russeller, as far as i know jareth has made it on the first rung of the ladder, i think its like a probation list for the european panel.

You must be looking a few favourable lbw decisions next season lol.

Seriously though, i have to agree Jareth is one of the better umpires around, who makes decisions and is able to give you a reason why he made the decision and also communicates well with the players.

Jareth that must be a pint you owe me in vaudeville on saturday night!!!

Andy,
Maybe you are mixing up the Woodvale dinner up with the Annual Harvest Thanksgiving Service at the Shankill Road Presbyterian Church the previous month where Cecil and Michael read the Lessons, and George and yourself collected the offering?
Merry Christmas!

Congrats to all the mentioned umpires for their recent elevations. As was mentioned previously, without umpires there would be no game at all and these guys are excellent umpires.

Is Jareth McCready not moving up the ranks? I think he is an excellent umpire within the NCU, makes good decisions but also is very interactive with the players on the field, always a good trait to have as an umpire.

have to take issue with the Ed's comments in the "feature" about the Woodvale dinners. The one I attended this year was a paragon of decorum - not the "ribald" occasion that you describe. Michael McAteer gave a detailed insight into the ethos of Ulster rugby, Cecil Robinson read a few of his favourite sonnets & George Wilson ended the proceedings with a round of community hymn-singing. A most up-lifting event and I'm sure that those attending derived great moral benefit from being there!!

I'm sayin nothing more about the current Ashes series, as my tips & predictions so far have all back-fired !

That big English fast bowler Chris Tremlett must have read my last post and got angry, he certainly bowled well against the Aussies taking three upper order wickets and should have gotten more for his efforts.

Still, I was right about the cold weather coming back to haunt us again...roll on next April.

Foot-note:
Congratulations to the two local umpires on their selection to the upper echelons of their trade, another great boast for N.I.C.U.S & the N.C.U.
'Well done chaps'.

The NIACUS would like to extend their congratulations to Keith Smith and Alan Neill who have gained due recognition for their umpiring as they have been elevated to the ICC Europe Elite Umpires List. This is a great honour for both men and for the NIACUS and this together with recognition for Mark Hawthorne, Trevor Magee, Noel McCarey and Alex Adams by ICC Europe underlines the quality of our umpiring and how fortunate the local game is to have such officials. It also acts as an incentive for those who wish to umpire at a higher level. So well done to all and good luck for 2011.

has any div 2 section 1 skippers any thoughts on the idea of the ulster plate beinig a 20/20 competition this year if passed

Yes indeed, Shane Warne is otherwise pre-occuppied !

Ronnie Irannie and Alan Brasil were chatting about the Ashes and Warney this morning at 6.ooam on Talksport and Mr Brasil(not a great cricket enthusiast) referred to him as Shane Horney but like I've said, he doesn't know his cricketers and leaves most of the cricket analysis up to his co-presenter.

Whose going to replace the unfortunate Stewart Broad ?

I don't really rate that big fella Tremlett, he looks the part but I think he's a bit of a 'wooden one' and Bressnan is a good work-horse, but that's the problem, he doesn't have that bit extra needed for this level !

(I wish the management @ Victoria C.C. would appoint me as the Skipper some time very soon!!)

Shane Warne coming back as Australia captain - a bit like Boyce the Voice coming back to the IFA!!!

Vic,
Shane is a bit pre-occupied with a certain Miss Hurley at present! Not sure if his mind would be on the game!