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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!

I suppose it is Ryan, have to be magnanimous here and say well done to England so far and I can't really see the Aussies winning a game.

Although they're definitely panicing, there's even talk of Shane Warne coming out of retirement to bolster the flagging ranks!

Could he even take over the captaincy ?

Andy...

Re. Carl Williams for Lisburn

Surely the men at Wallace Park aren't that stupid.. although at least Ballymena Seconds would be certain of 8 points this season. Lol

Ryan,

Not sure whether Hussey is the guy to take charge. I would have Watson to lead from the front or top i suppose.

Vic,

Is that a reversal in your Ashes predictions then?? Have you thawed out.
Ponting to resign after series, Hussey to take charge.

It's a fair cop Stephen,

I'm sure I wasn't the only one hoping England would once again flatter only to decieve and fall flat on their faces and get a good hiding out in Australia.

Au contraire, they're one up already and look a class act all round and I certainly hope they can go on now and win the Ashes convincingly.
Dear knows they may even become the top ranked test cricket nation very soon, they definitely look the finished article, so no reason why not !

The icing on the cake for me would be for Eoin Morgan to get a game, but I can't really see it given the form of the top six batsmen, but you never know ?

Ps. Still don't know if a non-striking first ball duck is a Platinum or a Diamond one ??