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I'm still here Neill, but I think the Australian cricket groundsmen should send for you quickly and show them how to prepare a decent wicket, that's helps the bowlers as well !!
After the expected English first innings 'wobble', everyone was talking up what a great pitch it was for playing cricket on.
I disagree, it was a terrible pitch to play TEST cricket on, they might as well have played on a taramac road with a tennis ball and if anyone doubts my criticism.... just look at how many empty seats there were all around the stadium for a 1st test Ashes series after the first day !
Here's hoping it improves for Adelade, or I might even have to go with the chaps to Mournview Pk. & watch Glenavon play football instead..perish the thought !!
Neil - I understand that Vic has been clearing the driveway to their clubhouse at Brownlow House!!
just to seek clarification from Jim - perhaps he could show where my posting was "anti-English"? I will admit to a dislike of Mr. Collingwood based on his behaviour at Stormont - and I would inform Jim that my view has been shared by many who I have met around cricket grounds all round the NCU. Does this make all those guys anti-English? I don't think so. But to the matter in hand - I always thought that the ethos of a commentator was to be fair & impartial. Unfortunately this seems to be a thing of the past - and not only in cricket. The likes of Brian Moore & George Hook (who always publicly displayed his dislike of the former Ireland rugby coach) are only 2 examples. Mr. Atherton certainly appears to be able to present both sides of a situation in a balanced manner - a fine commentator rather than a prejudiced pundit.
Andy,
With you and Vic on the forum it will never become sterilised. ( By the way where is VIC ?? )
Ivan has got it totally right in what he has said about the Task Force.
Well said Ivan
A load of nonsense is being spouted here about the Junior Task Force proposals at the NCU AGM. Firstly the task force was made up entirely of people currently playing and in the main captaining sides at Junior level. Secondly we held 3 roadshows attended by over 80% of the clubs and the soundings from those were then taken to draft the final proposals. The working proposals were on the NCU website and the final proposals were circulated prior to the AGM and we then got 100% support on the night. I don't know what else we could have done. We took a grown up approach knowing that we wouldn't please everyone but I think our stance was vindicated by the support on the night. I really don't know what more we could have done. We were supported at the roadshows by the Chairman, Vice Chairman and the Director of Development of the Union and we then consulted with Dr Murray Power in drawing up the final proposals to make sure the wording refelected the spirit of what we wanted to achieve. As for the decision to place league 3.1 ABOVE 2.3, I think that is a common sense decision once we got the support for straight through leagues. Straight through leagues allow the stronger clubs more junior teams to find a competitive level without a false ceiling.
My understanding is that that decision doesn't need to be voted on at the AGM but if it had to be I would have had no problem proposing it on the behalf of the Task Force and again am confident it would have been passed. This matter was well discussed at the roadshows. Again a lot of armchair critics. Why not get off your backsides and make a contribution to next years Task Forces.
sorry Jim - did I miss something? how many did Mr. Cricket end up with? I wish I could have batted like him! And yes Dazzler - last Saturday was great crack - but then it always is when aul' lads start recalling the good old days. Still don't know the result but I think Lurgan won!!
Andy Kennedy - great day last saturday!!!!
Ashes
I'm loving the score at the minute loved reading the papers yesterday-will enjoy today and cant wait until tomorrow after 143-5 turned into 480 odd for the aussies. Wont be too many "We're favourites for the ashes now" from the english media. According to all the bookmakers England never were favourites( Jeff i think Ozzies 10/11 and eng 2/1 for the series) but the english media had England as favourites and an easy win.
However still alot of cricket to be played.
andy k still anti english i see.
I heard Nasser's comment last night too, and that was during the long Anderson spell where Hussey couldnt get bat on ball, he actually looked like u when you bat. Broad and Finn also had them tied down. get off your soapbox and change the record
to be fair to Roy Young - nowhere in his postings does he say that he is a member of, or speak on behalf of the Ards club. Sometimes people just want to read what suits them. If one follows Neil's logic then the forum will become sterilised. It is clear that some clubs have placed an embargo on anyone exercising their right to free speech but there are some who have the cohanes to put their head over the parapet. I know that the decision taken at the NCU AGM wasn't to everyone's taste but we are where we are. Funny enough, on travels around several cricket dinners this year I heard a wee whisper that not all club reps voted in line with club thinking - but it might just be rumour!
come out of the closet?! What exactly are you advocating here Clarence!! Also please remember that the "closet" means something entirely different up here in icy Buckna!! On a different tack & I know that I incurred the wrath of certain "anonymous" England supporters when I commented on the English media but something on Sky this morning really takes the biscuit. At approx. 12:30 a.m., with the Aussies on 258/5 Nasser Hussain asked Shane Warne if he thought that "on balance England had bowled better yesterday!" This must go down as a real "Colemanballs" for those of us old enough to remember. The English media - don't you just love them!!
Don't sit on the fence Neil and tell us what you really think mate!
I'm 99% behind your sentiments but too often we look at the messenger and not the message so it is not totally black and white. Some people don't put their name to issues because the personal stuff follows hot and heavy. That said, I appeal to posters to come out of the closet and if you are not speaking for your club then make it clear in your posting. I think that's the main issue as some people don't have a club mandate but they still have an opinion and we should respect it. Whether they need to name themselves to earn that respect is another matter.
Mr Editor,
You state you will not publish e-mails under pseudonyms. So do what you state and dont publish their e-mails
A pseudonym is a fictitious name assumed by an individual to conceal his or her identity.
If these people do not have the courage to put in their name to it, shame on them.
What have they to hide. What are they afraid of?
If you want to say something, have some guts and put your real name to your e-mail.
Otherwise, I would ask them to look up the definition of coward and pathetic because that is what they are.
Junior Task force.
The issue of the restructuring of leagues was discussed at length within the meetings and within the roadshows. The purpose of the new league is to enable all teams from a 2nd XI to in some cases 6thXI to find their level and play competitive cricket throughout the season.
The feedback and responses to the structure which included placing the top teams in the old 3:1 above the lower teams in the old 2:3 was favourable and agreed that the standard of cricket is higher.
This will only be made clear once the season starts and progresses. Im not saying what has been proposed is the final answer and there are clearly going to be issues with teams in the appropiate league but i would ask clubs to give it a go and the old format was going nowhere and clubs were playing the same standard of cricket against the same clubs and there was limited development.
In general can we at least see how it works before completely shooting it down.
Slight correction -
Division 3 Section 1 teams will be placed above the teams from the bottom half of Division 2 Section 3.
The top three sections in the Junior League will comprise entirely of second XI's
Hopefully it will all make sense once all the competition entries are in!
Re the anonymous posters and Noel
The Junior Cricket Taskforce Report
(available here: http://www.northerncricketunion.org/database/2010/news/articles/article69.shtml)
and presumably discussed at the various roadshows around the country recommended that teams that would normally be in the old Division 3 Section 1 be placed above those in Division 2 Section 3.
