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One good thing about no scheduled matches for sect. 3 clubs Sat past, there'll be no need for rearrangments etc. unlike for all the other leagues, so well played the Section 3 league secretary..... a masterful piece of forward planning !
At least one game did play to a conclusion last Saturday, Robbie Streat of Victoria clocked up over 50 odd runs playing for the 3rds-v-Academy thirds, down at Lurgan Pk.
It seems that all the 'oiling' he claimed to do pre-season, has indeed prevented the woodworm from eating the usual big 'hole' in the middle of his new bat ! So well played Robbie too... although I fear it won't last !!!
just a note of warning for anyone who may have been going to Shaw's Bridge on 14th for T/20 cup Instonians - v - Muckamore - it might not be on that date.
interesting comments on the calling of "wides". From my earliest days at school with the late Tom Greenwood the whole thrust was trying to get guys to bowl "one side of the pitch".
Hopefully the weather forecast is wrong, otherwise there will not be much cricket played this weekend.
Neale
I take on board what you say. However rather than just call wide the benefit to the youngster needs to be explained to them. We all want to know "Why ? " when confronted about anything.
I explain it to my own young players that they won't get away with leg side wides ( deliberate or not ) in 1sts/2nds cricket so it's better to not bowl them now. (muscle memory is a new phrase I hear ) I don't find they think this is demoralising or unhelpful. I think in the main they thank you for caring.
The spinning leggie is a problem. I remember when this was first introduced we invited Paddy O'Hara to the club to explain it to us all and Andy Clement who could swing the ball in at will complaining that he could start the ball on the off stump but it would swing down the leg side and PLO'H said " wide ".
It's difficult to know where the line imagineary or otherwise should be drawn. Answering the " Why ? " helps and explaining to the opposition captain the long term benefits could help get consistency. If your own players know the guidelines then they will feel less persucuted when called.
Re Neale Matthews,
The bye-law you speak of is the reasoning behind my post. Whilst I agree with the arguement regarding negative bowling, young players, ie, those whos spell is limited because of their age should have the leniency I spoke of.
Did anyone notice no games at all this Sat. in Sect. 3
Not a good situation and hardly satisfactory for the players within those clubs, wanting to crack on and play cricket !
With only 7 teams competing against eachother as it currently stands, there are already enough 'free' Saturdays through-out the season for these clubs, as it is anyway !!
Should we not try to even things up a bit for next season, as Sect.2 seems to have a club or two too many in their respective league ?
Just a thought to consider, before I 'sign off' for the weekend !
davy, thanks for explaining that cheers. That wasnt yesterday!
Sorry Ivan, cannot agree with your comments regarding youngsters and the calling of wides. The bye-laws actually deal with the situation and specifically requires a greater degree of tolerance:-
(m) Umpires are instructed to apply a strict and consistent interpretation of the Law on wide bowling, in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket. As a guide, if the ball passes either side of the wicket sufficiently wide to make it virtually impossible for the striker to play a normal cricket stroke both from where he is standing and from where he should normally be standing at the crease, the Umpire should call and signal eWide ballf.
Players umpiring matches involving teams from the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions should apply a somewhat less strict interpretation, remembering that the purpose of the Bye]Law is to prevent deliberate negative bowling rather than to over]penalise young and inexperienced bowlers for lack of control.
Unfortunately too many umpires try to impose the standards seen on top class matches on TV. I have too often witnessed adults over-zealously "widing" kids with the effect of upsetting and disillusioning them. I was particularly suprised last season when a 13 year old leg spinner was told by an adult umpire he was "widing" him because "he turned it too much". God forbid we should encourage young spinners to give it a rip!
Taito, when Lisburn CC employed John Solanki as a professional he used to spend quite a bit of time at Friends School coaching, where he coached not only members of the school who played for Lisburn, but also Jeremy Ogle (Donaghcloney), Peter Sanford (Waringstown and then Lurgan), Myself (various clubs) and Dan Clarke (Downpatrick), so by my reckoning those clubs profited by Lisburn employing their coach by getting better players (well apart from myself who wouldnt listen to anyone at that age :-))
That's rite Ivan, it's the only way there're going to learn, sort it out at practice not on match days !
Anyway, I don't bowl 'wides' so I don't expect anyone else on my team to bowl them either, as you say; runs should be hard earned, not given away for 'free' !!
And anyway, I never seem to face too many wides whenever I'm batting ?
Wides at 3rds/4ths.
Why should we not call balls bowled down the legside as wides ? If it's a youngster who hopes to move up then it's unfair NOT TO CALL HIM because he will be called at the higher level. Surely the more senior among us have a duty to help prepare young players for a higher standard of cricket.
A few extra nights in the nets and knowing you aren't going to get away with it would sort it out. I think it actually makes it easy and consistent if we say " down leg side is a wide ".
I hear of the same people in our club do it week in week out. I would sort that out very quickly. " if you are going to bowl wides and no balls every week I'm not giving you the ball. " End of . We play limited overs cricket and at club level will never play anything else so " every run's a prisoner " ( a bit like the £'s in Ballymena ).
Sorry Davey wasnt referring to myself ive been bowling the biggest load of "poop" this year wides are the least of my worries juat have fielded slip and some of our younger guys have been wided harshly, as you say stevie we should know beeter at our age ........ well your age anyways :P
With regards to wides been given, am I not right in saying that in 2nd/3rd XI cricket, where unpires from the batting team are standing, that if a young player is bowling wide (especially leg side and within reason) a bit of leniency should be given? I certainly disagree that a seasoned campaigner, myself included, should have the same leniency. We should be more accurate at our age!!
Davy, what do you mean we (Downpatrick) have had the benefit of their "hired guns" in the past? confused......
