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don't have green-tinted glasses but I certainly have "reality" glasses. I simply ask how the imported players have improved our game at local level? England cricket has followed the example of English soccer where imported players have meant that there is little scope for local youngsters to be "scouted". The demise of the international sides in Northern Ireland, the Republic, Scotland & Wales are as a result of the "big" sides going for the quick fix rather than local development. A similar situation exists in County Cricket - Colpeck players etc., so local English cricketers aren't getting the same opportunity to play at the highest level and develop to Test standards. Of course the change of emphasis in schools away from competitive team games is another contributory factor. And I'm not going to start on the millions that have gone out of the country over the past 30 years of the professional "coach" in Irish cricket.
So much for the South African contingent within the England team. At least the English (born) players are showing some grit this morning in Jo'burg.
Eddy - used this argument before with Andy, but he can't see past his green tinted glasses
Welcome to "Eddie" from "Antrim". Perhaps you haven't been on the site too long or you would be well appraised of my views on overseas players, etc.
born in SA and regards himself as English - maybe there#s too much competition for the SA squad!
Am i missing something here Andy??
AC Botha , JP Bray , DT Johnston, D Langford-Smith , MJ Fourie , Thinus Fourie, AR Cusack , R Strydom , P Connell , PS Eaglestone , AD Poynter , RM West.
12 "foreign players" who have represented Ireland in one day cricket in the last 4 years! I dont think we are in any position to pass judgement on England!
"Miller said yesterday: "We have got to get to the stage where we are very careful on that [the number of South Africans in the England team], and we will be. I wouldn't say he's the last but we will monitor it. But Craig has passed all the criteria required to be an English cricketer. He has proved his worth, that's why he's there. He has developed his game, he's a strong character so he fits all the bills from an England point of view. South Africa talked to him and he said 'I'm English, I want to play for England'."
Andy, don't nit-pick when quoting. Above is the full comment by Miller. Particularlly pleasing is the last sentence.
at the risk of being labelled racist (again!) and to clarify - the player to whom I referred in an earlier posting is Craig Kieswetter and my reading of Miller's comments was "Craig might not be the last but we'll monitor it". (Daily Mail 11/1). As he has a South African father and a Scottish mother I'm not totally convinced that, in common with the southern players such as Morgan & O'Brien, he would regard England as the "mother country". Or maybe the Scots that I have met over the years are in a minority!
Andy,
Is this new player playing in the current series? I doubt he will ever play for England. Geoff Millar was talking yesterday and may look at the qualification policy. It's great that so many want to represent the mother nation......
interesting to see that England have found another foreign player - maybe this Test series should be advertised as "South Africa 1st XI - v - South Africa 2nd XI"!
Jason/Stevie.
Thanks,for what some may describe as 'smaller clubs',Millpark & Dundrum have certainly produced some powerful cricketers over the years and continue to do so. The more recent score books I'm working on,don't make for great reading either for Victoria against your clubs!
We'll have to do something about that,starting this season with our second team encounters!!!!
FAO NIACUS members, Vice Presidents and friends-
The proposed open meeting for 11th Jan has been cancelled, as current forecasts do not give much improvement with early next weeks weather.
Our player guests will again be in attendance, with one or two changes, so see you all on the 8th Feb at 8.00pm.
Noel McCarey
Vic,
Noel Maguire is Jeffs brother and has retired at the end of last season. Joel is his eldest lad and is now plying his trade in our first XI. Derek (Psycho) Shills is teaching in France. Derek like his brother Richard is an exceptional cricketer taking 5 wickets in our famous Intermediate Cup Final Tie with Carrick in '97. I can still see him roaring at and eyeballing the outgoing batsman.
Fred Bunting was your skipper for a number of years as I remember. He was an opening LH bat. Very strong on the drive. I remember those 'bouts' very well!
Re: Vic
Unfortunatly Stevie keeps tellin us that hes now retired ill believe it when i see it tho!!...... dnt panic we have able reinforcements!!!
How's the Lurgan Park Ranger?
He's got a few wickets over the years,I'll give him that ok! With those short of a length 'Donkey-drops'!!
Keep salting away there boy at the park,I need to get out to practice and I suggest you join me when your finished,you've a big season ahead of you and we want to hit the ground running,at the start of May this year lad!!! Or should that be 'Skipper'?
Ahh Vic, Mullin's batting average may not be much higher than 0, but what about his bowling average... it must be pretty close to single figures!
