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I remember well some classic experiences with assumed names. My first experience of adult cricket was with Queens University. In the mid 70s we had such a shortage of players we grabbed anybody who wanted a game. Nobody had much of a clue re registrations and it was all pretty irrelevant as we never won a game. But a classic was when we got an Indian guy to play as "Dave Fleming". It was all a bit strange when he bowled somebody and a teammate shouted out "well bowled Nishat"!
Later, whilst captaining Collegians 4ths we played a certain North Belfast club and at tea I looked at the book to see that their no 4 was playing as P..... B....... I asked their scorer if that was my old QUB hockey colleague Philip B......
He replied that he was his cousin Peter B..........
Needless to say Philip was the only one registered. It turned out that the "ringer" was perfectly entitled to play in any event and the Divisional Committee turned down our appeal.
A certain Mr C Hiles of that Committee had to use all his well known charm and charisma to persuade me that an erroneous attempt to "cheat" was not subject to some sort of sanction!
Anyhow, there was great craic and a lot of camaraderie in the old 4th Division. 45 overs was never an issue, how times have changed.

Re starrings- just to clarify Ryan smyth scored around 250 runs in the 2016 season fir Downpatrick firsts. Thomas magowan is a young lad still learning the trade of off spin. Not that we need to explain our starring to anyone on a forum but based on last seasons form our starring at the beginning of this season was absolutely fine and obviously the ncu agreed. Will it have to change after the incredible performances at the beginning of this season? Potentially

Steven,

No big mystery or subterfuge re Carrack 4ths and Glen's fine knock.

Chasing 120 to win and not 105 as you say, opening the batting Glen played well, put the bad ball away like any good batsman worth his salt ( and he got plenty of them ), though he was dropped three times on his way to a well deserved, match winning 94no. We only had nine fielders on the day ( 3 of whom had to leave early) including our esteemed president, 80 yrs young Gerald Johnston.

Gerald was called in at very short notice and typical of the man, did not let his skipper or his side down, his enthusiasm, his energy, a shinning example for all to see, and like the rest of us did his best to defend our score.

Andy hits the nail on the head, good sides have good players right down and throughout their club and credit to them, long may that theme continue to flourish!

Perhaps "Steve in Belfast" has an improvement he wants to tell us all about, or is there an AGM proposal in the offing?

I recall the 'ringer' match well. It was in a 4th Division game - imagine 4 Divisions in those days! Player A appeared in the book as Mr.B Player C on the opposition worked with Mr. B so he knew that there was 'something going on hence the complaint to the Committee, but nobody would admit any wrong-doing! Won't name the teams to protect the innocent! I remember the Chairman, the late Tom Greenwood, almost tearing out what little hair he had trying to get to the bottom of it!

Yes, Ryan Smyth at Downpatrick is certainly a creative starring example. 249 not out for the 1sts and plays 2nd also because he's not starred.

The debate about starrings starts again! If a club has a high number of talented players and only require to 'star' the correct number of 1st XI players then it is inevitable that the 'unstarred' players will play 'down the club' provided they are prepared to play for the 2nds. In the age of computers it should be relatively simple to 'police' the regulations - different to my days on the Divisional Committee in the 1980s when there were some interesting debates about starrings. Not to mention guys playing under assumed names! Ah, happy times!!

Re Starrings - Rules state 1st 8 players normally selected for 1st xi will be starred and the remaining 3 plus 8 players normally selected for 2nds shall be starred, I think the major problem is in the lower junior leagues 3/4th XI where guys float between 2nds 3rds and 4ths

Also noticed that glen graham 4th top scored. The fact he was able to score 94n.o chasing 105 for their fourth XI and has a wicket for their firsts under his name this season I don't understand how he can be allowed to play fourth XI level. Surely being starred for the thirds would be a minimum...

In reply to Carrick starrings who should Richard Hood replace?
Pat Botha - Club Pro
Daniel Poulton - Irish Passport
Jamie Holmes, Alex Haggan, Michael Gilmour all on Knights or Emerging Knights
Ryan Eagleson - Legend
Anthony Martin - Clubs opening bowler
Iain Parkhill - ex 1st team skip and Opening Batsman
Answers on a postcard please....
And apart from Alex being injured for one game (and Richard Hood did not even play that game) all have played every game

Re:starrings.

Steven, I see your unhealthly obsession with the Carrick starrings has started again. Did they not get you to pre-approve their starring list before the season started?

On a different club and their starrings, coincidentally against carrick, R Smith and T Magowan played for Downpatrick 2nds, both of whom I have noticed have been in the runs and wickets this year in the 1sts (I'm pretty sure Smith broke a few records a couple of weeks ago). Having perused the Carrick 1st XI scorecards for the year, I'm not sure which 8 players you would propose they should star?

Ref Steven... As you seem to have an intimate knowledge of Carrick CC starrings and players maybe you would care to let them know who should be de-starred to allow for Richard to be starred?? Maybe they should de star Alex Haggan who didn't play at the weekend??

I also feel that Max Burtan, jack rolleston and Harry Warkie should be starred for carrick 1sts! It's joke they have only starred 7!

Interesting how ryan smith who scored 249 for downpatrick 1's, then 80 the next weekend is allowed to rock up and play for downpatrick 2's and score 50 as he isn't starred???

Who would you have destarred instead Steven?