Forum

Very interesting comment about starrings and Richard Hood at Carrick. I don't think Richard Hood has played for Carrick first eleven for 2 years because of injury and he is only easing himself back into playing.

Did I see a player playing for Downpatrick 2nd eleven on Sunday who only 2 weeks ago made the headlines scoring 250 for the first eleven.

Dundrum again have shown there forward thinking and commitment to the sport of Cricket by continuing there extensive five week Schools program which is FREE of charge and they also provide a free set Kwik cricket kit to be left at schools with two finals days at the meadow Dundrum cricket club anyone who is interested in cricket can contact Jeff Maguire 07730334479

SCHOOLS
Shimna Integrated College
Kilkeel High school
All Childrens Primary
Castlewellan Primary
Annsborough Integrated Primary
Sacred Heart Dundrum
St Josephs Primary Carnacavill
Newcastle Primary
Ballynahinch Primary

Interesting that the creative starrings continue at Carrick. Richard Hood opening the bowling twice in 2 PL games but yet not starred for the 1sts ?

Who is keeping an eye on this ? Doesn't quite seem fair to me.

Have two tickets for Wednesday 17th May NZ v Bang....face value...contact me on 07934646556/simonhughes37@hotmail.com/DM Laurelvale Cricket Club facebook page

Last one too easy??? try this one... batsman runs down the pitch and to the leg side to try smash the bowling. the bowler sees him advancing and tries to follow him but the ball goes way too wide and hits short square leg on the knee and deflects onto the stumps with the batsman out of his crease there is an appeal to square leg for a run out...decision???

ok so a question for the non umpires amongst you and maybe some who aren't too sure... as the bowlers end umpire you notice there are three fielders behind square on the leg side as the bowler prepares to run in. you look to the square leg umpire who seems to have noticed this also and so you think he will call 'no ball' as the ball is delivered. bowler bowls and hits the batsman in front of middle stump, stone cold LBW. Even though you know it should be, there is no call of 'no ball' from square leg and a massive appeal from the fielding side.....decision???

OK so as an ex-umpire who never ever ever made a mistake ever, i just wanna ask a wee question..
I heard a rumour today from a Dundrum man (won't mention any names)...(weed)... that an ex Dundrum man (a well known and respected umpire) was awarding 'free hits' after 'no balls' in section 2 last week.
Right or wrong???

Re Michael & Arthur

Michael you are correct & The Lisburn Skipper was very kind to oblige but I would suggest it was a mutual suggestion.

I have spoken to Arthur on this and think his concern is for the game overall. Absolutely no fault on the part of Lisburn from TCC.

re Arthur Bowron - firstly I am delighted to see you putting your valued opinion, based on many years experience in cricket, on the Forum. I agree with your comments about the attendance at the road shows and I note your comments about the 'bastions' of the Premier league. I would point out however that the two clubs that you mention provide umpires while other 'bastions' of that Section don't. When I raised this before I was somewhat berated and indeed 'spoken to' about my comments - not that I took a blind bit of notice! The apathy around the provision of umpires will bear results later down the line. The age profile of the members of NIACUS means that there will be a shortage unless something radical is done. I referred to the solution that Ulster hockey came up with that resolved the matter almost overnight. The comments about umpiring in Junior cricket are pertinent in that the day is not far away when Ian Houston will not be able to allocate umpires for 1st XI games. There will be a weeping and wailing then about 'decisions'. I would also add that Alan Neill held a seminar at Antrim GS early last season where pupils from there and Parkhall together with Muckamore club officials and players of all ages and gender attended.
I have direct experience of the teas at Templepatrick and I am sure the supper prepared that night would have been equally excellent. Looking forward to seeing you during the season Arthur!
With regard to teams not fulfilling fixtures, the regs of the competition are quite clear - banned from competing next season. In junior rugby a side not travelling loses points and home advantage for the return fixture. I know that the competition referred to in the posting is a 'knock out' but perhaps the same could apply to cricket league fixtures. Not to mention the work in preparing a pitch for a no show. At the risk of being 'spoken to' again (sic) I think it's a bit of 'bad order'.

Ballyclare baller

NORTHERN CRICKET UNION
CUP COMPETITIONS

ADMINISTRATIVE
RULES APPLYING TO ALL CUP COMPETITIONS

B4.
Any team failing to fulfil a fixture, except for a reason beyond its control, shall be
deemed to have lost the match. In addition, it shall be fined and be liable for any
expenses necessarily incurred by its opponents prior to their being notified that the fixture
would not be fulfilled. In such circumstances, any more junior team from the same club
shall be deemed to have lost any match played on the same day.

Re. ballyclare baller.

Just like not posting your name, it would seem you didn't bother to find out the facts either.

Armagh were on their way to Burndennett when our bus broke down at Ballygawley. Believe me we would much rather have been playing cricket than spending an afternoon on the side of the road. We are obviously sorry to Burndennett CC and wish them well for the rest of the season.

It was my understanding that Armagh were travelling on Saturday until their bus broke down and the team were left stranded !!

Was on the NCU website and see Armagh 1st XI couldnt field in the cup( or couldn't be bothered travelling to the NW) and Armagh 3rds could (which they won) so will we see Armagh 3rds removed from the cup? I'm sure a Big club like Armagh could of fielded a bunch of lads to head up the country? A lot of clubs in the past have been doing this and I actually don't have a clue why you would. Experiencing the NW cricket grounds is only a good thing.

Arthur,

When I should be enjoying a game of cricket (our game was called off last night), I find myself sitting here at home on a Saturday afternoon, reading your rather despondent, yet clinically accurate observations.

In life, I chose never to rise above my station despite many opportunities to do so, and now on reflection, I'm thankfully content and have no regrets, as I have remained free from the blinding, burdening shackles of hierarchy, officialdom and bureaucracy!

As I see it, the present day captains of industry, though often amassing great personal wealth and fortune, tend to lose the common touch, become detached from reality and aloof as to what really goes on around and beneath them.

And so in cricket as in the acumen of professional vocation, by way of a final bastion if you like? It's up to the few visionary people like you to offer a last chance saloon of advice and counsel to those in the corridors of power, by pointing out the obvious and articulating your thoughts, foresight and findings into manuscript for all to read and ingest....

For if none are to take heed and promptly act, then we are surely doomed to an artificial and unedifying eternal world of cyberspace and processed cheeseburgers?

Arthur

It is my understanding that your club contacted ours to request a 20 over match and an early start to facilitate youngsters who wished to attend the Ulster rugby match at 3pm, and because some had Duke of Edinburgh commitments. I think our captain reluctantly agreed In order to get some sort of match as no one at that level wants to see concessions.

Sadly, cricket appears to be falling down an ever lengthening list of priorities for many youngsters and one might opine that at least a few of them got some sort of game rather than none at all, which may have been the case had it been played with the full allotment of overs - which perhaps you and I would rather see.

A sign of the times I'm afraid