Forum

Since we are getting zero coverage on the other websites or media I guess we hav to promote our own league . All section 1 final on Sunday in the Ulster shield at carrick 12 start. Would b nice to get a decent crowd down to watch Downpatrick v muckamore. Carrick always put on a great day.
Section 1 getting interesting at the top and bottom. Downpatrick, muckamore and Woodvale pushing for the title and saintfield, lurgan and ballymena trying to stay up.

In the interests of speeding the game up bowling consecutive overs from the same end (batsmen change at end of the over) every 10 overs reduces the need for fielders to forget where they are meant to be and captains to have to start thinking and wasting time.

I think reducing the number of overs constantly will improve things, however reducing the time to play the number of overs might help.

In reality, trying to create greater inclusion of friends and family is the key to longevity and perhaps making games more of a social occasion (or at least some of them) will increase and longevitise participation.

We all need to work on this as one club problems today are another clubs problems tomorrow!

Hiler (still junior)

20 over cricket is too short for a match 1 in my opinion. Not enough opportunity for all eleven to contribute.

The inner circle should definitely be introduced at all levels. I cannot think of a valid reason not to.

Can Eagleson select himself for the Northern Knights?

The border league plays 15 x 8 ball overs. Two runs for a wide or no ball and no extra delivery. It's working well so far, matches begin at 6:30 and are finished by 9pm-ish. Three from the five clubs grounds in the border league use turf pitches, and the pitches have all been very good. All games have to be played, but double points/ headers are allowed, no questions asked, rearrangements are accommodated at all costs (empathy is priceless).
Border league is a single league with a final between the top two teams, means you can win the league but lose the final and of course there is nowhere to be promoted to, so the winners just have to spend the substantial cash prize on beer and rich food.
Millpark are hosting the final this season, more beer and rich food ;-)
The teams have mixed abilities, but always competitive, some guys might have played in section two or junior 1 and some might just play for the pub team, or even an opposition team, if you're stuck for a player. However, over the two or three years that the league has been running there hasn't been a single mismatch recorded like the ones you see every week in the regular Saturday leagues these days.

I think if we have a good look at the playing regulations on www.northerncricketunion.org you will discover the Union already gives a good degree of flexibility in the Junior Leagues regarding starting times and number of overs.
I think Andy McCrea is closer to the issues than most and over the years he has probably coached more young players than most .
Let's hope that the forthcoming roadshows arranged by the NCU are well attended and views aired.
My biggest fear of this cry for 20 over games is that if that doesn't get more people playing cricket in big numbers is - "where do you go next ? ".

Another issue I think clubs need to ask and the stats maybe give us the answer is " is there any need for professionals below the PL ? ".

Are these professionals improving local club players ? Or are they stopping them taking responsibility for playing long innings or bowling tighter spells ?

Are there local coaches who could work on players mid week and then let them go and play on a Saturday knowing that they have a job to do ?

Lots of interesting proposals in the debate.

I agree that the 30 yard circle should be in all cricket. One simple rule - 5 fielders inside the ring at point of delivery.

I am not sure about the idea of allowing variable overs in the same league except in the event of rain reduction.

Not sure about 9.30 am starts as there would be problems with dew and wet outfield.

Taking other ideas from the debate, I would propose for junior cricket:

J1 : T20 league for first third of season. 50 over league for the rest of the season.

J2 and below: T20 league for first third of season. 35 over league for the rest of the season.

These would be separate leagues (probably eight teams). Over the years the T20 league and longer formats would diverge in each division as promotion and relegation takes place.

I would possibly play the t20 league on the mat to help batters develop power hitting, reverse shots, ramps, uppercuts, whips though midwicket from offstump etc alongside the more traditional strokes as the mat is more consistent and batter friendly. Bowlers need to learn variation.

Longer leagues (36 over/50 over) to be played on grass where possible especially in J1 & J2.

Re Ivan - I would suggest that shot selection was a contributory factor in some of the low scoring games.

Tend to agree with Clarence, Andy & Ivan on this one...

What's wrong with the skipper lifting the phone and chatting to his opposite number a day or two before the game about a possible reduction in overs if need be ?

It may suit both sides it may not, however, home team have the call and likewise for the return fixture, so these things generally tend to pan out over the course of a season.

Think Andy hits the nail on the head, with good club infrastructure, willing coaches, common sensed captains and enthusiastic volunteers, you'll find them cueing up at the door and reducing overs won't be an option that needs consideration.

Just need "McCormick' up there to come out more often during the season, shine brightly and gives us all a break !

Great post Ivan. Kids need to learn to bowl, bat and field for long spells.

Good debate on the pros and cons about shorter overs. But surely there is be room for everyone? If both teams want the shorter games then agree it. If both games want a longer game then continue.
At least give it a try for a couple of years.
Also, make sure the proposals are timely and correctly before the AGM. This is the place to debate and some of the best thinkers are involved.

early start early finish is a common theme. 930 starts in July and August. especially in lower junior leagues whare the majority of games are played on astro pitches.
standard of cricket outside of the premier league has declined over the years and therefore retaining any ex senior player is a bonus.

Standards ? The four losing teams in Section 1 on Saturday scored 95, 67, 52 , 46 and today we had losing scores of 58 and 45 involving Section 1 teams .
All these teams with one exception are paying a professional.

In five of these games the losing team batted first meaning games are finished within three hours.

Does no one coach " how to build an innings anymore ?"

I can't believe the bowlers in Section 1 are that outstanding.

Freddie.

If the batsman completes the run before the ball crosses the boundary, then the game is over, and only one run added to his score.

Phil

I think it's great the debate on here over the last few days and the work that has gone into the discussion document by Neale Matthews and his team. I think there are a lot of ideas that are good in there.

But I wonder, is making tweaks to what we have what we need, or is there an argument that there is a need to take a blank page and to start from scratch?

There's a lot of really good stuff happening in cricket and the administrators we have are doing their best. But there are a lot of small issues that all seem to intertwine and it's very complicated to come up with solutions for these individually.

A lot of them have been mentioned on here already - match duration, start times; I also add clashes between school/club cricket and clashes between cricket commitments and exam commitments and the whole calendar of the summer especially in regards to when the junior/intermediate/minor cups are played.

The issues now are, in my opinion, starting to have an impact on the quality of cricket at the level I play.

The administrators are doing a great job with the work they do, but I think the meetings in a couple of weeks are massively important and need to have as many players there to offer constructive points. I think sometimes the reality of what we see on the ground does not always make it back to committees and this is a great chance to share this experience.