You have your say about your match or anything

Thanks to those individuals who have e-mailed details of their teams matches or general comments about the League, you can read them for yourselves below. The views expressed are not necessarily those of the League or the clubs. To email your comments to rickjones@ntlworld.com

2008

from Alan Rogers (Assistant Secretary), 21st August 2008

Have just read Phil Drury’s article on the website, and yes, I agree with your comments that it would be a good idea to ensure that the records are as accurate as possible. When convenient, can you let me have a list of those records which you know/believe to be inaccurate. I will then do my best to put them right for 2009.
Whilst I try not to miss any new records, it is difficult to ensure that everything is 100% accurate when you consider the number of result sheets that are not accurate, illegible, have missing information (usually fall of wickets), or are not sent in at all despite being fined.

from Danny Coyle (Umpire), 7th July 2008

I'd like to add my thoughts about the bowlers being able to bowl extra overs if the first innings ends before the allotted overs have been bowled. It seems to me that there is really only one alternative:
(Rule 15) Delete the following sentence.......................Any uncompleted overs from the first innings shall be transferred to the second innings.

This means that the side batting second will always have 50 (45) overs to bat. (No first class or International limited overs competitions transfer unused overs to the second innings). This seem to be a fairly obvious alternative, I wonder if has any credence or whether anybody has any other ideas?

from Dan Webb (Haverhill CC), 7th July 2008

Further to the subject of geographical leagues I don't think there would be many opponents to such an idea in the lower leagues. Malcolm and Stephen have raised the various issues that should make the idea a 'no-brainer'.
However there are many problems that need to be overcome to make this happen.
1) Which leagues will be classed as 'junior' leagues?
2) Using current divisions 8&9 as an example teams appear to be split in 3 different areas, East & Mid-Suffolk, Essex, and a small group of West Suffolk sides. Would there therefore be 3 feeder leagues or would West Suffolk be fed into the other two? The logic says the latter but if some of the western Suffolk Premier League clubs joined there may be a case for 3 regions.
3) As mentioned above would Suffolk Premier League clubs be invited to join and if so would they still go in at the bottom rung?
4) How would the league deal with 2 sides from the same club being in the same division? (If current divisions 6&7 merged geographically then Harwich would have two sides together).
5) If say divisions 6-9 were considered 'junior' leagues then would only 2 teams be relegated from division 5 or 4 teams? If 3 geographical leagues were used then presumably only the champions would go up?
There are probably more that i have not listed but these issues need addressing for geographical leagues to become a reality

from Will Shropshire (Sudbury CC), 3rd July 2008

In response to Malcolm's comments on 25th May
Firstly I agree that in lower leagues there could well be a geographical split, although it would have to be well thought out as you could end up with a Suffolk Premier league like problem within the Two counties and have just as many miss-matches, especially if only 1 team from each area goes up......
Secondly his point about the miss-matches in Suffolk Premier is simple, (sorry Rick it's not a Two Counties think but think you can include this anyway) you have too many players happy to smash less able bowling around the park and break records every year, they should be encouraged to play for a local team of higher standard and test themselves whether in Two Counties, Cambs or Norfolk leagues and then maybe their local team on a Sunday if they are desperate not to move clubs entirely.
Thirdly his point about moving Suffolk Premier teams into a higher division is interesting, I personally think that the winning team comes in too high anyway, The Two counites is a good standard and it's too easy for a club who finish top half of div 4 or 5 but can never seem to get promoted to fold, re-group, join the Suffolk Prem and be back in Div 3 within a year. The way I would think it could happen is merge the Suffolk Prem in, split anything below div 4 into two regional leagues a-piece, the top third of Suffolk Prem teams join regional Div 5, the next third join regional Div 6, and bottom third join regional 7, the Two Counties leagues should also be split in a similar way, then if the Suffolk Prem teams are as good as many of them say they are in 2 years they will be in Div 3 of two counties, however I think the highest a Suffolk Prem team should come in is Div 5, think of the teams that a) have to join in Div 9 and work up, and
b) the teams that could get relegated from Div 3 (probably the closest league in the Two Counties because 4 teams might go down (possible if an EAPL team get relegated back into two counties div 1 and a Suffolk Prem team come up to Div 3). 4 teams down and two up is crazy that means 60% of the league could get changed in Div 3 in one year. For that reason the Suffolk Prem teams should come in at a lower division.
Overall I think it is a good idea if the Suffolk Prem is merged as it will help an imbalanced league and therefore cricket as a whole in the area, it will also help re-work leagues so the stronger teams that have to presently join in Div 9 but have aspirations far higher can have a bump up. However it would have to be very closely managed and scrutinised to make sure it's fair to all existing and entering teams.

from Stephen Warner (Stradbroke CC), 2nd July 2008

I have just read Macolm Grubb's comment on the Two Counties website and think he has raised a point that many Suffolk Premier Teams are mulling over. I am a regular cricketer for Stradbroke CC and would love to see an out and out Suffolk saturday league but guess that may never happen because of what has happened in the past. It is frustrating playing in a league where the playing ability is wildly different between the 16 teams concerned that one week you get outplayed and another you win easily.
I have no knowledge of how the leagues evolved but feel that Malcolm has hit the nail on the head in pointing out that travelling distances are an issue with Suffolk Premier clubs joining the Two Counties. I have worked out that if Stradbroke were in Division 9 this season they would clock up 950 miles in a season - in the current climate I could see that being an issue in terms of putting out a full team of willing players/drivers. The thought of travelling for up to 2 hours in a car before and after a game would also be of a concern - it's hardly the best preparation for a game.
The editor comments about the Suffolk Premier League becoming a Sunday only competition shows a lack of understanding of the teams in that league. In fact I would suggest that nearly all of those teams already have teams in Suffolk's two Sunday leagues - Hunst County (West) & Medite Alliance (East). Therefore that is not a solution as the Suffolk Premier is the only option for 'Suffolk only' saturday cricket. Don't get me wrong I've nothing about the Essex 'association' it is purely the geographical situation that is an issue.
I notice that a number of concessions happen in the lower leagues - this is a growing trend and one that I fear will continue when teams decide not to travel to certain fixtures. As Malcolm said it would only be necessary to consider changes at a lower level and the 'senior' divisions could remain unaffected.
Your comments would be appreciated as I'm sure with some work a solution could be found if clubs/leagues are willing to be in dialogue with one another. At present the situation works only for some Suffolk clubs, not all of them. Malcolm, as cricket writer for the EADT has a knowledge of what goes on around the clubs and must have spotted something in order to post his original item.

Editor's Comment:
Even though Stradbroke are not in the TC, I think it's worth posting.

from Steve Butcher (Mistley CC), 29th June 2008

I would be grateful if you would pass this on to Steve in response to his question on consecutive tied matches.

When I was captain of Brantham 2nd XI, back in the 80's I think, we tied on consecutive weekends, v Maldon away and v Clacton at home if my memory serves me correctly. This was in the days of the Championship when we played on Saturday and Sunday so they may not have been consecutive matches but it was unusual nonetheless.

from Dave Simmonds (Nacton CC), 14th June 2008

Surely its time we did something about having some slip dates to fit cancellations in .We're only mid June and we've had 4 league games off .Some leagues may be farcicle this year if this carries on.Ok we might only be able to fit in 2 slip dates but at least this would make a more meaningful league table .I'd suggest fitting in the games to slip dates as they are called off to avoid sides picking and choosing fixtures.Just an idea.I just want to play some cricket!

from Malcolm Grubb (Melton St. Audreys CC), 25th May 2008

With more teams leaving the Suffolk Premier League to join the Two Counties Championship surely it makes sense for the two competitions to merge.
If so, it seems a bad idea for the SPL teams - currently playing for a place in Division Three - to join the bottom of the Two Counties structure. Logically they would be playing below their usual standard, and although promotion-relegation will ultimately sort teams into their respective positions, there could be a lot of mismatches until that happens.
Also, with the cost of petrol increasing all the time, it seems sensible to try to reduce travelling.
So - wouldn't it be a good idea to split the lower divisions of the Two Counties into geographical sections? Obviously at the higher end of the scale teams must expect to travel greater distances in order to meet other teams of a similar standard. But maybe from Division Four downwards it would be possible to divide teams into North and South to avoid trips from Maldon to Eye, or Lakenheath to Harwich, for a meeting of 2nd, 3rd or even 4th XIs.
As a further thought, if such a division was made would it be sensible to label them Senior and Junior divisions? It would then be possible to have rules that suit higher or lower standards of play.
Certain rules - like fielding circles, over-rates, etc - can only realistically be enforced by neutral umpires. They could apply only to the Senior Divisions.
We already have 50 overs in Division One but 45 throughout the rest of the divisions. Why not have 40 overs for the lowest divisions, guaranteeing an earlier finish where, often, the youngest and oldest cricketers are involved.
It would be interesting to hear opinions from other clubs.

Editors Comment
Malcolm
Interesting ideas and should provoke some comment. Let me add one idea to the melting pot - why not make the Suffolk Premier League a Sunday competition? This might then encourage other clubs not currently in the Suffolk Premier League to join and start to reverse the trend whereby there is little or no Sunday cricket played by the "top" clubs in Suffolk, making players in those clubs play for another club on a Sunday if they want regular Sunday cricket. After all Essex have their Sunday competition don't they and that seems to work (most of the time!), so why shouldn't we?.

from Barry Rudlin (Abberton CC), 16th May 2008

In response to Steve Hale's comments (May12th) Abberton Cricket Club have a first team squad of 15 players all of whom can not play in the same side at once.This means by definition because our 1st and 2nd teams are so far apart(div 1 & 7)that some players of division one stature will figure in division 7.On the occasion mentioned any individual checking our website will have seen that there was a tbc on the original 2nd X1 team sheet and the one other change was a first team squad player dropping out for a hospital appointment and being replaced by a first teamer who would have been playing at home.I myself went over and watched the second innings with 4 other first team players and was susequently joined by the player who popped in on his way back from the hospital.It is not always a good situation when a strong side comes up against a by there own defenision a weaker side.Irionically speaking to one of our 3rd team players today he says the same alleged scenario happened to his sons team the following week after the Abberton game.His son plays for Harwich 2nds and they were beaten at home by a 2nd X1 side whos own first team game had been cancelled as their own opponents had forfeited.Oh sorry by the way did i mention the team they played Long Melford.
We had a slight odd occurance in division 1 on Saturday having bowled first we dismissed our opponents in 45 overs with our bowlers being restricted to 16 overs maximum each.Our oponents having to bowl 55 at us could see their own bowlers deliver 18 overs.Maybe the ruling should be a numeric figure as opposed to a percentage?

Editor's Comment:
Both clubs have had their say, so no more on this issue from the two clubs please - but it is an issue that is continually recurring and I'm not sure that without registration of players this can be resolved other than to rely on the integrity of all clubs. For example, no-one would expect a second team to be short when they have first team players in the club available but they don't have to bowl 15 overs or open the batting, do they??
Barry, re your overs comment, you do seem to be penalised for bowling the opposition out with the rule at present. What are the other alternatives - any thoughts??

from Steve Hale (Long Melford CC), 12th May 2008

Firstly I'd like wish everyone good luck for the upcoming season and here is hoping that weather is a bit better than last years. How has everyone faired so far with the new bowling limitations I'd be interested to hear.
I do however have one early season gripe. We at Long Melford have had a terrible time trying to raise two sides for the opening weekend this season. Major injuries, university and poxy football left us short. I only had two half fit first XI bowlers on Saturday!! Anyone know a good physio!!
On Friday evening our 1st XI had 8 and the 2nds had just scraped 11, and through extra phone calls and texts of which I made almost 90 this week alone we managed to raise two full sides. The dismay as reports came to me from our 2nd XI who were vastly understrength that Abberton, when their 1st team fixture was cancelled, appeared to include First team players in their 2nd team in a Division 7 fixture. I thank those Abberton 2ndXI players who still came and supported their side although they were not playing, and although we had a heavy defeat a good day was had by all.
Surely in the spirit of cricket if your game is called off then those people who had made arrangements should still play rather than be dumped in favour of others. I would never do that unless our 2nd XI were short. I'd be interested in hearing other people’s comments on this.
Once again. Good luck and enjoy your cricket in 2008.