Gippsland Cricket Thread Part 2

[the Ultimate Warrior]

Can you site any examples of were the committee have done anything which benefits Sale? Sale have 3 poms on the way this year, with one of them playing in the 3rds, due to league rules. College and other clubs have also played an English player in the lower grades in the past due to already having 2 professional players. Who is to say that Sale will have 3 overseas players in the future, how can you forecast who this will benefit?

I would be very interested to have you give me examples of ideas raised, or decisions made that have in some way benefitted Sale? Without being on the committee of the SMCA, I'm not exactly sure how you would know who is raising apparent ideas.

I can only assume that you are talking about Sale City being taken out of the 1st XI, however, the people that are directly benefitted by that are Wurruk Cricket Club and Briag Cricket Club. Now, Ian is vice president of the league, and I can only assume he would have pushed hard for Sale City to be excluded to a)ensure Wurruk stay in, and b) make a merger seem more attractive. Briag, the other club that benefitted, aren't represented on the committee. Overall, I would say it is a good decision that the majority of cricketers (basically, all other than Sale City players) benefit from.

In relation to any other decision that Sale have benefitted from, I am at a loss.

I wasn't talking of sale at all when i talk about the comitee of the SMCA.

Point 1- Vice Presidant of the league is voting on whether a team should be in the league but also is in the middle of organising a potential merger with the same team. IMO- doesn't seem right.

Point 2 - Stratford has been the biggest player of this new 1st grade as it was proposed last year after they had a stupid draw. IMO - the bye wasnt the biggest issue but rather the fact that the idiot that did the draw gave you 2 byes in 4 games. At college we had a 2 byes well spaced and it was great to have a weekend of to spend time away from cricket. It made playing sunday games, country week, finals and others easier. IMO- if stratford had a similar draw to college this may not have happened.

Point 3 - How can the BIGGEST club in the town of sale not have a 1st. regardless of past results the facts are they have many kids coming through, had already paid for a pom to com and help them and had set up there club to compete in A grade. If this new comp was a must every club should have been given 12 months to prove that they belong before such major decisions are made. It is only fair.

Point 4- Bairnsdale have a similar draw of playing everyone in a 1 dayer and 2 dayer and have 10 sides. They also run relegation every 2 years to give every club a chance to play a grade and build for 2 years to get there. Our comp has no such incentive for clubs to make it back to a grade. This year Lindenow who has won 8 a grade flags was replaced in a grade by glenaladale who has won 12 a grade flags. Relegation doesn't kill the club like our comp does.

The bottom line is, the SMCA has a responsibility to all it's members to enhance participation of cricket in this area. Not just 1st XI cricket but total. Having 8 1st and 2nd sides makes our comp low for major cricket participation. It makes the strong sides stronger and does not do a thing to promote participation levels for clubs like City, Briag and heyfield. If the league is serious about making 1st eleven better they should spend money on 4 poms, make them captain and play GCL, make them captain City and Heyfield and run 10 sides in a grade.

Everyone keeps saying how only 1 bowler took 30 wickets last year and more cricket means more wickets and runs. Who cares how many wickets and runs individuals make. The season was super close. Till the last game 6 sides could make finals, there was a close semi, a tied grand final, the gcl side lost the GF by 1 run and 1 wicket and the country week side missed the provicional GF by bonus point (after everyone said it was the worst side to go tyo country week)

I am not sure what was wrong with our comp to have major change straight away.

Should have been a 12 month plan of where we are heading and this is what we will do.

They should also look at the grade games and rules.
1- what ball will we use. GCL is white, country week is red, what should we use.
2- They should make caledonia comp run for the better of local cricket. this includes Country week.
3- Is a ball above the head a wide or a no-ball
4- recruit more umpires to look after matches.
5 try and get a premier or even bush rabnger cricket back to the area.
6- allow clubs to have unrestricted sponsor signs on colored 1 day tops.
7 - play with fielding restriction.
8- penilise clubs who under prepare wickets. this is a disgrace.
9- Change the rules so the next time a grand final is a tie there is a winner. Maffra wins fair and square season 08/09 but it should never happen again the same result.


These are all of course just my opinions and i know they are now open to opinion

 

[Nugget1985]

Longford/Sale City have been deplorable for so long i dont see how you can rock up to a game. Expecting to win outright, and accept that its good for anyone.

The league has turned to shit in terms of the amount of cricket played, hence alot of the genuine cricketers becoming disgruntled as we give up so much time and effort to train but play f*** all. We need more cricket. For the fifteen blokes who play GCL through the year stiff shit, if you dont want to play sundays write a letter in at the start. We play from memory four sunday days (bugger all), no one complains when finals are played on sundays.

Who has said they Sale City will never come back?

Heyfield unlike Sale City are not the answer at the moment they have no juniors and would not survive long term in A grade, Wurruk are behind Sale City imo at the moment in terms of its longevity as a 1st eleven team, they have little to no juniors, there structure is set up by two individuals. They have no players under 30 bar Warren Breddles that are capable consistent A grade cricketers and there B grade side would have struggled beating any thirds sides.

In terms of participation we have more lower grade comps this year which are helping to accomadate juniors. The standard of B grade last year was abysmal really, we want to make the league more even and stronger, by having an eight team comp everyone plays each other twice giving everyone an even chance of victory. Last year if you played Sale City twice you were guaranteed 16 points!!!! I dont see how if College play them once in a one dayer and Boisdale play them twice how this makes it even for everyone. We lost three games last year and nearly didnt make finals, Boisdale won two outright and another one, but were a chance of playing finals.

I think a promotion relegation clause has been put in too which adds incentive, if Sale City are serious they will make it back just like Stratford and even later College had to....they will get there chance again but cant blame the league for what has happened as they have been responsible for there own downfall, they neglected there juniors for so long and our only now realising the importance of a good junior set up and having the right people in the right places.

Maybe you should talk to your own beloved captain and seek his opinion on the issue because it will differ from yours.

 

[Nugget1985]

[
They should also look at the grade games and rules.
1- what ball will we use. GCL is white, country week is red, what should we use. White
2- They should make caledonia comp run for the better of local cricket. this includes Country week. Yes agree we need more support get involved Hendo!!!
3- Is a ball above the head a wide or a no-ball It should be a wide
4- recruit more umpires to look after matches. Run courses to improve standard
5 try and get a premier or even bush rabnger cricket back to the area. So we can bash dizzy again.
6- allow clubs to have unrestricted sponsor signs on colored 1 day tops. Great idea and nicknames too, H train has a ring to it!!!
7 - play with fielding restriction. Agree this is a disgrace
8- penilise clubs who under prepare wickets. this is a disgrace. Some clubs cant help it, but when a certain curator is in legends more than out at the ground. Something should be done especially when the keeper wears a helmet standing back to andrew tatterson!!!
9- Change the rules so the next time a grand final is a tie there is a winner. Maffra wins fair and square season 08/09 but it should never happen again the same result. Not sure how you approach this one, reserve day???


These are all of course just my opinions and i know they are now open to opinion[/quote]

 

[lynchy4610]

No doubt that there is wicket doctoring that does go on from time to time. Depends on the weather but generally most of the time the wickets the same both times. I think some people use the wicket as an easy out for them and blame the wicket for this dismissal.

People who doctor the wickets should be banned from cricket. Bobjack is the perfect example for that. In the 05 06 season he dug a chunk out of the pitch in the 2nds Semi final game which then had a big impact on the game as the wicket got more rolling etc, he got away with that no penalty.

There is no place in sport for that kind of crap, just like people that claim catches and appeal for the sake of it because of certain umpires like dick Molton who's got NFI and can give somghing out based on the loudness of the appealing.

 

[mayhem20202]

I wasn't talking of sale at all when i talk about the comitee of the SMCA.

Point 1- Vice Presidant of the league is voting on whether a team should be in the league but also is in the middle of organising a potential merger with the same team. IMO- doesn't seem right.

Point 2 - Stratford has been the biggest player of this new 1st grade as it was proposed last year after they had a stupid draw. IMO - the bye wasnt the biggest issue but rather the fact that the idiot that did the draw gave you 2 byes in 4 games. At college we had a 2 byes well spaced and it was great to have a weekend of to spend time away from cricket. It made playing sunday games, country week, finals and others easier. IMO- if stratford had a similar draw to college this may not have happened.

Point 3 - How can the BIGGEST club in the town of sale not have a 1st. regardless of past results the facts are they have many kids coming through, had already paid for a pom to com and help them and had set up there club to compete in A grade. If this new comp was a must every club should have been given 12 months to prove that they belong before such major decisions are made. It is only fair.

Point 4- Bairnsdale have a similar draw of playing everyone in a 1 dayer and 2 dayer and have 10 sides. They also run relegation every 2 years to give every club a chance to play a grade and build for 2 years to get there. Our comp has no such incentive for clubs to make it back to a grade. This year Lindenow who has won 8 a grade flags was replaced in a grade by glenaladale who has won 12 a grade flags. Relegation doesn't kill the club like our comp does.

The bottom line is, the SMCA has a responsibility to all it's members to enhance participation of cricket in this area. Not just 1st XI cricket but total. Having 8 1st and 2nd sides makes our comp low for major cricket participation. It makes the strong sides stronger and does not do a thing to promote participation levels for clubs like City, Briag and heyfield. If the league is serious about making 1st eleven better they should spend money on 4 poms, make them captain and play GCL, make them captain City and Heyfield and run 10 sides in a grade.

Everyone keeps saying how only 1 bowler took 30 wickets last year and more cricket means more wickets and runs. Who cares how many wickets and runs individuals make. The season was super close. Till the last game 6 sides could make finals, there was a close semi, a tied grand final, the gcl side lost the GF by 1 run and 1 wicket and the country week side missed the provicional GF by bonus point (after everyone said it was the worst side to go tyo country week)

I am not sure what was wrong with our comp to have major change straight away.

Should have been a 12 month plan of where we are heading and this is what we will do.

They should also look at the grade games and rules.
1- what ball will we use. GCL is white, country week is red, what should we use.
2- They should make caledonia comp run for the better of local cricket. this includes Country week.
3- Is a ball above the head a wide or a no-ball
4- recruit more umpires to look after matches.
5 try and get a premier or even bush rabnger cricket back to the area.
6- allow clubs to have unrestricted sponsor signs on colored 1 day tops.
7 - play with fielding restriction.
8- penilise clubs who under prepare wickets. this is a disgrace.
9- Change the rules so the next time a grand final is a tie there is a winner. Maffra wins fair and square season 08/09 but it should never happen again the same result.


These are all of course just my opinions and i know they are now open to opinion

Hendo, there is a committee of people who have been appointed to run the league. Now, it is a fairly even spread of representatives from most clubs. Sale City are not represented, Briag are not represented and I think that is it. Now, Briag did not show up to the AGM, and Sale City had a person nominate to be on the general committee, however, he was not elected. Now, if people were smart, and had nominated for positions on the Executive, which had no vote cast due to the fact that there were not enough nominees, they could have got on the committee and had their say. However, that is a whole other debate.

In response to your post, the committee has a couple of people from Sale, a couple of Stratford, a couple from Maffra and 1 from most other clubs (from memory, I could well be wrong). If an idea is put forward, and voted upon, and deemed to be the best option for the league, then it is passed and put into action. Stratford, as well as every other club in the 1st XI (besides Sale City) wanted the league to go back to an even numbered competition without a bye. You are in the minority, not Stratford and all the other supporters of an 8 side 1st XI. I can see the arguments for keeping Sale City, and they would be beneficial for Sale City, however, unfortunately for them, they are outweighed by the arguments against keeping them in. It is not Stratford pushing this barrow, it is the whole of the league. Everywhere you went, people were talking about it, and everyone you talk to about it now says that we are in a better position.

 

[BTown Shagger]

Is anyone else mystified by the amount of effort being put into clubs recruiting players, throwing jobs, money etc at them rather than developing their own juniors? The effort being put into guys like Trethowan and Ronaldson is huge, and it surprises me clubs with such good juniors as College and Bundy would bother.

 

[Nugget1985]

Is anyone else mystified by the amount of effort being put into clubs recruiting players, throwing jobs, money etc at them rather than developing their own juniors? The effort being put into guys like Trethowan and Ronaldson is huge, and it surprises me clubs with such good juniors as College and Bundy would bother.

From reports college tried a few responsible things to keep him, including offering job prospects (and a free cricket bat) that he didnt want to chase up (and for a bloke who is 25 lives with his parents in law and had no stable job after going back to the grammar to complete his VCE) would sound promising.

But he has chosen to work at legends and listen to ken baileys shit, sounds to me like college are better off without him.

 

[mayhem20202]

Everyone keeps saying how only 1 bowler took 30 wickets last year and more cricket means more wickets and runs. Who cares how many wickets and runs individuals make. The season was super close. Till the last game 6 sides could make finals, there was a close semi, a tied grand final, the gcl side lost the GF by 1 run and 1 wicket and the country week side missed the provicional GF by bonus point (after everyone said it was the worst side to go tyo country week)

The season was close? The sides that played off in the grand final played 20 games and only lost a combined total of 3 games (and 2 of those were against each other, and the other was a rain effected game that College lost, rather than the other side beating them). That is not close. When you know who is going to play in your grand final in round 3, that is not close. There was no close semi final, there were 2 rain effected shortened semi finals. Of course when the game is shortened to 80 overs, the scores are going to be relatively similar, however, College passed Stratford 5 down, I assume that this is the "close" game you are referring to. A 5 wicket victory is not a close margin in anyone's eyes. The other day (when talking about how good Mark Trethowan is) you referred to how the game was already over when Trethowan got dropped cos of College's batting depth, so, if you were 4 down with 60 runs to go and the game was over, then, that game was never close. The tied grand final was obviously close, but, it was a reflection that the 2 premier sides were mile in front of everyone else.

In relation to GCL and Country Week, how close or not close that was is irrelevant. If you are using the closeness of those 2 sides to winning competitions to show that SMCA has performed well, then, that is understandable. However, the result of a rep game being close does not reflect evenness in a competition. It reflects the performance of the representative team.

The only reason that the competition appeared to be even last year is that because it was so short, there was no time for sides to build gaps between themselves and the competition. In 9 games, it is going to be tough to get any real distance between sides on the ladder, and this was proven by last years outcome. In a 14 game season, with everyone playing each other twice, it will be a more accurate reflection of who is the better team.

 

[BTown Shagger]

From reports college tried a few responsible things to keep him, including offering job prospects (and a free cricket bat) that he didnt want to chase up (and for a bloke who is 25 lives with his parents in law and had no stable job after going back to the grammar to complete his VCE) would sound promising.

But he has chosen to work at legends and listen to ken baileys shit, sounds to me like college are better off without him.

Yeah but it surprises me how College and Bundy chased him so hard. I mean it seems weird that so much effort was out in by Bundy to recruit him when they have a reasonably strong batting line up anyway, and have good young players coming through like Tudor and the Bedggoods. Those young blokes will be batting 8,9,10 the way things are looking. All because they wanted to recruit a guy who is just as likely to leave halfway through the year anyway.
Meanwhile Stratty recruit Jason Bruce for nothing, maybe not as good a player but a decent one who is likely to hang around for years. Much better recruiting methinks.

 

[eagles#3]

I also agree, no other side would sing the song in the middle of the ground under those or any other circumstances.

The facts are
Maffra Won
College Lost

But there was no need for the song to be sung in the middle of the ground. It wouldn't happen in footy and it SHOULDN"T happen in cricket.

i agree it would be better to sing song in club rooms,and in your "inner sanctum"but there is no rooms at bundy just a tin shed that both sides share! and im pretty sure u would sing the song on the ground after footy grand final.not sure if sale did last year, but why wouldnt they?

 

[the Ultimate Warrior]

College only played City and Wurruk once and still played finals. We also had wash out and lost a rain effected match. City being in does not effect the good sides anyway. If you missed the finals because you only played City once you shouldn't be there as a challenger anyway. College only beat City by a droped catch. Interesting if the catch was held if the same result would have happened in the off season.

If the person who did the draw wasn't so ordinary the draw would sort it self out over the years anyway. One year you might be unlucky but over the course of time it would and should be fair.

6 sides who can make the finals in the last rd is a close year.

People say stiff shit to those who play GCL. They should just cop it. No wonder the best players don't always play.

And lastly i agree that city have been terrible over the last few years but no one could say that they are not on the improve. Everyone says Wurruk are gone in a few years so why not cut them now? Let Ian and the couple of others filter back into the comp and keep the clubs that are here for the long run. There is no relegation rule in place!

And people are just stupid if they think City playing B grade for 2 years will make them better. They will loose players, juniors will leave to play at a A grade club and it will ruin them. I just hope who ever finishs last this year, whether it be College or Wurruk that they get relegated. That means the league still has some intgrety.

The league hasn't made on dission in the last 2 years taht has been seen as conflicted.

I think it is time that the association is represented by a member of each team, that way it will get rid of peoples perception.

Peoples perceptions are peoples reality!

 

[the Ultimate Warrior]

i agree it would be better to sing song in club rooms,and in your "inner sanctum"but there is no rooms at bundy just a tin shed that both sides share! and im pretty sure u would sing the song on the ground after footy grand final.not sure if sale did last year, but why wouldnt they?

Prob the point about bundy's rooms makes it hard. Not sure how i would have responded but the players around me wouldn't have allowed me to sing the song.
I guess when a side has waited a while to win one they respond different to side who has been there before.
Example - your first flag at maffra footy would have been more wild than your last, on the ground i mean.

 

[BTown Shagger]

College only played City and Wurruk once and still played finals. We also had wash out and lost a rain effected match. City being in does not effect the good sides anyway. If you missed the finals because you only played City once you shouldn't be there as a challenger anyway. College only beat City by a droped catch. Interesting if the catch was held if the same result would have happened in the off season.

If the person who did the draw wasn't so ordinary the draw would sort it self out over the years anyway. One year you might be unlucky but over the course of time it would and should be fair.

6 sides who can make the finals in the last rd is a close year.

People say stiff shit to those who play GCL. They should just cop it. No wonder the best players don't always play.

And lastly i agree that city have been terrible over the last few years but no one could say that they are not on the improve. Everyone says Wurruk are gone in a few years so why not cut them now? Let Ian and the couple of others filter back into the comp and keep the clubs that are here for the long run. There is no relegation rule in place!

And people are just stupid if they think City playing B grade for 2 years will make them better. They will loose players, juniors will leave to play at a A grade club and it will ruin them. I just hope who ever finishs last this year, whether it be College or Wurruk that they get relegated. That means the league still has some intgrety.

The league hasn't made on dission in the last 2 years taht has been seen as conflicted.

I think it is time that the association is represented by a member of each team, that way it will get rid of peoples perception.

Peoples perceptions are peoples reality!

The comment i put in bold is strange to me. Say for example it is us at Briag who come last, which i hope wont happen but is probably more likely than some others, why should we get relegated. There is a major difference between finishing last and being competitive and losing 15 or so games outright in 2 years like City. Even in our absolute worst year when we lost Burgeil, Connoly, Gieschen, Shingles Jones etc we still won a game and never got outrighted. Say this year if we did come last i daresay with Bolton Philips Anlezark and the like we'd beat City and any B grade side with ease so why should they get promoted? Same goes for the likes of RK, Wurruk and the other supposed weaker teams.

City didnt get relegated cos they were last but cos they were far below A grade standard. The fact they only made 26 against us on a road at Briag with Sandison Nicholas and Anlezark bowling shows this.

Also the fact i made a 145 against them forever proves they arent A grade level

 

[Nugget1985]

College only played City and Wurruk once and still played finals. We also had wash out and lost a rain effected match. City being in does not effect the good sides anyway. If you missed the finals because you only played City once you shouldn't be there as a challenger anyway. College only beat City by a droped catch. Interesting if the catch was held if the same result would have happened in the off season.

If the person who did the draw wasn't so ordinary the draw would sort it self out over the years anyway. One year you might be unlucky but over the course of time it would and should be fair.

6 sides who can make the finals in the last rd is a close year.

People say stiff shit to those who play GCL. They should just cop it. No wonder the best players don't always play.

And lastly i agree that city have been terrible over the last few years but no one could say that they are not on the improve. Everyone says Wurruk are gone in a few years so why not cut them now? Let Ian and the couple of others filter back into the comp and keep the clubs that are here for the long run. There is no relegation rule in place!

And people are just stupid if they think City playing B grade for 2 years will make them better. They will loose players, juniors will leave to play at a A grade club and it will ruin them. I just hope who ever finishs last this year, whether it be College or Wurruk that they get relegated. That means the league still has some intgrety.

The league hasn't made on dission in the last 2 years taht has been seen as conflicted.

I think it is time that the association is represented by a member of each team, that way it will get rid of peoples perception.

Peoples perceptions are peoples reality!

GCL has been played on sundays forever, everyone knows that. If people dont want to play sunday cricket they dont play, the reason good players dont play is because of Ian and the fact the league were suspending players for not playing. No excuse would do and the league were suspending players at every chance they could, so why play when you get treated like this? To all players club cricket is more important than GCL.

I was talking about the fact that the draw is unfair over the year, how can you have an even competition when the draw is meant to even itself out over two years when your side changes so much????

If your so passionate about Sale City being in the competition i suggest two things A, join the SMCA commitee and B go play for Sale City.

You are in a minority of maybe 2 per cent hendo. Your fighting a losing battle and putting up arguments that dont prove why Sale City should be in A grade right now.

As Btownshagger said the league has omitted City because they are below an A grade standard thats all, it makes complete sense because you improve the overall standard of the league and make it completly even becasue you then play everyone twice.

 

[Shinboner4life]

From reports college tried a few responsible things to keep him, including offering job prospects (and a free cricket bat) that he didnt want to chase up (and for a bloke who is 25 lives with his parents in law and had no stable job after going back to the grammar to complete his VCE) would sound promising.

But he has chosen to work at legends and listen to ken baileys shit, sounds to me like college are better off without him.

In regards to the job prospects Bundy have put an apprenticeship on the table in writing which college were not able to do after trethowan gave them considerable amount of time. I dont know ken bailey myself and i have heard mixed opinions about the man but he seems to have the connections and resources to get something done.
I dont think you can blame a guy who has lived in the town for 2 minutes and has played about 4 games for his previous club to move on and try and forge a career for himself. When speaking with him he also stated that college were offering him more money but it was the fact that he could have more control over his work with legends and the fact that a apprenticeship was pencilled in.

Its a no brainer i would have thought.

 

[Nugget1985]

In regards to the job prospects Bundy have put an apprenticeship on the table in writing which college were not able to do after trethowan gave them considerable amount of time. I dont know ken bailey myself and i have heard mixed opinions about the man but he seems to have the connections and resources to get something done.
I dont think you can blame a guy who has lived in the town for 2 minutes and has played about 4 games for his previous club to move on and try and forge a career for himself. When speaking with him he also stated that college were offering him more money but it was the fact that he could have more control over his work with legends and the fact that a apprenticeship was pencilled in.

Its a no brainer i would have thought.

Interesting...have heard other wise i suppose the warrior will clear this up.

 

[eagles#3]

Prob the point about bundy's rooms makes it hard. Not sure how i would have responded but the players around me wouldn't have allowed me to sing the song.
I guess when a side has waited a while to win one they respond different to side who has been there before.
Example - your first flag at maffra footy would have been more wild than your last, on the ground i mean.

yeh pal that was exactly it,we'd lost 2 grand finals b4 that so it meant abit,

nug dont take offence to this but i think u may lose that bet,hope u dont for your sake, coz it will mean u have had a very good year.id say he would be a gcl standard player for sure

 

[Nugget1985]

Well after yesterday's training i think the stratford first eleven might run the boston marathon...I hope i win the bet.

 

[PORKCHOPWAYNE]

Utter bullshit had ample chances to secure work experience and then maybe an apprenticeship, but refused to pick up the phone and call, very strange and F.....k embrassing to tell you the truth. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink!!!

In regards to the job prospects Bundy have put an apprenticeship on the table in writing which college were not able to do after trethowan gave them considerable amount of time. I dont know ken bailey myself and i have heard mixed opinions about the man but he seems to have the connections and resources to get something done.
I dont think you can blame a guy who has lived in the town for 2 minutes and has played about 4 games for his previous club to move on and try and forge a career for himself. When speaking with him he also stated that college were offering him more money but it was the fact that he could have more control over his work with legends and the fact that a apprenticeship was pencilled in.

Its a no brainer i would have thought.

 

[mayhem20202]

How can a player ask a club to put in writing that they can confirm that he has an apprenticeship with a company that they have no control over? College were able to secure him an interview, what more did he want?

It's interesting that one of the newest players in the league has generated so much discussion on here and also chose to change clubs in the off season, could make for an interesting game between College and Bundy I would think.

 

[mayhem20202]

Well after yesterday's training i think the stratford first eleven might run the boston marathon...I hope i win the bet.

We tend to focus a lot on positives on here, so, I thought I would buck the trend. After attending yesterday's first training session at Stratford, I would have to say, it was the most enjoyable and versatile cricket training sessions that I have had in my cricketing life.

I am not going to say that it is going to result in me or any other Stratford player making 1000 runs or bowling 150 ks per hour, however, it will certainly make training less of a chore and more of an opportunity to improve this season.

I know it is early in the season, however, I can confidently say that if Jie Van Berkel doesn't take one wicket or make one run, Stratford Cricket Club will be a much better club for having had him as their coach.

Now, let's just hope he takes 70 wickets and chips in with a few runs as well.

 

[the Ultimate Warrior]

GCL has been played on sundays forever, everyone knows that. If people dont want to play sunday cricket they dont play, the reason good players dont play is because of Ian and the fact the league were suspending players for not playing. No excuse would do and the league were suspending players at every chance they could, so why play when you get treated like this? To all players club cricket is more important than GCL.

I was talking about the fact that the draw is unfair over the year, how can you have an even competition when the draw is meant to even itself out over two years when your side changes so much????

If your so passionate about Sale City being in the competition i suggest two things A, join the SMCA commitee and B go play for Sale City.

You are in a minority of maybe 2 per cent hendo. Your fighting a losing battle and putting up arguments that dont prove why Sale City should be in A grade right now.

As Btownshagger said the league has omitted City because they are below an A grade standard thats all, it makes complete sense because you improve the overall standard of the league and make it completly even becasue you then play everyone twice.

I am not passionate about Sale City but rather passionate about correct processes being made on all major decisions and in my theory the SMCA has been to conflicted for to many years.
I am worried that IF my club needs support it is not there. As i am worried if your club ever finds itself in trouble, will the comitee make the right decisions.
20 years ago the league always assisted clubs to improve them. they helped with mergers, recruitment and so forth. Now the league looks after there own. it is not represented by a whole and to many clubs have the ability to have double votes on issues. This happened last year when S.Nicholls was stuffed around. A Maffra and Bundy person got to vote on whether he got cleared. Now he plays in T'gon. More and more people are being stuffed around. Again perception is reality. No one can convice me that decisions are made in what is best for there home club. As you said home clubs are more important than anything else.
Just like your point with Ian and suspending players, to many major decsions are being made without it being fully looked at.
I agree with a 8 team a grade - i don't agree with the process and i believe it is not in the best intrest of local cricket going forward.
END OF MY OPINION ON THIS.

 

[Nugget1985]

We tend to focus a lot on positives on here, so, I thought I would buck the trend. After attending yesterday's first training session at Stratford, I would have to say, it was the most enjoyable and versatile cricket training sessions that I have had in my cricketing life.

I am not going to say that it is going to result in me or any other Stratford player making 1000 runs or bowling 150 ks per hour, however, it will certainly make training less of a chore and more of an opportunity to improve this season.

I know it is early in the season, however, I can confidently say that if Jie Van Berkel doesn't take one wicket or make one run, Stratford Cricket Club will be a much better club for having had him as their coach.

Now, let's just hope he takes 70 wickets and chips in with a few runs as well.

I will definately second that..tremendous first impression left on me

 

[Nugget1985]

I am not passionate about Sale City but rather passionate about correct processes being made on all major decisions and in my theory the SMCA has been to conflicted for to many years.
I am worried that IF my club needs support it is not there. As i am worried if your club ever finds itself in trouble, will the comitee make the right decisions.
20 years ago the league always assisted clubs to improve them. they helped with mergers, recruitment and so forth. Now the league looks after there own. it is not represented by a whole and to many clubs have the ability to have double votes on issues. This happened last year when S.Nicholls was stuffed around. A Maffra and Bundy person got to vote on whether he got cleared. Now he plays in T'gon. More and more people are being stuffed around. Again perception is reality. No one can convice me that decisions are made in what is best for there home club. As you said home clubs are more important than anything else.
Just like your point with Ian and suspending players, to many major decsions are being made without it being fully looked at.
I agree with a 8 team a grade - i don't agree with the process and i believe it is not in the best intrest of local cricket going forward.
END OF MY OPINION ON THIS.

There was actually a precedence on this made back in the 70s, when Tom Young??? wanted to transfer to tinmaba they stopped him beacuse it would make them too strong.

College fucjked up by listing him as a professional player too.

This makes no sense you agree with an 8 team comp but believe its not in the best interest of local cricket???

 

[mayhem20202]

A Maffra and Bundy person got to vote on whether he got cleared. Now he plays in T'gon. More and more people are being stuffed around. Again perception is reality.

You keep saying that perception is reality, well, the perception around the league for years has been that College have been paying more than 2 players, the reality is that they probably haven't. This perception may have bitten them on the ass when it come to Steve Nicholls.

Unfortunately, they had registered 2 pros for 2008/09 (reality) and apparently, one of them wasn't getting paid (don't care with this is reality or not, it is irrelevant, as the reality is, he was listed on the pro players register). When College attempted to clear Steve Nicholls and list him as a pro, by taking another one of their pros off the list, the league didn't see this as suitable. Like it or not, the league upheld the correct rules. Yeah, I understand that in between College lodged a new clearance without the pro player section ticked, but, you don't get 2 bites at a cherry unfortunately. As soon as College/Steve ticked that box, he was never going to be allowed to play for College in 08/09.

Your catch phrase, perception is reality, is true for fairly narrow minded people who don't ask questions. I know when I hear something, or something appears a certain way (perception), I ask questions and wait until I know for sure that it is the case before I decide it is reality.