Sure there’s a grand stretch in the evening now and no longer am I getting up in the dark to go to work, nor travelling home again in the dark. Vitamin D is flooding back into my body and the fear of rickets is receding. The Six Nations rugby is past its halfway point and with Ireland having one draw and two defeats, it is not attracting the amount of media attention that it can do when hopes are high. Formula One has started testing in Barcelona and St. Patrick’s Day is fast approaching. The Irish Women’s team flew out to India on Tuesday, whilst the Men’s squad are already in situ and both sides are eager to get on with their World T20 campaigns. All of this does mean that our domestic cricket is getting closer and soon we will be outside, albeit under multiple layers of clothing with gloves and hats, but we will be outside.
Another sign of the impending season was the LCU Spring AGM held last week in Clontarf. President Roland Bradley chaired the meeting, wielding his gavel and giving plenty of speaking time to all and sundry. Some of the topics have been reported upon in other articles and I shall not repeat those, but one item did come up which caught me by surprise, but upon “mature recollection” makes sense and actually will improve cricket in Leinster. Yes it is that important, although nearly entirely for teams in the lower divisions.
The Starring List is there for ensuring that the players playing for clubs with more than one team are doing so at an appropriate level for their talents. Eight players are named on a side and are placed “above the line”. These players may not play for the team below, but of course can play for any higher teams. The three spots “below the line” are then filled with players who may be able to appear for the team immediately below as well as any higher teams. Under previous regulations, the team below could select from the team above players from below the line. For the top divisions, only one player could be selected from the higher team, but in the lower leagues, two players could be selected. However, when the higher team is playing in, say for instance, Division 8 and the next team is playing in Division 14; bringing down two players from below the line could add a significant amount of talent to a Division 14 side, even a game-changing amount. To counter this situation the Open Competitions Committee (OCC) have amended the regulation to bring consistency and transparency to all by making it only possible to select one player from the higher team for all sides in all 16 divisions. It will mean that some teams will have to find an extra player from their own starring list, or even further down the list/club, but it will hopefully provide a more level playing field for the other players on the pitch and more even and closer games.
It is good to see the OCC taking such progressive steps in the administration of our game. However, one of the issues to be raised at the AGM was how does the OCC learn of the opinions and ideas of players and administrators and spectators and in fact everyone when framing changes to regulations? To this end Roland Bradley has stated that he will be hosting a forum for all interested parties later in the year, probably after the conclusion of the season. Keep an eye out for more details and more official proclamations than I can provide.
Nets continued this week, albeit with reduced numbers. Whether due to injuries sustained at previous nets or other distractions taking precedence, it is not good when a clubs bottom four teams have a grand total of 7 players at nets. On the positive side, one new member turned up and one hopes that a few more will follow in weeks to come. Only 6 weeks more of nets to go to get the body into a shape. Any shape other than the unfit wheezing lump I am at the moment will do.