As many of you are aware, a very successful Masters Cricket initiative got underway last summer, under the initiative of Cricket Leinster. This article is to announce that this is continuing more strongly this season and to invite more players to get involved.
Master Cricketers are all active "Over 50" cricketers, who are keen to play competitive cricket matches under normal Cricket Leinster Rules but in a pleasant non-league format. Last season nine matches were played in various grounds throughout the province. All the matches were 40-over afternoon games and more than seventy Over 50s cricketers from 12 different clubs participated. The standard of play was at about current CL division 11 level, though the skills and experience of the players ranged from division 13 to former division 2 standard. Most of the players were still playing actively with their clubs and, understandably, clashes of availability occasionally arose.
To add extra interest four teams of Masters were established on a quasi-regional basis, with volunteer administrator-captains: Sandymount (David Cooke, YMCA), North Leinster (Duncan Grehan, Knockharley), South Leinster (Adrian Tudor, Laois) and Dublin City (Niall Carroll, Leinster). Half the matches were played on Saturday afternoons, and half on Wednesdays; half in Dublin and half outside the city. The matches were highly enjoyable and generally went to the last 2 or 3 overs to decide the winners. Team scores of over 200 were the norm. Although the competition was intense on the day, the atmosphere was very sociable and, needless to say, the teas were of a mostly traditional old-world standard.
The target this season is to play more matches and to involve more players. About 14 Masters matches are planned with one every two weeks from June to the end of August in various venues, with the possibility of a tournament day in Rathmines in late August and even a tour in September!
A preliminary fixture list of 12 games has been put together and these are shown below. Two additional dates in Dublin will be confirmed shortly.
| June | ||
| Wednesday | 14th | Laois |
| Wednesday | 21st | Rathmines |
| Sunday | 25th | Athlone |
| July | ||
| Saturday | 8th | St. Columba's |
| Wednesday | 12th | St. Columba's |
| Saturday | 15th | Knockharley |
| Saturday | 22nd | Knockharley |
| Wednesday | 26th | St. Columba's |
| August | ||
| Thursday | 3rd | Rathmines |
| Saturday | 5th | Knockharley |
| Sunday | 27th | Athlone |
| Wednesday | 30th | Rathmines |
We are now putting together a list of those Over 50s who would be interested in expanding their cricket career by participating in this new Master Cricketers initiative. We expect that all who played last year will continue to be available and we would ask them to spread the word in their clubs or elsewhere amongst others that they feel might be interested in Masters Cricket.
Stephen Saunderson has kindly agreed to become Hon. Secretary of Masters Cricket and now wishes to assemble the names and contact details of the 2017 pool of Master Cricketers. We would ask you to please contact Stephen as soon as you can and indicate to him your interest in playing this season.
Would you also please let him know your availability to play in the games listed above? We realise that, because of other potential commitments, this can be difficult for the latter months of the season but if you could let Stephen know of your availability for any of the matches, and particularly for those up to, say, mid-July, that would be very helpful.
Stephen’s contact details are saundersonpvsolar@gmail.com; 087 618 4902 and 0906 488 089
Many thanks for your interest, and we look forward to playing with or against you during the weeks ahead.
Regards,
David Cooke, Duncan Grehan, Adrian Tudor and Niall Carroll
On behalf of Cricket Leinster Masters Cricket
May 2017.