“Twitter: a place where people announce their problems to the world, but not to the person they have a problem with.” is, ironically, a post from Twitter in the week that this column was accused of #bias and prejudice on social media. If the persons concerned had actually wanted to ask for any changes to the way the clubs or their figures are presented each week, surely an email to the address (which is published every week) would have sufficed. However, one does not wish to crush their self-righteousness, their desire for publicity nor their search for validation and should anyone else wish to join them on their mountain-top, the relevant twitter account is @craigpcc and the email address remains craig@cricket.ie.
This week saw a large number of teams play their last game of the 2013 season. A return to the sweaters and undershirts of April, but one last chance to cavort and frolic across the field before the dark months of winter commence. One last chance perhaps to secure a league title, avoid relegation or just accumulate fantasy points. There will be no update next week, this will give skippers time to ensure all result cards are submitted and included in the final season-ending table due to be published on 26 September when all games are done and dusted, league positions finalised and my gear will be well and truly buried in the attic for its 6 month hibernation.
With so few games remaining there will be limited movement within the table, but we will be there to document them all, or rather the submission of the scorecards. It is the information entered by the home captain that goes to make up the statistics shown here, so if you think they are wrong, please check your captain’s scorebooks. This week’s statistics are missing 9 games. So if you think your figures are not correct, please first check with your captain that all games have been included. Some games are missing from this week’s figures, but no naming and shaming yet.
2013 has been a bumper year for cricket. More games played, warmer weather, drier outfields, they have all aided the total of points collected. In the whole of 2012, 681,236 points were scored by 2,159 players. So far this season, 842,161 points have been scored by 2,233 players.
Here are a selection of categories with the 2013 total so far (with 2012 in brackets) and the comparison with 2012.
Neither of last week’s leaders played at the weekend, at least in relevant games for this table. Pat Collins [R&SPU] has finished his season and Eddie Richardson [North County] made his Irish debut. Despite not playing they have retained their lead, although Simmi Singh has now passed the 2,000 point mark and closed the gap to 193 points. With Division 1 and 2 cricket finished for the winter it may be the only challenge could come from the lower leagues. For our leaders their total of 2,194 points has already outstripped last season’s winner, R. Meraj [Laois], who had a total of 1,806.
The leading run scorers also remain the same with only Lynal Jansen [Rush] and Pat Collins [R&SPU] passing 1,000 runs. Three players have passed 900 runs, Eddie Richardson [North County], H. Tanveer [Civil Service] and K. Khan [R&SPU]. A further four have passed 800 runs.
Simon Rice [Greystones] captured two victims this week to advance to 57 wickets and Adam Ellison [Rush] also passed 50 wickets. M. Singh [Greystones] and Fiachra Tucker [Pembroke] are just one away from 50 and Fiachra’s brother Diarmaid Tucker [Pembroke] was stymied by the weather on Saturday and a low total to defend on Sunday when his challenge to Fiachra faltered and he remained on 48 wickets.
Robert Forrest [Clontarf] has the most catches with 27, but Nic Pretorius [The Hills] has 35 dismissals including a leading 10 stumpings.
Player Unregistered has also had a good season. 120 runs and 8 wickets whilst playing for 13 clubs. 3 times for Knockharley and Merrion, but also for Castleknock, Adamstown, Malahide, North County, Pembroke, Phoenix, R&SPU, The Hills, YMCA, Lucan and Balbriggan. In total, 460 points, good enough for 757th place.
Congratulations to the Leinster Lightning team who still have a chance of sweeping the Inter-provincial series at T20, 50 over and Three Day levels. It is fantastic that Cricket Ireland have taken this step to bring us closer to Test recognition and great that it is our own province that leads the way.
Congratulations too for the Irish side which have had a superb summer, playing England in front of 9,000 at Malahide, securing qualification for the next world cup and looking forward to the Inter-Continental cup final before the year’s end. Kevin O'Brien has now reached 200 caps and the neccesary blooding of new players continues with Craig Young and Andy McBrine making their ireland debuts this very day. The future is bright.
Close to 2,000 games of cricket will have been played in the Leinster leagues and cups this season. What is not often appreciated is the work done in the background to ensure that so many games do take place. The amount of texts, phone calls or any other communications by each captain to ensure 11 players take to the field. The grounds-men who toil unseen, although not unheard perhaps, throughout the summer, preparing wickets and mowing outfields. The administration people who have to submit starring lists, scorecards, collect subscriptions and fill forms. Bureaucracy pervades all parts of life and cricket is no exception. The people who prepare our drinks and our teas, turning up week after week, often without appreciation. People who give up their time to officiate our games; umpires and scorers. Parents, who travel to rarely visited parts of Leinster; bringing players to junior games in the morning, adult games in the afternoon and sit watching, sometimes unaware of what is happening around them. There is no fantasy table for them; no recognition for their efforts. I urge you to show your gratitude to these people before heading into hibernation. One day they might not be there.