The starring list is upon us again. Once a month Clubs and teams have to decide the fate of all of the players and for which team they will appear. Now with the result cards containing so much detail the OCC can quickly work out who is on a list but has not been playing. Each Club has been allocated an OCC member who reviews and works with each club to ensure that their list is current and also proper.
This is done to ensure that the players in a division are, broadly speaking, playing on a level playing field of selection. It is a thankless task for the OCC, but with the advent of technology it is more defined and transparent and going forward it could become the work of computer code rather than humans.
Players’ abilities at the various levels can now be measured, whether by means similar to the fantasy tables, or by some other algorithms. Starring lists could become automatic, with players promoted or demoted by technology. Perhaps there will be far greater flexibility within the starring list with players going up and down teams as determined by unseen calculations: zeroes and ones shuffled within a box.
Where else will technology intrude on traditional human functions within cricket? Computing power has grown so much so quickly. We see the websites, result cards, starring lists and other notifications that 10 years ago seemed laughable. Social Media used to mean sharing the newspaper when you’d finished the crossword, but now it means you can see how games are going all over the province, if not in real time, then damn close to it.
Perhaps it won’t be too long before we see technology’s influence growing even further. We now see pitch maps for bowlers and DRS for dismissals appearing in Test Matches and other internationals. Will we soon see the day when stumps will contain cameras and in conjunction with cameras placed around the boundary, will make LBW and run out decisions? As usual the first consideration is cost, but the cost of this technology is falling all the time as more and more is utilised. As a child jumpers for goalposts were a source of controversy, debate and even tantrums. Will stump cams give us the same fun, or will it be a definite decision to be followed without question, without hesitation? Will future generations laugh when we talk about humans making decisions? Let’s be honest, some, but not all, humans aren’t doing such a great job now. How many times have you heard the umpire ask the scorer, how many to come? That’s counting to six and getting confused. I won’t even go into LBW appeals and decisions made there.
One place where technology will not be playing a part is Pembroke’s attempt to create a new Guinness World Record on 22nd August in Sydney Parade. It is hoped that everyone involved in Leinster cricket who is not playing themselves that day will make the effort to attend and involve themselves in a “keepie-uppie” record for the most people bouncing a cricket ball on a cricket bat. The website for registering is www.cricketwra.com and all funds raised will go to the Lord’s Taverners Charity.
It is not every day that you get a chance to appear in the iconic book of records even once. Ashrita Furman has set 551 official Guinness Records and currently holds nearly 200 records, including the record for holding the most Guinness world records. He has been breaking records since 1979. Just think, this could be the start of something very special for you. More details than I know are available on www.cricket.ie and the very best of luck to all involved.
This Saturday sees Phoenix CC mark the 40th anniversary of women’s cricket in Leinster. The first game (of the modern era as I am sure that games were played prior to this although I have no details) was between Dublin University and Phoenix held in The Park. Phoenix have invited many to their function this Saturday, (which co-incidentially sees Phoenix 5’s bumped from the ground to Castleknock College where they will play Pembroke) in the Clubhouse, where players from all ages will meet and reminisce about sunny days gone past over a pint or two.
Last weekend saw a similar event where the women who have represented Ireland at cricket congregated in Pembroke’s clubhouse to receive their cap numbers. It seems strange now, but there used to be a time when such things were not noted. But someone has now sat down with all of the capped scorecards and worked out that, for instance that Cathy Murphy was the 66th woman capped by Ireland. It was a superbly organised and catered function, although the meal was only for invited guests and not writers of rants on www.cricketleinster.ie.
If one were to judge the event from the quietness of the Pembroke bar, whilst the festivities continued in the ‘dining’ hall, one would have to pronounce that Susan O’Neill (nee Bray) has been the most popular Cap over the years. Now as I was not present in the room it could have been the loudest cheer because she fell from her seat or spilt wine on her dress. However, given her sterling work for the Irish Women and her naturally bubbly self, I am saying she deserved her cheers, as did everyone present.
Speeches came from Mary Pat Moore, the first Irish captain of the modern era and from Isobel Joyce the current captain. Both spoke eloquently and their passion for the game and for their team-mates was evident to all in attendance. They both spoke of the forthcoming series versus the Australians and I expect the crowd to be boosted by past internationals that have slipped from the game and taken their knowledge and experience with them. There was talk of the more experienced, many retired, players passing their knowledge and experience down to the present team. How many follow up on that commitment will be interesting.
The life of Irish Women’s cricket seemed to fall into three categories. “The Pioneers” who started it all, playing whoever, whenever, raising the profile of Women’s cricket here and abroad; “The Middlers”, who took Ireland to World Cups, including a fourth place in 1988 and “The Youngsters”, the present Irish team, a young group who could take Ireland further forwards over the coming years. Quite why it has fallen in such a way with very little crossover is unknown, although I might just ask Clare Shillington who has been involved for as long as ... (sentence stopped before hole gets too big).
Anyhow, it was a great night with many people seeing each other for the first time in many years and picking up straight away. I’m now just waiting for a game to be organised for all of these Ladies and we can see if they can walk the walk, because they can certainly talk the talk into the early hours...