Game plan was stupid
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JULES VERNE was famously responsible for ‘Around the World in 80 Days’, but on Sunday, Northern Counties attempted ‘Around the North Cricket Area in Eight Hours’.
Having been committed to the Reserve Twenty20 semi-finals stages at Strathpeffer and also to a re-arranged league fixture at RAF Lossiemouth, one would have been forgiven for thinking that two separate XIs would have been fielded.
That didn’t transpire, since the same 11 players were involved at the two mentioned venues. At 10am, they took on Ross County in the Twenty20 competition, and having dismissed them for a moderate total and knocked off the necessary runs for victory, they were immediately en route to Lossiemouth.
Arrived there in time for the scheduled 2pm start, and were skittled in 6.2 overs for a paltry 11 runs, which their opponents surpassed in but one over.
Back into their transport for the return journey to Strathpeffer, since the final was due to commence at 4pm. As at Lossiemouth, they arrived on time, only to find the other semi-final between Fochabers and Buckie was still in progress, having been interrupted by inclement weather.
The coast side eventually won; but, due to the slippery outfield conditions, it was decided that the final couldn’t go ahead, and will be rescheduled for another date and venue.
Let’s be fair to the Inverness side. They honoured their two obligations without transgressing any eligibility rules about what players were entitled to participate in the reserve event. However, at what stage did they decide to embrace what could have been three matches with one XI?
Did they notify Ross County in advance that, if successful in the semi-final tie, they would be immediately heading off to Lossiemouth, with absolutely no guarantee they could return to Strathpeffer for four o’clock? But what followed, clearly indicated that was never going to be a problem.
With a stronger team than they had fielded against Fochabers the previous day, at which I was present, all out for 11 does appear superficially to be a somewhat meagre tally.
When Counties arrived at the camp, apparently their captain asked his counterpart if his team could be allowed to bat first, because they had to participate in a Reserve Twenty20 final at Strathpeffer at 4pm. If Lossie opted to take first occupancy of the crease, Counties would have to leave by 2.45pm at the latest, and consequently forfeit the game.
It has been suggested that wickets fell easily, perhaps too easily.
Had the game been brought into disrepute?
At an executive committee meeting on Monday night, at which there was a representative from Lossiemouth, although not from the Inverness club, it was decided there would be a three-day period to allow for any official, disciplinary submissions to be forwarded.
However, yet another twist to this tale. The original fixture between the two teams was supposed to have been played at the Northern Meeting Park, Inverness, on June 4. That date coincided with the RAF Friends and Families Day at the base, and because most of the cricketers were involved, they would be unable to raise a side.
Whereas, as previously mentioned, Counties may not have broken any constitutional rules on the day in question, how do they think the Lossie players felt? A nice, sunny day and here were one and all faced with trying to complete a potential 90-overs game in less than one hour.
All the edibles had been prepared in advance, and that isn’t done with the wave of a wand. Of course, they were overlooked by the away team, although it has been intimated they are prepared to pay for the full cost of the refreshments.
The home club was insulted by opposition hell-bent in honouring two competitions on the same day. Whoever, in the singular or plural, was responsible for this debacle, should put his or their heads above the parapet and offer some form of explanation.
The executive will meet again in two weeks to discuss the issue. There could be an escape clause for the Inverness club in the form of the game being ruled null and void. Nevertheless, some meaningful action has to be forthcoming.
The exploits of Northern Counties made Sunday a complete farce. It wasn’t clever to attempt reserve and senior cricket in the space of a few hours with all the travel which had to be undertaken, especially with the same squad of players. It was stupidity of the highest order and showed utter contempt not only for their senior opponents but also for the recognised NoSCA Twenty20 competition.
From results obtained so far this season in the Macallan League, Counties have most assuredly struggled, and are currently second bottom with one remaining game before the halfway split. Perhaps, the club should consider their position for 2012, and opt to participate in but one league, if they cannot, on a regular basis, field two genuine and different elevens.
Another solution would be the introduction of a ruling which lucidly states that no player can participate in two different events on the same day.
I cannot recall anything similar in almost 50 years within North cricket, and trust that the outcome will uphold the spirit of the game, even if rules have not been transgressed.
