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[uknsaunders]

having been a 3rd XI skipper, it get's tougher the further down the food chain you get. Captains jobs in 3/4/5th teams are thankless as 1 idiot cries off on Saturday in the 1s and it goes right through the teams until the last captain has to rustle up a player or play with 10. I've had my 2nd XI captain ring me on a friday night to say "I need 4"!.

Guys that kick-off because they've been dropped to another team get on my nerves. Most of the time they are clearly deluded about how good they are and the wasted opportunities they've had. Always somebody elses fault. Quite often they fail when dropped, which is even funnier.

[pie-man]

I think the bit that annoys me is when you have 7 sides out on a weekend (5 Sat 2 Sun), and you don't get a game on either day, whilst others play on both  .

It happened a couple of times last season and it's happened again this weekend, I will always be the first to admit that I will never be a great cricketer, but I've done more than enough to earn myself a place in the 5th XI and proven that I can hold my own in the 3's and 4's.  I also find it particularly galling when you have been netting since January and someone just pitches up and walks straight into your spot on past reputation alone.

Having said that I did vent my anger at the Chariman of Cricket last night and should now be playing on Sunday, not his fault he was away on business when selection took place!!!

Charlie, I thought the sort of blokes being discussed were those that didnt complain...   I think we should all admit that enthusiasm and success go hand in hand; I dont know too many over eager losers!  I suppose Im saying that I wouldnt want to be on the selection commitee - tough juggling act!

[charlie15]

Change club. So many clubs are struggling for players that any number would be grateful to have you play both days. We, as a club, promise to give guys a game over the course of a weekend or week (if a suitable t20 friendly is available) and it keeps most guys on board. We're mindful of guys who help out at a moments notice or aren't the greatest players - and they deserve a game as much as the next superstar.

I'd consider it if I had been around for a bit longer, but I'm only in my 2nd season after 15 years not playing.  Last season was very much getting back into it, whereas this season is really working on improving my game (getting my run rate up and adding more shots).  I can understand to a certain point some of the decisions that get made at selection, but this weekends really no swearing please me off considering we have 11 guys playing on both days!  On the happy side I now have a game on Sunday!

[Manormanic]

selection committees suck - at our place, where in fairness things are a thousand times bettr than they were a decade ago, we started the season with a second XI that had five decent pace bowlers, three spinners and batted down to ten and a first XI that would have finished comfortably second to them.  Thankfully, our Ones skipper has taken some of that on board and thinned out our resources somewhat!

[trypewriter]

Re: quite often they fail - very true - and then it is definitely someone else's fault!  I always found that a bit strange, because on the odd occasions that I was drafted in to play above my level - and naturally struggled - when I did return to something more suited to my ability I found it a darned sight easier.

[tommo256]

One- Banter
Two- spending time with your best mates on a Saturday or Sunday
Three- teas
Four- enjoyment of the sport
Five- character building (abusing each other)
Six- beers and night out

[charlie15]

Charlie, I thought the sort of blokes being discussed were those that didnt complain...   I think we should all admit that enthusiasm and success go hand in hand; I dont know too many over eager losers!  I suppose Im saying that I wouldnt want to be on the selection commitee - tough juggling act!

I know, I know, and I don't mean it to come across as complaining!!!

[uknsaunders]

We always aim to pick to balanced sides. No point the 1s having 9 batsman and the 2's having 3. Everybody plays for fun and having a paranoid captain would wreck a game for 11 guys. Seen it as my time as a 3rd team captain. The 2nd XI skipper berated me for him only having 6 or 7 batsman lol!

charlie15 - you don't improve if you don't play. Good to hear you have a game now but the circumstances smack of a dropout and as sensible as you are you're not getting the right consideration. When I moved up north I moved club after a season as it wasn't working. Haven't regretted it.

[pie-man]

Re: quite often they fail - very true - and then it is definitely someone else's fault!  I always found that a bit strange, because on the odd occasions that I was drafted in to play above my level - and naturally struggled - when I did return to something more suited to my ability I found it a darned sight easier.

I agree with this and I think teams should net and train together for this reason.  We have blokes in our 2nd and 3rd team who find the opening bowler's in their league's pretty easy to face because they net against first teamers. 

[pie-man]

I know, I know, and I don't mean it to come across as complaining!!!

Im only mucking around mate; it is hugely frustrating when you wait all week and then dont get a game!  I think the balance of a 'big' club is to have the strongest possible 1st and probably 2nd eleven and then make sure that everyone below that, who wants a game, gets one!

[PedalsMcgrew]

One- Banter
Two- spending time with your best mates on a Saturday or Sunday
Three- teas
Four- enjoyment of the sport
Five- character building (abusing each other)
Six- beers and night out

Mate, you can come and play for my side anytime.....perfect attitude! 

[pie-man]

One- Banter
Two- spending time with your best mates on a Saturday or Sunday
Three- teas
Four- enjoyment of the sport
Five- character building (abusing each other)
Six- beers and night out

Id have to say...  Teas would be higher than 3 for me!

[trypewriter]

I think by the number of responses so far, that this thread is a good 'un. It has prompted guys to say the un-sayable - and maybe goes to prove that cricket 'club culture' (and I'm saying that without having a pop) is pretty universal. Our skipper often gets the call 'from above' to provide players at short notice which causes him big problems, but rather than feel sorry for himself he feels sorry for the players who have to step up: 'they won't get a bowl and they'll only get a bat under circumstances where they are almost certain to fail - how are they going to enjoy it?' is his view.

[uknsaunders]

We've tried, where possible, to only bring guys up to do something. This week, we've promoted a top order batsman from the 2's into the 1's. He will bat in the top order in the 1s. We're lucky in as much as we are still playing a level below our abilities (we had to start in a the bottom division of our league) and can let guys step up, knowing others will take the strain if they fail. Being a young club we don't have too many preconceived ideas.

[Manormanic]

I think by the number of responses so far, that this thread is a good 'un. It has prompted guys to say the un-sayable - and maybe goes to prove that cricket 'club culture' (and I'm saying that without having a pop) is pretty universal. Our skipper often gets the call 'from above' to provide players at short notice which causes him big problems, but rather than feel sorry for himself he feels sorry for the players who have to step up: 'they won't get a bowl and they'll only get a bat under circumstances where they are almost certain to fail - how are they going to enjoy it?' is his view.

Valid point - I wonder if other clubs have a problem that e're encountering at the moment - we have a Ones side that is fairly "fixed" in the skippers mind and a young twos that are quite strong for the league they're in, but a third XI that is filled with guys who are 30+ and happy to milk huge numbers of runs from very very weak bowling who refuse to step up to play at a level that meets their abilities.  Means that when we have a couple of players missing, I'm pushed to call up lads from the fours who really need to be moving through the threes first!