T
the_scoreboard
Guest
How do you think Under 18s cricket has been this season?
-
The first stage of the forum upgrades has now been completed but they remain in a degraded state and are still being worked on.
Please read this thread for more details.
New user registrations are currently disabled.
- Status
mickonline
Winger
Chester le Street lived up to their promise and won DCB regional competion, only game they lost was to Durham City in the final of the cup with their pro (the Australian lad) hitting six off the last ball to win!!
T
The Colonel
Guest
Might be Paul Brigham; he's last year of Under 13s but plays for all sorts of Sunderland's senior sides. Excellent prospect. Washington, I'm told, have the biggest junior setup of any cricket club in the NE. They are starting to put some very good junior sides out and have managed to attract some excellent junior players to their club. They and Durham City have some excellent players and those two clubs will dominate the DCB Central Division for a few years to come would be my guess. The things about Washington and Durham City is that hardly any junior players leave the club until, Durham City wise, it gets to senior level. They are excellent at retaining talent. This is where clubs like Chester le Street CC struggle. They have, for example, lost around 10 junior players over the last few years to Annfield Plain alone.[DOUBLEPOST=1377975052][/DOUBLEPOST]
TBF you could hardly fail to win something or at least get to a final if your junior setup is half decent. They now have 4 tournaments in the new setup if you are an NEPL club:
League
League Cup
NEPL
End of season tournament - bowl, cup, shield, plate etc.
Last edited:
Greavsie
Striker
I think it might have been him actuslly. Saw him hit s straight 6 at burnmoor that landed on the covers. Huge hit
mickonline
Winger
I can only speak for the under 18's at Chester and the younger ones breaking into that squad, but they where, by far the best team in all the leagues. It took Durhams pro, thats Durhams Proffessional overseas player, to beat them in the cup final with the last ball.
I would imagine that next year the team will be there there abouts to again. I know of two of the younger lads who are playing or have played first team for Chester this year. Washington do have a good set and have been developing the set up for years. I remember going in 2007 and there was kids everywhere and its starting to show in their teams now.
Durham City have always had a good set up, at junior level, due to their links to Durham School. Yes Chester do loose players, but that is because the competion for places is massive and everybody naturally wants to play. I know a lot of kids who have left because they can't get Third and Second team places, but due to the very nature of the ability in Chesters teams they are not ready to break into them and have to play the waiting game.
I know one really good lad who went to Anfield plan and dropped straight into the first team, but is this a step in the right direction? We have money offers for my kid to go and play for other first teams but I feel the way forward for him is to stay where he is and play with and against the best in the North East at whatever level the club decides is the best level to develop him. This is the kid that Sacriston were (tongue in cheek I think) accusing Chester of bringing a first teamer from another league into their thirds. And lets not forget that Chesters second team would probably be close to winning the DCL outright.
I would imagine that next year the team will be there there abouts to again. I know of two of the younger lads who are playing or have played first team for Chester this year. Washington do have a good set and have been developing the set up for years. I remember going in 2007 and there was kids everywhere and its starting to show in their teams now.
Durham City have always had a good set up, at junior level, due to their links to Durham School. Yes Chester do loose players, but that is because the competion for places is massive and everybody naturally wants to play. I know a lot of kids who have left because they can't get Third and Second team places, but due to the very nature of the ability in Chesters teams they are not ready to break into them and have to play the waiting game.
I know one really good lad who went to Anfield plan and dropped straight into the first team, but is this a step in the right direction? We have money offers for my kid to go and play for other first teams but I feel the way forward for him is to stay where he is and play with and against the best in the North East at whatever level the club decides is the best level to develop him. This is the kid that Sacriston were (tongue in cheek I think) accusing Chester of bringing a first teamer from another league into their thirds. And lets not forget that Chesters second team would probably be close to winning the DCL outright.
T
The Colonel
Guest
The lads name was Sam. Paul is his dad. My mistake.
Greavsie
Striker
I spoke to his dad that night. Is he a short baldy?
sunlansthebest
Goalkeeper
Haha, in that case you were speaking to my Dad. The kid would've been my brother Paul Woolston.
T
The Colonel
Guest
I know your Uncle, Paul Woolston. works for PWC? Cracking lad.[DOUBLEPOST=1378062024][/DOUBLEPOST]
Given the choice between loitering around in an Under 18 team or playing first team cricket I know which one I'd choose - and it wouldnt be U18 cricket. The best players for the County teams do not play for CLS CC. They play for teams such as Sacriston, Langley Park, Willington and Hetton Lyons where they are pushed on and developed. You can play all you like in your own age group and hang around for a cricket club to tell you what they are going to do or not going to do but you will suffer in comparison to your peers at other clubs because the better players will all be playing at a higher level as well ie an U11 playing U15 cricket, an U18 playing first team cricket etc. To be honest if you are not playing some form of senior cricket by the time you are 16 to 18 then its doubtful that you'll play it for that club anyway.
If you move to another clubs first team and you are any good CLS CC will come along anyway and offer you the big money. They are loaded and can pick and choose who they want.
Last edited:
mickonline
Winger
I take and understand your argument but I have seen, quite a bit, kids pushed into senior cricket far too early and have ended up shot to pieces confidence wise.
I know of one very, very good junior cricketer who was scoring 100's at second team level and was forced into playing First Team. The kid couldn't score a run and was smashed out of the ground whenever he bowled just because he "had to develop". Luckly he left that club and moved to a club that had a supply of good young kids coming through, he dropped to his age group, then Thirds, Seconds and then Firsts, only when he was ready. He took the advice of a good club as when this was and did not force the issue.
Players that suffer by not playing Senior or County cricket? I can only speak for CLS under 18's and I know that their is not one County player in that team, but how do they suffer. They have just walked the DCB competion against teams full of County players!! Like I said I do understand your argument as my son first broke into second team when he was 12 and has played various senior teams ever since, but for sheer enjoying cricket he prefered his age group and Third team. He would be a first teamer if he had not come to CLS but I can't see how he would have developed any further than he has playing lower level first team cricket.
I know of one very, very good junior cricketer who was scoring 100's at second team level and was forced into playing First Team. The kid couldn't score a run and was smashed out of the ground whenever he bowled just because he "had to develop". Luckly he left that club and moved to a club that had a supply of good young kids coming through, he dropped to his age group, then Thirds, Seconds and then Firsts, only when he was ready. He took the advice of a good club as when this was and did not force the issue.
Players that suffer by not playing Senior or County cricket? I can only speak for CLS under 18's and I know that their is not one County player in that team, but how do they suffer. They have just walked the DCB competion against teams full of County players!! Like I said I do understand your argument as my son first broke into second team when he was 12 and has played various senior teams ever since, but for sheer enjoying cricket he prefered his age group and Third team. He would be a first teamer if he had not come to CLS but I can't see how he would have developed any further than he has playing lower level first team cricket.
T
The Colonel
Guest
To be fair its each to his own and I respect what you have said. I guess in reality it all depends on what you want for your lad or lass.
I guess you have to have some faith in the coaches working with the lads not to put them in situations where they get disheartened and if you dont have any then thats when problems start. Fortunately at my lads new club I have the utmost faith in the coaches and the highest regard for them and leave them to it. They wouldnt, for example, put my lad into U15 or Academy cricket if they didnt think he was up to it and I'm sure he will be eased in and out of these games gradually, which is as it should be. However if managed properly then he will, I'm sure, benefit massively from such an early experience.
As for the County again thats a choice. I know talented lads who dont wish to be selected or take part but personally I want my lad to benefit from the best coaching that there is, and thats at Durham CCC/DCB. It does put a degree of additional pressure on the kids but I view that as character building. Few of the lads as we know will go on to play professional cricket but the better they are then hopefully the more they will benefit from being part of the DCB as they get older and play senior club cricket. Some of them might even get paid for doing so!
As we know this year CLS U18s have walked the league and Champions Trophy - next year might be different. Teams come and go as they move on to new age groups. However CLS CC teams didnt walk it at U11s, U13s or U15s. I think I'm correct in saying that none of them won their leagues. Durham City walked it at U11 level (best U11 team in the North East by a country mile, although chucked out of the end of season Champions Trophy I'm told due to a mix up in a fixture with Ryhope/South Shields), Washington walked it at U13 level (lost just 1 game all season to Tudhoe and beat the CLS CC equivalent 3 times IIRC), not sure who won the Durham U15 Central Division; Hetton Lyons?
Its extremely competitive at junior cricket now, the changes in the league structure have seen to that. Exciting times ahead. I'm already looking forward to next season!!
mickonline
Winger
Where you at now?
T
The Colonel
Guest
Annfield Plain CC. Neil Killeen is there. Also about 9 other former CLS CC lads are there.
Moved the bairn in June - didnt go down well with CLS CC!
C
Chestermackem
Guest
Out of interest do the county under 11's still play against Northumberland etc. or do the proper games not start until the under 12's age group?
As for the debate on who to play for etc. It is a choice which only you can make. As long as the standard is challenging the child then it doesn't matter which level they are playing at. I have seen players from 1st teams in other leagues who move to a premier league team and can only make the 3rd team there. Does that mean you should have stayed at Chester? It all depends on the opportunities that the child was likely to get. Your kid was playing u11's and u13's at the time you left and hence was being stretched far enough for his age. Would these opportunities to progress continue at CLS CC? If your child was good enough then yes.
To help with developing junior cricket in the county could you explain the reason why you decided to move your child? Was it simply the lack of opportunities?[DOUBLEPOST=1378116619][/DOUBLEPOST]
Also trying to work out who you are mate as I will know you! The dad of kid with initials JH by any chance, scored a hundred for 3rds the other week?
H
Harry Lime
Guest
Just to add what The Colonel said about pushing younger lads on, The Durham Academy side was set up to do exactly that, to take lads as young as 14 and to expose them to the highest level of club senior cricket (NEPL Premier division) as early as possible under the guidance of the coaches.
After all, Tendulkar played test cricket at 16, if they're good enough, they're old enough.
After all, Tendulkar played test cricket at 16, if they're good enough, they're old enough.
T
The Colonel
Guest
Before I answer anything are you in a position to influence the development of junior cricket in county durham? If so what do you do?[DOUBLEPOST=1378131983][/DOUBLEPOST]
Its a question I ask myself constantly. Why would you stay in a second team if you had the opportunity of first team cricket elsewhere? If you moved and you proved yourself in a first team CLS CC/South North etc. would simply "buy" you anyway and youve made a few quid a week extra. I dont see what you lose by moving.
In answering that myself there is at least 1 lad in the CLS 2nds who has said that he doesnt want to play for the first team and is content to play for the 2nds. With such competition for places all that does is clog up places for the lads chomping at the bit to play 2nd and then 1st team cricket. If they dont want to play first team cricket then they should be moved on.[DOUBLEPOST=1378132610][/DOUBLEPOST]
Exactly. Not only that but if your peers are playing a higher level of cricket and you are not then its my opinion that you will suffer in comparison. They will be better players and they are the ones who will get the better scores and take more wickets. There are a number of 12 & 13 year old lads in Durham County playing 2nd and 3rd team cricket and you can tell by their County scores that it helps them immensely.
Last edited:
C
Chestermackem
Guest
I am involved in junior cricket within the county, I am not employed by DCCC but have done a number of coaching sessions for them in the past. I could have some influence in the direction of junior cricket but I am by no means high up!!
Who is the player who is content at CLS 2nds that doesn't want to play 1sts? AN? As for why somebody might stay and play 2nds... cricket is a sport played for enjoyment. Many seniors are happy not to push themselves as they are content playing at the club where they are happy and playing with mates. I'm not saying this is the right attitude to have, it is just one reason why people don't move elsewhere.
- Status
