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Post by davemorton on Sept 30, 2024 10:45:33 GMT
Something I chanced upon, browsing the Official Site; I would be interested in views. These 'observation days', for boys aged 10-15, take place in the coming weeks and months. Although it says 'days', plural, it is actually only one day per individual boy and must, perforce, be indoors at this time of year. Parents nominate their own kids. My first thought is a positive one, that it is great to have an alternative route into the system, for those boys who missed out, because they go to the 'wrong' school, or play for some unconsidered club, or simply had a bad day when selectors were watching. In the old days (certainly in Lancashire!), corruption was rife. It always looked better in Yorkshire, to be honest, but I'm sure it wasn't perfect. My second reaction is to shudder, at the thought of dozens of talentless kids bowling ball after ball into the side netting, while the one talented one stands, bat in hand, and gets nothing to hit in his 10-minute net. Plus all those stop-at-nothing parents, wheedling and conniving. So, my question is: are these 'days' just a sop to the complainers? Or a real chance of finding an unconsidered nugget? Something really wholesome, good, and valuable? yorkshireccc.com/news/yorkshire-regional-cricket-boys-observation-day-registration-now-open/ |
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Post by newby on Sept 30, 2024 18:44:23 GMT
I'm all in favour of it in principle but it surely depends on whoever is running the days and whether they feel they are just ticking a box or if they really believe in the process. I presume they report to someone and there must be some evidence from previous years as to whether they actually pick anybody up at these sessions.
Parents are an added distraction and though they are needed to get their kids to the venue they should be moved well away once they have helped sort out any paperwork involved. Safeguarding rules of course need to be followed.
Some at this age may display obvious talent, perhaps they have been well coached, while those considered talentless at first viewing may have what it takes in terms of attitude, but will be in need of some proper coaching to bring it out with a bat or ball in their hands.
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Post by tykemania on Oct 1, 2024 11:39:34 GMT
I think the question is, what harm does it do?
If the system is perfect, it gives a second chance to those not picked up already, even if nothing comes of it. If the system is imperfect, it gives an opportunity to those who perhaps don't have the advantage of a private education or coming from schools who supply coaches/selectors to the younger age groups, or who perhaps had an off day, and something may come of it. It should particularly address under representation from certain communities, provided parents and schools engage with it.
The one issue I'd have is it being indoor - could something not have been arranged outdoors instead. I speak from personal experience - I coached for 12 years in London at an unfashionable club (ie. one that chose to play in the Thames Valley rather than County Leagues) - we had some successes, but usually players who I quietly encouraged to consider their options at age 13 or so. Then we had a kid, I'll call him Ali, who came to us at 12 not speaking more than a few words of English. Thing is, the kid could play - I mean really play, he batted like an adult, could bowl everything. He went to two sets of trials in the coming years, was not picked up because his leg spin appeared ineffective in the nets. I replied that I would very much like to see batsmen hit those same shots with 9 fielders around them (the following season he picked up 46 wickets in 48 overs in Under 15s, 27 in 44 in Under 17s and 33 at an average of 16 in our Firsts). OK, his life has not been massively affected - he is doing very well for himself in the law - but I firmly believe with the opportunity he could have been at the very least a good County pro.
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Post by davemorton on Oct 1, 2024 14:37:48 GMT
Oddly, there was Manchester Schools' player called Ali, Akbar Ali, who spoke English like the regular Manchester lad he was. Akbar was a left-arm spinner and, I would say, the best bowler we had in the 20-odd years I was involved. The other good player in our team that year was called John Crawley.
John, obviously, got picked by Lancashire. Wealthy family, big house with swimming pool, Manchester Grammar School - of course he was.
Akbar, however, attended Moston Brook HS, the roughest comprehensive school in the City. He was not on the phone at home, though he had an uncle who ran a garage, and that had a phone. Whether it was picked up by anyone who spoke English...that was a different matter. I know this! Of course, Akbar was never going to get himself to a County game in, say, Lancaster.
Safe to say, Lancashire SCA did not select him, but they did pick a left-arm spinner who went to Bury GS and who just happened to be the son of one of their teacher-selectors. Did anyone say 'bent'?
Well, I said 'bent', often and publicly, and relations were strained, it might be said!
I lost track of Akbar. I know he got married young, and perhaps gave up cricket for a while. I believe he later played in the Lancashire League, and I got a message from him only last season, via the President of Prestwich CC (a teammate of mine, back in the day), wishing to be remembered. Akbar was a beautiful bowler, and a big spinner of the ball, with a fabulous arm-ball. He could have made it, big-time. We will never know.
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Post by donnylad on Oct 1, 2024 20:57:39 GMT
DM and TM make the same case that I did some years ago about selection - especially at school level - the major route into county cricket then and now.
Same sort of thing, Neil lived in a 'mobile home' park, no phone, no car, miles from anywhere, didn't have 'proper' whites, went to a rough 'bog standard' comp, looked like a hooligan. His PE teacher and I got him to the county trials because we were involved and held the trial at the other comp in our town.
The 'chief selector' (the bloke who had run the team for donkey's years) sat at the back and watched us put the local lads through nets, fielding drill etc. "We'll let you know" was his parting shot.
Next meeting the guy produces a list of 14 names ..... all but 2 from public or grammar schools ... and they were NOT at the trials. Only one lad from the trial got any games and he was good, quick and lively and a decent batsman too.
My colleague and I resigned at the end of the meeting.
I hope that this YCCC initiative has a way of giving the Neil's of this world a chance.
Neil played club cricket around here for years, always took wickets and scored runs ..left hander, bowled left arm over, he was quick, very quick.
The lad who got the games eventually took up football (he was a goalie) and played as a professional for 25 years at Ipswich, Colchester, Everton, Luton, Sunderland and Watford. He came on as a sub for Watford in 2007 at the age of 42 making him one of the oldest Premier league players ever.
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