An evening with Sir Garfield Sobers

West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers is coming to Scotland next month and will be holding a free presentation night and “Q & A” session at The High School of Glasgow, 637 Crow Road, Glasgow, G13 1PL, on Tuesday the 6th of June 2017, starting at 7pm.

Spaces are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis. To secure your place please email: jed@inspiresport.com.

Reminder: Complying with WDCU Rules & Playing Conditions

Analysis of the first two weeks of Umpires Reports highlights there are areas of the League Administration Rules and Playing Conditions that the WDCU CMC feel clubs need to reminded of:

  • League Administration Rule Appendix 1.b.vi  The pitch shall be swept and remarked (and rolled if requested) during the interval between innings.  There have been too many instances already of home clubs failing to action this requirement.
  • Saturday league Playing Conditions: Appendix 7 (at the end of the 1st Innings) The D/L operator will enter this information into the software, produce 4 copies of the over-by-over printout and distribute one copy each to the Home Captain, the Visiting Captain, the Scorers and the Umpires.  Again there are far too many Umpires reporting back the failure to do this. The CMC would recommend ALL clubs familiarising themselves with Appendix 7 and their obligations within that Appendix.
  • League Administration Rule 14.e  This fee should be paid to the Umpires at the tea interval, if not before.  Can all clubs please ensure that they follow this rule as it is not happening in all cases.

Please note that these are not all of the areas where clubs are failing to comply, just some of the more common ones. The WDCU CMC also note that clubs should familiarise themselves with all rules & conditions of the respective competitions and that they are obliged to comply with these rules in ALL aspects applicable to that club. Failure to address or achieve these conditions may result in sanctions being applied.

The League Administration Rules and the Playing Conditions are available on the WDCU website in the Document Centre (https://wdcu.co.uk/document-centre/)

TR ‘Big Ron’ Irvine

It is with great sadness that the WDCU has learned of the sudden death on Thursday 4th May of Ron Irvine.

Big Ron, as he was known to everyone, was a larger than life character who played for Greenock CC 1st XI during the period from 1955 to 1974, captaining the team in 1967 and 1968. During his 1st XI career, he scored 1,736 as a hard-hitting lower-order batsman, and captured 203 wickets, bowling at a fast-medium pace from quite a height. In recent years, he had taken up umpiring and enjoyed several years on duty round the grounds of the west of Scotland before ill-health forced him to give this up.

We send our deepest condolences to his widow, Doris, and the rest of his family.

Sandy Strang – funeral details

Details of Sandy Strang’s funeral are now available.

Sandy’s funeral is a private funeral, but a memorial service will be held at Sherbrooke St Gilberts Church, Nithsdale Road at 12.45pm on Wednesday 10th May which anyone wishing to attend may do so.

Sandy Strang

The WDCU is deeply saddened to learn of the untimely death of Sandy Strang after a short illness. Sandy played at a high level for Clydesdale and Ferguslie for many years, with shorter spells at Kelburne and Poloc. He captained Clydesdale, and enjoyed 6 Scottish Cup wins in his career. He recently served as a Board Director of Cricket Scotland, and Executive Committee member of the WDCU until his recent illness brought an end to these roles. He was much more than just  a ‘cricket person’ though, being equally gifted as a teacher, after dinner speaker and journalist, as well as an amateur footballer good enough to gain a Blue for Cambridge and play for Queens Park . The fulsome tributes appearing on social media from a whole range of sources bear witness to how highly he was regarded by so many. He was a fierce competitor and a gentleman, both on and off the cricket field. He will be greatly missed and our condolences go to his family and friends.

We understand that there will be a private funeral followed by a memorial service, and details of the latter will be announced when available.

The WDCU understand that many clubs may wish to pay their respects to him as appropriate before this weekend’s matches and would be fully supportive of this and suggest it is managed by the captains and umpires.

2017 Duckworth Lewis Stern

The CMC, following recommendations by Cricket Scotland are advising that for 2017 clubs should use Duckworth Lewis Stern v2.0.  The software should already have been emailed to clubs by Cricket Scotland. If clubs don’t have a copy then it is available on the WDCU website (zip folder) or by emailing the Administrator. Note that this is mandatory for the Premier, First and Second Divisions.

For all other divisions, if a computer is available, then the above should be followed, where a computer is not available, then the CMC have agreed that they can use a suitable app on a phone/tablet etc.  It is recommended that one of the following apps are used:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/duckworth-lewis-calculator/id525417125?mt=8

or

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.rfear.android.dlcalc&hl=en&rdid=uk.co.rfear.android.dlcalc&pli=1.

(Please note that when using an app, Umpires and both Captains must agree what app is to be used). Finally, the current Duckworth Lewis v1 paper tables can be used only in the exceptional circumstances that technology fails. Clubs are reminded that the objective is to achieve a result, and that the spirit of the game must be the first priority when matches are decided using this method. If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to contact the Administrator.

SGM and EGM note of thanks

The WDCU CMC and Executive Committee would like to thank the member clubs for the excellent level of attendance at the SGM and EGM on Thursday evening, particularly noting that Bute County CC, Galloway CC and St. Michael’s CC made the effort to send full representation. The CMC would also like to thank the clubs for the overwhelming vote of confidence received at the SGM, and will continue in their efforts to serve the best interests of our member clubs.

SGM reminder

Ahead of tomorrow night’s SGM and EGM, clubs are reminded that they are entitled to send a maximum of one, or two representatives to these meetings depending on their membership category. In addition WDCU Committee members may attend, but can only vote as a representative of a member club, and not in their capacity as a WDCU Committee member. Clubs should note that any additional representatives beyond the entitlement will not be admitted to the meeting.

The SGM will only consider the motion before it, and any matters raised not pertaining to this will be declared inadmissible. Where appropriate additional matters can be raised at the EGM

Joint statement Issued by WDCU and Cricket Scotland

Following a decision of a Panel established by Cricket Scotland (“CS”) under the appeals procedures of the Western District Cricket Union (“WDCU”), CS and the WDCU jointly announce that GHK CC will play in WDCU First Division in 2017. This follows legal opinion on the Panel’s decision sought by, and addressed to, CS from independent legal advisers provided by sportscotland.

CS does, of course, support the Panel’s decision and its implementation, as it would any decision by a panel appointed by CS; it notes, however, the disappointment expressed by both the WDCU Executive and Cricket Management Committees (“CMC”) at the decision, and also notes the motion that is before a Special General Meeting of the WDCU being held on 20 April 2017 which, notwithstanding that GHK CC will play in the WDCU First Division in 2017, seeks confirmation of member clubs’ confidence in the CMC and their agreement with the principles behind its original decision.

CS emphasises that it fully supports the WDCU, its Executive Committee and its CMC in their drive to encourage the development and growth of youth cricket in the west of Scotland, a drive that is completely aligned with the CS strategy and with that of sportscotland and the ICC.  As part of that drive, the WDCU and its committees continue a long standing commitment to require clubs in its top two Saturday League divisions to have a junior programme meeting updated criteria referred to in the WDCU’s Saturday League Administration document; there are consequences for clubs that do not meet applicable criteria. CS fully supports this approach. The updated criteria were incorporated after initiation of the appeal process by GHK CC referred to above.

As the governing body for the sport in Scotland, CS also fully supports, and has full confidence in, the WDCU in its wider management of club and representative cricket in the west of Scotland, and particularly the key role that the CMC plays in this.  In recording its support, CS understands that the WDCU firmly believes that both the development of cricket and the Spirit of Cricket should remain central to the design of its league rules as well as their subsequent application.
Commitment by clubs to grow junior participation in cricket is crucial for the long term health of the sport in Scotland. Both CS and the WDCU strongly believe that clubs, particularly with teams playing in higher Saturday League divisions, have a responsibility to respond constructively, positively and proactively to this need and to take all the steps they can to support delivery of this objective. WDCU and CS remain committed to assisting all clubs in achieving the required minimum standards for provision of youth cricket including policy development, recruitment, coaching, safeguarding and fixtures.

Social media – a reminder

As we approach the new season, players and officials are reminded of their responsibilities when using social media, in particular, but not limited to, comments on cricket matters.