What about us?

We’re a parochial bunch in Wales and perhaps even more so in Pembrokeshire. We tend to look at cricketers with rose tinted specs, thinking that maybe we’re better than we are.

Every club will tell you that a member of their team is the fastest in the county or the best bat, best fielder, best drinker. Hyperbole is a given, it's a local trait that we’re all guilty of.

So, when those involved in junior cricket rage on twitter about the injustice of having just one local player named in the Welsh junior training squads this season out of a total of 122, is that parochialism or realism?

Is that annoyance justified?

There’s no doubt about it there’s some quality players up the line but there’s also some players of quality here too. However players of quality have often missed out on Welsh honours from Pembs, while others, have managed to break that mould.

When I was in school, I found it difficult to fathom why Alistair Platten, Mark Davies and Geoffrey Nisbet never had honours. All three, the same year at Taskers were players of such class that you rarely got them out and if you didn’t get them, they’d certainly get you. They’d shine locally, for Pembrokeshire and while playing  for Dyfed too.

Somehow though, they never got to wear the red cap for Wales.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that I sat chewing the fat with Davies at Hook. He reckoned he was ‘too naughty’ to have been selected.

He may have been mischievous in his youth but would that have been a reason not to select him?

That was back in the late 80’s, a long time ago now but in every year since players would be able to complain of the injustice of not moving on to wear the cap of Wales.

As junior coach Simon Williams tweeted. ‘Close calls definitely dont go the Wests  way. Fast left arm bowler Jonny White has taken 20 wickets in Div 1 (Pembs) at 15.....’.

Richard Howell from Narberth added…’Road stops at carmarthen never changes #westisbest’

White has certainly made a mark on division one cricket this year, he’s taken his chance well but the Mansbridge boys at Saundersfoot are also performing and Noah Davies at Llangwm too.

They’re just the ones I’m aware of, surely there are others in the junior ranks too who have failed to make the cut.

But how are these teams chosen in the first place and who are the selectors in which the dreams of cricketers are slashed or made?

Currently the system is a simple one.

You play well for you club or school, you get recognised and chosen for a regional team. From there you get invited to a National Development Centre where you receive specialist coaching from level 3 coaches and if you’re good enough, you get selected for Wales.

Jonathan Twigg, another to voice his concerns via twitter, was chairman of the regional association last year and believes where we live and a lack of a National Development Centre in the County is holding players back.

“It’s certainly disappointing that we’ve not got a better representation but we’re at a disadvantage because of where we live.

“It’s difficult for young players to travel to Llandarcy twice a week for training especially if they are involved in other sports too.

“It takes a huge commitment from parents to take them to practice where they receive specialist coaching and not everyone can do that.

“If we were able to have our own development centre in Pembrokeshire then we could provide that coaching and then provide the pathways for players to go on to higher honours but the Welsh Cricket Association is adamant that they won’t provide one for Pembrokeshire despite us being willing to invest £100,000 in one.”

Keri Chahal is the Cricket Wales Area Manager for South West Wales and is an ECB Level 3 Performance Coach he understands the concerns our coaches have

“I don’t get involved in selection but I understand the concerns and difficulties that players, parents and coaches have.

“There are some very good players in Pembrokeshire but logistic are an issue for some players and we’re working towards making effective changes in time.”

Dynamic young coach Simon Williams is chairman of the Pembrokeshire Association of Cricket Coaches, he believes the problem is two-fold.

“We’ve had strong squads in the past with a number of representatives from the same age group and some which are not so strong so it’s not quite as clear cut as Pembrokeshire boys not getting recognised.

“Logistics are an issue as the boys have to leave school early and get to Llandarcy by 4pm. That’s not easy especially if you’re involved with other sports and so some boys may not get recognised as they should.

“This is one of the reasons we’ve worked with Keri to arrange development days. We get the Welsh coaches down to showcase these players to them and so they get to see Pembrokeshire players in action. They get to see what Pembrokeshire cricket is all about.

“White is unlucky, but our U12s are strong this year and the only person to be selected is Evan Watts from Haverfordwest. But there are others like Lewis Miller and Shane Norcross, both are good players.

“The problems are the marginal decisions. Do the coaches go with the players they know or those from Pembrokeshire?”

The debate will continue in cricket and other sports but the answers are never easy to find.

Team of the week

1. John Curran (Llechryd 2nds) 204 not out v Pembroke 2nds
2. Dylan Blain (Whitland) 132 v Lawrenny
3. Wayne Howells (Whitland) 84 v Lawrenny
4. Robbie Thomas (St Ishmaels 2nd) 81 not out v Kilgetty 2nds
5. John Palmer (Llangwm 2nds) 80 v Carew 3rds
6. Nick Davies (Carew 2nds) 78 and 6-17 v Whitland 2nds
7. James Caine (Saundersfoot) 68 and 3-35 v Haverfordwest 2nds
8. Rhys Canton (Carew 3rds) 5-26 and 28 v Llangwm 2nds
9. Simon Holliday (Haverfordwest) 5-29 v Pembroke
10. Dan James (Cresselly) 5-30 v Johnston
11. Callum James (Hook) 5-49 v Herbrandston