Have a spell

In a game between Lamphey and Pembroke Dock the other week, the home side (Lamphey) were batting and doing quite nicely, pottering along for the loss of a wicket or two when a lad celebrating his 17th birthday came on to bowl.

He bowled beautifully too, landing the ball on a line and length that was enough for him to snare five wickets for the loss of hardly any runs.

Fortunately for the rabbits coming in at 9,10 Jack (I was number 10), Connor Carroll had to come off due to the ECB fast bowling directives.

At 17, he could only bowl 7 overs in one spell and a maximum of 18 in one day. Given bowlers in division three can only bowl a maximum of 9 in a league game his bowling for the day was done.

Him coming off weakened the visiting attack and strengthened the hosts’ hand and helped Lamphey gain a narrow win in a low scoring game.

It’s a scenario that happens across the county every week. Young bowlers come on and a few overs later they come off. It matters little that they are the fittest, most energetic members of the team, rules are rules and they have to be adhered to.

It was interesting then that secretaries for our county clubs received this e-mail from league secretary Steve Blowes:

Good Evening All,

An incident occurred recently where a young player exceeded his allotted overs under the ECB Fast Bowling Directive. In this particular incident, there was an unintentional error by the neutral umpire. I would draw your attention to rule 14 page 74 of the handbook and ask that you inform your captains of the severe penalties that could be imposed if they breach this rule.

Rule 14 on page 74 states that: ‘Should any club be found guilty of failing to observe the current ECB Fast Bowling directives, the defaulting club will lose any points awarded…...’

I’m not sure what the outcome was in that match, I’m not even sure what clubs are involved and whether the offending team did in fact lose any points, the question I’m asking is, does it matter?

For the record I’m not trying to incite any criticism of the county club here either, they’re just doing what they have to do in these situations.

In an age when cricket is supposedly losing popularity is the fact that we limit the number of overs youngsters can bowl a factor in its demise?

Are players, especially those who don’t get the chance to bat being put off by only being allowed to bowl 5, 6 or 7 over spells?

Steve Mills Snr of Johnston seems to think so, he mentioned it in conversation during the winter and it was something I’d never thought of before.

However as someone who bowled up to 12 overs at a time while a teenager at Kilgetty, it certainly never did me any harm and there are plenty of us middle aged cricketers who will say the same thing.

For interest, a fast bowler is deemed as a bowler to whom the wicket keeper in normal circumstances would stand back to take the ball.

So, with this in mind, given that Huw Scriven is one of the best keepers the county has produced, if he stood up to teenager Johnnie White, does this class the left arm quick as not fast?

The batsman may claim he is but Scriven may not so who then would make that decision?

Afterall, if White was bowling to Joe Root, the England skipper would class him as medium pace at best, if I was facing him, I’d think otherwise and rumour has it a few other batsmen would think that way too.

It all comes down to interpretation, but if you are deemed quick, the guidance recommends that in any 7 day period a fast bowler should not bowl more than 4 days in that period and a maximum of 2 days in a row. Age groups are based on the age of the player at midnight on 31st August in the year preceding the current season.

It creates for an interesting debate.

Anyway, Connor Carroll made the team of the week last week, who makes it this time around?

Well his team mate Nick Daley does for a start although his team mate John Cumani narrowly misses out despite taking 5-38!

Team of the week

1. Kevin Pearce (Laugharne) 157 v Cresselly 3rds
2. Nick Daley (Pembroke Dock) 118 v Llanrhian 2nds
3. Jason Phillips (Haverfordwest 4ths) 101 not out v Neyland 3rds 
4. Iwan Griffiths (Llangwm 2nds) 85 not out v Stackpole 2nds
5. Morgan Scale (Burton) 83 not out v Haverfordwest 2nds
6. Craig Butland (Pembroke Dock) 81 not out v Llanrhian 2nds
7. Graham Keene (Llechryd) 6-16 and 34 v Carew 2nds
8. Matthew Johns (Narberth 2nds) 5-16 and 54 (retired) v Saundersfoot 2nds
9. Peter McGilloway (Lamphey) 5-9 v Johnston 2nds
10. Barry Evans (Pembroke) 5-31 and 42 v Kilgetty
11. Ollie Davies (Llangwm) 5-34 v Stackpole

For more reading on fast bowling directives click on this link Devon Cricket