ACAGrades Forum

It's here.

I think you'll find it's been moved/deleted.

Talkinjg of invisible, my post regarding Cults isn't showing on the home page. Is this an ACA conspiracy!?!?!? Check it out in the forum guys!!

Quite right Spicy!! Rest assured, though, The Bons have noticed how well yer doin'!!!

"At the top Bon Accord and Cults both remain on maximum points, following their wins on Saturday; while after their opening weekend hiccups Kintore and Ellon have moved into position close behind" Dunno if its just my eyes but im sure Stoney Thisle are closer behind than Kintore & Ellon after crushing Caledonian!

Why dont we go back to the old set up of a reserve grade and half the fees to clubs that have second teams. If you only have one eleven you pay the full whack. A reserve grade would probably be a better league for the clubs concerned playing against all 2nd elevens, but I doubt if it would be voted for.

Or we get an extra vote at the AGM in recognition of the fact that we're paying more per game than anyone else in the ACA....

The Artos are a very misunderstood club,salt of the earth man and boy. I've now a long distance relationship wi the Grades but Artisans have not only the best name but the best boyce,a'richt.

Cuckoo!!!! As was the wicket today at Harlaw!!! Great toss to win lol Got a nice cut on my chin to prove it!!! Still 30 points!!!

I support keeping a draw. What is the objective of cricket? Is it just about scoring runs? If so, then maybe getting rid of the draw is a good idea. But I think that it is about scoring runs and taking wickets. To win, a side ought to have to do both. Abolishing the draw would make for boring bowling, designed to contain rather than to attack. If a side cannot take ten wickets, then it does not deserve to win a match. And usually if a side is seeking a draw from an early stage it is because the side batting first did not make a great decision on when to declare - another skill to learn. Rather than complaining that the opposition never attempted to win the game, why not declare earlier, set a target that is tough but tempting and bowl out the side batting second and win? I have actually only been involved in two draws in recent seasons. In one, we were set over 300 to win. I think we finished at about 160 - 4. Set a lower target in more time, we would probably have lost. In the other, the opposition finished something like 120 - 6 chasing 180. Our bowling was not good enough to win. Interestingly, I do agree that the current structure of the games is unbalanced, with one side being able to win without taking a single wicket and the other side having to take ten wickets. My solution would be to remove the rule that the side batting first can only bat for 46 overs. Let's make it more, maybe even unlimited. Yes, before, anyone says so, in theory a side could then bat for 90 overs and kill the game. However, any side doing that consistently would not do very well over a league season. Plus it would say something about the bowling attack of the side which bowled for 90 overs without dismissing the opposition. Positive cricket could still receive encouragement, for example more points could be awarded for a "winning draw" than a "losing draw", with a "winning draw" being awarded to a side with a higher run rate.

Imagine trying to pass any idea at the agm......

What are we trying to do here? Are we trying to satisfy the current playing crop (fossels et al), or are we trying to attract new and younger players to take up the great game of cricket? All I know is that 20-20 style cricket is being flogged to us on TV as the new, exciting and dare I say it popular format. Now, watching 2 blokes dead bat balls 5 feet off the strip for no run, over and over for fear of giving up their wicket will not attract new players to Grades cricket. I now play Grades cricket in Australia and have to say that I have gone from one extreme to another. The style here is 45 overs per team, straight win for the team scoring most runs, simple. However, in true Aussie spirit, should the team batting second pass the target score with 10 overs left and say 5 wickets left, they can then go on a thrash to score as many runs as they can in the overs left with the wickets left. The scores could be; team batting first, 160 a/o, team batting second; 225 for 9. All to raise percentages and to completely demoralise bowling attacks, trust me, been there. Imagine trying to pass that idea at the next AGM!!

I can safely say that the general view of my club is that the current system needs changing. BUT i also can see that obviously straight win lose cricket is going to be hard to push through.... So the previously discussed activated draw type scenario and change to points system as in my last posting would be ideal if its to remain in grades cricket....

Big Bad wrote: 2.change the draw points by increasing the points awarded to the "winning" team, say to just a straight 28 points just below the 30 points for a "normal" win? Which would be the "winning team?" The one leaping around hugging each other or the one trudging disconsolately towards the boundary? As for the AGM - you're right that there is nothing preventing the same motion coming back every year, but it could easily be construed as "having a laugh". There are certainly a lot of players in the grades who would like to do away with the draw. As a matter of fact, some of us put a great deal of effort into trying to achieve just that while you were away in the higher leagues. But the point is - and I think this is the thing that you really need to grasp - while there is undeniably a significant amount of support for removing the draw, there is - at present - not enough. But good luck anyway. You'll need it.

Huw wrote: The point (once more) of relating the 2004 saga was simply to make it clear to BIG BAD that he needs to work through his Club, as opposed to getting individuals to join his crusade who very possibly will not have the backing of their club. I don't need to ask what your view is, because I already know it. I just wondered how well it coincides with the view of your club. I wouldn't have a clue about which way every club voted at the AGM - those figures are not recorded as you know fine well. But I do seem to remember seeing the Ellon rep voting to abolish the draw at the 2007 AGM - amused me no end, that did.

Ever been back to the Ferryhill house hotel

A suggestion from within our club..... The new proposal could be that we keep the draw : 1.but the away team automatically "wins" the toss and chooses to field or (dare I say it) bat first, at least it makes it a wee bit even? 2.change the draw points by increasing the points awarded to the "winning" team, say to just a straight 28 points just below the 30 points for a "normal" win? Thoughts

Ha Ha Ha I go off line for a wee while and A, i get shot down by someone from the Esteemed Ellon CC Look now lets be sensible here..... Realistically...... Three options..... Status quo..... Abolish the draw.... or an activated draw As for the AGM there is I very much doubt no ruling that says a motion cannot be presented each year if there is a party of people proposing it... As for the Glory of the higher leagues I don't know what you are implying but as someone who started in reserve grade with Westburn many moons ago to play the places I have and then return to the grades and be faced with such attitudes is very disappointing. Clearly there are people out there who want to see our cricket improved and those who are happy to play on like the days when Westburn existed!!!