Cricket web chat with Matt Donlan (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Very interesting Matt, but before you wipe reach for the hankie to wipe the egg off your face i would just like to point out that Sailsbury are actually in bottom spot!

Also with regards to the best amature bowler in the league whilst Jon Baldwin is Ok I would point out that he has 14 league wickets at 20 odd each, also your old mate Herbie is currently on cruches! You may wish to consider Ian Austin at Bash who I am sure most players would go for, or Big Josh at Clitheroe, alternetively what about the two spinners at Ossy, Metcalf & Abid who have nearly 70 wickets between them to date.

As for the Friend brothers at Cherry, whilst they are both quality players, if you are so impresed with them how come your reports have constantly confused them throuought the season?

Is it not about time that the Telegraph employed someone who actually knows a thing or two about local cricket!

On another subject what was Rishy playing at on Saturday following his dismisal? Surely the League captian should maintain better standards!

Ha ha Mark Rishton spat the dummy out big time and should be forced to resign as the League's captain and be disciplined for his actions as well. The reality is hes a Baxenden player and like his captain nothing will happen apart from maybe a reprimand. I have never seen a a bigger set of bad losers in all the years i have watched the Ribb League it was pathetic to witness and i will always remember the term "bucket hands" for years to come!!

Pinch Hitter, could not agree more on your views regarding the fact that the LET should employ someone who does have a clue about local cricket.
As for Donlans views, bowling wise, hows about Onion at Whalley? Batting wise, it's an open field at the moment.
Seedstral, i was there at Bash yesterday, a top win for your boys, Rishtons conduct was completely out of order. However, as we know, the Ribb league will attempt to brush it uunder the carpet and let the clubs deal with it. It happend to bash only a few weeks ago.

I do believe the league dealt with the first incident, and if there has been another incident and its been reported they will deal with it again.

Lets just let them get on with things instead of speculating etc etc

Why moan about petty little things like that when this season is shaping up into a very exciting conclusion - only (circa) 50 points separating the whole league at this stage.

Any club that can go on a 6-7 game winning streak could find themselves well clear at the top.

Seedstral wrote:
Ha ha Mark Rishton spat the dummy out big time and should be forced to resign as the League's captain and be disciplined for his actions as well. The reality is hes a Baxenden player and like his captain nothing will happen apart from maybe a reprimand. I have never seen a a bigger set of bad losers in all the years i have watched the Ribb League it was pathetic to witness and i will always remember the term "bucket hands" for years to come!!

COME ON SHOW YOUR IDENTITY WHAT GAME ARE YOU REFERRING TO ANYWAY AND WHY WERE WE BAD LOSERS??

Wizzz wrote:
Pinch Hitter, could not agree more on your views regarding the fact that the LET should employ someone who does have a clue about local cricket. As for Donlans views, bowling wise, hows about Onion at Whalley? Batting wise, it's an open field at the moment. Seedstral, i was there at Bash yesterday, a top win for your boys, Rishtons conduct was completely out of order. However, as we know, the Ribb league will attempt to brush it uunder the carpet and let the clubs deal with it. It happend to bash only a few weeks ago.

another identity we will never know any why was my conduct out of order obviously you didnt notice the fact that the run out was clearly not out and was in fact at least a yard past the line how would you expect me to react

Why go on hear under a silly name to me its really sad!who cares what rishy did!least he cares alot of people whould of done the same!

Because they can't actually play the game,they get their excitement sat behind a computer screen under a false alias winding people up, dont rise to it Rishy, we had the same incident against Barlick with a debatable run-out and it was dealt with appropriately. Got nothing to do with any of these cowards on here under false names. stick your real names on then lets see how brave you are??

Didn't see the ossy v bash game as I am an East Lancs fan but suspect Rishy not too quick to criticise the ump who gave Callum Waddington not out when clearly run out. Truth is he should accept the decision of the umpire good or bad

stupid stuart come on get your facts write

austin incident was dealt with by bash internally

completely against league rules but sanctioned by mr woodhead and his own personal foot soldiers

the league and clubs voted that all disciplinary issue would be heard by a league arranged meeting at considerable cost to clubs involved and it was a suggestion from bash i believe

weather rishy was in out or shaking it all about is irrelevant he should not abuse the league secretary and one of the more respected umpires

if mr walton cares to report the matter it could be trouble but the carpet sweepers will be hard at work


sooner or later players will be allowed emotional reaction and to speak the truth as will newspaper reporters - dont think thats the right term - purveyors of fabricated stories sounds better

one thing is for sure the ribblesdale league is wash with dual standards in its management thats detracting from some good cricket and competitive action

red rose wrote:
stupid stuart come on get your facts write austin incident was dealt with by bash internally completely against league rules but sanctioned by mr woodhead and his own personal foot soldiers the league and clubs voted that all disciplinary issue would be heard by a league arranged meeting at considerable cost to clubs involved and it was a suggestion from bash i believe weather rishy was in out or shaking it all about is irrelevant he should not abuse the league secretary and one of the more respected umpires if mr walton cares to report the matter it could be trouble but the carpet sweepers will be hard at work sooner or later players will be allowed emotional reaction and to speak the truth as will newspaper reporters - dont think thats the right term - purveyors of fabricated stories sounds better one thing is for sure the ribblesdale league is wash with dual standards in its management thats detracting from some good cricket and competitive action

i didnt abuse the umpire so i would get your facts straight all i did wa say i wasnt out and that i was clearly in if you think that is abuse then the game of cricket is fastly becomming a sport where you cannot do anything without getting your hands slapped and take away the passion in the game

rish wrote:

Wizzz wrote:
Pinch Hitter, could not agree more on your views regarding the fact that the LET should employ someone who does have a clue about local cricket. As for Donlans views, bowling wise, hows about Onion at Whalley? Batting wise, it's an open field at the moment. Seedstral, i was there at Bash yesterday, a top win for your boys, Rishtons conduct was completely out of order. However, as we know, the Ribb league will attempt to brush it uunder the carpet and let the clubs deal with it. It happend to bash only a few weeks ago.

another identity we will never know any why was my conduct out of order obviously you didnt notice the fact that the run out was clearly not out and was in fact at least a yard past the line how would you expect me to react

rishy thats one hell of a shocker if you where a yard in as you quote

just checked back last year bash v whalley rishton run out

spoke to dickie palmer who wasnt in position to judge but has confirmed bash fans where not to nice telling him to get a bucket whilst the ball was forty feet in the air and felt he should have been allowed to drop it before cries of get him a bucket.

not very sporting before he has dropped it

shame no word, after looking at stats, three good knocks whalley pro the old timer fallon and the home pro bobby who looked to lack a supporting iinnings

red rose wrote:

rish wrote:

Wizzz wrote: Pinch Hitter, could not agree more on your views regarding the fact that the LET should employ someone who does have a clue about local cricket. As for Donlans views, bowling wise, hows about Onion at Whalley? Batting wise, it's an open field at the moment. Seedstral, i was there at Bash yesterday, a top win for your boys, Rishtons conduct was completely out of order. However, as we know, the Ribb league will attempt to brush it uunder the carpet and let the clubs deal with it. It happend to bash only a few weeks ago.

another identity we will never know any why was my conduct out of order obviously you didnt notice the fact that the run out was clearly not out and was in fact at least a yard past the line how would you expect me to react

rishy thats one hell of a shocker if you where a yard in as you quote just checked back last year bash v whalley rishton run out spoke to dickie palmer who wasnt in position to judge but has confirmed bash fans where not to nice telling him to get a bucket whilst the ball was forty feet in the air and felt he should have been allowed to drop it before cries of get him a bucket. not very sporting before he has dropped it shame no word, after looking at stats, three good knocks whalley pro the old timer fallon and the home pro bobby who looked to lack a supporting iinnings

ask onion,i agree that was wrong what they did to dickie but how can you stop fans saying stuff? good catch to be fair ,whalley batted well and was a good game

Can't understand what all the fuss is about as all he appears to have said is "excuse me old chap but i thought I was in then"

rishy did you miss this bit in my first post

sooner or later players will be allowed emotional reaction and to speak the truth as will newspaper reporters - dont think thats the right term - purveyors of fabricated stories sounds better

ha ha this is quite funny you muppets that wont put there real names!what a load of rubbish been talked! who cares!!!!!!!!

I was quite close to Palmer incident, didn’t see much wrong with that, just good natured barracking which is part and parcel of League Cricket. Witnessed a lot worse at Hassy in some of derbies with other Rossendale Valley sides.

red rose wrote:
stupid stuart come on get your facts write austin incident was dealt with by bash internally completely against league rules but sanctioned by mr woodhead and his own personal foot soldiers the league and clubs voted that all disciplinary issue would be heard by a league arranged meeting at considerable cost to clubs involved and it was a suggestion from bash i believe weather rishy was in out or shaking it all about is irrelevant he should not abuse the league secretary and one of the more respected umpires if mr walton cares to report the matter it could be trouble but the carpet sweepers will be hard at work sooner or later players will be allowed emotional reaction and to speak the truth as will newspaper reporters - dont think thats the right term - purveyors of fabricated stories sounds better one thing is for sure the ribblesdale league is wash with dual standards in its management thats detracting from some good cricket and competitive action

'Stupid Stuart' says learn how to 'write' properly!

I suppose you're in favour of incurring the unnecessary costs to players and clubs for these rare disciplinary hearings? Or do you think we all have too much money?!

Are you a civil servant by any chance?!

Come on out of the closet sunshine and reveal your name!

Stu Maher wrote:

red rose wrote:
stupid stuart come on get your facts write austin incident was dealt with by bash internally completely against league rules but sanctioned by mr woodhead and his own personal foot soldiers the league and clubs voted that all disciplinary issue would be heard by a league arranged meeting at considerable cost to clubs involved and it was a suggestion from bash i believe weather rishy was in out or shaking it all about is irrelevant he should not abuse the league secretary and one of the more respected umpires if mr walton cares to report the matter it could be trouble but the carpet sweepers will be hard at work sooner or later players will be allowed emotional reaction and to speak the truth as will newspaper reporters - dont think thats the right term - purveyors of fabricated stories sounds better one thing is for sure the ribblesdale league is wash with dual standards in its management thats detracting from some good cricket and competitive action

'Stupid Stuart' says learn how to 'write' properly!

I suppose you're in favour of incurring the unnecessary costs to players and clubs for these rare disciplinary hearings? Or do you think we all have too much money?!

Are you a civil servant by any chance?!

Come on out of the closet sunshine and reveal your name!

easier than shelling peas reel him

i refer you to the league rules

some very silly clubs voted in favour some didnt

i suppose its alright if you then dont agree with a rule you make your own mind up on how it is dealt with

rules ned to be adhered to and in a constant way not with duel standards

the ribblesdale league is getting a bad name for the clubs

not the clubs fault but the clowns who run it for their own ego trip

beware you could become the next fred karno

one thing i am not is a solicitor or a pretend one at that

throw the fish some bait and it will bite

Not ashamed at all to tell you my name its Dave Seedall (yes i await your league team mates and yourself to go WHO!!) and follow Whalley CC. As for the game i refer to Mark it was Saturday's game and as you deny abuse you certainly over stepped the mark and it can certainly be classed as dissent towards an umpire!! You say you thought you were in but we were more or less in line with the incident and you looked out. As for saying that you just told the umpire that you weren't out is making out as though it was merely a quiet word when in reality it was nothing of the sort and then apparently called a paying spectator "a t**t" whilst walking off after he said you were a mile out is also unacceptable in my opinion (I say apparently as it was overheard by some but not by me.) The most laughable thing about the day was when one of your lads went round to collect for your pros 50 and when asked "Are you struggling to pay him or something" Your players reply was "Its really for the lads the pro gets none of this money". So what is he implying there that the pros made 50 and the paying spectator is buying his team mates drinks!!!

Unfortunately I'll have to remain anonymous for the reason purely being what I am about to say and being a player.
The standard of umpiring this season has regrettably deteriorated. This has cost us in 3 games already this season and no doubt will happen again. A major gripe is umpires saying that they did hear a noise and giving a caught behind rather than the bat actually being adjudged to have hit the ball. This and last season also, I have been asked by different umpires if I (non-striker) had heard a noise after a decision had been given (out or not out). This just sums it up for me.
So Rish, out or not, we're all going to have to put up with these decisions. Umpires make good or bad decisions but to some of the younger lads credit in the league this season, one in our side who has had 2 absolute shockers in a row recently,walked off both times without saying a word to the umpire.We all work all week to enjoy our cricket but think its a case of having to bite the bullet and hope the umpiring improves which I know isnt what players want to hear.Sorry guys.

Seedstral wrote:
Not ashamed at all to tell you my name its Dave Seedall (yes i await your league team mates and yourself to go WHO!!) and follow Whalley CC. As for the game i refer to Mark it was Saturday's game and as you deny abuse you certainly over stepped the mark and it can certainly be classed as dissent towards an umpire!! You say you thought you were in but we were more or less in line with the incident and you looked out. As for saying that you just told the umpire that you weren't out is making out as though it was merely a quiet word when in reality it was nothing of the sort and then apparently called a paying spectator "a t**t" whilst walking off after he said you were a mile out is also unacceptable in my opinion (I say apparently as it was overheard by some but not by me.) The most laughable thing about the day was when one of your lads went round to collect for your pros 50 and when asked "Are you struggling to pay him or something" Your players reply was "Its really for the lads the pro gets none of this money". So what is he implying there that the pros made 50 and the paying spectator is buying his team mates drinks!!!

dave i propose you have your ears and eyes testing as if you thought that was out you must not be seeing right funny that every whalley player didnt think so even onion claiming he nearly called me back as for what you claimed i said i can definately say i didnt say that but hey thats life suggest everyone gets back cricket and enjoying rest of season

This league has always applied its rules with a non-officious and common sense approach - and long may that continue!

I hope all those who complain about umpires have already umpired , or intend to when they finish playing . Please put your names below , I don`t expect a very long list .
Remember we are amateur umpires,umpiring mainly amateur players , we umpire at the level that players play at . For every decision made we are normally in the best position in the ground to make a judgement , not sat in the bar with 5 or 6 pints inside us and being absolutely certain that the last ball was a plumb LBW not given .
The Not Out , Run Out at Ossie the other week was me.
"blatantly out" yes when captured on camera , but in real time Not Out and no one in the ground batted an eyelid . Some may have thought it was close , as I did , but we need to be certain , otherwise the batsman gets the benifit . If I had given Callum out that day , I`ll bet my life that the Baxenden lads would have been up in arms at me saying that there was no way he was out .
Take a step backwards you umpire bashers and consider what an hard job it is and accept that every now and again we will get it wrong . Don`t remember what you consider is the one bad decision of the day , remember the 10 good ones . I can honestly say that I am not aware of a single League umpire who has or would consider cheating somebody out .

Excellent post UmpireTrell, a number of players should take note.

Well said Trell !! My name will be on that list you talk about.

Be interesting to see how many of these 'expert players' consider umpiring at the end of their career's ?? Perhaps if they did we wouldn't have all these terrible umpires they seem to be getting !! In my humble opinion the umpiring has improved considerably these last few years and certainly this year. We do however tend to have the same umpires week in week out these days so its difficult to comment on the whole umpiring team ? But what we have had has been fair and honest which is all you can ask for. Lets stop slagging the umpires off and thank them for letting us enjoy what is turning out to be an exciting season !!

excellent trelly but until the league start to appoint the best umpires to the senior league we will always have issues

some people however keen and honest are just not up to the job and they still get senior league games at the clowns who run the leagues insistence

an elite panel will surely improve things for the better

the standard at present is good when the better umpires are in charge but when some of the weaker ones appear thats when concerns are raised

certain pro's know which end to bowll at dependent on who is umpiring

that cannot help anyone

fred booth does a great job in his role but he needs the support of the league to improve things

red rose wrote:
excellent trelly but until the league start to appoint the best umpires to the senior league we will always have issues

some people however keen and honest are just not up to the job and they still get senior league games at the clowns who run the leagues insistence

an elite panel will surely improve things for the better

the standard at present is good when the better umpires are in charge but when some of the weaker ones appear thats when concerns are raised

certain pro's know which end to bowll at dependent on who is umpiring

that cannot help anyone

fred booth does a great job in his role but he needs the support of the league to improve things

We need to be very careful when talking about elite panels and such . In my opinion it could lead to umpires resigning from the League if they are not on it and not getting Senior games . Remember this is League cricket not international . It is a past time for us , as playing is for the players . 99.9% of us don`t do it for the money , but to put something back and to allow lads to play a proper organised game of cricket at the weekends . Which is why I am not a big fan of banning players , I want to see people playing cricket not sat on the side watching . Obviously there has to be a line that should never be crossed , my opinion of where that line should be will be totally different to many other peoples .
Going back to the original point of elite panels , why should 1st and 2nd division teams not get the so called good umpires as well though . I`m sure they are just as sick as a pro is , if they are given out wrongly . Its an idea but I don`t see how it would work . Good to discuss these things though .

fair comment trelly

but why should clubs go to the expense of employing pro's to entertain coach and attract crowds only to see them fired by inept umpires

i know of two instances where a pro was fired or not fired because the umpire clearly did not how to employ the lbw law correctly when questioned on the decision

these guys should be doing div one and two until they can show their competence and confidence

players only get to play senior league cricket when up too it

Trell, dont get me wrong, I aint saying that umpiring is an easy job for one minute. However comparing last season and this season I have seen a difference to have resulted in a lack of confidence in some at the minute. Fair enough marginal decisions such as run outs,stumpings are never easy and players have to accept these but more glaring mistakes have become more apparent. We do give the constructive feedback to the umpires secretary week in,week out and he is very grateful for this but I sincerely hope he is using this and actually contacting umpires for their feedback if a club has highlighted any concerns.

Come on Red Rose, quite a few playing senior league cricket at moment who are not up to it.

fair comment but you get my drift i am sure

Dickie Palmer should be awarded the freedom of Bash after taking such an excellent catch last Saturday at Back Lane.

An Umpire makes a mistake and he gets slated on the Lancashire Telegraph website (harsh), a batter gets a duck or a fielder drops a dolly then nothing is said, as Trelly said earlier there probably isn't an umpire out there who has deliberately cheated someone out, as frustrating as it is sometimes when we are adamant they have got the decision wrong lets just show some faith in these umpires and concentrate on our own saturdays, weather it be playing or drinking in the bar and supporting. Its turning out to be a cracking season and we are nearing the halfway mark!! lets keep the Rib league reputation building instead of knocking it

Well said Matt Garner, all except for your first sentence.
An umpire did not make a mistake. If as you stated you agree that there are no umpires who deliberately cheat, then let us accept that the batter is out when he raises his finger.
Which should bring it back to the original point.
All players, but especially senior players, and definitely the captain of the league side should show respect to the umpires.
I would hope that said player is by now suitably embarrassed and if he didn't have a drink with the umpire at the end of the game, he would look to have a quiet word when their paths cross next.
A much more civilised way to deal with these incidents, than reports, disciplinary meetings, bans etc...even web forums!

Well said Matt Garner, all except for your first sentence.
An umpire did not make a mistake. If as you stated you agree that there are no umpires who deliberately cheat, then let us accept that the batter is out when he raises his finger.
Which should bring it back to the original point.
All players, but especially senior players, and definitely the captain of the league side should show respect to the umpires.
I would hope that said player is by now suitably embarrassed and if he didn't have a drink with the umpire at the end of the game, he would look to have a quiet word when their paths cross next.
A much more civilised way to deal with these incidents, than reports, disciplinary meetings, bans etc...even web forums!