Unique 2020 season gives North West cricket some food for thought

There may have been no promotion nor relegation, or indeed any 50 over league cricket, but the T20 cup competitions proved a big hit with most clubs as Donemana eventually secured their 23rd Senior Cup title.

Credit must go to both the North West Cricket Union and each and every club throughout the region after they worked together to, first, get the domestic season up and running and then completed in such an enjoyable and competitive fashion.

It was a season local cricket fans will never forget and North West Cricket Operations Director, Lawrence Moore, was delighted with how the season turned out.

“In terms of the domestic season, we couldn’t really have asked for better, apart from the weather,” joked Lawrence.

“Everyone worked together to sign up to a format that gave all clubs something to play for right until the end of the season and although there was rain around pretty much every Saturday, we proved that where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

Mr. Moore also praised clubs for the spirit of cooperation they approached the season and with no one signing an overseas professional as Premiership and Championship clubs faced each other in four groups, the big four of Donemana, Brigade, Coleraine and Bready going on to reach the semi-finals of the Senior Cup.

“It was a year to get ‘back to basics’ with no overseas players, apart from Coleraine’s Graham Hume who now lives here and clubs bought into it,” he added.

“Championship sides mixed with the top-flight clubs and bizarrely, it was Premiership clubs who finished bottom of each of the four groups.

“The fact that Donemana, Brigade, Coleraine and Bready were the last four standing in the Senior Cup competition was testament to the fact that the competition was as lively as everyone had hoped.

“One of the things that holds us back at times is our resistance to change but with our hand forced this summer, clubs came out the other side admitting there were tremendous benefits to early finishes, especially for those with family commitments.”

As the COVID-19 pandemic second wave begins to impact, Moore admits the 2021 season could be affected which means many more tough decisions may need to be made by the union and all clubs going forward.

“This season has given the Union much food for thought over the coming winter,” he added, “If, and it’s a big ‘if’ at the minute, but if things return to some semblance of normality next year, it looks like the NWCU has to come up with a format that accommodates both the traditional 50-over demand and the need to build on the momentum of this year’s change.

“How much 50-over cricket can be accommodated and what demand there is for it, remains to be seen. What does appear certain however is that the Union will push ahead with plans passed before the pandemic to start 50-over games at 11am from here on.

“It also seems likely that clubs will want to bring their overseas players back too, government permission pending of course. That is ultimately a decision that will be made by the clubs collectively.”

That success at club level wasn’t replicated on the Interprovincial stage as the North West Warriors were hampered by a stop-start season that saw five of their 10 matches washed out with the weather.

Ian McGregor’s side struggled in 2020 and the talent coming through, coupled with a lack of interest from cricket followers in the area, is something which concerns the NWCU representative.

“It’s probably unfair for me to discuss the Warriors in an official role. However, solely as a spectator and a NW Warriors supporter, it was difficult for them to get going and they have to be disappointed to have lost the five they played,” he explained.

“An apparent lack of competition for places didn’t help the cause and a full-scale debate on the future make-up of the series is now under way.

“The total dominance of the all-conquering Leinster Lightning side has left Cricket Ireland with little choice but to tear up the format and start again if there is to be any edge to these matches over the next few seasons.

“Interest has waned dramatically although there’s no doubt that bad weather and the loss of the three-day series played a part in that.

“It bugs me to say it but despite the local Union has stubbornly refusing to go down the franchise route - rightly so in my opinion - they are going to have to unearth some competition for places from somewhere or risk being swamped.

“As a Warriors fan I don’t want to be critical and I honestly prefer what our Union is doing to the Northern Knights’ stance of playing anyone and everyone. I’m not sure what message that sends out to the local players outside the squad, nor what impact it has on the identity of the Knights’ within their Union.

“The reality is however that they are now the nearest challengers to Lightning, so it is decision time for our lads.”