Having been informed just last night that it was now my bane to become a regular contributor to the hallowed pages of the wonderful Portland Red Triangle Web Site, my first thoughts immediately centred on the topic for my next diatribe. After all, following in the footsteps of such wanton wordsmiths as Pasty Neven, Lofty Ryan and Ostrich Elenor left me feeling humbled and yeah a little intimidated. Bollocks!! This is just the opportunity I have been waiting for to put the world to rights. Well perhaps not the world, but at least Dorset Cricket from a personal perspective.

Even better, when I cannot be arsed to write anything, someone ghost writes an article for me, such as the last one of the 5th of May. This is probably because I decided against reporting on the Islamic Jihad being announced against the Rev. Bill Gates, following some of his comments at Abbostbury. Any objections to my ramblings can be put in writing for all to witness, and also give me the chance to reply, or be directed to me personally.

It has always amazed me why Gary Randell hasn't played consistently for Dorset. Personally I believe Gary to be one of the most talented cricketers it has been my privilege to play against and alongside over the past few years. Perhaps if Gary had taken up licking certain people's rear ends and moved to more popular clubs facilitating the licking of such ends, I feel confident he would have played many times for his County. After all it seems Dave Trotter managed it so perhaps there is still hope for Gary after all, providing he is willing to play for Bournemouth.

This problem of course in not a new one and has plagued Dorset cricket for many years. Since I started playing cricket at club level there have been some superb cricketers, who never got a sniff at the county set up and those that did were short-lived. I refer to players like John Crabb, Colin Graham, Andy Jarvis, Mel Tremlin, Gary Randell and Dave Blackman.

Why didn't they play more? Fashion is the answer. If you don't play for the right club you have no chance no matter how good you are. In the 70's you had to play for Sherborne or be a solicitor or other monied professional to make the grade. How else could Barry Lewis have lasted as long as he did? This carried on into the 80s until the establishment of the County set up in Bournemouth at which time Sherborne seemed to decline and the many of the County players did not even live or work in the County. Some were not even very good, but spoke the right way and knew someone in the set up.

Now it seems that you have to play in and around Bournemouth to stand much chance of a place. I accede that the system is changing as a result of a solid youth policy that has been developed, but I can only rue the fact that many players were never selected, not because they were not good enough, but that they would not fit into the perceived social set up of the Minor County scene. Whilst major counties would accept players from any background albeit reluctantly, snobbery was inherent in the smaller counties. So, to Gary and all the other players mentioned I can only apologise for the way the sport has treated you and regret the chance I did not get a chance to see you pitting your skills against quality opposition.

The next issue will discuss the merits of umpires, their abilities and the like. It is not my intention to wantonly character assassinate certain individuals but I do feel that the standard of the game is being ruined, not necessarily by cheats, but by incompetents. Most of this is the club's own fault! Anyway more next time.