Stafforshire? Poor Sports?

[Markymark]

Just noticed that Staffs are refusing to play Lothian and Lanarkshire in Scotland and are invoking the rule that all ICC games must be played in England. So their 'home' matches are being played practically on the border.

Bit of poor sportsmanship? Not seen this rule invoked in recent times and counties have always been happy to travel 'further afield' with counties often going to isle of man, isle of wight, jersey and scotland.

Any thoughts?

[TheChosenOneReturns!]

Rules are rules and should be invoked if not adhered to !!

If the Scotties want to play our league they should be prepapred to travel.

[richard murray]

Guess they couldnt get the visas in time

[Markymark]

[QUOTE=TheChosenOneReturns!;34235]Rules are rules and should be invoked if not adhered to !!

If the Scotties want to play our league they should be prepapred to travel.[/QUOT

Every other county is happy to play in Scotland though. Just seems a bit grumpy old man of them.

[Badboy]

if they have to travel it decreases the chance of surprise appearances from any internationals in town that day!

Though Mr Bowman didn't ahere to this.

[KevinStangoe]

The same thing happened in the early Eighties in the ICC. A rule was brought in that all games must be played in England. This affected all Scottish counties and also Leinster who also competed in the ICC at the time. It didn't affect the Welsh counties though.

I was playing for Lothian at that time and it meant we played all matches away as double headers if my memory serves me correct, playing one county on the Saturday and the other on the Sunday. This included trips to Hampshire etc.Although the distances travelled in a weekend were high the trips were a good laugh. They even made us play the Division 2 play off against Surrey @ the Wimbledon club! The powers at be, BA of E as it was then, weren't too happy when we won promotion to Division 1. I think the rule was relaxed the following year, possibly because the new sponser of the ICC was the Royal Bank of Scotland.

[Markymark]

if they have to travel it decreases the chance of surprise appearances from any internationals in town that day!

Though Mr Bowman didn't ahere to this.

Which therefore unfairly advantages the English teams? I think you either allow teams from all the Home Countries to compete on the same rules, or you don't allow them to compete at all? It only seems to be Staffs which have got a bee in their bonnet this year anyway (maybe as a result of missing out on Prem B two season ago at the hands of Lanarkshire?!), so maybe it's not that big an issue.

[TheChosenOneReturns!]

maybe its just a bit of gamesmanship ??

see if the bait is bitten ??

[Markymark]

maybe its just a bit of gamesmanship ??

see if the bait is bitten ??

Yeah could be. I think Lanarkshire picked the first sports centre over the border! lol