01559

Controversy in 2nd XI match at Wigan
Sunday 17th July 2005

A controversy arose today as Northern fielded a regular 1st XI player in their rearranged 2nd XI match at Bull Hey, Wigan, thereby contravening Rule 7(d) which states that:

'A player who has played more than 50% 1st XI league and/or knockout matches for their club (this period shall be at the discretion of the Cricket Committee of the LDCC and could include part of the previous season) will not be eligible for participation in a Sunday 2nd XI rearranged match.'

Alex Blake had played in each of Northern's sixteen 1st XI L&DCC matches this season, including Lytham yesterday, but was dropped for today's Thwaites LCB Knockout Cup match against Bootle.

He played at Wigan, taking 4-40, having had the nod from a member of the Management Committee following a telephone call from a Northern CC representative on Friday.

Under normal circumstances, the team would be deducted 15 pts and fined £25.00 but in this case, as they had been given permission . . . . ?

WIGAN 222 (64.2) (45 overs = 142-6) (N Aconley 55, Jas Taylor 51, Bailey 42; Williams 4-20, Blake 4-40)
v NORTHERN
124-5 (28) (Phillips 41*, Williams 25; Wright 3-59)
Result: match drawn
Toss: Northern
Points: Wigan (2 bat pts + 2 bowl pts), Northern (1 bat pt + 4 bowl pts)