Dear All

Despite numerous requests and reminders there are still a number of players not updating their availability online.

Please could you try and do this as it allows us to plan ahead for lean weeks players wise.  For example last weekend we could have well in advance requested a postponement of the 2's Hawick game had we know we were going to be short of numbers, but have had to concede the game instead.

As Captain every week without fail im also running around chasing after people to play. If  YOU as the players were using the online facility properly this would save a lot of hassles. But this needs to be used by all for it to function properly and its not rocket science.

Going forwards:-

Please could you ensure you do the following:-

UPDATE YOUR AVAILABILITY FOR THE WEEKS AHEAD ONLINE - (Amend later if circumstances change) e.g. I have marked myself available for all games bar one but this may change.

ONCE YOU GET THE EMAIL TELLING YOU THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED FOR WHICHEVER TEAM PLEASE RESPOND YES OR NO AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ON THE LINK IN THE EMAIL.  Even if you have said you were available via the availability option we still need you to confirm for the actual fixture.

If you don't its left to me to chase people up when I could be doing other things with my time.

It had also been pointed out to me people appear to be picking and choosing when and where they can play.  This is quite unfair on other members - some members haven't played a home game yet as a result.  Long trips seem to have an adverse affect on availability (Hawick last week) - it was the same last season with Carnegie when we only had 6 players able to play at Selkirk but the next week at home there was about 15 available.  So please bear in mind that this has an effect on other paying members. I appreciate sometimes this is down to circumstance beyond peoples control but please be mindful of others when deciding on this especially if its because we are playing further afield.

My plan for the coming couple of weeks is to Post a FIRST XI by close of play on a Monday.  This will allow people plenty time to confirm they can play. The second team will then be selected by the Tuesday evening hopefully with the first team updated based on responses received from Monday.

For this to work you need to ensure you have updated your availabilty otherwise you may not be considered for selection.

Finally - LATE CALL OFFS - again as with HOME games - some people have circumstances outwith their control - and late call offs happen.  But in this season to date there have already been more call offs in quarter of a season than I have encountered in the last 5 years. This has an adverse affect on all.  If you dont want to play or not your unlikely to play please make this know very early.  Wednesday night at the latest.  Again there are exceptions to this.

I myself have better things to do rather than chase up players on a Thursday/Friday/Saturday morning - Nelly and Harry have helped me out greatly which is appreciated but going forwards WE ALL AS PLAYERS AND MEMBERS need to plan ahead better for the good of the club.

Finally if you have lost your login ID and password - please reply to this email and I will reset it. Also if you want removed from the clubs database please respond and I shall remove you.

Thanks for listening to my rant.

Lets enjoy the cricket tomorrow and have both teams bring home the points.

David