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New beginning for a historic competition

New Eastern Counties President Steven Douglas (Photo by Mark Tatem)

Incoming president Steven Douglas is looking forward to the challenge of improving the Eastern Counties without sacrificing the traditions that have made the counties one of the most popular cricket competitions locally.The former Cleveland batsman is hoping a new series and the return of former champions St. David’s will signal a new era for the 108-year-old competition which kicks off the 2012 series today at Sea Breeze Oval.Douglas was recently voted in as president of the Eastern Counties Cricket Association after Harold Millett stood down and like any new president, he has some ideas to keep the counties tradition going. It is easily the Island’s most popular counties and is only two years younger than Cup Match.ECCA officials met at Sea Breeze Oval this week with the captains, coaches and managers of the teams ahead of today’s first round between holders Bailey’s Bay and Flatts to go over the rules and regulations ahead of the series. Douglas believes opening the lines of communication with the clubs is vital if the competition is to run smoothly.“Lots of times you send it out to the club secretaries and lots of times it doesn’t always get to the people who need to get it,” said Douglas, whose involvement in the Eastern Counties goes back about 40 years, first as a player with Cleveland and then an administrator with the ECCA. He is also one of the Island’s top umpires who gets overseas assignments.“With guys like myself and (umpire) Roger (Dill) when we travel before every tournament they go over the rules and regulations with the captains, coaches and managers and any questions they want to ask they can ask,” said Douglas. “It allows them to clear up a lot of things before the game starts. That allows those games to run smooth and I hope it will allow our games to run smooth.”The Counties has been hit with controversy over the last two years with St. David’s in dispute with the ECCA which prompted them to boycott the competition which will be all the more exciting now that they are back in the fold.“Like anything else, what you have in place already you just want to mend it and bring it in line with 2012,” said Douglas who is one of the most senior members of the Eastern Counties Association along with Gregory Johnson.“I believe sometimes you need people who have been there before, otherwise you can lose what people fought hard to put in place. People worked hard to bring the County Cup to where it is today and some of those old values you have to keep.”Before becoming an administrator with the Eastern Counties officially in 1986 when he served as a Cleveland representative, Douglas was a player with Cleveland. He made his debut in the Eastern Counties in 1978 and in 1985 scored 90, just missing out on becoming the first Cleveland batsman to score a century in the Counties, something Grant Smith later achieved.There is a new executive in place under Douglas, whose predecessor Millett was at the helm for more than 20 years. Jon Carey is the new vice-president, Terlena Murphy the secretary, Elton Caisey the treasurer and Clevie Richardson the assistant secretary-treasurer. Millett backs Douglas’ appointment.“He brings a lot to the game as an umpire and he has a lot of insight into where the association can go forward,” said Millett. “The four clubs are back together in unity, let’s hope everyone can get together in the spirit of cricket.”