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Post by Wicked Cricket on Dec 28, 2015 16:31:50 GMT
At the beginning of December we saw the devastation of climate change and how it affected Cumbria and the various local cricket clubs. During the last week of this month we see a repeat in Yorkshire. Cricinfo editor, David Hopps, Yorkshire born and bred and a life-long supporter of Yorkshire CCC, writes about the present calamities facing local cricket clubs and the sterling work from the Yorkshire Cricket Board along with the ECB, who have set up a charitable fund to help those affected by the floods. www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/story/956003.htmlHopps' twitter is also worth a browse for some astonishing photographs and video of the present and unfolding flooding. twitter.com/DavidKHoppsPS: Now Lancashire CCC follow suit. www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35198705 |
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Post by fraudster on Dec 31, 2015 13:35:34 GMT
Lookout Waring, or whatever your name is, you're the new Dobell. He can't just say the blunt truth in one line, it doesn't work like that. You have to be a bull-s****r to work in whatever he works in. Anybody who has interviewed a whole host of high profile nob-noshers over the years would know that.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 1, 2016 13:36:31 GMT
An interesting article written by Kevin Pietersen for all the wrong reasons. Being New Year’s Day, newspaper sub-editors are suffering from hangovers and placing their fifth alka-seltzer into a glass of water but the show must go on and with so much online space to be filled, a piece from Kevin Pietersen cannot be dismissed. But with little or no editing one realises just what an appalling writer Pietersen is and why sports journalism both written and on TV has been ravaged by former professionals. A Michael Atherton comes but once a generation yet others not only dilute the writing profession but somatise it and bring the noble art to its simpleton knees. Stick to the Day Job! With no editing, Pietersen writes the word ‘he’ ten times in two paragraphs. Usually, a sub-editor would be sacked for allowing such a piece of dross to be published. Yet, there is some saving grace to KPs primary school scribbles when he has a go at Alastair Cook for dropping Nick Compton from the England side in 2013 because “He did not like him…” A perfectly good reason, perhaps, given the dressing-room school gang paranoia at the time. Pietersen continues his hipster scribbling by referring to Compton as ‘a cat’ but saves himself again by an unexpected sagacious insight about Test cricket and his major concerns over the format’s demise. “At my f(F)oundation week recently all the young kids wanted to talk about (was) hitting the ball, wearing coloured clothing and playing T20 games.” KPs last sentence sums up the piece when he writes, "But at others, particularly in abroad, ticket sales are struggling.” So ‘abroad’ is an actual country? Please, please, KP when the sub-editors are hungover, ask your mate Piers Morgan to run through the article first, to save us all yet another embarrassing headache. And shame on you ‘The Telegraph’. D-www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/england/12076923/Nick-Comptons-recall-for-the-South-African-tour-will-allow-Alex-Hales-to-emerge-as-Englands-superstar.html |
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Post by fraudster on Jan 1, 2016 17:28:09 GMT
Well I've just red it and I thought it was a thurrily good read. You never been to abroad Fluffy? I went to won on New Yeers eve cos I was thurrily lonely.
He speaks some sense though, that simpleton.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 4, 2016 13:42:14 GMT
When the English heavens open and Noah-like conditions prevail, one knows that if there are floods in counties like Lancashire and Yorkshire, a certain county cricket ground will almost certainly be under water. And surprise, surprise, Worcestershire CCC and their New Road ground, yet again, are under many feet of water. State of Play on January 4th, 2016 Yet, for the ground's staff, it has become such a common occurrence during the last 10 years, that they expect it. In fact, a year without flooding has become a rarity.  David Throup, the 'Environment Agency' manager for Herefordshire and Worcestershire, tweets: "I'm reliably informed this is the 41st January flood on the Ground since 1899." Astonishing! And yet in spite of this, 'Premier Inn' have built a brand new hotel on the premise and the ground staff are able to create a playable pitch each season after ridding it of the usual dead fish and general debris. Huge accolades must go to the club's staff headed by Tim Packwood who rightly won a major honour in December 2014 at the 'Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Awards' held at Stadium MK - the home of Milton Keynes Dons. They were voted winners of the Professional Cricket Grounds Team Of The Year award beating off the challenge of other nominations from Warwickshire and Derbyshire. The Super-Human Worcestershire ground-staff: Tim Packwood, Luke Weston, Martin Watts,
Ash Hill, Arthur Jones and Steve Gravenall The IOG, on their website, wrote at the time: "The Worcestershire CCC grounds team performed heroics earlier in the year in re-establishing the New Road square back to first-class standard after suffering weeks of flooding, with the pitch under several feet of water at times. "Headed by Tim Packwood – who this year is celebrating 25 years at the ground – the team brought the pitch back to life and successfully staged County and T20 games, the Royal London 50 over competition as well as England Lions fixtures. They have all played their part in what has been another challenging year after another winter of substantial floods. "The square was under 10 feet of water just eight weeks before the start of the 2014 campaign and contingency plans were put in place to move the opening fixtures to Kidderminster. But Tim and his staff worked tirelessly to ensure play got underway as scheduled at New Road in mid April." Well, the groundstaff have another challenge to face. They have 96 days this time to prepare the pitch for their opening Division 2 Championship encounter against Kent on April 10th. |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 6, 2016 14:02:22 GMT
The launch day for the Community Partnership between Santander Bank and Sussex CCC draws near and staff hope that mid-February time will be the official inauguration. While the Sponsorship deal was secured back in the Autumn, Santander have a plethora of other deals which include everything from title sponsor of Transport for London’s bike hire scheme, to the McLaren Formula 1 team and sporting celebrities like Golfer Rory McIlroy and British athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill. Sussex are a small fish in a very large and increasing pond. www.marketingweek.com/2015/03/02/santander-moves-sponsorship-strategy-from-awareness-to-engagement-with-bike-deal/Community is now the bank's buzz word and plaudits to Sussex CCC for wooing the Spanish bank to Hove. The deal is a six-figure sum and covers 3 years with the primary goal being education - especially for those who are long-term unemployed and requiring new job skills. A large banner will be placed along the top of the new classroom located between the club shop and 'Newbery' displaying the partnership where Sussex CCC are just facilitating the education. The day when a county cricket club morphs into a school or University has not arrived yet! The official launch will be another major stepping stone for Sussex CCC as they continue to expand their community work. Amongst the non- TMGs the club are way ahead of the pack and now even enjoy the slipstream of the BIG two TMGs, Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire, who are doing extraordinary pioneering endeavours for their local populace. www.santanderbank.com/us/about/community |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 7, 2016 13:24:55 GMT
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 11, 2016 18:31:54 GMT
Why is it that people who are so blatantly guilty continue to plead their innocence until the day they die? It is a fascinating interview. One even feels some sympathy for Stanford. On the odd occasion one considers the question: 'Was Stanford the scapegoat for the embarrassment the US judicial system felt over the Bernie Madoff Ponzi debacle?' But then you listen to the other side of his argument and think, 'Nah!' "Will I apologise? No. Mark my words... I am going to walk out the doors of this place a free man."www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35284752www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06vfj63(5.30' start) |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 13, 2016 15:17:01 GMT
"PARISH NOTICES"
_________________________ January13th: This evening! The ‘Sussex Cricket Society’ (SCS) plays host to the club’s ‘Cricket Performance Manager’ - Keith Greenfield - who will be their guest speaker. The event starts at 7.30pm and is being held in the ‘Spen Cama Pavilion’. If anyone from the Forum attends please ask Keith a question at the end. “Are you the newly created ‘Director of Sussex Cricket’? It will be interesting to hear his response. scs.councilcricketsocieties.com27th: The monthly lunches continue in the Long Room with special guest Mark Davis who will outline his hopes and coaching plans for the 2016 season. Cost for the two course meal is £17.50. Arrival is 12 noon for a 12.30pm lunch. Contact Helen Allan on 01273 827106 or via e-mail: helen.allan@sussexcricket.co.uk 28th: The first of the New Year ‘Curry & Quiz’ nights. The usual arrival from 6.45pm in the Long Room followed by a curry or vegetarian option and a prompt start at 8pm. £5 for just the quiz, £10 for the meal addition. February26th: 'Where Cricket Meets… St David’s Day': Special guest is Nigel Owens, a Rugby 2015 ‘World Cup’ referee. Lunch costs £50 a ticket. For further info contact Lisa Hogan on 01273 894243 or e-mail lisa.hogan@sussexcricket.co.uk 
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Post by fraudster on Jan 15, 2016 21:56:55 GMT
Why is it that people who are so blatantly guilty continue to plead their innocence until the day they die? It is a fascinating interview. One even feels some sympathy for Stanford. On the odd occasion one considers the question: 'Was Stanford the scapegoat for the embarrassment the US judicial system felt over the Bernie Madoff Ponzi debacle?' But then you listen to the other side of his argument and think, 'Nah!' "Will I apologise? No. Mark my words... I am going to walk out the doors of this place a free man."www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/35284752www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06vfj63(5.30' start)Is he out yet? Walk out a free man or carried out a dead man? Place your bets. |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 20, 2016 18:51:26 GMT
'WHERE ARE THEY NOW - JOHN EDRICH MBE'
________________________________________________________I had the pleasure of interviewing the ‘great and gutsy’ John Edrich, the former Surrey and England International this week, as part of an up and coming magazine feature. Here is some of the information gained which is not being used in the article.As a boy, I have many happy TV memories of watching the opening England partnership of Geoffrey Boycott and John Edrich. Edrich was always the dependable one and alongside Brian Close had the guts and dogged tenacity of a bulldog. In a 20+ year professional career he scored 39,790 runs at an average of 45.47 with a top score of 310*; and 5,138 Test runs at an average of 43.54. alchetron.com/John-Edrich-3052-W Since moving to Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 16 years ago, John had fallen off the radar but in September 2012 the public were made aware of his battle against cancer by the media which only family and close friends knew about. It is an extraordinary tale worth a book in itself.   In 2000, John was diagnosed with a rare and terminal form of leukaemia called Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia. The doctors gave him 7 years to live. After exhausting and very painful chemotherapy, by 2005 John was close to death. As the family prepared themselves for certain bereavement, a phone call from a friend completely transformed their lives. John takes up the story: “My friend advised me to consult with Dr Stefan Geider at the ‘Camphill Wellbeing Trust’ in Aberdeen. They specialise in mistletoe therapy as part of an integrative approach for patients with cancer. My friend had met someone who had had a great deal of success using this therapy. “I started with mistletoe injections in 2005 and have continued with them since. I am now in excellent health and enjoy life to the full.” In fact, John’s great sporting passion after cricket, golf, he now plays three times a week off a handicap of 11 at his local Ballater golf course and organises charity golfing days to raise money for further research into Mistletoe therapy. He will be 79 years-old on June 21st. www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mistletoe-injections-help-in-leukaemia-battle-1344228John still follows cricket with a keen eye. After moving to Ballater he was asked to coach Aberdeenshire CC who have a ground at Mannofield. As John points out, “Don Bradman played there and scored 100. It’s a lovely place to play and reflects the growing interest the Scots have for cricket.” Today, John is President of Crathie CC, whose ground lies next to Balmoral Castle. “We have leagues, competitions… cricket in Scotland is healthy and on the rise.” www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1498482/Why-Balmorals-bowlers-need-two-long-legs.htmlAs John lives 535 miles from London his visits to The Oval are infrequent but follows Surrey from afar. He remains a Club Vice-President and 10 years ago took up the Presidency mantle for a year. At 78 years-old he remains mentally sharp, physically active and forward-thinking. He enjoys watching T20 cricket and believes the sport must evolve and change to survive. “I like watching all types of cricket when not playing golf,” he smiles. “Some of the shots played in T20 are amazing and the fielding is simply outstanding.” John Edrich Gate He continues, “In my playing days there were just five or six top county teams. Yorkshire, Lancashire, Middlesex, Surrey and Warwickshire being examples. When I first started the lesser clubs still had amateur players. The difference between now and then is incomparable. There is better training, fitness levels are higher, instead of one coach/one county there is an assortment including analysts… it is quite amazing how things have changed. And the standard between top sides and the lower ones has narrowed.” The Oval has also changed. After entering through his own personal ground gate, he spends time watching a match in the Committee Room - a place he adores. www.kiaoval.com/edrich-formally-opens-john-edrich-gates/John is delighted Surrey are back in Division 1 and is full of praise for the club management. As he says after overcoming an unbeatable cancer with a therapy orthodox medicine shuns, “Cricket is like life. You never know what’s going to happen from day to day.”
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Post by hhsussex on Jan 20, 2016 19:37:42 GMT
Very good article s and f, and I should like to read the interview itself, if you would please post the publication details when available. Edrich's 310 not out at Headingley against New Zealand in 1965, in chilly and thoroughly depressing conditions, was mostly broadcast on tv and for some reason I have clear memories of it. He played and missed countless times, but put it all behind him and kept on scoring, sometimes by nudges, sometimes with those fierce short-arm pulls that were his speciality. The only innings I have ever seen to match it for this patchwork quality of the excruciatingly bad and the very good was Taylor's 291 at Horsham last year against Sussex: another short man who turned a weakness into a strength.
Later on, as members of Surrey, borderman and I used to watch him at the Oval in his last few seasons when he succeeded to the captaincy through buggins' turn and had a dressing-room full of Jackmans, Roopes, Pococks and even more obstreperous younger players to contend with. Surrey didn't prosper much, unsurprisingly, but Edrich kept on going, accumulating and doing the best he could.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 20, 2016 19:57:27 GMT
Hhs, Many thanks for your kind comments. The John Edrich interview is a very small part of a bigger feature which is being published in the April issue of 'The Cricketer Magazine'. I have been fortunate to chat with a host of past cricketers and well-known cricket media in recent weeks, so have been having a ball.  |
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 22, 2016 12:28:41 GMT
What a Sussex CCC 2016 It's Been and We are Only 22 Days into the First Month!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ It is extraordinary what 22 days can attract to a county cricket club. First, the awful and appalling tragedy of Matt Hobden. Shock erupted amongst everyone associated with Sussex CCC. And then to later discover how he actually died only made that sense of shock worse. Twitter was awash with sorrow and sympathy. A Thanksgiving Service is to take place on Friday February 5th at the ‘All Saints Church’, Carlisle Rd, Eastbourne, BN21 4EH. The service is open to everyone and is an opportunity for supporters to offer their condolences to the Hobden family. There will be a small reception at Laughton Barns, Laughton, near Lewes, BN8 6BN afterwards.  Meanwhile, the ‘Book of condolence’ remains open until this Service. You can either send an email or personally visit the Club shop where it lies. How does the club react especially when various team members are overseas? The wearing of black armbands by the England side in South Africa was fitting alongside Luke Wright's ‘Melbourne Stars’ team during the BBL5 in Australia. It reminded one, yet again, how close and caring the sport of cricket is. Quite rightly, Sussex CCC suspended their pre-season training for several weeks - fortunately, there was no tour arranged to Dubai and Abu Dhabi this year. This is not the first time Sussex have been faced with such a tragedy. Umar Rashid, a 26 year-old club left-arm spinner had been swimming with his brother Mohammed at Concord Falls in Grenada during a pre-season tour in April 2002 when both drowned. Then there was Surrey and England Ben Hollioake who was killed a few weeks earlier in a car crash near Perth, Australia. It is the young age combined with the waste of talent and potential that only makes the tragedy worse. Matt was 22, Hollioake 24, Rashid 26, and why do such tragedies come in twos? Just a few days after Matt’s death, former Warwickshire cricketer, Tom Allin (28) was found dead at the bottom of Torridge Bridge in Bideford, North Devon. On a bright note, if one can be found as the grieving continues, Luke Wright has stood out for the ‘Melbourne Stars’ alongside Kevin Pietersen during the present BBL5. The two former England Internationals have massively helped their team sail through to a home-ground Final. Luke leads the side’s batting with 257 runs scored over 9 matches and KP is close behind with 249 off 8 games. The third highest is Marcus Stoinis with 164 runs.  Another Sussex man making the headlines during January is club Marketing Manager 24 year-old Tom Rose. After successfully taking on a weekly, 52 different 'Out of Your Comfort Zone Challenges' in 2015, his completed exploits were picked up by the media including major features in 'The Daily Mail' and local 'Evening Argus' as well as various Southern TV and radio appearances. Amidst the Hove ground sadness a welcome and positive relief. Yesterday, it was announced that Keith Greenfield had been appointed to the newly created position of ‘Director of Sussex Cricket’. While some supporters seem a little underwhelmed by this decision, Greenfield has been at the club for over 30 years, so there is no-one who understands Sussex better than him. Meanwhile, we await for the news of who is the club’s new batting coach. Unlike with Greenfield’s appointment, Sussex CCC have bent over backwards to advertise for potential candidates. Offering the position to Chris Adams would please many Members and supporters but it is uncertain whether this may occur. Zac Toumazi in an interview with Adrian Harms today, explains the club have stopped seeking potential candidates until after Matt Hobden's funeral. The final announcement will be made in early February. During the same interview, Zac confirms that the club are actively seeking a T20 O/S player. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qB1Iqvw_bY&feature=youtu.be To keep the sun shining, huge plaudits once more must go to this Forum’s moderator. Yesterday, I happened to look at the ‘Alexa Graph’ for the ‘Unofficial Sussex CCC Forum’ and was greatly warmed by how well it is doing through the depths of a very rainswept Winter (0.010 compared to 0.006 a year ago). Agreed, England’s South African Test success has boosted interest; Matt Hobden’s death brought an outpouring of ‘togetherness’ amongst members; but even so, as the graph suggests above, this Forum is going from strength to strength and portrays the importance of having an active supporters MB - which is open to all - when a club tragedy occurs.
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Post by Wicked Cricket on Jan 24, 2016 12:42:04 GMT
Can anyone help me solve a puzzle? I attended a collectors’ fair today and bought this small Slazenger SXi bat. Presumably, it was used as a promotional device by the well-known and large London lawyer firm ‘Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw’. My question being: Who does the original signature on the bat belong to? The company had dealings with Surrey CCC during the mid 2000s when they legally oversaw the naming rights deal with Brit Insurance. Could this be the signature of a former Surrey player or an International cricketer from a Test match at 'The Oval'? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.  |
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