The Wicked Cricket Column

Well done. But the fact that you  have chosen to  "blacklist" (where did you dream up that piece of self-important Victorian pomposity? Do you ever stop to listen to yourself? ) one of the most committed and enthusiastic journalists in the Hove press box tells us all we need to know  about your pettiness and small-minded spite.

By the way, I recall full well what "we were arguing about in the first place". It was whether the old board should reflect an array of different opinions or whether it should be dominated by a a smug and conceited clique who demanded the right to determine what was politically correct and sought to bully and ridicule anyone  (like soft&fluffy) who dared to dissent.

You were so full of yourself and your "ownership" of the messageboard  that when Panesar was sacked you high-handedly tried to curtail any discussion of what had happened on the grounds that he was "no longer a Sussex player" and therefore not a relevant topic for discussion on a Sussex forum (which once again begs the question : do you ever actually stop to listen to yourself and consider how arrogant you sound to anyone outside your incestuous  'Inner Circle' ?)

But I'll give you this: you've got some brassneck coming on here to crow about a site "three times more popular than this"  which the vast majority of us aren't even allowed to read, let alone contribute to...

Now as the mod. says, run along back to the elitism of your invite-only posh playground before we uncouth secondary mod kids from the wrong side of the tracks rough you up some more...

The IC MB have set up a poll to vote on whether I remain blacklisted or welcomed. Simon tells me the results will be known by next Sunday. I am told there are presently more positive votes than negatives. I have never been at the centre of a poll before. 

May 16th: Disability Day at the Hove, County Ground
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The Sixth Annual Disability Day held at the Hove, County Ground and supported by the Sussex Cricket Foundation (SCF) was a great success helped by the sunny weather.

Around 300 disabled people and their helpers alongside 75 volunteers from all around Sussex attended making it one of the most successful events to date. This flagship occasion for SCF, which starts at 10am and ends at 2pm, once more showed how adaptable cricket is.

The four different disabled groups attended from the visually impaired and deaf to the physically disabled and those with learning disabilities. The outfield is divided into four different zones with cricket activities tailor-made for each group.

Learning to hold a bat



For example, the visually impaired (VI) zone was being run by two members of the VI Sussex team who had all the relevant equipment including football-size cricket balls with jingling bells inside.

Tim Shutt, MD of the SCF explained, “It is important to say that the disabled tell us what they can and want to do. We cannot assume. Our ethos is to make cricket as accessible as possible. Good organisation is vital for a special event like this, so it is planned and advertised well in advance.”

Learning to swing a bat



Tim stressed the importance of the volunteers alongside the business sponsors like ‘Jointing Technology’ and ‘Santander’. He continued, “The aim is to encourage those participating today to carry on playing cricket. Our hearing impaired Sussex XI started because of this event where some 3 years ago a deaf side took on a Sussex Staff XI. That was the catalyst to form the Sussex squad.”

There are 10 disability hubs around Sussex from Chichester to Hastings and Crowborough to Horsham where those attending this Hove event can carry on playing cricket by joining such a local organisation. Each hub can vary from 10 to 30 disabled people.

Tim introduced me to several of the SCFs top people who were attending. First was Nigel Russell, a foundation trustee and secretary who helped set up the charity alongside David Bowden. He is very excited by the potential of the SCF and the huge horizon it can aim at. “Our vision is to encourage the local cricket club to become a major part of its own community,” he explained. “Not to replace its Parish Council but to run alongside it and become a force for social good covering everything from health to education.”

Tim Shutt, John Abbott, Nigel Russell



As he pointed out if Sussex can make it work why can’t the project be rolled out to other counties. Then, cricket generally can benefit. “The challenges are huge in changing the culture especially within the recreational clubs,” he continued. “We have to engage with them far more than we do now. In five years, I would like see what Sussex CCC are doing being replicated by the CCs around the county - especially those bigger ones with the money and resources. The key for the SCF in the next few years is to prove to them our strategy works and is successful.”

Next I met my “new best friend”, the Chairman of the SCF Fundraising Committee, John Abbott, who had read my recent blog entitled, “Is Charity Becoming Too Expensive?” gently criticising the Foundation for only encouraging the wealthy to engage in their appeal and asking the question, as it is for the community, shouldn’t more people be encouraged to get involved? “Your blog gets out to a far wider readership than you realise,” Tim Shutt cryptically interjected. I thought, ‘God, should I dig a hole or run for it?’

Table Cricket proved popular



Yet, John said he openly concurred with my sentiment. “I wrote to a number of my colleagues after they had read your blog stating I agreed with what you said.” I was pleasantly taken aback.

John asked me if I would like to send him some ideas on how the general community could get involved where the present price-barrier of £50 a head could be lowered to £10. Any ideas out there from the Forum readership?

Certainly, the 3-day Pakistani touring game offers opportunities for the South Asian community, especially from Crawley, to attend the Hove match and participate in the fundraising.

John explained there are various 6 a-side cricket competitions coming up as part of the Appeal including one tournament in Henfield with 6 teams participating and another at West Chiltington with a Final days on September 4th at Hove.

Whacking it into the South West Stand



Our chief Exec, Zac Toumazi, was in the centre of things helping those with learning disabilities to hit a ball as far into the South West stand as possible. The furthest distance won the competition. He wore a broad smile and was obviously enjoying himself. “Days like today are not only inspiring but very rewarding,“ he commented. “This is Dan,” placing his hand on the shoulder of a participant. “He comes every year and really enjoys himself.”

Dan's the Man



So infectious was Dan’s enjoyment of the moment that I spoke to his carer, Michael Norris, an Engagement Co-ordinator for the Chichester-based ‘Apuldram Centre’ that looks after adults with learning disabilities.

www.apuldram.org

Daniel Burford is aged around 30 years-old and is sport’s mad. “He so looks forward to this annual event. This is the fourth time he’s come,” Michael said. “Dan lives with his parents but travels to the Centre every day and works as part of a contract garden team.” Having a cousin with learning disabilities, they are some of the happiest people I’ve met.

Looking around the outfield bathed in glorious sunshine and watching the different activities take place - and with so much care, compassion and understanding being shown from the carers and volunteers - I felt proud to be a Sussex supporter. Worcestershire may have scored 493 and Sussex are 94-3 at tea, but the scene at Hove seemed somewhat more meaningful.
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Can’t resist!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEmA_QF30GI 
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Well, fluffy, without getting too caught up in your issues with another forum, here is the answer to the technical question.

If the forum is set up to display results once a vote has been cast i.e. someone who votes "fluffy in" can immediately see the count of votes is 15-13, and they can switch that vote from Yes to No so that it ends as 14-14. Others can amend their votes too, right up to the scheduled lock on the poll.

The best means of ensuring members vote without absolute knowledge of how their own vote affects the outcome is to make results visible only after the poll has been locked. That way no-one outside of the staff (moderators) can see how the poll is progressing and all users wake up to see a 15-13 or whatever. In a matter of some sensitivity that seems to me the fairest option.

Should you wish now to look on this as "a badge of honour and one taken for the team" you may find a new option in Profiles that will meet your requirements .

Fluffy, my boy, you have just had a very narrow escape. Your application for membership was as brave as a woman applying to join Muirfield Golf Club.

The IC is not a public messageboard - it seems to behave like a members' club, and the board is more like a chat room, as far as I can deduce.

The voting conundrum could be explained like this: it was 15:12, then someone voted No and it became 15:13, then someone changed their vote and it became 14:14

The response you've received raises several questions for Simon Stewart:

1. How many of the existing IC members were admitted on the strength of a poll such S&F was subjected to? Is that how you normally vet new applicants?

2 Why should Borderman's posts on this MB influence the IC view of S&F's suitability?

3. You acknowledge that you are free to post on this MB, so why do you say that 'the reality is different'?

4. Do you require your members to be against the formation of an English T20 franchise? Some of your members evidently believe this is a reason for rejecting S&F. 

5. Are there any other cricket related beliefs that would preclude membership of the IC?

6. Does the IC impose a party line on what it sees as sensitive cricketing issues? 

It may help to improve relations, and create a better understanding of our groups if you could find time to enlighten us on the above. Thanks.

You knuckle heads of course it was rigged: Simon responded, “It certainly wasn’t rigged. Someone voted on Saturday when it was 15-13 and changed their vote to 14-14.

If someone voted when it was 15-13 that would have been the 29th vote. They could not have changed that to 14-14 under any circumstance. Someone else could have I spose but Sir Sweats a Lot suggests otherwise.

Dunno why you're bothered anyway S&F. Restrictive, boring and pointless - while you're only one of those things the IC has a full hand.

The Darkside - I like that. Borderman is the one they hate the most is he. Back to the drawing board. Course it was easier when the freaks had to read what I was saying.