|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 15, 2016 7:53:48 GMT
The relaunch of The Cricketer Magazine is underway with their first “new” issue appearing last Friday. www.thecricketer.com/default.aspx?pageid=1223&catid=71&topicid=42510 At the end of 2012 monthly sales stood at 32,000 but since then they have dramatically slumped to around 20,000. The alarm bells rang so loudly at London’s New Cavendish Street HQ that editor-at-large, Simon Hughes, was summoned back from his roving, former Head of editorial planning and production, Alec Swann, left and a posse of Hughes’ writing mates were called in to buoy up the sinking ship. Question: What do you do to save the world’s most famous and cherished cricket publication from the destruction of the website warriors?Chief Exec, Guy Evans-Tipping, called a brainstorming meeting and demanded a new agenda which Hughes and deputy editor Huw Turbervill have embraced with gusto and enthusiasm.The gravitas of the magazine has been restored after former editor, Andrew Miller, disastrously took the publication down-market, believing there was a new vibrant young readership to tap in to. Instead of studious features about England’s cricketing greats, it was now about Shane Warne’s Las Vegas gambling habits and myth-busting articles like “Bradman wasn’t that great!” Rather like telling religious leaders that God doesn’t exist. Not surprisingly, this was met with ridicule from some quarters of the readership - many of whom had been buying the magazine since its hey-day of the 1980s when, under the stewardship of Christopher Martin-Jenkins, was regularly hitting 50,000 sales a month. They left in their droves, disillusioned and disgusted.  The relaunched July magazine has a sharp front cover makeover starring Johnny Bairstow and a fresh, cleaner type-face throughout - more The Times than Daily Express. Some big journo names have been wooed including Sir Michael Parkinson who writes about his hero Sir Len Hutton to former Times chief sports writer, Simon Barnes, who discusses how cricket can compete for the hearts of the nation during a summer of football and Olympics. There are articles from Clare Connor and Mike Selvey to Michael Henderson and Paul Smith. A primary theme of the July issue is ‘The Mind’ offering further gravitas for the reader from the strong heading of Preparing for Battle as Smith discusses the psychology of how batsmen face 90mph balls to Hughes Mind over Matter and the increasing importance of sports psychologists. A young BOJO at Althorp Park There is even blue blood involved as Princess Diana’s brother, Earl Spencer, writes about his love for cricket and how Chief Brexiteer and BOJO to the masses, brought in a ringer called Kevin Pietersen to one of their recent annual cricket matches, Boris Johnson XI v Earl Spencer XI, played at Althorp Park. While I'm biased, the relaunched magazine is well worth a fresh peruse if you’re one of the former disgusted from Tunbridge-Wells and there is even humour too. A magazine subscription comes with a FREE gift - a book entitled ‘DAD’ - one from the recent and highly successful parody series of children’s Ladybirds titles. |
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 15, 2016 11:27:11 GMT
Who Wants Test Matches Outside of London? Durham Certainly Don't!
_________________________________________________________________________________________While Lord’s basked in the glory of attracting 103,691 people over 5 days for the 3rd Test against Sri Lanka, the other two grounds involved in the series, Headingley and the Riverside, licked their wounds and held up the white flag of failure. In recent years, Tests in May have been disastrous for those grounds outside of London. As climate change increases its stranglehold with more rain and winter weather during early Spring coupled with international sides that rarely generate even a smile amongst England supporters, not only are these Test series adding to the present financial woes amongst the lesser TMGs but a crisis where none may even wish to hold them in the future.  No wonder the ECB Chairman Colin Graves talks of Day/Night Tests and 4 day matches in the future when Headingley’s debt of £24m is propped up by his own personal fortune. The ground may have secured recently a long term staging contract but if only 26,000 tickets were sold for what turned out to be just a 3 day 1st Test, what is the point? Durham faired no better having had to dish out a crippling £952,000 as part of the bidding process just for the privilege of holding the Sri Lankan 2nd Test. This rain-affected and what turned out to be a 4 day game did no better than Headingley, attracting around 25,500 people, where days 1 and 4 were so sparsely populated that the SKY cameras attempted only to focus on those areas that boasted people. www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2016/05/24/durham-do-not-deserve-to-make-a-loss-from-staging-england-tests/www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-sri-lanka-2016/content/story/1019347.htmlDurham - No-more Test Matches - Thank You! This has led the Durham hierarchy to say that it may well be the final Test match the ground will ever hold. A club that is presently in debt to around £10m, depending on whom you speak to, rumours are they actually lost money on the game. After all the ground redevelopment and the promised-land of International matches galore, it’s not only turned pear-shaped but horribly banana-skinned. Are we surprised? It seems unless the Australians are in town, apart from the London-centric grounds, the money-made, barely and if luckily, pay for the TMGs overheads. SKY commentators like Bob Willis refer to the present system as a disaster leading to a “financial pickle”. It must be reformed, they say. Further pundits suggest all early Test series should be concentrated in London and the surrounding area, whereas the T20 matches must be offered to TMGs well away from the City to 'spread the word'. This makes a great deal of sense. www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/10300072/england-v-sri-lanka-milestones-and-moeen-magic-seen-at-second-testWhatever the outcome, the recent Sri Lankan Test series only highlights the increasing problems faced by the ECB, where holding more OD games and, in particular International T20 matches, may be the only way forward to financially save the non-London TMGs.
|
|
|
|
Post by flashblade on Jun 15, 2016 12:55:12 GMT
Who Wants Test Matches Outside of London? Durham Certainly Don't!
_________________________________________________________________________________________While Lord’s basked in the glory of attracting 103,691 people over 5 days for the 3rd Test against Sri Lanka, the other two grounds involved in the series, Headingley and the Riverside, licked their wounds and held up the white flag of failure. In recent years, Tests in May have been disastrous for those grounds outside of London. As climate change increases its stranglehold with more rain and winter weather during early Spring coupled with international sides that rarely generate even a smile amongst England supporters, not only are these Test series adding to the present financial woes amongst the lesser TMGs but a crisis where none may even wish to hold them in the future. No wonder the ECB Chairman Colin Graves talks of Day/Night Tests and 4 day matches in the future when Headingley’s debt of £24m is propped up by his own personal fortune. The ground may have secured recently a long term staging contract but if only 26,000 tickets were sold for what turned out to be just a 3 day 1st Test, what is the point? Durham faired no better having had to dish out a crippling £952,000 as part of the bidding process just for the privilege of holding the Sri Lankan 2nd Test. This rain-affected and what turned out to be a 4 day game did no better than Headingley, attracting around 25,500 people, where days 1 and 4 were so sparsely populated that the SKY cameras attempted only to focus on those areas that boasted people. www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2016/05/24/durham-do-not-deserve-to-make-a-loss-from-staging-england-tests/www.espncricinfo.com/england-v-sri-lanka-2016/content/story/1019347.htmlDurham - No-more Test Matches - Thank You!This has led the Durham hierarchy to say that it may well be the final Test match the ground will ever hold. A club that is presently in debt to around £10m, depending on whom you speak to, rumours are they actually lost money on the Test. After all the ground redevelopment and the promised-land of International matches galore, it’s not only turned pear-shaped but horribly banana-skinned. Are we surprised? It seems unless the Australians are in town, apart from the London-centric grounds, the money-made, barely and if luckily, pay for the TMGs overheads. SKY commentators like Bob Willis refer to the present system as a disaster leading to a “financial pickle”. It must be reformed, they say. Further pundits suggest all early Test series should be concentrated in London and the surrounding area, whereas the T20 matches must be offered to TMGs well away from the City to 'spread the word'. This makes a great deal of sense. www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/10300072/england-v-sri-lanka-milestones-and-moeen-magic-seen-at-second-testWhatever the outcome, the recent Sri Lankan Test series only highlights the increasing problems faced by the ECB, where holding more OD games and, in particular International T20 matches, may be the only way forward to financially save the non-London TMGs. The ECB must take responsibilty for the financial disaster being experienced by the out of London TMGs. The ECB encouraged these grounds to borrow heavily to finance massive ground redevelopments, with the promise of giving them international matches to stage in their wonderful new arenas. Most of these redevelopments were way over the top, and their overblown grandeur now serves only to highlight the vast open spaces when a match is being played. The latest cunning plan from the ECB is to start a city based T20 competition that will hopefully go some way to providing these grounds with some much needed income. But this will only penalise the non TMGs, who were not suckered into overblown ground redevelopment. If the non TMGs are to accept a city based competition, they must firstly agree on the criteria by which these cities are selected, and secondly they must insist that each county takes 1/18th of the total profits generated. |
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 16, 2016 8:18:58 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 16, 2016 10:47:05 GMT
A New Booklet to Commemorate the Youngest Player to Score a Century in 1st Class Cricket for Sussex CCC
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Bank Holiday Monday, May 30th, was a day of nostalgia for the Club Boundary Rooms. An invite had been sent to all former Sussex cricketers to attend a special reunion lunch. Only 35 appeared partly due to old age and infirmity alongside the distance of travel. For one former player this was a very special occasion as the writing beavers of the club museum had compiled yet another one of their record-breaking series booklets - this time to commemorate the youngest Sussex player to score a century in 1st class cricket.  Fanfare for 78 year-old Derek J Semmence. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derek_Semmencestats.thecricketer.com/Players/5/5293/First-Class_Matches.html His feat occurred on the 14th July, 1956, which this year, by chance, is also the 60th anniversary, when he scored 108 against Nottingham at Trent Bridge at the tender age of 18 years and 85 days. Derek is the 24th youngest cricketer to score a century in English 1st class cricket. Jim Parks - the second youngest Sussex Centurion To offer more gravitas to the occasion, the second youngest Sussex player to achieve the feat was in attendance - none other than Jim Parks who has overcome a recent operation and returned to full health. He scored 159* against Kent at Gillingham on May 31st, 1950 at the age of 18 years old and 222 days.   Semmence is the fourth booklet in the Museum record-breaking series; is the largest to date with 12 pages; only 50 signed copies are available including Jim Parks signature; another 50 were handed out to those attending the lunch but none had the all important signatures. The booklet costs £5 and can be obtained via the museum. Although be quick. Around 30 have already sold. Meanwhile, since ending his professional cricketing career Semmence has remained active within the sport. In his 60s, he was appointed head coach of the Rajasthan junior cricket teams by none other than the then RCA President Lalit Modi. His tenure lasted 3 years. sports.ndtv.com/cricket/news/21114-semmence-to-coach-rajasthans-junior-teamsMore recently Semmence captained the Sussex over 70s Senior side to four consecutive Championship trophy wins (2009-2012). During 2012, the team won 11 out of 12 games. Sussex Seniors cricket is vibrant and healthy which also includes 3 teams for the over 50s and three over 60s. Derek is bottom row/second left  www.sussexcricket.co.uk/news-1/seniors-sussex-over-70-s-win-county-championship
|
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 16, 2016 18:19:26 GMT
Off-Topic but it is the Floyd!
_____________________________________While on a walk this afternoon to celebrate England’s 2-1 win against Wales, I strolled past Hove’s, King Alfred Leisure Centre, where I was blocked by a barrage of music flight cases with a white stencil on their side saying ‘Pink Floyd’. Being a big Floyd fan, I was amazed to discover that guitarist Dave Gilmour and his band have been rehearsing in the Centre’s Ballroom for the last two weeks before starting a World Tour on June 25th. The equipment was being loaded on to two articulated trucks in preparation for the tour. Royal Mail stamps of Pink Floyd's iconic album covers - to be released on July 7th
 Gilmour's ‘Rattle That Lock’ tour begins in Wroclaw, Poland, continues on to Italy, and from there to France and Belgium, ending with four nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall. www.pinkfloyd.com/news/ Gilmour warming up back stage at the Albert Hall His group comprise of: Guy Pratt, bass guitar; Steve Di Stanislao, drums; Chester Kamen, guitar; Greg Phillinganes, keyboards; Chuck Leavell, keyboards; João Mello, saxophone; and Louise Marshall, Lucita Jules and Bryan Chambers on vocals. The band will also be accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra conducted by Zbigniew Preisner. Gilmour's house overlooking Hove seafront
 The King Alfred Leisure Centre is a perfect place for Gilmour to rehearse as it’s no-more than a pebble throw away from his six-storey house in Medina Terrace which he bought for £3m in 2009. As these two links below show, Gilmour and his wife, novelist Polly Samson, have been busy with several local property schemes. www.theargus.co.uk/news/10293047.Memorial_near_Pink_Floyd_star___s_Hove_home_to_move/www.theguardian.com/music/2015/oct/31/david-gilmour-pink-floyd-rescue-derelict-medina-house-hove
|
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 17, 2016 14:57:35 GMT
The weekly The Cricket Paper is out today and there are several Sussex CCC-related articles to savour. On the front page is a positive column about Chris Jordan’s present rich form which he describes as "feeling in a good rhythm.” Tymal Mills gains not one but two positively-charged one page articles - the first written by Derek Pringle followed by an excellent interview from Tim Wigmore. Finally, our former Coach, Mark Robinson, is highlighted through the critical eye of Alison Mitchell as he tackles the difficult job of changing and reinvigorating the England’s women cricket team. PS: Tim Wigmore's favourite written word, at present, is either "eviscerated" or "evisceration".      |
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 20, 2016 13:19:24 GMT
'Absolutely Foxed': Graeme Fowler: Simon & Schuster: 310 pages: £18.99 (A Highly Recommended Cricket Book - Well Worth a Read)www.amazon.co.uk/Absolutely-Foxed-Graeme-Fowler/dp/1471142299/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1466428809&sr=1-1&keywords=absolutely+foxedThe general consensus, it seems on this Forum, is that many of the recently published cricket books by former England players, have been trite and dull. Graeme Fowler is presently making waves for his excellent work breaking down the taboos of mental health. In fact, of recent cricketers who have ‘come out’, some suggest Graeme is by far the best because he’s able to offer humour and fun to make the subject of depression more palatable for the public.  His recently released book by ‘Simon & Schuster’ called Absolutely Foxed is a joy to read, even when around 40% describes his past and present crippling depression and anxiety. Unlike Michael Yardy’s book which almost bludgeons the reader with a brutal and courageous honesty, Fowler’s invites the reader to smile even through the deepest troughs. There are many stand-out moments. Fowler’s stories concerning his close friendship with Sir Ian Botham; the time he was invited to a dinner by Sir Elton John and punched his then manager John Reid in the face; to more depressive moments like his panic attacks on a Spanish golf course to times when his brain shut down and he couldn’t function… at all. When asked about suicide Fowler responds, “I was never tempted. But did I wish I was dead? Yes.” What is most endearing is that, at heart, Fowler is a fun-loving, mischievous imp who presently sports a Bellamy-bush beard. His eccentricities like sleeping in a tent in his garden between the months of May and September are typical of this mindset. He is referred to by his family as ‘the house lunatic’, yet Fowler doesn’t mind, as once more it breaks down the stigma of mental health. Fowler has stopped fighting his depressive moments and just accepts them. “I have no idea why depression happens and I’ve given up trying to work out why.” One most insightful section is about former Sussex all-rounder Robin Martin-Jenkins. Fowler is a man who has coached many promising England cricketers over the years via his ‘Coaching School of Excellence'. He writes of RMJ: “He could have been an international batsman and bowler, in my view, but he didn’t have the ambition. (RMJ) appeared quite happy playing for Sussex and enjoying his family life. He could have played instead of Flintoff as he was a better all-rounder. He made his choices and did what he’s done, and if he’s content and happy then brilliant. But for me, I could see so much more in him.” Meanwhile, Fowler tells the reader about his passion for drumming and how music is a massive part of his life along with various friendships with famous musicians. He says, “I would rather have been a musician than a cricketer,” telling us that Yes frontman, Jon Anderson, was once his local milkman. He ends the book by returning to his mental health. “When I am depressed I can’t talk to people. I don’t have any words, so sitting in a counselling session would have no point. I always go inside my head and sort my problems that way.” Perhaps, tent-therapy should be a new form of treatment? www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03wg76nwww.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36314152
|
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 21, 2016 11:35:21 GMT
I've been so impressed with cricket's PCA for all the incredible work they do in the mental health field. Here is a recent video discussing anxiety and depression narrated by some of their ambassadors including Freddie Flintoff, Mike Yardy, Monty Panesar and Tim Ambrose. kvgo.com/TheHall/2016_MM_Anxiety_and_Depression |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 12:44:25 GMT
The weekly The Cricket Paper is out today and there are several Sussex CCC-related articles to savour. On the front page is a positive column about Chris Jordan’s present rich form which he describes as "feeling in a good rhythm.” Journo's kiss of death. England have dropped him in favour of Plunkett! |
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 21, 2016 13:03:19 GMT
I am amazed given Jordan's, "I'm feeling in a good rhythm, and I'm nice and clear in what I'm doing in my game." Perhaps, the selectors were seeking a different rhythm? I discovered a Twitter account for a Jordan Plunkett which offers a jazzy rhythmical twist. twitter.com/jplunk10?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthoredit: I note this thread has reached 1,000 posts and my own personal postings 2,000. Is that a half-step rhythm? |
|
|
|
Post by moderator1 on Jun 21, 2016 13:11:59 GMT
I am amazed given Jordan's, "I'm feeling in a good rhythm, and I'm nice and clear in what I'm doing in my game." Perhaps, the selectors were seeking a different rhythm? I discovered a Twitter account for a Jordan Plunkett which offers a jazzy rhythmical twist. twitter.com/jplunk10?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthoredit: I note this thread has reached 1,000 posts and my own personal postings 2,000. Is that a half-step rhythm? Congratulations. That, and £3.80, will get you a pint of Harvey's at Hove.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 13:17:54 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by Wicked Cricket on Jun 21, 2016 16:30:38 GMT
How about this as a novelty for causing a day's play delay. Not rain, mist, snow, light reflection, broken floodlights or even a streaker BUT... "Noise Stop Play!" And who should be at the centre of this controversy? None other than the grumpy Jonathan Trott. During this afternoon's Lancashire v Warwickshire game at Trent bridge, there was an early tea because Trott complained that intermittent loud noise was disturbing the batsman's concentration. In fact, this noise, sounding more like a swarm of bees, was emitting from the PA system in The Point, Lancashire's hospitality facility. Trott Complaining Neither Ashley Giles nor Glen Chapple were happy with the decision as Lancashire now had 38.3 overs to bowl in the evening session. Giles stated Trott should 'get on with it' but the umpires agreed with the Warwickshire batsman and tea was called early. A message at the ground then flashed up saying the PA system had been switched off and only emergency announcements would be made. (A third of the way down Twitter page)twitter.com/LancscricketMEN To be fair to Trott who has a reputation for being disagreeable, he had a point (no pun intended!) www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/cricket/watch-loud-noise-old-trafford-11505748 |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2016 16:58:14 GMT
Trott is a self-absorbed pain in the backside and always has been. If he can't bat when there's extraneous noise, it's no wonder he lost the plot in Australia!
Very satisfying to see that his moaning did him no good - out for three to a 19 year-old leg-break bowler's ninth ball in first-class cricket. Now that's justice.
|
|
