Hampshire men at the Test
Michael Clarke is of course captaining Australia in the 2nd Test v Pakistan but Glenn Maxwell has come in also after their beating in the First game but things are not going their way again. Whatever one makes of maxwell surely he’s not a Test cricketer? Incidentally, Imran Khan is in the Pakistan side!
Vince goes to South Africa
With the England Lions after Christmas
Provisional England Lions first-class squad: Jonny Bairstow, Gary Ballance, Sam Billings, Jack Brooks, Alex Lees, Adam Lyth, Craig Overton, Liam Plunkett, Boyd Rankin, Adil Rashid, Adam Riley, Sam Robson, Jonathan Trott, James Vince.
Riley, Robson and Trott replaced by Stephen Parry, Samit Patel and Jason Roy in the provisional one-day squad.
Caribbean Highlights
In today’s Observer, Vic Marks writes a sympathetic piece about the future of West Indies cricket, suggesting it could cease to exist unless …. It’s 55 seasons since Roy Marshall scored his first century in Hampshire (against us) and last month we said goodbye to the short-lived Ruel Brathwaite who might be our last Caribbean cricketer (although ‘Carbs’ is of course of ‘Caribbean origins’).
I thought it might be nice to invite from each of you ONE FAVOURITE MEMORY of Hampshire/West Indies. There are many to choose from but I’ll try to pick one myself
Deanery Question
Two Hampshire-watching pals have sent me a question which I can’t help with immediately – I don’t have a lot of Hampshire club information. I have some contacts who may know something, but thought it was worth trying here. Any help will be much appreciated:
“We had dinner with a friend this week – he has been trying to track down details of his great-uncle.
Ernest (Ernie) Frederick Nicholls 21/11/1871 – Feb/1971
He played football for Southampton St Mary’s starting when Church Youth side – all this is on Wiki.
He played cricket for the Deanery Club from 1901 to 1922 and was captain for a number of years.
Just wondered in your archivist role you have any info about the Deanery Club/its players/stats?
Or any of your cricket contacts might be able to help?”
CB FRY
Well Ageas (a new contributor so welcome) got CB Fry almost immediately. This is what the graphologist made of his writing (part one). Remember that if you click on it you can see a larger version.
A Character (Study)
Here’s an extract from a letter written by a great cricketer who played for Hampshire. I was sent it by a graphologist who has also sent a character analysis which I find fascinating and which will follow. I’ll leave you to carry out your own analysis first (click on the image to enlarge it)
Reciprocal Deals
The answer with Kent, Sussex and Hampshire, now seems to be £6 entry for visiting members – and thereafter members’ facilities are available
The FULL list of Hampshire’s Reciprocal Arrangements can be seen on the Blog run by Terry CRUMP (Members’ Chairman)
Please go to
http://hampshirecricketmad.wordpress.com/
and thanks to Terry for the clarification
Sussex Update
On the Sussex site there is now information that they are talking about a £5 fee for other members but it’s not clear whether that is to get in the ground or free entry with £5 Members’ Access. Hampshire are saying that it’s £6 (and by Hampshire I mean the Membership Office who clearly have to tell Members what they are purchasing).
I have no further information about Kent. It seems clear to me that reciprocity means an equal deal* so presumably Hampshire, who preferred the existing full deal, will have to fall in line with whatever is the new situation – or withdraw completely.
* on-line dictionary: RECIPROCITY: a mutual exchange of commercial or other privileges
Laugh? I could have …
Time to lighten the mood a little?
From the BBC:
A High Court judge presiding over a planning battle involving a cricket ground demonstrated a lack of knowledge of the sport by asking: “What are sixes and fours?”
Mrs Justice Beverley Lang was hearing a challenge to a plan to extend a former forge beside a Hampshire cricket pitch.
She asked the question when she was told that balls crossed the boundary line at East Meon’s cricket ground.
A lawyer at the hearing explained the rules of the game to the baffled judge.
East Meon Forge and Cricket Ground Protection Association is challenging East Hampshire District Council’s decision to grant planning permission for an extension with a residential first floor over the single-storey former blacksmith’s workshop.
Robert Fookes, appearing for the association, told Mrs Justice Lang that one of the grounds of objection to the development was that the forge was very close to the cricket square and “sixes and fours are frequently hit by batsmen on to forge land, including the roof of the building itself”.
The judge said: “I don’t play cricket – what does that mean?”
Mr Fookes explained that sixes are scored in cricket when the ball is hit over the boundary without hitting the ground, while fours “bounced along the ground” before crossing the boundary line.
What is True?
Many decades ago I studied philosophy as (a small) part of my first degree so I’m not daft enough to wish to attempt an answer to my question.
HOWEVER, if you wish to follow the lively debate about reciprocal members’ rights on the Sussex Forum (address, two posts below) you will find that one member of their committee has said “it’s not true”. He doesn’t say exactly what is not true and my reporting of our Meeting is certainly true so I guess he means it’s not true that Sussex are abandoning the scheme. Meanwhile another man who I think is in a similar position (he’s just called Jim) does not refute the point but rather justifies the costs of county cricket – in the latter case I wonder whether what he does not say is as significant as what he does say.
Anyway I guess we shall discover the situation before the season starts.
Meanwhile, these two items of news have appeared on the BBC website so they must be true:
1. Dale Benkenstein tried to get James Vince signed to Natal for our winter but they have decided against it
2. Kabir Ali has another fitness problem and has been released by Lancashire
Hampshire Cricket History 