A quick post for all you cricket fans out there. If you are missing your cricket on TV and don’t want to get up early to watch Sky Sports’ coverage of India v Oz (or if you haven’t got Sky Sports). 3.oopm every day at the moment you can watch the ICL 20/20 on Zee Music (Sky 789), they are showing it live and there is no subscription to pay. There are some good players even if some of them are getting on a bit. You can watch it online at www.bollywood.tv as well.
Boro are for the drop – what about next year?
I’boro have been relegated from the NCL Premier League after a disappointing season of underachievement. Availability problems and just plain ability problems are the reason for the poor performances, anyway time to move on. I am now setting my mind to next years squad.
Some interesting ideas have been put forward for an overseas or professional for next year, Porky has suggested the following:
Ronnie Irani
Darren Gough
Dominic Cork
Chris Cairns
Let’s have some more ideas via the comments facility below.
What a busy week
I have had one of those weeks. Lots of meetings during the day so I have had to work in the evenings every night. This has meant that I have not had time to Blog or socialise on Facebook. The cricket situation is a bit dire, The Boro 1st XI look doomed to relegation. However, the 2nds have been promoted which is good.
If this is how the season ends it will solve what I think is our club’s biggest problem, the gap between our 1st and 2nd teams. It will be down from 6 divisions to 4, this will make movement between the two teams far easier. Players going up to the first are not going to be put under the same pressure that they are at the moment. And as we have been dogged for the last couple of years with players who don’t want to play cricket or can’t string half a dozen games together 2nd teamers will always be needed in the 1st team.
Me personally, I have been looking at touring caravans today with a view to spending next summer blocking up the A and B roads of Norfolk in search of peace and quiet. Si and Vez hope that this is the case so it will be ‘everyone back to ours’ next year. I can’t see it happening in truth. Next season must be all about getting better, promoting youth and looking after the players and supporters who care about the club.
Fat Cricket Team
As I have spent the last decade or so being classified as an overweight cricketer, I have decided to select my favourite fat cricketer XI, this is a mixture of test, county and club players. Here goes:
- Colin Milburn
- Darren Harrison (on account of a good 100 against I’boro last week)
- Mike Gatting (capt)
- Insamam Ul Haq
- Andy “Pancho” Pearson
- Neil Stanley
- Ian Austin
- Jason Clipstone (wk)
- Leighton Griffiths
- Merv Hughes
- Me
Here are some squad memebers who show potential for making the weight: Andy Trott, Andy Roberts, Luke Styman (youth policy), All Indian Players plus half the Indian ladies team who played England ladies this week.
Please add other suggestions via the comments facility.
End of an era
I watched I’boro U17’s play Rushden tonight. It was a bit grey and wet, but The Boro won. However, the most important fact about tonight’s game was that it was Simon, Ashley, Toby and Ben’s last game as youth cricketers together.
They have played cricket together since the age of 9 and it was a bit sad to think that it was the last time that they will represent I’boro as juniors. However, they are all now playing senior cricket which is why we run youth teams. I was glad that I was able to watch the game with Doggs and have a couple of pints as we have been through 8 years of ups and downs with the lads.
Olympics are great, but no room for cricket
I am loving the Olympics, especially as GB are doing well. I am now a keen cyclist and will be sailing this weekend.
There is a campaign for Twenty2o cricket at the Olympics in 2020. Although I love cricket I don’t want it at the Olympics. I now can give a logical reason thanks to Steve Backley who said that no sport should be included unless the Olympics is the pinnacle for that sport. So out goes Tennis, Football, Basketball etc.
Twenty20 cricket is not the pinnacle of cricket so it shouldn’t be there.
Sky show their true colours
It’s Sunday 17th of August and this year it marks the end of the cricket season as far as Sky are concerned, there were 3 Pro 40 Games today and none were covered. That is because Sky only sees cricket as a fill in until the football season starts again. Cricket AM gives way to Soccer AM (both of which are now crap), off goes Cricket Writers on TV. OK there are still to ODI’s vs S. Africa, but the emphasis will shift to football just like it does in the papers. There will be a few day nighters, but the promotion will all be about football.
The Boro are now deep in the relegation doo-doo. Who cares! The league doesn’t lie and I feel we need to find our own level. I think that the threat of going down can induce bad decisions and desparate signings. We have been guilty of that this year.
I think that we would benefit from a spell in Div 1, and using the time to develop some younger players. Me personally, I think that the Premier Division is a bit of a joke, other than a handful of sides. ON’s are a shining light in that they have built from within, Finedon have benefited from the magnetism of Andy Roberts and an ability to attract some gifted youngsters from other clubs. Peterborough is a city and the team should be strong. The Academy is a strange case, many people feel they should pull out, I don’t, the players will probably all end up at Finedon or being paid to play for the Chelsea of the NCL Premier Division. I will expand on this subject in the coming weeks.
Important Stuff – best cakes for cricket teas
Just been shopping for the tea for tomorrows cricket match. The Boro vs Nonington. This made me think about which cake is top of the league for cricket teas, the one that makes you ensure that you are at the front of the queue. My suggestions are the following:
- Battenburg Cake
- Millionaires Shortbread
- Scones with Jam and Cream
- Verity’s Cookies
- Homemade Victoria Sponge
I would appreciate some feedback on this important subject via the comments facility.
Monday and England have a new captain
After a good night on Friday, Saturday went down hill. Well at least cricket wise. The mighty ‘Boro lost to Wollaston. They fought hard to win, with some pretty ugly batting, but hey, in the words of Al Davies “Just win, baby!”.
The day will also be remembered for the resignation of Snowy as captain of ‘Boro, he is now waiting for an apology from Trotty, which is due around the same time as the next ice age.
Sunday saw the boro u11’s win again to complete the perfect season – 10 and o, we’re going to the Superbowl baby! (Al Davis again).
I then witnessed an epic encounter between Harold and Sharnbrook, which contained everything that is ‘village’ about cricket. Cheering misfields and chinese cuts. Playing in the rain, abusing umpires and then having a pint afterwards, just prior to going out on the moors to sacrifice a sheep and dance round in the nude. Great entertainment, Si (no1 son) got the final wicket to win the game, and proceeded to challenge the entire crowd to a gurning competition.
Today, KP was announced as the new England skipper, that should be interesting – the ego has landed. Will he give himself and bollocking for trying to bring his 100 up with a six. However, this news was overshadowed by Snowy’s resignation, watch this space for more news.
Had an awesome day
I have been to an Advanced Search Engine Optimisation course, learnt a fair bit. I knew most of it but you only need to pick up a couple of gems and you gain a great deal. Everyone on the course was very friendly and the tutor Anne Stanley was top class. Will talk more about this in future posts and on my Business Networking Blog.
Not so good was the weather as I had to cancel cricket practice for our U11’s and U13’s due to rain.