Minute's Silence - Mahendra Patel

CricketScotland have asked all clubs to observe a minute's silence before league games this weekend to mark the death of Mahendra Patel:

It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing away of Mahendra Patel yesterday after a long and brave battle against illness. Mahendra was a tireless worker for the game in Scotland and a great servant of Clackmannan County, the Scottish Counties, the SNCL and Cricket Scotland. He was elected President of the Scottish Cricket Union for the period 2006 to 2008 and represented the sport and our governing body locally, nationally and internationally with great distinction.

As a mark of respect, Cricket Scotland will ask that a minute’s silence is observed in memory of Mahendra before league games throughout Scotland tomorrow.

A full obituary and details of the funeral arrangements will be communicated to the Scottish cricketing community in due course.

 

Another Celebrity Sighting

This Cross veteran, known for his exotic regional accent and propensity to over-consume, can often be found drunk in charge of a heavy roller during bar opening hours at Arbo before rolling home in the Volvo. Known variously to the police as the Belhaven Beast, the Ten-Pint Taxi and the Southside Stenmark, he has long evaded capture for trafficking undesirable aliens across the city and for maliciously procuring sub-standard lawnmowers.

His true identity is, of course, safe with us.

League Weekend 1 and the Week Ahead

Saturday sees the first full wekend of League action. All games start at 1 pm. Fixtures as follows -

• 1sts vs Watsonians 2nds, Arbo. Umpires - Ted Anderson and Imtiaz Ahmed.
• 2nds vs Watsonians 3rds, Craiglockhart.
• 3rds vs Kirk Brae 2nds, away, Inverleith Park artificial.

Good luck to all and don't forget nets on Wednesday night at New Field.

Skip-a-like

To continue the theme of look a likes running through the blog have any Crossers ever seen the 1st team skipper and X Factor winner Joe Mcelderry in the same room?..................thought not!!

Wholly Crocks ?

Enough of the short-term "excitements" of the election. Time for some eternal wisdom. (Some names have been changed to protect the innocent).

As many of you will already know, earlier this week, our youthful and vigorous match secretary, "Matthew Broderick", sent out an e-mail asking all Crossers to advise him of their availability for the coming season and requesting that:

 ...... if you are prone to injury, cough "John Jeffrey" cough, please can you schedule your injuries so that they don't coincide with any matches.

"John" replied almost instantly

Dear "Matthew", cough precocious whippersnapper cough,

When you get to my age (double yours) then perhaps, and even then only if you're still playing, will I accept being lectured about sporting injuries.

Whilst in the past I admit I have been subject to random potshots by the Arbo sniper, I firmly believe that, as I am ageing, so is he. I am confident that his shooting abilities will decline as his eyesight fails - much like my own - and I can continue to enjoy playing the game I love - rugby, ooops, sorry, cricket.

In point of fact, there is a good chance that he may switch targets to someone less mobile than myself, as it is much easier to hit a static target. My winter fitness regime, I am sure, will leave me in good stead in this regard. As a club you may note that there are many more obvious targets hobbling about on a Saturday. However, "Matthew", I do feel that, having watched your performance on Saturday, it is only right and proper to warn you that you need to be on your guard. Age is no defence. I was first targeted as a 19 year old and have yet to shake him off.

Furthermore, "Matthew", and on behalf of the numerous old codgers who continue to ply our trade on a Saturday, I do feel that it is slightly inappropriate to have a youngster like yourself bringing up the touchy subject of injury in this way. Whilst we may make every effort to ease and cajole our aching, weary bones around the field on a Saturday, very often only with the benefit and comfort to be achieved from our good friends, IBU Profen and DEE Pheat, I really think you need to look closer to home as to why these alleged injuries occur.

Perhaps if a little more effort and exuberance was shown in the field by the younger generation (of which I am sure you would agree you are one) then the longevity of the more experienced among us, and our ability to pass on the knowledge and experience gained over the years, would be greatly increased.

I am sure you will take this minor criticism in the spirit that it was intended and I look forward to a little help with my Zimmer and kitbag during the next match. (If you could persuade any of your harem with massage experience to practice hers skills on a Saturday then I'm sure that would also be of great benefit.)

Looking forward to more sunny Saturdays.

Regards,

"John".

Arbo to host 4th election debate.

In a shock development, the broadcasters have responded to the SNP’s legal action by agreeing to a fourth debate, involving the SNP, as well as representatives from some fringe parties. It will be hosted in Edinburgh in front of an audience of mildly inebriated amateur sportsmen.

Venue: Arbo Green Room.
Date: This Saturday, 8pm
Chaired by: Prof Roland Dannreuther
Broadcast on Channel 4, SC4, Radio 4 and Radio Forth.

Representing the parties will be:

Labour
Keith Geddes
JLR Brown

Conservatives
Mr Admin
Broonster

Liberal Democrats
Andrew Graham
Rob Bainbridge
(well, I’ve no idea about their politics but they’re young, popular and are well known for their ******** exploits … and they’re certainly capable of designing a new voting system that no one else will understand.)

Anarcho-Syndicalist League/ String up the Bankers Now!
Chris Kerr
Mark Robertson

SNP
to be confirmed

Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party
to be confirmed

UKIP
to be confirmed-do we have any eccentric aristocrats capable of a performance such as this??

3rds Lose Opening League Match. 1sts Lose Friendly.

The 3rds narrowly failed to defend 137 at Inverleith Park against DT 2nds (Norrie make 49 on debut and also - I hear - being the pick of the bowlers - and fielders!). 65 odd from one of the DT batsman made the difference. No doubt Coastal will fill in the details. Report by DT here; in which the Thirds are described as having several 'tedious slow bowlers'-is this a description of their bowling or their personalities.

At Arbo, the 1sts played out an enjoyable friendly vs Marchmont, Cross making 151 on their 40 overs, with Shannon making a good 50. Batting was difficult early on against some fine bowling from Marchmont's openers but there was some fairly fluent batting in the middle overs before a late collapse. Not a bad score given the soft wicket (it was an end strip) and the long grass in the outfield.

Despite generally tight bowling, a few expensive overs got Marchmont back into it and a flurry of boundaries helped them pass the total with a couple of overs to spare. Marchmont's Kiwi Matt Loeffen impressed with bat and ball (including a hatrick).

Holy Cross: 151 for 8 (40 overs) - S. Bonfield 62, D. Russell 35, C. Ellis 20, K. Fraser 14;
M Loeffen 4-9 (incl. Hattrick)
Marchmont: 152 for 7 (38 overs) - M Loeffen 52, N Chetty 34, N Ghandi 31*
S Bonfield 7-2-14-1
A Graham 4-0-14-0
P Kumar 8-3-19-2
C Ellis 8-2-20-1
A Millington 3-0-21-0
Co Smith 4-0-32-0
D Russell 4-0-26-2
Most importantly, after last week's wash-out, several 1st teamers had some 'middle time' and got through some overs. As could be expected, fielding was rusty....... The 1st XI will hopefully be up to full strength next Saturday when they take on Watsonians 2, at Arbo.Good luck to Marchmont for their 2010 season.

Tribute to Jardine

Crossers (with the exception of Shannon) may enjoy this programme
on the greatest of English cricketing heroes:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s0d1g

League Weekend Zero and the Week Ahead

Saturday sees the 1sts' second attempt at a pre-season friendly and the 3rds' first League fixture.

• 1sts vs Marchmont, Arbo, 35 or 40 overs a side, 12.30 start.
• 3rds vs Drummond Trinity, Inverleith Park grass wicket, 1 pm start, home fixture.

Please note the unusually early starts in both cases. As a reminder, all League fixtures in all divisions start at 1pm this season. The 1sts are starting early so that we can get all our stuff cleared out of the clubhouse before the rugby club starts assembling for their annual dinner in the "tea room". But don't worry, the green room bar will still be open after the games on Saturday evening.

Next week, outdoor nets start at New Field on Wednesday evening (the 28th), as soon after 6pm as anyone can make it.

Famous Crossers? (1st Instalment)

Though we're all aware that the club membership contains a number of distinguished individuals (well 3 at least) could it be that it contains some hidden talent...

Exhibit A.
Is this a young Matthew Broderick...or perhaps a well-connected young Crosser?
















Exhibit B.
is this Danish Table Tennis Player (and European Champion in 2009)
Michael Maze...or is it a fearsome ex-Crosser?






watch Maze/ The B***t win the European Championships here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbpRt4pgVu8

1st attempt rained off

Steady morning /early afternoon rain caused the cancellation of the 1sts' pre-season game versus M/Dafs.

What's that old joke about the the most reliable way to end a period of drought being to stick 6 pieces of wood into the middle of a tightly mown field...

In truth we didn't get as far as putting any stumps in the ground.

Weather did pick up later but it would've been a soggy and chilly game.

Let's hope for better weather next week-when we take on Marchmont.

A PLEA:
CAN CROSSERS PLEASE DESIST FROM STORING THE SCOREBOARD/ BOX OF NUMBERS, SCORERS' TABLE (AND ANYTHING ELSE LIKELY TO ROT IN A DAMP ATMOSPHERE) IN THE CONTAINER. PLEASE FIND A DRY PLACE TO STORE THEM. CHEERS.

Breaking News...Russells shine but 2nds lose in first friendly

Result just in from from Arboretum:

Dunfermline Wanderers making 150 odd in their 35 overs, Scott Russell taking 3/8.

The 2nd XI only making 99 in reply: Dougie Russell making 48 but Gerry was the only other batsman to near double figures!

Remember that the 1sts play their 1st pre-season game-vs Mufs on Sunday. 12.30 for a 1pm start, 40 overs per side.

Fantasy Cricket

No!! Not that, you mucky minded Crosser!

During the winter Andy Graham has been hard at work putting a fantasy league together!

You pick your select XI from throughout the 3 teams and accumulate points during the season. The manager with the most points at the end of the 
season will receive a cash prize! The prize money will be determined by the amount of people that sign up. There will also be a small prize 
for the most valuable player!

All rules regarding the selection (how many bowlers, batsmen and all rounders etc) of your team are explained on the website.

We have decided that the cost will be £5 per team entered (You are allowed to enter more than 1 team!) to be paid to either Bainbro, 
myself, Euan, Ziggy or Ken.

The website you have to go onto is www.fantastar.com you have to register yourself and select the 'join a league' button. The league 
password is 000700HolyCrff7d41.

Participants have to enter their teams into the fantasy league the night before the 1st games of the season or your team will lose out 
on points from the set first matches.

Holy Cross Tours Inc. - Ice Cricket anyone?

Fellow Crossers. There has been some talk lately of resurrecting a Club Tour. As one of the new kids on the HX block, I thought i'd throw in a suggestion...ICE CRICKET!

From late January to mid-March each year cricket teams from all over the world descend on Estonia’s capital city, Tallinn to play Cricket on the ice covering Lake Harku or even in an old Soviet Missile Factory converted into two ice rinks. The wicket is marked out on the ice, the boundary marked out to keep bewildered locals off the field and you use an indoor windball, just don’t forget your spikes. Ice Cricket is a great chance to play social cricket with a difference, in one of the most incredible cities in Europe.

Squads of 10 are required to participate.

Cost? Yes, there will be some....

£229 for the Tallinn part of it
£150 (approx) for flight from Edinburgh to Standsted then to Tallinn (incl 1 x 20kg bag)via Easyjet

then it's your choice of beer tokens...

If anyone is interested, please let me know. If there is enough interest, then I can contact the Tour Company and get some confirmed dates and see what I can wangle in terms of cost reduction!

For further information, here is a pdf brochure

Tour Brochure

Saltires Fixtures - You have our permission to watch the Notts game.

The nice people at Cricket Scotland have asked us to give the Saltires a little publicity. That's a bit more difficult than in the past because......

1) This year they're spreading their fixtures around a bit more with home games in Glasgow, Aberdeen and Ayr. Here are the Edinburgh fixtures -

• Saturday 22nd May, Pro 40 vs Kent at the Grange.
• Sunday 23rd May, Pro 40 vs Notts at the Grange.
• Saturday 19th June, ODI vs England at the Grange.

2) You'll have noticed that two of these are on Saturdays, so don't go - unless you've broken something you'll be playing for the Cross ......

Heavy Rolling

Message from our Facilities Commissar:

'The Arbo square has been cut & rolled & is looking goooood. However, it needs more, especially rolling.

I'll be up tomorrow [Saturday 10th] between app 10.30-13.30 (pre rugby) but my unglamorous assistant (McGill)has succumbed to a virus & piked out, so I could do with a replacement.

Apart from that, anyone anytime with a spare couple of hours should spend it rolling. It's a relaxing & stress relieving activity that the square can't get too much of at this time of year. The two end strips are being cut shorter for the pre season matches & these are the only ones that should be rolled in the direction of play. All other rolling at this stage in the pre season should always be either at right angles to play or on the diagonal.'

Please assist if you can. If we put the work in now, scores like that depicted will, Smudger assures me, become a regular feature of matches at Arbo.

Pre-Season Fixtures

Weather permitting, our pre-season schedule is as follows -

• Saturday April 17th, 2nds vs Dunfermline Wanderers (Arbo) - 1pm start, 35 overs a side.
• Sunday April 18th, 1sts vs Murrayfield-DAFS (Arbo) - 1pm start, 40 overs a side.
• Saturday April 24th, 1sts vs Marchmont (Arbo)

Please also note that the 3rds start their League campaign "early" on the 24th with a home fixture vs Drummond Trinity 2nds at Inverleith Park.

Still plenty of opportunities for further net practice - see below.

Nets

There are two remaining indoor net sessions at the Galleon at George Watson's school on Colinton Road - Monday 12th April and Monday 19th April, both 6-7.30.

Outdoor evening nets will be held at Newfield on Wednesday evenings as in the last few years. The first session is on Wednesday 28th April, 6-8.