Pretty prizes

One Crosser celebrates his birthday today. In addition to the vast array of gifts, he's also received this monstrosity lovely trophy.

ESCA Awards for Two Crossers

Two Crossers up for ESCA end of season awards: http://tinyurl.com/5wq8crd

Archive Hour

Some Crossers may enjoy this 1948 British Council film on cricket, recently made available online:

http://timeimage.org.uk/archive/entry/cricket.html

Top Allrounder Announces Retirement

The cricketing world was today stunned by the news that one of the leading allrounders of his era age was to retire.

His press release stated: 'I today regretfully announce my retirement from all international cricket with immediate effect. Having been told that my body would no longer stand up to the rigours of Test and ODI cricket, I had no alternative but to retire. This will mean that I will not now be able to honour my IPL contract - but will instead spend my winter taking part in the lucrative respected HCACCWSGL'

Steadyish 1sts overcome hatrick but are the only winners

1st XI
Holy Cross 215/7
E. C. Smith 58, C. Ellis 54, K. Fraser 21, D. Russell 19*
Thomasen 3/43

Largo 183/ 5
C. Kinnear 66*, C. Barclay 20, A. Warrender 29.
S. Bonfield 2/20 (10 overs), C. Ellis 2/26 (off 10)

2nd XI
Stirling 3rds 297/4
G. Taylor 105, G. Gardner, Morton 31

Holy Cross 142ao
A. Quinn 49, T. Wright 20.

3rd XI
Murrayfield/Dafs 4ths 146 for 7
R Mehta 48, C. Richardson 25

Holy Cross 3rds 124
C. McGill 24, R. Ellis 17
E. McDonald 3 for 13; R Kneebone 2 for 15.

Frosty reception for Ziggy as 'Graveyard' slur mars AGM

Mr Admin will in due course be communicating the main outcomes of the AGM, held today in sub-zero conditions.

The only moment of controversy (we’ll leave aside the President’s 3 hour address) was an entirely unprovoked attack, by our re-elected 2nd team skipper, on the 3rd team. His description of the 3rds as a ‘graveyard’ provoked uproar, especially amongst the more mature 3rd-teamers (Ellis Snr was provoked into phoning his lawyer during the meeting). Given the President’s warning’s about ‘factionalism’, one presumes that Ziggy will not escape punishment.

Anyone for Sledging?

More Trophies

2 HX players were amongst the recipients at the East League awards on Friday night.
Unfortunately Ellis Snr was on on tour, so had to accept his award via live satellite link-up. Though he was clearly audible, his 15 minute anecdote about life in the HX thirds didn't meet with universal approval.

Coaching Corner (No. 1: the Forward Defensive)

With the season now over, it's now time for every Crosser to focus on the areas of their game that will need to be worked on with the club coaches in our indoor net sessions. Such 'technical audits' ought to begin with the essentials of the game:

'The forward [defensive] stroke is one of the most important in cricket. Not only does it enable a batsmen to survive against good deliveries but it forms the basis of all the drives. Learn to play it correctly and you are half-way to becoming a good batsmen...[g]et well forward; bend the left knee; get onto the toes of the right foot. These are the three basics which must be observed'.
(Boycott on Batting, London: Stanley Paul, 1980, pp21-23)

Here Ellis Snr (batting at Grange Loan last Sunday) demonstrates decent technique, though some might suggest that his bat and pad could be closer together.
Perhaps blog readers can spot other technical errors revealed in this photo.

Wins for 2nds and 3rds; Bad Loss for 1sts

Results summary-details to follow.

1sts (at Arbo)
Holy Cross 131ao
C. Ellis 70
A. McDonald 4/22

Fauldhouse 136-3
Z. Ali 66
Bainbridge 2/23

brief mention in the Evening News:
http://sport.scotsman.com/cricket/Fauldhouse-see-off-Holy-Cross.5496312.jp

2nds (At Roseburn -artificial)
Won by about 8 runs
S. Bonfield 38, A. Cydzik 36, J. Bates 23
S. Bonfield 5/14.

3rds (at Inverleith Park-Artificial)
Drummond Trinity 2nds 138-9
Holy Cross 3rds 139-8
S. Russell 38, R. Ellis 23, U. Shazad 18


very exciting match won with 1 ball to spare: with Popey hitting
the winning runs via a glorious...er...gloved nurdle to short third man.
From the few overs I saw, some good batting and running by Usama and
Ellis Snr, with the latter doing his best 'Dean Jones in the 2nd tied test' impression.
Good to see the thirds up at Arbo-though a bit dissapointing that none of their opposition
made it.