Where beer does flow and men chunder

In my new role as P.R. wallah for CO Smith & Sons the following news reaches me from Sydney.


Our antipodean correspondent reports that CA Smith (Holy Cross ACC 1992 - 2011) has played his first game of cricket down under for Cardinal Lynch's (HCACC 2009-2011) team.

Smudge visits Bondi

In a strange case of pot calling the kettle black, he was very critical of the "bad chat" on the field of play. Our correspondent reports that "he scratched around for 2", but at least he didn't have the nerve to blame the high standard of the opposition bowling. The Cardinal scored a ton.

This will be CA's only appearance of the season. Cricket down under is currently having a summer break and then he's going to continue his work in Malawi.


Three things in this dispatch jump out at me.

1) The former Bishop Lynch seems to be enjoying a meteoric rise through the upper echelons of the Catholic Church. How long until it's Pope Paddy and for that matter, how hasn't there been one yet?

2) Just a few short weeks ago a Lynch ton would have been worthy of some comment. They seem to be ten a penny nowadays. Puts Bonfield's career best of 444no (also scored down under) into some sort of context.

3) Good to see C.A. is taking the 'Cross ethos' around the world displaying an absolutely typical Crossers availability. Can you play next week? Er no, I'm in Malawi. Pff.

Myreside awaits as Bates hits Cross into President's Trophy Final

Sunshine and sawdust were both on display as the rain delayed reduced over President's Trophy Semi against Kismet went ahead at Arbo earlier today.

In a game watched in front of literally a handful of supporters, the tourists went in to bat first and made a respectable 124 on a moist wicket, with Bainbridge the main man taking 3 for 15 and decent figures of 1-11 for Bonfield and 1-19 for Russell, the latter forcing a great run out after knocking the bails off with a direct hit from a tight angle.

The Cross fielding and most importantly catching were a vast improvement on the previous week's SCU Trophy semi, in particular two spectacular takes by Russell and Ellis.

After tea, Cross went about their business however Bailey wasn't up for the long haul and let an average delivery force him into a hook shot which went to the welcoming fielder.

Smith hit a decent knock of 39 before being skittled, much to his apparent annoyance as he left the field in what could only be described as an 'Introduction to Tourettes, Volume 1'.

Ellis was given 'plum' LBW by Coco, however he made up for it by offering to make a round of tea for all on the boundary - nice lad!

Russell was steadfast, hitting 36 not out and it was his partnership with the winning runs hitter Bates (21 not out) which set up a Final against either Musselburgh or Watsonians at Myreside on Sunday August 16th (1pm start). The other semi-final is scheduled to be played next week.