dont PANIC.

Frazerio says calm doon, its business as usual

This current Ashes might seem like a bewildering reversal of the form book to some, but I've rustled up a whole bunch of solutions to the predicament that 'England's' 'finest' currently face.

These do not emanate from within my own brain however, instead I have dredged internet comment sections to present Flowery with a range of options.

Bat Belly at 3

Send for Colly

Drop Pietersen, Prior, Anderson & Swann

Don't drop Pietersen, Prior, Anderson & Swann

Take the captaincy from Cooky to let him concentrate on his batting. Replace with Broady

Pick Rankin and tell him to bowl as fast as he can

Drop Cooky down the order

Why the panic? Johnson only bagged 5 tail-enders and a couple of out of sorts batter chaps

Send for Straussy

Bairstow for Prior, no debate, internet unanimous

Now that Australia have been lulled into a false sense of security...

Patience, Cook & KP are just one innings away from a score

Stop all this 'Finn is unpickable' nonsense

Send for Brian Close

1st XI match OFF

The match vs Glenrothes is off. In fact the square is merely soft but about 60 % of the outfield is waterlogged-with two small ponds at the Ferry road end (within the boundary): some ducks were swimming in it yesterday evening. An inspection will be made later today (Saturday) regarding the possibility of play on Sunday.

McGill's youthful Midweekers Master Mud

As ever we had a close an enjoyable game vs C & B - despite the wet pitch and the gloomy evening
(not helped by some classic HX tardiness which delayed the start of the game unnecessarily by 15 minutes.......yes guys, you are free to put out flags, tables etc...). The HX XI featuring 5 players under the age of 25....though two of these were Corstorphine CC players.

Some solid batting - with some good boundaries also struck. Followed up by some good bowling (Osama and Suli the pick) and some lively fielding: Ossie, Osama and Nawaz constituting a rather more athletic cover field that usually seen at Arbo.. two good run outs resulting.

Good knocks from Halcrow and Anwar in the gloom (plus Michael's traditional 1 over spell) set up a tight finish-C & B needing 4 off the last ball to tie-was well struck by Daniel but straight at the fielder.

Holy Cross 126/6 (20 overs)
C. Ellis 45 (27), S. Malik 20 (22), V. Gaware 15 (12)
K. Crichton 2/26, Kaeside 2/30

Currie and Balerno 121/5 (20 overs)
G. Halcrow 50*, F. Anwar 30. Kirk Crichton...2nd ball duck..

Cross Duck out of SCU Trophy

An ahem.... 'understrength' Cross side came up well short against DHSFP in the SCU Trophy 1st round. In a game shortened to 40 overs per side and interrupted by one very heavy shower-but ending in fine sunshine, Dundee simply had far greater strength in depth. Nice to play in a game played in good spirits with plenty of friendly banter.

full scorecard here

Dundee High School FP 211/ 7 (40 overs)
K. Ancell 46, A. Nadir 40, D. Bailwal 34, D. Kyles 45,
V. Gaware 8/1/23/2
S. Bonfield 8/0/34/2
C. Ellis 8/2/29/0
C. McGill 5/ 0/ 42/ 1
N. Webb 5/ 0/ 40/ 1
E. C. Smith 6/0 38/1

A decent effort in the field, keeping things tight for the 1st 17 overs or so and then sticking at it against the inevitable onslaught against the change bowlers in the later overs. Some good catches by Shannon (x2), Vikram and EC (running back), and two sharp ones by Spick. A good effort too by those from the 2nd and 3rd XIs.

Holy Cross 123ao (33 overs)
C. Ellis 76*, E.C. Smith 11, C. McGill 6......it would be fair to say that the middle and lower order didn't fire: ducks for nos 4, 5, 6, 7..... 8, 9...(Calum MacIntosh putting several others to shame with a spirited 2). At 64/1 off 17 we were well in the game before EC and Shannon fell in successive Bailwal overs. The drying pitch was a little tricky after overnight rain and the heavy shower but perhaps not THAT tricky.
D. Bailwal 4/20
Hyatt 2/22
Nadir 2/ 37

Thanks to those irregulars who turned out and to Andy Q for doing some scoring and washing up after tea -and Smudger for his encouraging comments from over the fence. Good luck to Dundee HSFP in the next round.