Breaking News...Cross to open with May Day Matches against Myreside Men

Leaked documents from ESCA seem to suggest that the 1st XI will begin their season at home to Watsonians 2nds (May 1st), while HX 2nds will be away to Watsonians 3rds (presumably at Craiglockhart).

The 3rds begin a week earlier (April 24th)-at home to Drummond/ Trinity.

Naming Shame?

Geoffrey Wheatcroft bemoans the declining standard of the nicknames used by members of the England cricket team here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jan/17/english-nicknames-humour-irony-wit

Have the Cross suffered a similar decline?
This roughly chronological list of nicknames might suggest so:

King
Coco
[Ferret]
Two Dogs
Deadly
Butchie
Shifty
Smudger
Bradders
[Rocket]
Slasher
The Dr
Bonfire
Ziggy
The Professor
Spickers
Beast
Coastal
Jezza
Ozzie
Senior
[Shambles]
Killer
Milley
Sharpey
Bimbo
Popey


Certainly Crossers of more recent vintage have tended to fall into the lazy habit of merely appending ‘ey’ to the end of names (this reached its nadir with EC’s tendency to describe a former 1st team skipper as ‘Ianey’-though I seem to recall he called him something different after being run out by him as he neared a century vs Edinburgh CC…). The club also has a somewhat unimaginative tradition of ‘nicknames’ that merely use initials. e.g. EC; BAF; PVB; HJK; JLRB; JB; KF.

Am I wrong? Surely a good nickname should have an air of mystery about it and take some time to explain (e.g. classics such as Two Dogs and Shifty)?

Volunteers Required and Double Nelson

A biomechanics student at Napier is looking for volunteers to help him with his honours project. Basically you have to turn up at the lab in Sighthill during office hours next month and bowl a couple of overs while covered in small reflective oval markers (see illustration) which will allow tracking and analysis of your action by a 3D motion capture camera system.

"This does mean that lycra or tight-fitting shorts and vests (optional) must be worn. Shorts can be provided. No baggy trousers or t-shirts." No word yet on whether dubious actions will be reported to ESCA. If interested, either in advancing science or simply getting the chance to wear lycra in Sighthill, please contact me and I'll pass on your details.

Meanwhile, the fiendishly clever software that powers this blog claims that this is post 222 (although it does cheat by including draft items, a technique shamelessly copied from the great CoCo and his "virtual wickets"), so could someone please hurry up and write something so I can stop hopping around ......

A Cheats' Charter

Can I urge all Crossers not to read this article and to refrain from any of the practices outlined in it (especially as technique 3 is poorly described: there are several other types of confectionery which produce a better result):

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article6978893.ece

Seasonal Shifts?

Broonster and other Crossers with rugby connections may wish to comment on this; given the possible implications for Holy Cross and other
Scottish Cricket clubs:

http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby/David-Ferguson-Seasonal-shift-needed.5968865.jp

'Start by scrapping winter rugby for all youth and club levels'.....

Holy Crosser in the Press!

Imagine my surprise when flicking through January's edition of Scottish Field and finding a familiar face in the picture gallery!

Here we have Robin at the opening of the Royal Botanic Garden's £15.7m John Hope Gateway.

Blocking for Britain

Michael Atherton discusses the mindset required to play long defensive innings:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/cricket/article6979992.ece

Having the right mindset is important but having an inspirational example is also vital.
It is fairly clear that Bell and Collingwood had one man and one image in mind throughout their innings.