The Sun DID always shine..

Given the current period of poor weather, it's tempting to believe that we are experiencing a uniquely wet cricket season.  One senior Crosser has posited that since 1996 the summers weather in the Edinburgh area have become decidedly wetter-more like Glasgow.  Is he right? 

The weather was always like this

The figures below suggest that -as with popular music-things really were better in the past...  Or are there other reasons why more fixtures were completed? Tougher men? Were cancelled games resheduled?

Number of HX Ist XI league fixtures completed (from Hugh K's stats):
note 1984!!

1975 11 out of 12
1976 10 out of 12
1977 13 out of 14
1978 13 out of 14
1979 12 out of 14
1980 12 out of 14
1981 12 out of 14
1982 10 out of 14
1983 12 out of 14
1984 18 out of 18
1985 13 out of 18
1986 16 out of 18
1987-14 out of 18
1988-12 out of 18
1989-16 out of 18
1990-16 out of 18
1991 17 out of 18
1992 16 out of 18
1993 16 out of 18
1994 14 out of 16 

1995 17 out of 18
1996 16 out of 18
1997 14 out of 18
1998 15 out of 18
1999-13 out of 18
2000-13 out of 18
2001 15 out of 18
2002 11 out of 18
2003 15 out of 18
2004 13 out of 18
2005 16 out of 18
2006 16 out of 18
2007 12 out of 18
2008  9  out of 18
2009 15 out of 18
2010 17 out of 19
2011 12 out of 19
2012  6  out of 10

Another record falls as Cross blow Irvine away in Scottish Cup.

Scottish Cup 1st round.

Holy Cross beat Irvine by 175 runs
Holy Cross 331-7 (50 overs, K Fraser 38, C Ellis 83, S Bonfield 60, C Smith 58*, S Singh 5-73)
Irvine 156 all out (S Butt 46, C Ellis 4-27)

full scorecard here

Holy Cross completed a successful and record-breaking weekend with a dominant batting display vs Irvine in the 1^st round of the Scottish Cup. Their 331-7 is believed to be a 1^st team record. The game was played in very strong wind, which not only caused bails to be dispensed with but also blew away caps, unattended helmets and even boundary markers! Scorers were forced to take shelter in the container. and the scoreboard had to be sheltered behind one of the buttresses of the clubhouse.

Well done to the Irvine guys for putting up with these conditions for 50 overs - we fortunately only needed to stay our there for 30.

Though not easy to bat (it wasn’t easy maintaining your balance at the crease), the bowlers certainly had the more difficult task, especially with the umpires under instruction from CS to be VERY tight on wides - there were 44 (15 as ‘5’ wides) in the HX innings.

Some highlights:

* EC successfully worked out how to set up the fielding circles!

* KF’s supercharged opening assault made full use of the 1^st powerplay and (with EC) helped take us to 79-1 off 12, allowing the middle order time to play themselves in.

* CE and Shannon were able to continue the controlled type of partnership they put together vs Grange 2s, with efficient dispatching of the loose deliveries.

* CA continued from were he left off on Saturday with a very fluent 58* including a BIG six over long on.

* Despite limited bowling resources, Cross started particularly well with Roshan and Shannon putting the opposition well behind the required run rate from an early stage.

* Though some part time bowlers were pressed into action they all did a decent job - CA picking up two wickets.

* Cross fielded enthusiastically (top marks to new boy Craig, PVB and Norrie) and supported each other in difficult conditions.

* Surprisingly both captains were able to keep up with the powerplays and other fielding conditions.

* Remind cje that he's on a hatrick next time he bowls (or just if he bowls again in the Scottish Cup??).

* Mandy again did a great job with the teas.
* McGill seemed to injure himself whilst scoring....

* cje's efforts to smuggle some leaf tea into the pot didn't prove too controversial.

Holy Cross will play Kelburne (away) in round 2 next Sunday (June 5^th). Draw here