Around Scotland's cricket: Mid-February 2011
Around Scotland Mid-February 2011
Tales of Scottish cricket from around the world which might have passed you by...
Bradford League adopts Scottish Player Registration System
The Western District Cricket Union's ground-breaking player registration system, introduced last year, has now been adapted and adopted by the Bradford League, one of the top English leagues, which boasts of 'producing' 151 Test players since it was founded.
Eric Young and IT expert Derek McLean, the joint brains behind the pioneering system, travelled to Carlisle on Sunday to hand over the bespoke software and to shake hands with Bradford League representatives Chief Executive Bob Shackleton (pictured right, with Eric Young), Treasurer David Young, and Alan Birkinshaw, their Media and Marketing Officer.
Their interest in the Western Union's paperless system had been encouraged by an article on the Cricket Scotland website before the season started last year.
Said Alan Birkinshaw: "In 2010, the Bradford League introduced live scoring to its website. We quickly found that we needed a reliable database of our 2,500 players, and explored different ways to achieve this. But when we read your article, it seemed stupid to reinvent the wheel, so we made enquiries and found it was just what we wanted.
"We were blown away by the simplicity of the system, and how it puts the responsibility for registering players correctly onto the clubs, who police it themselves. It's easy to operate, it's transparent, and our clubs think it's great. And, after the first year's set-up, it will undoubtedly reduce our player administration, including troublesome transfer forms, which used to be a thankless task to keep up with."
Added Eric Young: "The Bradford League also saw that many of the player issues we faced up to in Scotland were similar to what they had been experiencing down there, and they wanted these problems resolved!
"We were proud to deliver their version of our Player Registration System, for implementation into their league with immediate effect. They are delighted with what they’ve received."
- Previous article can be accessed HERE
The Book of Kelburne
Many readers will be aware it was Kelburne's 150th anniversary last year, and in commemoration of this event a book was written on the club's history to date.
Social convener Andrew Miller, also the book's author, says: "The publication - 200 pages long - documents Kelburne’s colourful history, as well as helping to raise funds for the club in these tough financial times.
"It is by no means a complete history, as a great deal happens in 150 years, but you will read about many of the most interesting events which Kelburne has been involved with since 1860.
"These start with the club’s initial set-up in the Blackhall area, and includes the move to Whitehaugh, as well as the current on-field successes of Kelburne cricket - and almost everything in between."
The book is now on sale at £20, with all proceeds going to the club. Orders for the book can be made by e-mail to kccandrew@hotmail.co.uk - or by snail mail to the club (2A Barshaw Drive, Paisley, Renfrewshire PA1 3RX), for the attention of Andrew Miller.
Torrance Community join the Village Cup
After a short intermission, Freuchie are back on parade in the 2011 National Village Cup which they won at Lord's in 1985, and Meigle also return after deciding not to employ a professional. But this year, a new Scottish club makes its debut in the tournament.
That club is East Dunbartonshire-based Torrance Community CC, which got cricket plenty of publicity on BBC Radio Scotland's Fred Macaulay show when it was formed on-air last year with the help of West Development Officer Iain Stewart. It helped that the show's roving reporter, Richard Cadey, a native of Lincolnshire, is the club's captain (pictured right, with headphones)!
The National Village Cup draw has been done by the Wisden Cricketer (still the best cricket magazine on the market in many people's opinion) and, in the first regional round, Torrance Community have been drawn away to Aberdeenshire side Kemnay, while Freuchie are at home to Crathie and Meigle get a bye.
Meigle was the club where Scotland captain Gordon Drummond first put ball to bat and vice-versa. And it also boasts Iain Stewart among its alumni. "If I were a betting man," says Stewart. "I'd put money on a Meigle v Freuchie Final!"
- National Village Cup 2011: Scotland Regional Draw
- Quarter-Finals: Meigle Bye to semi-final; Ross County v Methlick; Kemnay v Torrance Community; Freuchie v Crathie
More Cricket Without Boundaries
Stephen Green of Penicuik (pictured right) has been much energised by his experiences as a Group Leader for the international charity Cricket Without Boundaries in a trip to Kenya last year. And he wants to attract more Scots to volunteer themeslves and sample those experience.
"As a result of what I achieved with the charity last year, and the feelings the work gave me, I am now trying to support CWB as much as possible by finding future volunteers from Scotland," says Green.
"Therefore, I wanted to know it would be possible for me to get an article added to the Cricket Scotland website (along with the flyer which can be downloaded HERE) and also include a note from myself about what impact the project had on me, and why I feel others should seriously consider doing this.
"Many of you will be aware that I went to Africa at the end of October and had the most rewarding time of my life. I also received a lot of help from cricket colleagues in Scotland by way of sponsorship, which was really appreciated.
"Cricket Without Boundaries is now recruiting for projects in the autumn of this year and the attached advert gives details of what is required. I would encourage anyone who has ever thought of carrying out such a project to think seriously about this and to put their names forward. I can almost guarantee that you will see life in a totally different way after attending a project and will get a great feeling inside that cannot be put into words, and certainly cannot have any monetary value attached to it.
"Please do not just think this is for someone else, as this gives YOU an opportunity to help others who are really in need of this help. The website HERE will help you understand what I am talking about and the attached "volunteers letter" gives more information - go on, have a go!"
Please feel free to contact Stephen Green by phone (07706 691752) or through our website, and I would be more than happy to help you understand what this is all about.
Bailey's personal best rescues Tasmania
Former Scottish Saltire George Bailey (pictured left) played the quintessential captain's innings, scoring an impressive, unbeaten 160, to guide Victoria to their improbable fourth-innings target of 315 against Tasmania at the Bellerive Oval over the weekend.
Bailey's tenth first-class ton was also his career-best effort, and came under steady pressure. Resuming at 1 for 1, Tasmania lost opener Nick Kruger with only 21 on the board. Bailey walked out to join Alex Doolan, and the pair set about stemming the rot with a determined stand. They remained together for a ball short of 34 overs, and added 112 runs to take the sting out of Victoria's bowling, before Peter Siddle got Doolan to edge behind for 54.
Travis Birt added 47 with Bailey before being trapped in front, with Tasmania 106 short of the target with five wickets remaining. Things seemed set for a tight finish, but Bailey shut the door on Victoria with an emphatic array of strokes.
He waded into the Victoria attack, hitting 18 boundaries in his innings, that spanned 235 balls. James Faulkner steadied his end, with an unbeaten 47 off 77 balls, and the pair finished the game in the 91st over of the day.
