From Aidan to Andy - Club News June 2009

Spin kid Aidan hits seven

On Monday 1 June, Royal High Corstorphine U13s travelled to Fauldhouse. RHC batted first and Aidan Thomson (who had retired on 30 not out the previous week) went out to open the batting. Starting at the non striker's end, Aidan was run out without facing a ball but RHC went on to score 76 for 5 in 20 overs. 

After 12 overs of their reply, Fauldhouse were 41 for 3. Aidan Thomson was asked to bowl the next over and told his coach that he would "try bowling spin this week". “Pitch it up” was the advice. Aidan's first ball was a waist high no ball, but things got better. He took two wickets in that over and followed it up with three in his next. Then, taking wickets with the second and third ball of his third over, Aidan finished with figures of 2.3 overs, seven wickets, for one run.

Fauldhouse were bowled out for 51!


Electronic Carlton

For many years, Aberdeenshire were the only club with an electronic scoreboard - which
they refurbished and upgraded last year to cater for the One-Day Internationals against
Ireland and New Zealand that came their way.

The next ground to ‘go electronic’ was Myreside, even though there were no plans to
bring international cricket back to the Watsonians venue.

Then, in 2005, because youngsters were no longer wishing to spend hours operating it
manually, Clydesdale converted their excellent scoreboard to electronic operation. “It was
one of the best projects we ever undertook,” said a club spokesman. “Not only are the
kids keen to operate it with the remote-control zapper, but spectators are immediately
enthralled and stay longer to watch even the most trivial of matches, spending more at the
bar.”

Now we hear that Carlton have taken a similar step, and have recently unveiled their
brand new electronic, all-singing, all-dancing, flashing new scoreboard facility, to
universal praise.


Andy’s new treble

We’ve all heard of Andy Caddick, the Somerset pace bowler who was one of England’s
strike force aome 10 years ago. But we didn’t know he’d moved to Scotland and taken up
spin bowling.

And he even surpassed himself playing for Rossie Priory in the Small Clubs Cup recently
against Morton, when Andrew Caddick took a brilliant hat-trick.

What’s that? He’s only 13? Surely some mistake? Oh well, a case of mistaken identity...


And the other Andy, too

You don’t have to be called Andy to succeed, but it helps, if Andy Hislop’s latest success is anything to go by.

The former Clydesdale and Scotland U19 World Cup wicket-keeper is in his final year studying accountancy - and cricket!

Andy has been turning out for Loughborough UCCE (University Centre of Cricket Excellence) this season, including the match against Oxford at the latter’s famous Parks ground (which oxford won). In the course of three matches played, he took six catches and two stumpings.

Andy expects to complete the season playing for a club in Leicestershire, but could be
back in Scotland next season.


Cheating player-umpires not wanted

In recent days, according to league chairman Jim Murphy on the WDCU website, there
have been three complaints of ‘club umpires’ cheating in official Saturday league
matches.

Murphy added: “While close decisions can be a matter of opinion, blatant cheating - like
run outs where the batsman would not even be in the picture of a Third Umpire's camera,
or stumpings where the batsman stayed out of his ground even after the appeal, and even
the ludicrous ‘I couldn't see, the sun was in my eyes’ - is just not acceptable.

Clubs - and particularly captains - are reminded of their responsibilities: "Cricket is a
game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact it should be played not only within
its laws but also within the spirit of the game. Any action which is seen to abuse this
spirit causes injury to the game itself, and the major responsibility for ensuring the spirit
of fair play rests with the captains."