Update

Things are happening........

Insider news

Our insider tells me that they're not taking it very seriously, they're possibly taking the point of view that it's a foregone conclusion that they are going to win because they are 'Sporty'. He's seen some of them in action and he reckons and there's at least one ofthem that has played at County level and that he's quite handy with his bowling. But we've got to remember we've also got 2 county level players. The insider says at the moment they are not practicing as a team either, so whereas we're making team selection decisions on the basis of strategy and practice they're going to be forced to make decisions on lengths of straw or similar? The insider who initially had his money firmly on them has his money on us winning.

He also tells me that they are getting worried and that they are asking questions about our abilities and the frequency of our practicing.

Bowling Machines

I spoke to Dean Wells today and Gavin Etheridge. Dean has passed the organisation over to Gavin so he's our first point of call. Speaking to him today I've learned that they have a full team, but it probably will include a couple of students and he hinted at the fact that they may be cricket players rather than just random people that fancied a game. They're definitely up for the first fixture, so we'll concentrate on getting that sorted and then play it by ear with regards to the rematch where no doubt they'll be looking to draw even.

In the short term I've learnt that that their head of school is on side with them and expects them to win and theirs talk about the fact that they may invest in a bowling machine. I've looked bowling machines up and the cost isn't that high and no doubt they get eductaional discounts. I'm sure they could argue that the machine could be an asset and could see with the return to some inter team cricket playing and an interest in the sport a return to thier former cricket glories of 2002? So I wouldn't be surprised if this happened. If so, the question then will be - where will it be kept/used? Garrons I expect and it's probable that we would also be able to access it? So it's not such a bad thing?

This seems to be a distinct possibility -

The 2007 BOLA Professional Bowling Machine
Fully Enclosed Cricket Bowling Machine. Concave profile moulded urethane ball delivery wheels. Microprocessor based digital speed control with membrane switch panel. Adjustable speed in increments between 15 and 95 mph. Spin, swing and pace bowling with 19 spin and swing settings. Electronic random variation facility with solid state electronic wheel braking. Ball joint complimented by vernier screw adjustment for precision line and length. Operation from 12 volt battery or with optional BOLA Power Pack from 230v mains (or 110v if specified). More...
£1938.00 inc VAT, £1649.36 ex VAT With Power Pack £2159.00 inc VAT, £1837.45 ex VAT

Now read this http://www.bola.co.uk/spin.html the machine doesn't seem to be able to do flippers? It also means their bowlers wont get as much practice as we do and I'm sure that the human aspect to bowling will count for so much more.

Welstead Gardens

Welstead gardens is the only missing part of the whole thing now. As soon as we get dates I'm going public with this, massive advertising/promotional campaign hyping up the event and we'll be looking to get student teams involved and other teams within the schools involved. I've told Welstead this in the most recent email as a way of getting them to get their skates on. So hopefully I'll have an update on Tuesday night.

Attendees for Saturday 3rd March

Anyone aware of any non attendees amongst the usual 9? Are there going to be ant extras? I'm hoping we'll have Simon's mate, Rod the Aussie's mate and either Steve Bone or Tom Dick as well so that we can get a game going?

Another potential fixture Leyton Cricket Club

There's a bunch of geezers from Leyton that are up for playing us who are well established as a team and play in a league, but are well up for a friendly match. This link comes via Thomas Slater, so as I get more news I'll let everyone know. It'd be nice to think that maybe this could be our first away match? Other than that if Sports Science can't make that Mid June date maybe we'll offer this to the Leyton team?

Anyone from the Leyton Team that wants to get this moving (and the Aussies and Kiwis) email me at stupidaddress@hotmail.co.uk and we'll try and get something sorted.

Dave