CHESHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

2017: EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER Ireland ODI star Niall O’Brien for NantwichHIGHEST profile signing of the League’s close-season sees Ireland ODI and T20 star left-hand batsman/wicket-keeper Niall O’Brien join Premiership club Nantwich. Elder brother of the better-known Kevin and son of Brendan, who played for Ireland from 1966-81, Dublin-born Niall, aged 35 and 5 ft. 7 ins. tall is recorded as being “highly competitive and renowned for his chirpiness behind the stumps”. Niall began his first-class career with Kent in 2004, later enjoying six seasons with Northants before winding up with three seasons at Leicestershire last September He made his Ireland debut in 2006 and enjoyed his best innings the following season with a brilliant 72 against Pakistan in the ODI World Cup. His most recent appearance for Ireland was against Afghanistan in March and he remains available for his country. He has played in ODI tournaments abroad in Bangladesh and New Zealand A qualified coach, Niall played in 81ODIs and 30 T20Is, while in first class cricket he scored 8,528 runs at 35.34, took 474 catches and 47 stumpings. The Dabbers have also signed Tattenhall batsman Henry Dobson, 17, the 2016 League Young Player of the Year.

UMPIRES TO GET A RISEPANEL umpires are to receive an increase in expenses when the 2017 season opens on Saturday, April 22. But the rises are to be frozen for three seasons. Subject to approval by clubs at the management meeting at Warrington on Wednesday, April 12, umpires standing in ECB Premier League games will henceforth receive £45, up from £40, while the remuneration in Divisions One and Two goes up to £42, also an increase of £5. Officials standing in all T20 games will be paid at the unchanged rate of £25. Umpires Association chairman Ian Greensmith comments: “This increase would be in line with other leagues in the region. The Liverpool Competition have agreed to pay £45 in all divisions held for three years and we would like to do the same, although with lower fees for our Divisions One and Two where fewer overs are bowled”. Mr. Greensmith reports that the Association panel will be numerically better off in 2017 withthe newly-formed recruitment committee beginning to pay dividends. The three March meetings called by the League at Cheadle Hulme – switched from Bramhall - Chester and Toft to consider the behaviour of players were well attended by club chairmen, captains and umpires themselves. There was a wide ranging and frank interchange of views and the belief of discussion leaders Ian Milligan and Duncan Anderson, chairmen of Bramhall and Didsbury respectively, was

Keeping you connected …

that there would be an improvement in on-field discipline and respect for umpires shown by players during the new season. EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p2

CRICKET BALL TRIALS ETC.

O AN improved type of Reader cricket ball is to be experimented with on two as yet unspecific Saturdays in the ECB Premier League in 2017. The balls, which cost £18, is alleged to swing more than the normal Sovereign used weekly. If the experiment is successful an order may be placed for the future.

O MARPLE and Timperley have notified the League that work on their grounds will not be completed until the end of May. Both clubs are making arrangements for all 1st XI fixtures to be played away in the meantime.

O TATTENHALL League representative Ray Hunt has been co-opted to the Cricket Committee. Invitations have been issued to other potential new members. Following the setting up of a four-man Executive body, the committee will meet less often in 2017: in May, June, July, August and October.

O A SUNDAY Friendly fixture pool has been set up by Marcus Fisher (tel. 07818 886 653; e- mail sundaycricket@outlook.com). Up to 14 clubs may take part, some wishing to play regularly while others want only half a dozen games. There will be no results published.

O OVER 40s Finals Day is to be staged at Chester Boughton Hall on Sunday, September 3 (12 noon) shifting away from the normal Bank Holiday date which had become unpopular with players and umpires. Fall back date is Sunday, September 10, again at Chester.

O PHILL EVANS has stood down as one of the Third XI divisional competition secretaries due to ill-health. He is replaced by the versatile Ian Sharrock (tel. 07899 895 202; mobile; e-mail: sawdanine@gmail.com Urmston 3 and Bowdon Vale have withdrawn from the Third XI set-up leaving the three Eastern divisions with nine clubs each, 16 games and an open date each Sunday. All requests for fixture changes should go to Ian Sharrock or new Eastern secretary Roger Ollier (tels. 01928 787 192 / 07710 730 038; mobile: rogollier@aol.com).

O SPEAKING at a meeting of Wombwell Cricket Society recently, League secretary Geoff Wellsteed fielded a question from the audience from one John Howarth. The two afterwards enjoyed a chat about John’s great deeds for Cheadle Hulme, Notts and for Cheshire from 1976-78. John’s favourite story about his experience of playing under Cheshire skipper Fred Millett came in a match at Bowdon when, due to a ‘minor dismeanour’ he was taken off and told to field third man at both ends. The ever-resourceful Howarth spotted a bicycle and used it to pedal furiously round the boundary after each over …until Fred spotted him and gave him a hollering.

O NOTTS League Division A club Collingham & District seek fixtures for a Cheshire tour during the first week in July. Vice chairman and tour organiser David Pipes says the tourists will be “of mixed strength, but no mugs and good mixers”. He can be contacted by tel. at 07900 886 732 or by e-mail on davidpipes@gmail.com EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p3

Bowdon’s Chris Ashling one of five Conference Players of YearWINNER of the League Cricket Conference’s first annual award for the Player of the Year - and the Neil Edwards Memorial Trophy – is all-rounder Mattie McKiernan of Liverpool Competition champions Leigh His performance in scoring 570 runs and taking 75 wickets was deemed by a panel to be the best of the five short-listed candidates, who also included Chris Ashling (Bowdon), David Ball (Dorridge), Gareth Dawson (High Wycombe) and Lee Hodgson (Marske). All five players received awards presented by Conference president Geoff Cook, the former Durham and England player Geoff Cook, now Durham’s coach. Chris Ashling, 28, who had a spell as professional with Glamorgan in the early 2000s, took 62 ECB Premier League wickets at 12.03 last season when he helped Bowdon finish runners-up. He was named Premier League Players’ Player of the Year, receiving the Mark Alcroft Trophy at the Presentation Dinner in October. He was unable to be present as he was being married that day. General secretary Rob Sproston was re-elected along with all other Conference officers. Sentinel cricket supplementTHE Stoke Evening Sentinel, one of 20 national, regional and local newspapers who receive the League Newsletter throughout the year, plan to produce a special Cricket Supplement in their edition of Tuesday, April 18. The paper’s expperienced cricket writer Chris Travers says: “It will be of 32 pages, with four devoted to the Cheshire leagues and two to the Cheshire county club”. The newspaper is available from all south-Cheshire newsagents and on line. Cheshire Academy to meet MCC at ToftSTAND out fixture for Cheshire’s Academy team next season is the visit of MCC to Toft on Tuesday, July 11. Other games arranged so far (all 11 a.m. starts): Wednesday, May 3: Lancashire 2nd at Chester Boughton Hall Thursday, July 13: Warwickshire Academy at Crewe Friday July 21: Shropshire Development XI away A two-day game against Cumberland is also planned

COUNTY GOLF DAYENTRIES are invited for the Cheshire County Club’s second Annual Golf Day, to be staged at the Styal club, near Wilmslow, on Friday, September 29 starting at 12.30 p.m. Applications - costing £110 per team of four - should go to principal organiser Peter Babbage, telephone 07906 540 240 or e-mail pagbabbage@hotmail.co.uk. Other organisers are Rob Sproston and John Petch.

New U19 T20 tourneyCHESHIRE Cricket Board are planning to launch a new Under 19s T20 competition this summer, given sufficient take up. Clubs interested are currently being invited to complete a survey on the Board website to guage interest. EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p4

ALL GAMES IN 2nd XI KO TOHAVE PANEL UMPIRESA TOTAL of 34 clubs will compete in the 2nd XI Joseph Holt Brewery T20 Cup in 2017, Sale and Tattenhall being ineligible after forfeiture of games last season, while Northwich and Oulton Park return after penalty omissions in 2016. For the first time, panel umpires will be appointed for all matches. As a consequence of poor co- operation from clubs meeting deadlines for the completion of games in the past, scheduling will be more rigid with matches having a Tuesday default date allocated. Clubs can mutually agree to play on an earlier date provided at least seven days notice is given to Competition secretary Brian Boys (brian@mvirtual.net) and Umpires appointments secretary Geoff Young (curzon99@tiscali.co.uk). There are two preliminary round games to be played by May 9. The first named clubs will be at home in each round in all games up to an including the quarter-finals. The semi-finals and final will be played on a date and ground yet to be determined and will be subject to a draw to determine the semi-finals make-up. The full draw is available on the league website.

THE DRAWPreliminary round Brooklands v Ashton on Mersey (on Tuesday, May 9)Toft v Northwich (Tuesday, May 9)

First round Brooklands or Ashton on Mersey v Heaton Mersey (May 30)Marple v Hyde (May 30: switched to Hyde)Urmston v Stockport (May 30)Didsbury v Stockport Georgians (May 30)Alderley Edge v Bramhall (May 23)Bollington v Cheadle (May 23)Cheadle Hulme v Lindow (May 23)Macclesfield v Congleton (May 23)Toft or Northwich v Oulton Park (May 30)Timperley v Nantwich (May 30)Middlewich v Bowdon (May 30)Warrington v Grappenhall (May 30)Oxton v Weaverham (May 23)Widnes v Alvanley (May 23)Upton v Neston (May 23)Davenham v Chester Boughton Hall (May 23).

Round 2 games are scheduled for June 6 and 13.Quarter-finals are on June 27.

EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p5

34 TEAMS IN FOR THIRD XI CUP

WIDNES and Didsbury 4th are new entrants for the Third XI Joseph Holt T20 Cup in 2017, raising the entry to 34. Teams are divided into three geographic zones, East having five mini groups, Central with two mini groups and West also with two. These groups comprise three or four teams each playing the others once. Winning teams will be awarded two points with cancelled or abandoned games earning one. These games are scheduled for Sunday, April 23, Sunday, April 30 and BH Monday, May 1. Mini group matches have all been given default dates; matches may be moved or re arranged by mutual agreement and all matches must be played by Sunday, May 28. In the knock out stages there will be a preliminary round match followed by quarter-finals to establish which four go through to Finals Day, yet to be agreed. All matches are of 20 overs per innings and start at 1 p.m.

How they line up

EAST SECTION: E1: Alderley Edge, Bramhall, Lindow, MacclesfieldE2: Bowdon, Cheadle, Hale Barns, Timperley.E3: Didsbury 5, Romiley, Stockport, Stockport Trinity.E4: Bredbury, Didsbury 4, Hyde, Sale.E5: Didsbury 3, Heaton Mersey, Marple, Urmston.

CENTRALC1: Ashley, Grappenhall, Knutsford, Warrington.C2: Elworth, Haslington, Nantwich, Toft

WESTERN Wl: Runcorn, Tattenhall, Widnes.W2: Chester Boughton Hall, Neston, Oxton

PRELIMINARY ROUND by Sunday, June 25: Winners of group W1 v W2. QUARTER-FINALS by Sunday, July 23:Winners of prelim. match v winners of Group C1Winners of C2 v winners of E1Winners of E3 v winners of E2Winners of E4 v winners of E5.

A full copy of the draw can be found on the League website.

EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p6

PRE - SEASON CLUB NEWS(up-dated where possible)

Barrow improve pavilionRE-ELECTED chairman at BARROW, Phil Noble reports improvements to the pavilion including the creation of a new storage area. Help with this work was carried out by young people from the Princess Trust. Pace bowler Phil Johnson returns after spells at Tattenhall and Marple, while treasurer Tate Beaumont steps down and is succeeded by former 1st XI captain Gareth Hughes.

Bowdon to mark Lord’s appearanceBOWDON secretary when the League was founded in 1975, the First Division title a year later and when they reached the final of the John Haig National Club ko at Lord’s a further 12 months on, David Young plans a get-together of survivors this summer. It will take the shape of a buffet meal at the club on Saturday, June 10 starting at 6 p.m. on the day of the Premiership game against Chester Boughton Hall David told Newsletter: “We played at Lord’s in 1977 when the final against Southgate was rained –off. The match was replayed at Edgbaston a few days later, when we lost. I have been trying to contact all members of that team to stage a reunion. Unhappily, not all are still with us and a couple of others are ill”. David’s e-mail address for anyone who would like to attend is d.young48@btinternet.com Bramhall directoryFORMER BRAMHALL player Paul Bellis is publishing a Business Directory covering the district at Easter, which will include a major feature about the cricket club. A player there from 1986-2006 and now a life vice president, Paul served as a Bramhall councillor on Stockport Council from 2000-2015. He is currently a Director at SK Graphics, who are publishers of the Bramhall Business Directory which appears twice annually. Bredbury plan move to Goyt ValleyAMBITIOUS plans are on the drawing board for BREDBURY ST. MARK’S – back in the league after a 12 months absence – to relocate to a 10-acre site in the nearby Goyt Valley. Spokesman and Third XI captain Geoff Mountford reports that after several false starts, contracts have been exchanged with a developer and the club are shortly to apply for planning permission to move from their present ground in Hillside Road, Woodley. An Open Day is planned for everyone interested in re-locating the club to the Goyt Valley site which will include two full sized pitches, a four-lane practice facility, a large pavilion and provision for other sports in the future. Rick Keyworth continues to lead the 1st XI with Steve Clarke running the twos in 2017. After 12 seasons based at Hillside Road, the senior ladies team are moving to play at Woodley CC, replacing them with several junior sides.

EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p7 Club news contd …

Joint captains @ ChesterCHESTER BOUGHTON HALL will have separate captains for ECB Premier League and Cup matches in 2017. Lee Dixon steps down as overall 1st XI skipper to concentrate on leading Cheshire, making way for his younger brother, Ross who will skipper in League games. Ross was married to an Australian girl Down Under during the winter. Experienced former Glamorgan all-rounder Will Owen will lead Chester in all cup games.

Chris Fleet captains the Academy side and continues as club captain while Jim Gillson remains chairman. Brian Gresty begins a three-year term as President in succession to John Legry. The 3rd and 4th XIs will become known as 3A and 3B. With no senior fixture that day, Lancashire have promised to send a strong team to Chester to play Cheshire 2nd on Wednesday, May 3rd (11 a.m.). Davenham host county Under 16sDAVENHAM are to stage an Under 16 match between Cheshire and Lancashire at Butcher’s Stile on Wednesday and Thursday, July 19 - 20. This will mean reversing their Over 40s games against Mobberley on July 19 and on May 31. A sponsorship deal with builders Stewart Milne Homes has helped fund the growing junior section. A bowling machine, new kit and extra professional coaching are now available, says junior co ordinator Karen Gallagher. Over 40s captain Martin Bentley is succeeded by wicket-keeper Simon Freedman, DIDSBURY BACK IN PREMIERSHIPBACK in the ECB Premier League, DIDSBURY have expressed satisfaction with their officers by re-electing the following: Chairman and treasurer Duncan Anderson; secretary Tim Hughes; 1st XI captain Nick Anderson; 2nd XI captain Shahaz Qasim; 3rd XI Sunday captain Mark Dowse; 4th XI Sunday captain Tony De Weever. Macc reward Aussie BertusAT the MACCLESFIELD Player of the Year awards evening, popular Aussie Nick Bertus won three 1st XI prizes in his absence. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th XI awards went to Fin McCance, Dave Cowen and James Coombes respectively. Clubmen of the Year were Graham Mason and Steve Littler Ben Welsh becomes secretary and Dave Frame stands down as Over 40s captain. Club Newsletter Editor Simon Griffiths was named Cheshire East Council Volunteer of the Year during the winter. The award recognises outstanding unpaid work in the community and Simon’s achievements heading up new ventures on the ground have been justly recognised. Evan Gulbis, Macc’s former Aussie all-rounder, played in the final of the Big Bash for Melbourne Stars when they lost to Perth Scorchers. He played alongside Kevin Pietersen Graham Gooch @ MarpleFORMER Essex and England captain Graham Gooch was guest speaker at MARPLE’S Sportsman’s Dinner The club’s PR Officer Mark Brook reports: “Goochie was excellent and I can highly recommend him. His knowledge of the game and good humour thrilled us all”. Marple plan a 30th anniversary celebration of their sole First Division title success, in 2017.EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p8 Club news contd … Northwich’s electronic scoreboardNORTHWICH have completed plans for the replacement of out buildings and equipment destroyed in a fire at Moss Farm last April, having been granted a full £45,000 insurance pay out When the season opens they will have an electronic scoreboard on wheels, a summer house for the scorers plus a container to accommodate the groundsman’s equipment, all of which has had to be replaced. This follows successful negotiations with the insurers and fund raising by members, reports Darren Sutcliffe, who is standing down as chairman for health reasons.

Darren who doubts he will be able to continue playing in the immediate future, is to carry on his invaluable work as one of the League’s skilled website operators.

Luke Camden back at NestonALL-ROUNDER Luke Camden has rejoined NESTON after a spell with Birkenhead Park, who have been relegated from the Liverpool Competition’s premier division. Luke keeps fit during the off-season playing for Cammell Laird in North-West Counties League. Re-appointed skipper Simon Stokes reports that David Hurst will be playing a full season at Parkgate. Zimbabwe-born all-rounder Simon Mugava who scored 326 runs and took 36 wickets for Neston last season, has moved to live in Stoke and will play in the North Staffs League for Alsager. Oulton Park bi-centenary in 2020OULTON PARK are well advanced with plans for their bicentenary celebrations to take place in season 2020. With five large new homes shortly to be built at the public house end of their Little Budworth ground necessitating the construction of a safety wall, Oulton have devised major plans to extend their ground and possibly re-site the square further away from the pavilion. The pavilion itself is also to be upgraded. Full proposals will be published when Cheshire West & Chester Council planning permission has been received, hopefully by the spring, says League rep. Peter Robinson. Aussie Jack Smith leads OxtonFORMER South Australia and Neston batsman Jack Smith is to captain OXTON after joining the club as chief coach 12 months ago. Among new players recruited is all-rounder Dane Williams from Formby, while Sydney-based left arm paceman Patrick McCann will be the Overseas player, succeeding the popular Gayan Fernando. Lancashire Academy batsman Jamie Crawley, son of former Oxton stalwart Steven, will play when available. Interesting additional fixtures at Townfield Lane next season will be a visit from a strong PCA XI skippered by Mark Ramprakash on Friday, June 23, while Australia take on South Africa in a tri-nations Learning Disabilities tournament game on Wednesday, July 26

EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p9 Club news contd …

Lancashire sign Sale’s Brooke Guest SALE wicket-keeper/batsman Brooke Guest has signed a professional contract with Lancashire for 2017, but expects to be regularly available for the Dane Road club’s League matches. A former Australia Under 19s player, Guest scored 1,097 runs in all cricket for Sale last season and also appeared regularly for Lancashire 2nd, figuring in their team which beat Somerset in the knock out final at Old Trafford.

Timperley strongerTIMPERLEY have signed all-rounder Tyrone Lawrence and wicket-keeper Chris Canning, both from Sale, also former Natal and Gloucestershire batsman Grant Hodnett, who played in the Moorside League last season.

Kiwi all-rounder Dan Cooper who played for Timperley in 2015-2016 has settled in the UK and will become an ordinarily resident player next season. Paceman Jack White, who took 36 Premier League wickets in his debut season is staying at Stockport Road Osborne gets nod at Toft CCFORMER Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne was given a vote of confidence at the annual meeting of Tatton Conservative Association held at TOFT Cricket Club. Mr. Osborne has been in the news for taking the post of London Evening Standard editor in on top of many other demanding posts and had said he wished to continue working for the Tatton constituency. Toft’s outstanding Aussie batsman Jake Hancock (2011 – 2015) made his first-class debut in January for Tasmania against Queensland at The Gabba. He has also played against Victoria at the MCG.

URMIES’ CHAIR FOLLOWS IMPSURMSTON chairman Rob Arnold continues to clock up the miles following his beloved Imps – Lincoln City FC – in the FA Cup and FA Trophy and their bid to win the Conference title and promotion. He was at the Emirates for the Imps’ big FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal. The talented Parkinson brothers have both moved on: Callum has signed a contract with Leicestershire and is to play in the Leicestershire County League, while Matthew, recently in Dubai with England Lions, will play for Egerton in the Greater Manchester League. Bradley Yates and Sam Oldham have both left. Lancashire 2nd XI opener Calum Turner becomes the club’s youngest 1st XI captain. He is currently playing Grade cricket in Australia following his recovery from a ruptured spleen. Returning to the club are Lewis Jackson from Leigh and Samit Panda from Edgworth. Neil Cross joins Upton UPTON have made quality addition for next season’s First Division programme in Neil Cross, the former Wallasey, New Brighton, Oxton, Bowdon and Cheshire all-rounder. Ex- 1st XI captain Andy Roberts becomes Cricket chairman at Old Greasby Road, while Ian Bruce 4th XI captain for the past 20 plus years, has been made a Life Member. Chairman Jez Lamb reports that Upton have confirmed their partnership with North-West based charity Vital Signs Foundation (VSF) and have appointed one of his predecessors Steve McCormick as charity co ordinator. EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p10

NEW UMPIRES’ SECRETARYTHE new secretary of Cheshire County Umpires & Scorers Association is Davenham-based Derek Barnett. Hr was elected to succeed Tony Morris at the AGM at Winnington Park on March 9.

Cheshire Vets appeal for playersAT the recent Cheshire Seniors’ annual meeting it was agreed to invite new players to join all the age group sections in 2017. New Sixties’ skipper Nick Sharp tells Newsletter: “The seniors set up now comprises the Over 50s, 1st and 2nd XI Over 60s teams and, for the first time next summer, an Over 70s side.

“We are constantly on the look out for new playing members and anyone interested in representing their county and playing in a high and enjoyable standard of cricket is invited to contact any of the following captains: OVER 50s: Paul Freedman on 01606 550 770 or 07799 621 120. OVER 60s 1st XI: Nick Sharp on 01925 730 531 or 07870 210 550 OVER 60s 2nd XI: Bob Ashley on 01477 535 751 or 07932 802 170. OVER 70s: Ken Crofton on 0151 3345 428 or 07946 027968. There is an allowance of one year for ‘underage’ players in all categories. The Grappenhall veteran concludes: “Seniors cricket in the county is a well-organised unit and collectively the teams have enjoyed considerable success at national level. Pre-season nets are at Warrington on April 7, 13 and 21 starting at 1 p.m. and would be an ideal time to come along and introduce yourself”.

OVER FIFTIES’ FIXTURESCHESHIRE Over Fifties’ National championship fixtures for 2017 arranged by secretary Paul Freedman are as follows (all Wednesdays):

May 10: Shropshire at Congleton (Cat Trophy)May 17: Northumberland at AllendaleMay 24: Lancashire at GrappenhallMay 31: Nottinghamshire at SouthwellJune 14: Durham at NortonJune 21: Yorkshire at Chester Boughton HallJuly 5: Derbyshire at West HallamJuly 12: Cumbria at Widnes

Provisional knock-out round dates (all Sundays):Last 16: July 30; Quarter-finals: August 13; Semi-finals August 27; Final: September 10.

EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p11

Weaverham lead wayin Indoor League WEAVERHAM remain favourites to win the Vale Royal Indoor League, having won eight of their 10 fixtures Second-placed Kingsley are still in the reckoning, but Nantwich have lost three games and are outsiders. Games are played weekly on Thurdays at St. Nicholas High School, Northwich from mid-October until April 13. The competition is run jointly by Andy Bennion and Peter Robinson

TABLE TO MARCH 20

P W L Total Weaverham 10 8 2 24

Kingsley 8 6 2 18Nantwich 8 5 3 18Oulton Park 6 2 4 6*Oakmere 7 1 6 0*Davenham 5 0 5 -6 * Points deducted: Oakmere 3; Davenham 6. DEATH OF SIMON CUSSONS

THE death occured aged 74 on February 24 of the colourful and multi-faceted Simon Cussons, who on sports fields alone, played club cricket in Cheshire and for Lord’s Taveners, umpired in North Wales, became an honorary member of TCCB and played a role as a Director in the development of Manchester City as a leading North-West football club. In business, Simon took over the chairmanship of the Cussons Soap group from his father which he later sold, allowing him the time and opportunity to serve as a Conservative councillor on Cheshire County Council, going on to become chairman of that body and of Macclesfield Health Authority. He bought a 10pc share in Manchester City for a paltry £5,000 in 1964 and as a Board member sanctioned the first £1M transfer from Birmingham of Trevor Francis not many years later. A cricketer who was always splendidly attired, he played briefly for Northwich and for the now defunct Arley Hall club in the 70s. MTB recalls: I vividly remember Simon captaining and batting for Arley at Northwich in the Mid-Cheshire Knock out in the very early days of T20 cricket. With a stolid, unbeaten 12 runs from the last eight overs of the game, he was convinced he had helped Arley draw the match. This is, until someone - in his own team needless to day - plucked up the courage to tell him Arley had lost by 30 runs and were out of the competition.

EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p12

Return to THE Golden Isleof Sri LankaHAVING enjoyed our first tour to the Golden Isle in 2000, we couldn’t resist the lure of a return trip to Sri Lanka, so off we went for the quick three-Test joust in December, 2003. Galle was the ground we were keenest to see, having missed the game there three years earlier and it did not disappoint. We were based in a hotel at Bentota, an hour’s drive up the west coast, which involved a delightful evening journey with the sun setting over the Indian Ocean. Galle is a fishing town at the southerly tip of the island only a few feet above sea level and was to suffer badly in the tsunami a year later. It rained for much of the first Test day and we were intrigued to watch the superbly-trained young ground staff cover every inch of the playing area with sheets within minutes. Sri Lanka eventually scored 331 (Sangakkara 72, Giles 4-69) and 226 (Giles 4-63) and England replied with 235 (Murali 7-46) and 210-9, with Giles and Hoggard holding out to save the game. More rain on the last day gave us the chance to look round the famous old Portuguese town adjoining the ground

Two days later we were in Kandy, a wonderful city up in the hills steeped in tradition and history. We stayed at the Amaya Hills, a hotel high up above Kandy and were entertained nightly by the wonderful David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd with some hilarious - and strictly off-the-record - tales of what he and his Sky colleagues get up to on their days off. Before play started on the first day at the old Asgiriya Stadium – no longer used for Tests – Sky commentator Chris Cowdrey rode a huge elephant round the ground to win a bet. England managed another draw: Sri Lanka 382 (Giles 5-111) and 279-7 (Dilshan 100); England 294 and 285-7 (Vaughan a splendid 105). There was a bizarre event as lunch arrived on the second day at Kandy, when news of a major event in the Middle East somehow reached the stand we were sitting in. These were days before everyone had smart phones and radio ear sets, so the news filtered through by word of mouth, row by row until it reached us sitting near the back. Wherepon came an announcement over the tannoy: ‘So the lunch score is ….England 79-2. Play will resume at 2.10 p.m. The bars will remain open until close of play. The main stand is not open to non members. Spectators may be interested to know that Mr. Saddam Hussain has been found fit and unhurt at his home town of Tikrit in Iraq’. Wow! thanks for the afterthought. Sigiriya ‘conquered’On spare days, we enjoyed an elephant drive, a visit to the 12th century caves at Dambulla and the famous Elephant Orphanage. What I relished most was a return visit to the daunting Lion Rock at Sigiriya, a vertical and perilous climb which had defeated me three years earlier. This time I screwed up my courage and - with the help of two bearers clutching each elbow – was carried 800 feet to the top for a glorious view of half the island. Not cheating was it? With the series at stake, it was to Colombo for the final Test, when England’s batting let them down disastrously on the last day: England 265 (Flintoff 77) and 148 (Murali 4-63), Sri Lanka a massive 628, Samaraweera and Jurasariya scoring big tons to win by an innings. So ended another losing tour – which included an ODI series which followed, although we saw only one game at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium, which was so overcrowded and rowdy we left early. We stayed at the Mount Lavinia Hotel down the coast from Colombo together with the Press pack and a boisterous group of Yorkshire members. One evening Wyn and I went for a stroll on the beach and came across a lonely-looking John Hampshire kicking his heels and looking lost, having booked into a small inn nearby. We took him to our hotel and were happy to see him engage with many old buddies. It was so sad to read of John’s recent death, aged 78. EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p13 Sri Lanka tour contd

Staying in our hotel was one of my lifetime favourite cricketers, former Notts and Sri Lanka all-rounder Gamini Goonesena. I took the liberty of introducing myself as literally a life-long devotee, explaining that, having been born on the very same day, February 16, 1931, I had always followed his career. His achievements included playing for Cambridge (he still holds the top Varsity score of 211 v Oxford in 1957), Notts and Test cricket for Ceylon before and after it became Sri Lanka. He had also managed the Sri Lanka team, served on the ICC committee and worked for BBC on TMS. He was a wonderful, modest man and I had reason to feel special sorrow when his death at 80 was reported from where he then lived in Canberra in 2011. One spare day we took a railway journey 50 miles down the coast from Mount Lavinia. It was jam-packed with passengers even sitting on the roof. We found out through research 12 months later, that very train had been swallowed up in the dreadful tsunami with 80 per cent passenger deaths. Wyn and I stayed on after the tour ended, having booked a hotel at Beruwele for a typical Sri Lankan Christmas, before being driven back to Colombo by taxi, then taking a direct flight home to Manchester, mercifully this time missing out Heath Row.

RESPONSE TO AUSSIE TRIP ….MTB writes: following my piece on a 2002-03 visit to Australia, the following was received from former Alderley Edge player Roger Hutchinson: “Thanks for your informative monthly missive, this time enhanced by the 2002-03 Ashes travelogue. It so happens that my wife and I were in Bowral in 2003, a few weeks after you. We were in the later stages of a Round the World trip staying with dear friends who lived in a village near Bowral called Exeter. Whenever we stayed with them we always went to Bowral, such a nice little town and invariably visited the Bradman Oval and its museum because there was always something new and interesting to see. “We were there in early March and on the day of our visit there was a charity match between a team in bright red caps against one in bright blue. I ended up in the pavilion when one of the Red Caps came over and started chatting. His accent was clearly not local and I said: ‘You’re not from these parts; where do you play your cricket in the UK?’ “’He replied: ‘You may not have heard of it, but I used to play for a club called Bowdon, south of Manchester’. “You can guess how the conversation went from there. The person I was talking to was none other than the Simon Milner referred to in your report. I had played against Simon more than once. I have retailed this story as one of life’s strange coincidences. I can’t recall asking him what he was doing down there earning a crust, but your story explained that he worked for the Australian Government in Canberra. I was very sorry to hear Simon is not well”.O Roger has been put in touch with Simon Milner along with several other former colleagues who were keen to make contact.

Collect stuff at pre-season meeting on April 12 THE League’s pre-season Management committee meeting at which cricket balls, handbooks, results sheets, match cards etc. MUST be collected is at Warrington Sports Club on Wednesday, April 12, 7.30 p.m. for 8 p.m. League secretary Geoff Wellsteed warns that all 40 full member clubs should attend to avoid possible heavy postal charges. Likewise, Associate members must collect their wherewithall, but need not stay for the meeting. Junior clubs can collect their balls at the earlier time of 6.30 p.m. EARLY APRIL NEWSLETTER: p14

WEBSITES INFORMATIONThe League’s Pitchero website administered by Richard Fennah contains recent pictures and documents, including all 2016 & 2017 issues of Newsletter. It can be located on: www.cheshirecountycl.org.uk

For other League news including all 2017 season fixtures, tap into Darren Sutcliffe’s website ... www.cheshirecountycl.play-cricket.comFor those who have difficulty in locating fixtures, process the following: From the list of options on the index bar at top of the Home Page, select Matches, then Fixtures, then 2017 Fixtures ….. all set out in glorious technicolour

THE NEXT ISSUE OF NEWSLETTER WILL BE ON MONDAY, APRIL 17

Please direct club news, comments, letters, complaints, obituaries etc. to the undersigned ….

Mike.t-b@talktalk.net: Monday, April 3

Livingstone tops Lancashire batting IN Lancashire’s 2016 first-class averages, former Nantwich player Liam Livingstone topped the batting list with 815 runs at 50.09, his 23 first-class innings containing two 100s and six 50s. Toft’s Rob Jones batted seven times in four appearances, scoring 212 runs at 42.4, including his maiden first-class century against Division l champions Middlesex. Jordan Clark (Alderley Edge) scored 225 runs from 10 innings, averaging 25. Clark took 11 wickets at 41.5 and Urmston’s Matthew Parkinson 10 wickets at 36.3. Parkinson is to leave relegated Urmston next season to play for Greater Manchester Premier League champions Egerton. In the Derbyshire bowling averages, Callum Parkinson, of Urmston, took 14 wickets at 37.9. Making his first-class debut for Leicestershire, Hyde’s Harry Dearden scored 36 runs in four innings at an average of nine. He will be joined at Grace Road next season by Callum Parkinson.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19: Special meeting date for Forties & ThirdsWEDNESDAY, October 19 has been fixed for special meetings to decide on the formats for Over Forties and Third XI cricket in 2017. Both meetings will be held at Warrington, the Forties at 7 p.m. and the Thirds following at 8 p.m. Attendance is mandatory. The 31-club Forties section have a vacancy following the withdrawal of Marple after the start of last season, followed by the recent decision of Kingsley not to take up an offer of admission. Inquiries have been received from Stretford and Whalley Range, whose clubs are both members of the Greater Manchester League. At their September meeting, the League Cricket Committee decided that the admission of these clubs could not be allowed as both are situated outside the Cheshire county boundary. Any club wishing to join the section – or withdraw – is asked to contact Competition Secretary Mike Talbot-Butler (mike.t-b@talktalk.net) prior to the meeting. The Third XI meeting will have a wide range of topics to consider, including the possibility of forming a Friendly section. DINNER NEWSLETTER: p12

Poor discipline worries Umpires Assn.AT their end- of- season meeting at Sale, the League Umpires & Scorers Association expressed concern about declining discipline. Chairman Ian Greensmith reports: “Since the meeting, Association officers have had good feedback and we will continue to investigate ways to achieve more consistency among our members because players’ behaviour which is acceptable for some is clearly not for others” He adds: “There is no doubt that discipline generally has deteriorated and Premier League clubs, who normally have the better umpires controlling their games, are the biggest offenders. “Not out rulings are, in too many cases, being questioned and while I would not want to go down the route of some leagues when umpires will not respond to appeals other than to say ‘not out’ (as recommended in the Tom Smith umpiring guide) we will be forced down that route if matters do not improve.” He goes on: “Poor behaviour is a reason why we have difficulty in recruitment, and to counter that this winter the Cheshire ACU&S are running two Level 1 recruitment courses, a Level 1A course and three refresher courses. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Geoff Young”. The League Umpires committee have also discussed a suggestion from the Cheshire Board to have one umpiring association covering the whole of the county. Meanwhile, the Association want the League to consider earlier starting times for the last four weeks of the season, possibly by as much as one hour, to assist with visibility.

2017 dates for your diary

THE League’s 2017 season will begin on Saturday, April 22 and end22 weeks later over the week-end of

Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17.

NATIONAL CUP KO IN 2017ENTRIES for next season’s Royal London National Club championship which last season attracted only seven County League clubs, need to be in ASAP. Competition secretary Aaron Campbell (aaron.campbell@ecb.co.uk) has announced the 2017 dates as follows: Round one on Sunday, April 23; round 2: May 14; round 3: June 4; round 4: July 16; quarter-finals August 6; semi-finals August 27; final on September 17. Each round allows a seven day postponement period for rain etc. The draw will be made at Lord’s on Friday, December 2.O THE ECB have set the dates of the later rounds in the NatWest National T20 tournament, which follows each league’s domestic competition. The Area finals will be on Sunday, July 30 and the Regional finals on Sunday, August 13 with the final day’s yet to be arranged There are likely to be structural changes to the League’s own Fred Graham T20 competition although the final will again be staged in mid-July. O CHESHIRE COUNTY CLUB AGM. The annual meeting of Cheshire County Cricket Club is on Tuesday, November 22 at The Windmill Inn, Chester road, Tabley WA16 0HW (by the M6 intersection). The venue in recent years, the Golden Pheasant, Plumley, is currently undergoing reconstruction.O COUNTY League Junior section AGM is at Warrington on Sunday, October 30 at 5 p.m.O CHESHIRE Seniors (Over 50s & 60s) annual dinner is at Chester Boughton Hall on Friday, November 25.DINNER NEWSLETTER: p13

Obituaries

DAVID OTWAY KILLED IN CAR CRASHMANY tributes have been paid, including one from former England captain Michael Vaughan, following the tragic death in a car crash in Cumbria on September 21 of leading Alderley Edge member David Otway, aged 52. He died when his Volkswagon car crashed on a remote road in Ambleside, in which no other vehicle was involved. Kendal-born, his funeral took place in the Cumbria town followed by a memorial service at Netherfield Cricket Club, where he used to play. An MCC member resident in Wilmslow, David leaves a family including three sons. He was the leading light behind the emergence of a successful youth section at Alderley Edge in which Michael Vaughan’s son currently plays. The former England skipper had rich praise for David’s expertise bringing on young players. Chairman of the club’s junior section, it had been intended that David would step up and take over from Andy Fluck as club chairman at the next AGM.

David Herd - ex-Timperley & Man U - DIES AT 82

FORMER Manchester United centre-forward David Herd, who died on October 1 aged 82, played cricket for Timperley in their Manchester Association days and was chairman when they won the Stockton Trophy title in 1977. A Scottish international, David is best remembered at United for scoring twice in their 3-1 defeat of Leicester City at Wembley in the 1963 FA Cup final. He also played for Arsenal, Stoke City and later for Waterford in Ireland. His father Alex was a famous Manchester City and Scotland international pre and post-war. At cricket, David was an old fashioned big-hitter and frequently used to stop play in the tennis courts while batting at the Stockport road end. Newsletter Editor Mike Talbot-Butler recalls being on the receiving end of regular punishment from David when Northwich played their traditional opening match of the season at Timperley. According to long-serving member Simon Thompson, David had two spells at the club either side of a period managing Lincoln City. He later moved to play cricket at Brooklands, alongside his great pal, the England rugby union international Steve Smith.

mike.t-b@talktalk.net …………….Monday, October 10, 2016 NEXT ISSUE: EARLY NOVEMBER, 2016