Not Dark Yet by Mike HarfieldNot Dark Yet, not to be confused with Bob Dylan’s remarkable song in 1997 is the new book by Mike Harfield, a humourous look at the history of the Clifton Hampden rivalry that has spanned over 30 years, a tradition that continues to this day. Now go out and buy it !

Unlike ex-cricketer David Lloyd, who was lucky enough to take his copy to Sri Lanka commentating on an England tour, I had to settle to reading the book during the first Test in Jamaica between West Indies and Australia. Australia won so no worries, Sri Lanka can wait …. for now!

I have to admit the book didn’t take long to read at all such was the effortless style the author afforded the reader. I didn’t get chance to finish it on the 5th day’s play due to some on screen heroics from Clark ripping through the top order but a few days later I picked up the book and finished it in two sittings.

Not Dark Yet is a simple book, no clever sub plots, no hidden agendas, just a passionate historical account of the annual match between Mike Harfield’s XI and Clifton Hampden. The book reminded me in many ways of Gideon Haigh’s “Many A Slip” and his hysterical recollections of what life was like in club cricket, Victoria style. Just like Gideon’s offering, I was immediately taken in by the characters who year in, year out made up the 11 “players” (and like Mike I use that term loosely) that made the annual pilgrimage trying to avoid humiliation and partake in beer and well crafted teas!

Although cricket is a passion to most of us, winning isn’t always the most important factor. It’s the taking part that counts and whoever tells you different is lying!

Inespecting the pitch in 1976One thing is clear, Mike Harfield is a genuine cricket nut. He appears to live and breathe cricket and as soon as one match is over, he is busy preparing for the re-match the following year. Christmas cards are sent along with reminders of the date for the next battle, up to date averages and a whole host of information. He’s either a cricket lover or should be locked up! I’ll go with the former although his family may disagree!

We follow Mike’s dedication in arranging the annual fixture, the angst of selecting an eleven and the turmoil he goes through trying to find a replacement when someone inevitably pulls out for a variety of reasons. As he moves through the decades, Mike comments on real life issues such as Millwall football chants to the Iranian national team, political commentaries on Margaret Thatcher, John Major and Tony Blair.

Talking of John Major, his four year affair with Edwina Currie is compared with a really hot vindaloo, something you regret the next morning according to the author; not John Major !

So there you have it, a remarkable and funny look at life as an amateur cricket captain, atrocious umpiring decisions, bad haircuts and WAG’s! It is a must read, highly recommended and one book certain to make the rounds of your local team.

Having never heard of the team or the rivalry, the biggest compliment I can pay this book and the author is quite simple and straightforward – I want to play for Mike Harfield’s XI! Long may traditions like this continue. Now go out and buy it !

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West Indies tour itinerary announced

The ECB today confirmed the itinerary for England’s 2009 winter tour of the West Indies comprising of four Tests, one international Twenty20 match and a five-match one-day international series.

England will arrive in Barbados on Wednesday January 21, where they will play two three-day warm up matches before moving to Jamaica for the first Test against the West Indies at Sabina Park on Wednesday February 4.

The fourth and final Test (March 6-10) will be played at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad, with the same venue hosting the international Twenty20 match less than a week later.

The tour concludes in St Lucia on Saturday April 4, following the final day-night ODI the previous day at the Beausejour Stadium.

England tour of the West Indies 2009:

Wed 21 Jan: England team arrive, Barbados

Sun 25–Tue 27 Jan: Three-day practice match, Barbados

Thu 29–Sat 31 Jan: First-class match, Barbados

Wed 4–Sun 8 Feb: First Test, Sabina Park, Jamaica

Fri 13–Tue 17 Feb: Second Test, Sir Viv Richards Stadium, Antigua

Sat 21–Sun 22 Feb: Two-day match, Barbados

Thu 26 Feb–Mon 2 March: Third Test, Kensington Oval, Barbados

Fri 6–Tue 10 March: Fourth Test, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Sat 14 March: One-day practice match, Trinidad

Sun 15 March: Twenty20 international, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad

Fri 20 March: First one-day international, Providence, Guyana

Sun 22 March: Second one-day international, Providence, Guyana

Fri 27 March: Third one-day international, Kensington Oval, Barbados

Sun 29 March: Fourth one-day international, Kensington Oval, Barbados

Fri 3 April: Fifth one-day international, Beausejour Stadium, St Lucia – day/night

Sat 4 April: England team depart for UK

The specific venues and opponents for the four non-international matches will be confirmed by WICB in due course.

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Captain marvel back on formAfter a lean spell Australia captain Ricky Ponting yet again stuck two fingers up at his critics with a magnificent 150 on day one of the Sabina Park Test match. The knock, his 12th of 150 or more and his 35th century now sees him just four behind Sachin Tendulkar.

Ponting who had called correctly at the toss elected to bat and the decision appeared to backfire on him following two quick wickets from Fidel Edwards, the only bowler to offer any initial threat. Katich failed after promising so much in the lead up to the Test as did Phil Jacques.

It was clear that they missed Hayden from the top order with an Achilles injury (likely to miss the whole series) and following a nervy start it was left to Mr Cricket (56) and Ricky Ponting to steady the rocky ship with a fine 137 run partnership for the third wicket, Amit Jaggernauth claiming the scalp aided by bravo’s tremendous one handed catch at first slip.

Jaggernauth bowled well enough in his first spell providing a little uncertainty on a turning pitch. However once Hussey and Ponting had acclimatised to his action they were rarely in trouble until Hussey fell for 56.

Hodge and Ponting secured a second century partnership of the innings of 119 and looked set to go to the close only three down until Bravo, who had troubled both batsmen with a steady amount of reverse swing, tempted the captain to pull a shot to Brenton Parchment. Ponting’s century had come up in 137 deliveries.

Ponting commented “I didn’t feel like I did much wrong, to tell the truth. It’s satisfying to be out there and feel in control again.

“150-odd – I’m happy with that, but it’s day one of a Test match and lots of things can happen quickly in Test cricket. “We have to make sure we put two really good days together. If we do that, we will be in the box seat in the game.”

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IPL Cheerleading

IPL Cheerleading at its bestThe face of international one day cricket is changing, some say for the worst but most agree it’s for the better. I certainly side with those who are positive about not only the future but the entertainment on offer at some of these games!

Take for example the recently launched IPL in India. The tournament is in its inaugural season, intent on making as big a splash as possible but honestly how many people could hand on heart tell you about any of the matches? !! The coverage has been lacking in the UK with only Setanta holding court with coverage at a premium subscription.

Arguably the biggest promotion, either positive or negatively is the controversy surrounding the IPL cheerleaders. The IPL have shipped in a huge number of cheerleaders from around the world to help promote the game and of course keep the cricket fans entertained throughout the match. Judging at some of the pictures who in their right mind is concentrating on Twenty/20 ? !!!

The Indian police have now come out and warned the organisers of the tournament that they could be fined if it is deemed the cheerleaders are dressed indecently. Come on guys, for frecks sakes, isn’t this taking things a little too seriously ?

Some politicians say the cheerleaders are “vulgar and obscene”.

Mumbai police say they will be checking that the cheerleaders’ performances do not violate entertainment licences. BBC Report

The cheerleading girls, wearing short skirts and low-cut tops, have been hired from around the world to perform during the matches which are also being heavily endorsed by leading Bollywood stars.

One blog has a rather in-depth piece on cheer leading and the use of in the IPL.

Whatever your thoughts on the game, IPL is sure to stay as long as local companies in India get what they want out of it. No one cares what goes on outside India and I can’t see that changing other than if a favourite star misses too many games for their chosen first class club. Only time will tell if the ECB will promote a similar venture and one thing you can be assured of if the Americans are involved, cheer leading is here to stay. Check out the IPL gallery of images from around the web.

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Alfred in happier times on holiday at Bonorong Wildlife Park, TasmaniaBreaking news has just hit Wombastville. Head groundsman Alfred Wombat (yes I know it’s a weird surname but it was legally changed earlier this year; such was his devotion to Warnie’s Wombats) has packed his bags, picked up his spare lawnmower and left for sunny England.

In what can only be described as a sub standard pitch (even though it was only a youth game) he was unhappy with the abuse from a partisan home crowd of 2,032 who had turned up to see the local seamers turn up and show what they were made of.

What Alfred declined to share with the shocked media and local supporters was that he had forgotten the youth side have no seamers in their ranks and producing such a wicket was an oversight of an enormous magnitude.

Rumours of his seedy private life, obsessive drinking and partying are just that, unfounded rumours. Although the club management will look to issue a press release once the dust and grass seed has settled.

Tommy O’Shea, Alfred’s assistant groundsman who is currently on holiday in Bermuda will return with immediate effect and take over the role of head groundsman.

O’Shea was delighted with the opportunity and said “I am delighted with the opportunity”, “to be sure, to be sure”. The Russian born cricket nut will arrive in Harare on Saturday ahead of the third round of the Pavilion cup.

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Shane Warne contemplating future !Something very interesting happened on the way to the ……. Well work I guess ! It now appears that Shane Warne aka The Lord of Spin has made himself available for the Ashes in 2009! I’m not too sure if this would be a wise move either by Warne or Cricket Australia. BBC Report

Warne would be close to 40 years old when the first ball of the 2009 Ashes was bowled in anger next year and although age doesn’t appear to be a factor in professional sport (look at Teddy Sheringham) a year or more out of the competitive arena could prove too big a mountain to climb for the Victorian spinner.

Dean Jones thinks Warne is kidding himself !

Although I would love to see Warne play one more time for Australia I just can’t see this and consider this, certainly for the time being, as a headline grabbing stunt from the master of media management!

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said as much in response to the headline “”I’ve been in cricket long enough not to be surprised of any headlines that Warnie grabs,” he said.

“The simple answer is that Shane is retired from international cricket and has been for 15 months or so.”

Warne said earlier today “If they really needed me and there was no-one else around, you’d weigh up the options,” said Warne.

“If Stuart MacGill fell over and broke his leg, and there were no other spinners around, and Ricky came out and said, ‘Mate, can you please help us out for this one-off tour? We need you,’ that is something I would weigh up,” he added.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was equally bemused by the comments as he told The Australian newspaper it was news to him.

“He has never mentioned anything to me about coming back for the Ashes and I don’t think that will happen,” he said.

Only time will tell but he’s too late to tour the West Indies to get his hand in but with Warne one thing a player should never do – underestimate him at your peril!

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Michael Clarke and Lara BingleLara Bingle has paid tribute to her father, Graham, who died in hospital on Saturday night.

“My family and I would like to say how appreciative we are of the support we have been shown during this difficult time,” she said via her agent today.

“My dad was loved by so many people. The way he made people laugh, his kindness and thoughtfulness will always live in our hearts.”

Mr Bingle had been suffering from liver and pancreatic cancer. He was 55.

He died at Calvary Hospital in Kogarah.

Bingle, 20, still lives at her parents’ home in southern Sydney.

The funeral is expected to take place later this week.

The model’s fiance, Michael Clarke, delayed his departure to the West Indies when Mr Bingle’s condition worsened.

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Katich and MacGill join forces to thwart JamaicaSimon Katich followed up his first innings knock of 97 with a stellar performance with the ball restricting Jamaica to 194 by taking four wickets costing just 15 runs. The spin twins took seven wickets between them and despite being on top for the majority of the game it wasn’t enough. The Jamaican weather intervened and Australia were left just 31 runs short of their target when the heavens opened.

His all round performance has surely secured his position in the first Test replacing Michael Clarke who remains in Australia comforting Fiancé Lara Bingle following a family bereavement. Ashley Noffke and Brad Hodge were knocking on the door but Katich has put this matter to rest now and can concentrate on preparations for the first Test at Sabina Park on Thursday. Jamaica Scorecard

Of Stuart MacGill Coach Tim Nielsen told AAP “I thought he was great, I thought Stuey just got better and better as the game went on,”. “It showed with a bit of work in match conditions that he is headed in the right direction, and that is fantastic for us.”

With the absence of Shane Warne, MacGill for once doesn’t have the Victorian world beater looking over his shoulder, or should that be the other way around. Whatever it is, it’s great to see Stuey on form ahead of the Test series. With Michael Clarke due to fly out to join his teammates on the 24th May it will take a hell of an innings by Katich to keep “pup” at bay and out of the second Test.

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Cricket Australia clarifies the circumstances surrounding the wearing of the baggy green cap by players during the opening game of the West Indies Tour. Katich hits timely reminder
 
Cricket Australia has clarified the circumstances surrounding the caps worn by players during the opening game of the West Indies Tour. Jamaica Select XI Scorecard
 
Brad Haddin, who has not yet been selected to play Test cricket for Australia, was ineligible to wear the baggy green cap, which is only presented to players on the morning of their Test debut. In these circumstances it was decided that in the interests of team uniformity (and out of respect for the baggy green) all players would wear the same cap, the blue Cricket Australia training cap, which bears the sponsors mark. It is believed that since 2001, and due to the evolution of the importance of the baggy green within Australian cricket circles, no non-Test player has been awarded a baggy green until they’ve been selected to play Test cricket for Australia.
 
Therefore, during the first day’s play in the opening tour match of the West Indies tour all fielders took the field either wearing their blue cricket Australia training cap or a Cricket Australia ‘white floppy’ brimmed hat.
 
Having reviewed various public and media comment Cricket Australia has accepted that in the future a ‘fitted green’ cap may need to be developed so that players who have not yet represented Australia in Test cricket may wear an appropriate green felt cap, that is different from the baggy green, in Australia tour matches. (In the past few years some Australia ‘A’ teams have been awarded ‘fitted greens’).
 
Due to these special circumstances, during the second innings of the current tour game the Australian players are wearing baggy green caps, if they are eligible to wear them, or a Cricket Australia floppy white hat, rather than the blue training cap. Brad Haddin may wear his Australia one-day cap while keeping wicket.

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NatWest series and NatWest International Twenty20 dates v Australia 2009

The England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia have reached agreement on the tour dates for the npower Ashes Series and the NatWest Series and the two NatWest International Twenty20 matches.

The schedule includes Australia’s first ever NatWest Series game at the Rose Bowl in Southampton as well as two NatWest International Twenty20 matches at Old Trafford, Manchester.

David Collier, the ECB chief executive said: ‘The summer of 2009 promises to be one of the most exciting in the history of cricket in England and Wales. The npower Ashes Series and the NatWest Series along with the NatWest International Twenty20 matches have the potential for providing the sort of wonderful cricket which can fire the nation’s imagination.

‘And of course all this follows the ICC World Twenty20 which guarantees that all the best Twenty20 players in the world will be in this country in June 2009. Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove added: ‘No one will ever forget the way that the NatWest International Twenty20 in 2005 set the tone for that remarkable summer and now we have a wonderful chance to recapture that magic at the Rose Bowl on Sept 9, 2009.

Jim Cumbes, the Lancashire chief executive, said: ‘We are thrilled that North West cricket supporters will have the chance to see England take on Australia in the two NatWest International Twenty20 matches. We are also delighted to be hosting Australia for a one day international at Old Trafford in 2010.’

Fixtures for the Australian tour to England 2009

May (tbc)           Australia Team arrives in UK
Mon 1 – Thu 4 June            Warm-up period for World Twenty20
Fri 5 – Sun 21 June           World Twenty20
Wed 24 – Sat 27 June            4-day game v Sussex (Hove)
Wed 1 – Sat 4 July            4-day game v England Lions (Worcester)
Wed 8 – Sun 12 July 1st npower Test Cardiff
Thu 16 – Mon 20 July 2nd npower Test Lord’s
Fri 24 – Sun 26 July 3-day game v Northants* (Northampton)
Thu 30 July – Mon 3 Aug 3rd npower Test Edgbaston
Fri 7 – Tue 11 Aug 4th npower Test Headingley
Sat 15 – Sun 16 Aug 2-day game v Kent^ (Canterbury)
Thu 20 – Mon 24 Aug 5th npower Test Oval

Fri 28 Aug                                ODI v Scotland (Edinburgh)
Sun 30 Aug                             1st NatWest International Twenty20 (Old Trafford)
Tue 1 Sept                          2nd NatWest International Twenty20 (Old Trafford) (floodlit)
Fri 4 Sept                                1st NatWest Series day/night (Brit Oval)
Sun 6 Sept                              2nd NatWest Series (Lord’s)         
Wed 9 Sept                             3rd NatWest Series day/night (Rose Bowl)
Sat 12 Sept                             4th NatWest Series (Lord’s)
Tue 15 Sept                            5th NatWest Series day/night (Trent Bridge)
Thu 17 Sept                            6th NatWest Series day/night (Trent Bridge)
Sun 20 Sept                            7th NatWest Series (Durham)
Mon 21 Sept                            Australia Team departs

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