NEW ERA STARTS HERE

The season’s first newsletter could be the last for some of you - the excellent club website is becoming so popular that the paper method of communication seems a bit out of date. I therefore ask all those with Internet access to save the club a few quid and stop receiving the newsletter. All newsletters will be on the web-site (http://www.murrayfield- dafscc.co.uk), so please email or phone to tell me to stop filling up your letter box.

Thanks to those who sent me their availability last time. Could all players please let me know of any planned holidays and other absences - I will update my list for the team captains.

Given the number of players not getting a regular game for the 3s, the captains have been given an increased burden of phone calls. We have decided therefore that people not called by Thursday evening should assume they are not playing. The final 3s team will be selected by Wednesday evening at the latest and all those playing will be informed at this time. Obviously there will be occasions of late call offs after Thursdays, which will result in calls to those on a ‘reserve’ list.

Be reminded that the deadline for subs is fast approaching. After June 30, the fee will increase to £45 (or £22.50). It should also be noted that selection will soon become impossible for those who haven’t weighed in with their dosh. With players who’ve paid having to sit games out, it is clearly not fair for a minority of non-payers to play ahead of them.

Monday night saw the first outdoor nets of the season. The attendance was excellent, with a good mix of players from 1st team captains to 12-year-old hopefuls. We operated both nets - one mainly for younger players - and had some useful fielding practice. Nets will continue every Monday night during the season at Roseburn from 6pm. Be there and stake your claim for a place.

Some of you enjoyed my tale last time of Lindsay Towns’ late night activity. On a similar theme, Tony Simpson recently enjoyed a good night out in Edinburgh celebrated the 2s’ first - and so far only - win. On getting the night bus home, however, he promptly fell asleep. He only missed his second circuit of the city when vandals woke him by throwing stones at the bus. Any similarly embarrassing stories, please let me know.

PHIL ROGERS

THOUGHTS FROM THE BUS SHELTER

Up And Running

A new season and a new name for my regular ramblings. I hope you are enjoying cricket under the banner of Murrayfield-DAFS or Mufs as we seem to have been named. It has been a remarkable couple of months. The attendance at the pre-season nets was tremendous and it was great to see so many new faces who have either returned to the game or who are taking the game up for the first time. I never believed that I would be writing a column and asking players to be patient about getting a chance to perform.

The bizarre reality after years of difficulty for both clubs is that we have too many players for three Saturday teams and full marks to the third team management - Brian Johnson and Andy Piggott - for instituting a rota system to ensure everyone gets a game. We are going to look to arrange one or two Sunday friendlies to try to cater for everyone and we might find ourselves looking at a fourth Saturday team next year. That is a long way away and I would simply ask everyone to be patient and, if you think you are not being fairly treated, please give me a call. We do not want to lose any players.

The recruitment committee also deserve praise for their initiatives - the poster produced by Phil Rogers has brought some new faces in and I am aware that at least one player has arrived through the web site. Thanks to Ian Shiels for his efforts in getting that up and running.

Muirhouse has been a great success both from the point of view of the ground and the facilities, whilst Roseburn is back in use, although still not perfect. If you are looking for midweek action on top of the new Monday night nets, then there should be games going for Murrayfield-DAFS or the ‘connected clubs SHHD or Botanics. or Edin Reivers- see Tom or Richie-- Web Ed

Phil Steps In (it?)

Congratulations to Newsletter Editor, Phil Rogers, who has agreed to act as Vice Captain for the Second team. At the start of the season Tom Hothersall had to put in a lot of work and I am sure that he will find life a bit easier with Phil’s help.

Bob Kirkcaldie

A number of Murrayfield (London Road) players will be saddened by news of the death of Bob Kirkcaldie. Bob was one of life’s characters who joined the club in unusual circumstances. He worked for Scottish Gas with my father and lived a few doors away when, in 1979 we were short of players. Bob was an excellent hockey player who had played at school and university but not played in Scotland.

He was a left handed batsman who was never frightened to take on the quicks and a slow left arm bowler who had the ability to run through a side if he could pitch the ball often enough. He was also a specialist gully fieldsman. Bob was at the wicket when we won promotion from Division Four in 1984 and four years later he was in the side that won Division Three. However, just about everyone has a ‘Robert’ story. Whether it was giving a batsman out LBW even though none of the fielding side had appealed; running out a batsman who was ‘gardening’, driving the wrong way up a one way street in Dumfries whilst on tour or offering soap powder instead of sugar to add to a cup of coffee because he kept the two in identical containers under the sink in his flat, it was impossible not to like Bob.

In the 1990s, he moved south with British Gas to London and then to Reading. I last saw him 18 months ago for lunch when he was visiting Edinburgh and he was in great form. He died in Birmingham on 2nd April from cancer. The world will be a poorer place without him a true gentleman and friend to many.

Derby Tour

Sadly, the tour to Derby scheduled for the 21st/22nd April had to be called off. Last September, some of you may remember our trip south had to be called off due to the petrol crisis. This time, we have fallen victim to the weather.

I spoke with St Luke’s & St Michael’s President John Grainger who told me that their home ground at the Asterdale had major drainage problems. Apparently work had started on laying new drains last September but was not completed before the winter rains set in. The football club who share the ground have seen 15 home games postponed during the season. Even by two weeks later, the position has not improved and I myself saw on a trip to Cumbria the major problems some clubs were going to have in playing before the start of May.

I have agreed with John that we will try to re-schedule the trip for September and I would welcome views on when in September people would like to head south. The weekend dates are 1st/2nd September, 8th/9th September and 15th/16th September with the latter being the Edinburgh holiday weekend. Chris Warne’s parents, Shirley and Terry are disappointed that we will not be down in April but look forward to seeing us in September.

Andrew Brown

One of last season’s MCC stalwarts, Andrew Brown is unlikely to feature for us this season. Andrew was our second team vice captain last season and over the winter he has moved to Perth. Andrew has decided, not unreasonably, that with a young family, the commuting involved to play regularly for us was going to be too much. We may run across him, however, as he hopes to turn out for Largo as his in-laws live nearby. Andrew had a spell with us some years ago before suffering serious illness. The fact that he returned to play cricket was a testament to his fighting spirit and, he was always a good man to have on your side. Andrew returned to the first team at the end of last season and his efforts against Mitre, including an incredible catch reminded all of us who played in that game of his ability. We wish him well and hope, if he moves back to the Edinburgh area in the future that he will return to the fold.

PHIL YELLAND - President

MATCH REPORTS

The "paper" newsletter at this point has our match reports- these are of course reproduced at the Match Report section of the Website (I ain't tagging them up all over again!!!) Click on the following Link to Match Reports.

ALL CHANGE FOR THE LAWS

As you are all aware now, there were some 182 rule changes in the winter. Most of these concern themselves with tidying up the language of the rules and also the spirit of the game. MDCC has a copy of the complete version of the new rules and they are also available on the club website [ that's news to me!!- (webmaster)- you won't find them guys so don't try looking just yet!!]. If you have any specific questions then please forward any questions to me (ijmartin@talk21.com). I’ll do my best to answer them, as I have attended the SCU rule change seminars.

I have summarised below very briefly 2 aspects of the new laws:

The Laws are now preceded by The Preamble - The Spirit of Cricket, which is a description of what is to be understood by ‘The Spirit of the Game’, previously taken for granted.

Throughout the Laws, statements about awarding, cancelling or recording runs have been adjusted to take account of the two facts that
** No balls and Wides stand in addition to runs by the batsmen
** Penalty extras may be awarded.

Law 42

5 penalty runs and reporting now laid down for ball tampering, deliberate obstruction or distraction of batsman while receiving the ball or after receiving the ball, time wasting by batsmen or (in some cases) fielders, avoidable damage to the pitch by fielders or by batsmen, batsmen attempting to steal a run. The exact procedure (which varies from case to case) is laid down in detail for each case. Offences by the bowler still lead to his/her being taken off.

‘Breaches of Spirit of the Game’ added to reportable offences.

Umpire has no option but to report, whether or not action by captain is effective.

All reporting to include captain as well as player(s) concerned.

Intimidation removed from definition of unfair fast short pitched balls. Criterion is ‘likely to inflict physical injury’.

High full pitches separated into ‘slow’ and ‘other than slow’.

Bowling of fast short pitched balls and fast high full pitches classed together as dangerous and/or unfair bowling with a single procedure instead of two.

‘Danger area’ renamed ‘protected area’ and to start 5 feet in front of popping crease.

Bowler attempting to run out non-striker moved here from Law 24; to be before entering delivery stride and Dead Ball to be called (hence no possibility of runs) if attempt fails.

Ball going over the top of the batsman’s head moved to Law 42.6 from Law 25 (Wide Ball).

NB: Penalty run rules (other than ball striking helmet) are not applicable in East League!

IAIN MARTIN

WEBWISE

A huge thank you to Ian Shiels (awe shucks guys... I'm touched (by madness?) for making the club website a possibility. He has designed and created the entire site, which is now ‘live’ at our very own address http://www.murrayfield-dafscc.co.uk

On behalf of the entire club I would like to say thank you very much for all his hard work. Ian would now like to include some decent pictures on the site: calling all budding photographers (digital camera piccies all the better...). He is also considering compiling player profiles - a Gallery of Rogues perhaps - and keeping a running averages page, though this will make grim reading for some.

DARRYN KIDD

WE STILL WANT YOU

The Recruitment Committee’s second meeting on April 5 noted that real progress had been made. Posters had been produced featuring a mystery cricketer - minor prizes for anyone who can prove it is or isn’t West Indian batsman Phil Symonds (don’t be fooled by a possible reversed image). These have been displayed at sports centres, workplaces, pubs and backpackers’ hostels across Edinburgh and have already generated interest. Thanks to all who helped distribute them.

Word of mouth has also worked overtime, with Andy Knight especially doing the business around the schools. The website is also bringing more attention to the club - well done Ian Shiels. The 3s Captains have so far had to use a Chelsea-style rotation system at the start of the season, which suggests a healthy supply of players, including youngsters. However, we cannot be complacent and will keep looking for ways to bring in new players - any ideas are more than welcome.

A few new initiatives are currently under discussion

IAIN MARTIN

Back to Contents

100 CLUB

Winners for the last 12 months:

July 2000 Edward Storie, Hugh Craig, Ian Marshall

August 2000 Bill Rae, Dave Woodhead, Brian Johnson

September 2000 Joe Welsh, Breck Stewart, Gordon Dalyell

October 2000 Peter Anderson, Andrea Star, Tony Laidlaw

November 2000 Dave Woodhead, Chris Sayer, Breck Stewart

December 2000 Hugh Craig, Gordon Dalyell, Scott Anderson

January 2001 Susan Rae, Eddie Clark, Ruth Laidlaw

February 2001 Ian Marshall, Alison Yelland, Lindsay Towns

March 2001 Andrea Star, Alec Sime, Gordon Humphries

April 2001 Alison Yelland, Tony Laidlaw, Ian Marshall

May 2001 Pam Leslie, Eddie Clark, Breck Stewart

Entry to the 100 Club is £1 per month, and forms are available from me, or any of the captains. The more members, the more you can win!

GORDON DALYELL

FIRST TEST MATCHED

See if your answers to Andy Piggott’s test quiz matched those below:

1. India; 2. West Indies (54 v England); 3. Craig Wright

4. Nayan Mongia (only one cleared of match fixing allegations)

5. Michael Bevan (1124 runs, av. 74.93); 6. Mike Denness; 7. Bowral

8. Andy Caddick (v West Indies, Headingley); 9. Durham; 10. West Indies

11. 114 tests, 27 as captain; 12. 6996; 13. Michael Atherton (Headingley)

14. Brian Statham; 15. Courtney Walsh (av. 11.42)

16. Derbyshire (Surrey, 213 points) 17. Holland, Canada, Fiji, UAE

18. Sanjiv Chawla 19. 10 corneas 20. 11,174 runs.

Tales from the Riverside

Mr Martin's Durham CC update and tales of Piggott generosity...

Durham went to the top of the Norwich Union League Division Two as they heaped more embarrassment on Lancashire with a 24-run win at Chester-le-Street. Durham plundered 49 off their last five overs to reach 211 for six, but when Lancashire needed 48 off their last five they were restricted by Michael Gough and England new-boy Paul Collingwood. Excellent bowling by Nicky Phillips reduced Lancashire from 83 for no wicket to 103 for four, and they limped along to close on 187 for eight. For the second successive Sunday the off breaks of Phillips (4-21) and Gough (2-27) proved decisive.

Gough was also involved at the end of the Durham innings, sharing an unbroken stand of 48 with Andrew Pratt, who hit 25 off 13 balls and then claimed two excellent stumpings. Phillips even upstaged Muttiah Muralitharan, who was hit for ten in his first over by Danny Law but finished with two for 24 in nine overs. Law, opening for Durham for the first time, was bowled round his legs for 45 and Collingwood, the England one-day squad newcomer, was stumped for 23. Law was outpaced by 18-year-old Nicky Peng, who was three short of his first one-day 50 when he pulled a Chris Schofield long hop to mid-wicket.

Lancashire also employed a pinch-hitting opener in Glen Chapple and he completed a maiden one-day half century off 41 balls, contributing 52 to a stand of 83 with Mike Atherton before he went down the pitch and was stumped in Phillips’ first over. Atherton made 62 off 124 balls before he was stumped in the 36th over as Durham turned up the pressure to ensure victory. The day was also notable for Mr Piggott’s debut at Chester-Le-Street as a DCCC member. Indeed, he was so excited, that on inspecting the members’ lounge and restaurant, proceeded to pay for everyone’s lunch ...even though everyone else had already paid!

IAIN MARTIN