Oval World on the Net - Oval World (September 2008)

SEPTEMBER 2008

SUPPORTERS' CLUB NEWS

BRENDA JACKSON by Ann Atkins
Brenda died on June 10th after a short illness. Brenda and husband Tony were great supporters of our coach trips and weekends away. You could often hear Brenda recording a message to send to daughter Liz in Australia, telling her about the trip and the cricket. We were invited to Brenda's 70th birthday party, where we met her family and friends. We had two things in common - we shared the same wedding anniversary (date and year) and also have twin granddaughters. Our sincere condolences go to Tony, their three children - Nick, Mark and Liz - and eight grandchildren.

THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY DINNER: 9 SEPTEMBER
This year the Surrey CCC Supporters' Club celebrates its thirtieth birthday. To mark the occasion the Club will be having a dinner at Rebato's Wine & Tapas Bar, 169 South Lambeth Road on Tuesday, 9 September; after play has ended on the first day of Hampshire's championship visit to the Brit Oval. The dinner will be at 7.00pm and the approximate cost Ł30 per cover. If you would like to attend or would like further details please email hilarie.randall@btopenworld.com or telephone Nicola Randall on 020-8881-8292. If you have the Internet, a sample menu can be viewed by going to: http://www.rebatos.com/MainMenu.htm

SUPPORTERS' CLUB PLAYER OF THE SEASON AWARDS
This edition of Oval World comes with a Player Of The Season voting slip so that you, the supporters, can reward the players for their efforts this summer. The four categories, as always, are Player of the Season, Most Improved Player of the Season, Young Player of the Season and the Sylvester Clarke Rum Moment of the Season. In case any of you are wondering about the last of these, it was introduced in 2002 to mark the most memorable Surrey-related moment of the summer. For example, last year's winner was Surrey's setting a new world record for the highest total in one-day cricket. Get the idea? Of course you do.

SCCCSC END OF SEASON AWARDS RECEPTION: 18 SEPTEMBER
The Supporters' Club will present its end of season awards at a drinks reception, which will be attended by the Surrey players, in the Presidents' Room at the Brit Oval on Thursday 18th September at 6.30pm; or half an hour after the close of play (whichever is later). Entry is Ł5 per person. Payment will be on the door. For further details, please contact Tony Packwood on 020-8947-2625.

GUILDFORD MARQUEE
We would like to thank everyone who visited the Supporters' Club marquee on the Sunday of the Guildford Festival. A particular thanks has to go to Tricia Garrard, who organised the preparation of sandwiches, teas, etc., so expertly and to Chris (aka Thelston) Payne for managing the donation bar. The marquee made a profit of Ł730, making it one of our best days in terms of fundraising. The proceeds will go towards the Surrey schools' winter cricket coaching programme, known as Outreach, along with the funds raised by this year's Century Club.

FANTASY LEAGUE LATEST
As at August 17, the latest standings in the Oval World Fantasy Cricket League 2008 were as follows:

1 Ann Millington-Jones Liquorice Allsorts 490.1 27 Chris Stoneman NABZ 13 346.9

2 Brian Cowley Ruislip Ramblers 465.7 28 Vic Polley Cavaliers 343.3

3 Roger Hudson The Wild Rovers 439.1 29 Mr J Browning Jack High 342.3

4 Paul Witney Sunbury Blues 437.4 30 Mr D Gallard The Hoobs 341.9

5 Tracey Field Sunshine On A Rainy Day 436.2 31 Don Atkins Rectory Eleven 340.7

6 Andy Woodhouse Aines Blankey Boys Too 433.0 32 Martin Knox Knoxy's Brown Sox 334.8

7 Mike Jay Choccie Army 428.7 33 Thomas Earl Grilled Kippers 332.6

8 Barry Chrysanthou-Toms Chrysanthou Crusaders 426.5 34 Doug Minde Storming To The Top 332.4

9 Paul Mee Thornton Heathens 424.1 35 Marcus Hook Rollercoasters & Waterslides 329.9

10 Jean Galsworthy Rosebery Ramblers 401.3 36 Michael Greensmith Blackway Allstars 328.9

11 Grahame Cove Mickystewartstorey 391.3 37 Mike Jackson Jacko's Bunch 326.3

12 Bob Parsons Ever Hopefuls 387.1 38 Ann Atkins Golden Sovereign 319.8

13 Chris Keene Keene As Mustard 386.4 39 Mr N Wheeler Scorpions 315.5

14 Matt Cleverly Heroes And Villains 377.3 40 Mick Shaw Lukesmile 309.7

15 Dave Taylor Hot Chocolates 376.5 41 Dick Cleverly Ascot Rebels 308.2

16 Rob Lewis Man In T' Long White Coat 375.0 42 Sarah Atkins Beans Off Toast 306.4

17 Jim Forrest The Forrest Fires 374.8 43 Thomas Manley The Oval Boys 304.7

18 Bill Bateman Fulham Phoenix 371.3 44 John Stephens The Weary Bankers 303.1

19 Mark Smith Mountain Madness CC 364.5 45 Stella Mills Back To The Future 301.4

20 Tony Rainsborough Yet Another Fantasy 359.8 46 Frank Smith Bumpa Crop 298.4

21 Les Brewin Les's Selection 359.0 47 Chris Payne Thelston's Old Peculiars 296.5

22 Anthony Earl Ace XI 358.9 48 Vic Faulkner Vic's Young Bucks 288.8

23 Michael Wright The New Model Army 355.2 49 Alan Croft Croft Original 278.3

24 Alistair Gordon Alistair's Allstars 355.0 50 Graham Hill The Taverner Hurricanes 273.8

25 Ron Mills Hawes CC 353.0 51 Richard Budden Surrey Statesman 256.5

26 Trevor Wingate Random Choice 347.4

CENTURY CLUB

The results of the fourth, fifth and sixth Century Club draws for this year are set out below. Anyone wishing to become a Century Club member for the rest of 2008 can do so by sending a cheque for Ł18 (made payable to "SCCCSC Century Club") along with their details to Sarah Atkins at The Cheviots, 236 Ashbourne Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 2DR.

4th Draw
1st - Ł50 - Ann Atkins (No.38)
2nd - Ł15 - Bernie Coleman (No.22)
3rd - Ł10 - John Hall (No.89)

5th Draw
1st - Ł50 - Sarah Atkins (No.39)
2nd - Ł15 - Phil Garrard (No.53)
3rd - Ł10 - Brian Sanders (No.93)

6th Draw
1st - Ł50 - Doris Randall (No.62)
2nd - Ł15 - Rob Lewis (No.25)
3rd - Ł10 - Tony Jackson (No.67)

TEAM, CLUB AND OTHER NEWS

SURREY SET TO RECRUIT SHOAIB AKHTAR IN ATTEMPT TO AVOID DROP
As Oval World went to press, Surrey appeared to be in the throes of signing the Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar in a bid to avoid relegation in the LV County Championship. The Brown Caps, who are currently rooted to the bottom of Division One, have only three games remaining and, realistically, need to win all of them if they are to avoid the drop. Surrey's team manager, Alan Butcher told the Press Association (August 31): "We have made contact, we have spoken with him. We are just waiting to see whether it's possible. We've got three matches left and we need something to happen." The ECB regulations require overseas players to spend a minimum of three weeks in England, but the county was hopeful that Shoaib's potential signing will be mutually beneficial. Butcher added: "They (overseas players) have to be here for a period of 21 days. But he is keen. He's desperate to get back into the Pakistan side and is hoping this could be a springboard to do that. If it does go through, we hope it can be of great benefit to us all." Shoaib has previously had spells in county cricket with Worcestershire and Durham, but with only limited success.

BUTCHER DISAPPOINTED BY HARMAN'S LETTER OF APOLOGY
There is little doubt that the pressure on Surrey to get their first championship win of the season has been weighing heavily on team manager Alan Butcher. In the Butcher's Block column he pens for Southwark News, Butcher expressed disappointment over the letter sent to Surrey members by the club's chairman of cricket Roger Harman, which apologised for the team's performances this summer. In the issue dated August 22, Butcher wrote: "It's been a good week on the pitch for us, but a strange one behind the scenes at The Oval. I showed the players the letter from Roger Harman - I don't see any reason I should hide anything from them. They are disappointed it went out to members without their knowledge, but it might end up galvanising them. If it's the sort of thing that creates a siege mentality in the dressing room then it might just turn out to be a good thing. Personally I don't feel any more pressure than before. There's always pressure in this job when you have to go out and win cricket matches and that hasn't changed." A week later he added: "Off the pitch, I am still disappointed by some of the things that have taken place, but as far as the players are concerned they've just been getting on with the job. Morale has always been good and continues to be so. I spoke of the siege mentality last week and maybe that has kicked in. It's always nice to think you have the support of people behind the scenes. One or two have shown that support while others could do a little more. But ultimately we stand or fall by results on the pitch. That's down to the guys in the dressing room, not the boardroom, and I can't fault their efforts."

SCHOFIELD OUT FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON
Surrey have been hit by the news that leg-spinner Chris Schofield has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Schofield has been unlucky with injuries this term and a second freak hand injury in the space of three months has ended his chance of pulling on the Surrey shirt again in 2008. The 29 year-old is currently nursing torn ligaments in his right thumb, which he picked up when fielding a ball in the Pro40 League game against Glamorgan in Cardiff. With the brace not due to be removed until the last week of the season, his focus is now on preparing himself for the start of the 2009 campaign. Schofield said: "I'm totally gutted. I was really looking forward to carrying on and improving my good momentum from 2007 and really making a difference to this season. Sadly, through some totally freak accidents I've been unable to play as much cricket as I would have liked. Although I am now out for the rest of this season, I am already working hard in the gym to make sure I am in peak condition for 2009."

SURREY'S SEARCH FOR MANAGING DIRECTOR OF CRICKET CONTINUES
Surrey are thinking of re-advertising the newly created post of Managing Director of Cricket. So far, three candidates have been interviewed - the former Surrey seamer Tony Murphy, ex-Somerset fast bowler Andre van Troost and Wasim Khan, the former Warwickshire and Sussex batsman - but none were considered sufficiently high profile. It is thought the appointee will be given licence to overhaul the cricket staff. Meanwhile, the Brown Caps are one of three counties believed to be courting South Africa's coach Mickey Arthur. According to the Daily Telegraph (August 27), the South African board are facing a fierce fight to keep hold of Arthur, who could easily double his annual salary to around Ł140,000 if he accepts one of the offers on the table. Arthur has been linked with Hampshire, Middlesex as well as the managing director vacancy at Surrey. A spokesman for the South African management was quoted as saying: "Mickey has had a lot of offers from all over the world. He's contracted to South Africa and it's a case of people approaching him. He hasn't applied for any jobs," suggesting that the Proteus are confident their man will decide to stay put.

UMPIRES TO RECEIVE PAY RISE
According to the Times (August 27), the ECB will be placing the 25 umpires on the first-class panel on twelve-month full-time contracts from January to deter them from officiating in unauthorised events such as the Indian Cricket League, in which Nigel Cowley, Jeff Evans and Trevor Jesty stood last winter. The Times reported that the ECB's move would result in pay rises of between a quarter and a third of present deals, increasing salaries to Ł35,000 on average. So keen have the ECB been not to offend the Board of Control for Cricket in India that it has declined to appoint any of the English ICL umpires to stand in televised cricket or as a fourth official for Tests or one-day internationals this season. Jesty has stood in one televised match, but only because Sky made a late switch. The Times article went on to say that as part of the process to block English umpires from officiating in the ICL this October and November, the ECB will also giving all 25 officials an interim loyalty bonus payment of Ł8,000 to cover the period between the end of the season and the new year.

CHAMPIONS TROPHY POSTPONED
On August 24 the International Cricket Council announced that the Champions Trophy, which was due to take place in Pakistan from 12 to 28 September, has been postponed until October 2009 due to the hosts refusing to participate if the tournament was moved elsewhere. South Africa had already pulled out of the event due to security concerns, while Australia, England and New Zealand had expressed doubts about playing in Pakistan at the present time. The ICC's president David Morgan said there was "complete support and sympathy" for the Pakistan Cricket Board. Pakistan is currently fighting Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants in the northwestern tribal regions bordering Afghanistan and has suffered a string of deadly suicide bomb attacks, which have killed more than 1,000 people in the last year. Morgan said: "There was a realisation that, under the current circumstances, some of the teams due to compete had reservations about touring there which could not be removed. In those circumstances, it was considered prudent to postpone the event to October 2009, a time when we all hope conditions will be more acceptable for all the competing teams." The PCB's chief operating officer Shafqat Naghmi added: "Cricket is not going to die here. I am sure of that. We are passing through a difficult phase but it is not going to last forever." The ICC board will meet in Dubai on 11-12 September to discuss a new date for the Champions Trophy.

BATTY GRANTED BENEFIT
On August 20, Surrey County Cricket Club announced that 2009 will be long-serving wicketkeeper Jonathan Batty's benefit year. The 34-year-old has been a regular behind the stumps ever since he joined the club in 1997. During his time at the Oval, Batty has been part of Surrey's County Championship winning sides, in 1999, 2000 and 2002, and captained the team in 2004 season. Batty said: "I would like to thank Surrey for granting me this benefit. I am hugely honoured to be recognised in such a way by the club and am very much looking forward to making it a successful year - both on and off the cricket field."

EX-SKIPPER BENNETT PASSES AWAY AT 95
The former Surrey skipper Nigel Bennett, who captained the county in 1946, has died at the age of 95. Bennett's one summer in first-class cricket is shrouded in confusion and his appointment for the first post-war season was generally assumed to have been a case of mistaken identity. Legend has it that the intention had been to offer the position to Major Leo Bennett, a well-known amateur, but Nigel Bennett, who had spent two years in the Stowe XI and topped the averages in 1930, but was otherwise unknown when picked, accepted the offer before the error, if indeed it was, came to light.

RAMPRAKASH JOINS THE HUNDRED CLUB
When Mark Ramprakash reached his hundredth first-class hundred on August 2, there was an overwhelming sense of symmetry for his long-awaited century of centuries arrived at the same venue and against the same opposition as his first. What was different was that his 112 not out was in a match-saving cause for Surrey rather than a victorious one for Middlesex, which was the case when he made 128 for Mike Gatting's men way back in July 1989. After the game Ramprakash said: "I'd like to dedicate this to my mum, dad, sister, wife and daughters. Without their love and support I could not have achieved this milestone. Being up there with the great names is something nobody can take away. The last few months have been difficult because I've had a few good deliveries and I've not even managed to get close to scoring a hundred. Luckily, it seemed like fate to get it at Headingley, because I got my first one here back in 1989. Headingley is a very special place for me because I made my maiden century on the ground and I also played in my first Test match here. I remember Mike Gatting used to take us out for a fish and chip supper in Headingley on the first night of a match and I have many happy memories of Leeds." Ramprakash is only the 25th man in the history of the game to join the 100 Club, and only the fifth Surrey batsman to achieve the feat - the others being Sir Jack Hobbs, Andy Sandham, Tom Hayward and John Edrich. It took Ramprakash 676 Innings, making him the eighth fastest. When he moved to the Oval in 2001, Ramprakash was barely halfway there, with 51 first-class hundreds to his name. With eight centuries in 2006 and ten coming last summer, very few people would have predicted that it would take Ramprakash until the first week of August to achieve, especially when the 98th and 99th hundreds were in the bag by early May. In the end it took him eleven innings to get the monkey off his back, but he is by no means the first batsman to fret over his hundredth hundred. It took Hammond 23 innings and Edrich 22. Ramprakash said: "After scoring the 99th, I broke the bat I've been using for the last two years. I've used five bats, and I've not played that well. But if I'd had to retire on 99 hundreds, I would have been a happy man. It's not a bad place to be. I don't mind that it took me a few games to reach it. Having to wait means that I have savoured the achievement. I didn't want it to be easy. Hundreds are difficult to get. They don't grow on trees."

EU RULING COULD MEAN KOLPAKS' DAYS ARE NUMBERED
The number of Kolpak players in county cricket could be set for a drastic reduction after the European Union decided on a new interpretation of the employment law that has brought about a huge influx of cricketers from South Africa and the Caribbean. Under the rules of the Cotonou Treaty, free trade exists between the European Community and many African, Pacific and Caribbean countries, and in 2004, the Czech handball player, Maros Kolpak, won a ruling from the European Court of Justice which allowed him to play professionally in Germany without be classed as a foreigner. That set a precedent that has had a major impact on English cricket, with players like Martin van Jaarsveld choosing to ply their trade in England rather than seek international honours. But now the EU, under French presidency, has ruled that the Cotonou Treaty was designed for the free trade of goods and services, but not the free movement of labour. It promises to be a significant development in the ECB's battle to reduce the number of Kolpak players in county cricket. A spokesman said: "The ECB have noted the recent developments and are looking at the possible implications of that." One possible upshot would be for existing Kolpak players to be permitted to complete their existing contracts, but for future signings to be regarded as overseas players.

TWENTY20 TO DOUBLE UP FROM 2010 ONWARDS
On July 16, it was announced that English county cricket is to be given a major overhaul with a new Twenty20 English Premier League starting in 2010. The EPL will have two divisions of 10 teams featuring the 18 existing counties plus two overseas teams. A radical proposal by David Stewart, the Surrey chairman, and Keith Bradshaw, which would have left out half of the counties, was rejected. The Pro40 League will be scrapped after 2009, but the 2010 season will see the continuation of the 50-over competition and a 16-match two divisional structure for the County Championship. The EPL is expected to feature promotion and relegation and a finals weekend. The EPL will be staged in June, while there will be a Twenty20 League in July, August and September, with games to be staged primarily on Friday nights. Lancashire chief executive Jim Cumbes questioned whether two Twenty20 competitions were necessary. He said: "I don't know if people are going to be able to differentiate between the two competitions."

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