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December Newsletter 2011

Vintage Cricket Newsletter

December 2011

As another year comes to an end the summer season down under gathers momentum with Test Series being played or having just been played or about to be played in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Bangladesh. 

There has been some spectacular and thrilling Test cricket that as always reminds us again that despite the doomsayers Test cricket is far from dead and is still an exciting sporting event that creates enjoyment and intense interest for followers world-wide.

Overseeing the development of our beloved game is the ICC, a body that still seems to lack real substance and in some cases appears a little soulless. 

Maybe it is a sign of good administration that the ICC is not as dominant in our sport as other bodies such as FIFA and the IOC are in their sports or maybe a lack of credibility.

With little real public profile except when the dreaded corruption cases arise and the occasional World Cup goes wrong, the ICC quietly goes about its business of administering the game (hopefully) for the benefit of all cricketers and supporters at all levels of the game.

As a past member (well past!) of the august body I hesitate to criticise the ICC and the things it does in our interest. However a couple of interesting decisions from our cricketing leaders can at best be interpreted as strange. 

What can the rule makers be thinking in banning the use of runners when a batsman becomes injured. Use of a runner for an injured batsman should be available provided the injury occurs during a game. 

An injured player is allowed a replacement fielder if he us incapacitated so why not a runner? Batsmen forced to run when they have suffered an injury could risk more extensive damage. Provided the umpires are satisfied the injury is genuine why not let the runner be part of the game.

And don’t forget use of a runner often produces amusing mix-ups at all levels of the game.

Cricket is one of the few games if not the only one where replacement of injured players is extremely limited and in effect does not exist. If a team loses a bowler to injury early in a match there is no provision for that team to replace the injured player and it must battle on with only 10 men available to bat or more importantly to bowl. Shouldn’t consideration be given to a team losing a bowler (or batsman or wicketkeeper) be allowed to replace the injured player with a like player who can then take a full part in the game.

Those who attempt to stretch the rule will need to be policed. The injury will need to be proved to be genuine; the replacement player will need to be the same style of player as the one he is replacing and the injured players once replaced should not be allowed to come back into the game. 
Other efforts to take advantage of the opportunity should be managed by the umpires who may refuse a substitution if it does not meet the necessary criteria. 

At a time when the use of technology is being debated and efforts are being made to make games fairer contests, surely the use of runners should be rained and the availability of replacement players introduced meaning teams are at least evenly matched in the numbers of fit players.

Yours in cricket,

Peter McDermott
Vintage Cricket Office
Level 1, 7 Anzac St
PO Box 331 469, Takapuna 0740
New Zealand
peter@vintagecricket.com


In this newsletter read about:

Brian Waddle’s travails as he commentates on the New Zealand Cricket team tour of Australia in his online diary. It can be difficult to be a New Zealand cricket supporter in Australia particularly when the Black Caps are performing badly.

Take your chance to win an outstanding Ihsan Cricket bat merely by signing up for the Vintage Cricket newsletter and joining the Vintage Cricket fraternity.

Check out the numbers for the Vintage Cricket Carnival in Wellington which will undoubtedly be our biggest Carnival yet and it is not too late to enter.

Vintage Cricket about to launch a new initiative-the World Schools T20 Challenge.

Over 60s Cricket gathering momentum and now part of Vintage Cricket.

A celebrated new host club, the very successful Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club, Wellington.

Our planned Vintage Cricket tours to South America in October 2012 and to England and Ireland (and two Ashes Tests) in July 2013. 

And we are now on Facebook-just click here to like us and take the opportunity to keep up with all matters relating to Vintage Cricket and beyond.

Vintage Cricket proudly sponsored the travel of well-known New Zealand radio cricket commentator on the short tour of New Zealand to Australia.

His reflections on the two Test Matches, the travel concerned and the behind the scenes action make interesting reading whether you are an Australian or New Zealand supporter or just a follower of cricket. Check out Bryan's musings by following this link and understand why it is not easy to be a New Zealand radio commentator in Australia.

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Win a magnificent Ihsan top quality bat as used by leading players in various parts of the world. Just register to become a regular recipient of the Vintage Cricket Newsletter and you will go into the draw for a brand new adult sized Ishan bat….follow this link and complete the registration form and you are in the draw.  

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Now up to 38 teams for the 6th World Vintage Cricket Carnival to be played in Wellington, New Zealand 18th to 24th March 2012 and increasing. Teams and players from: 

Australia
New Zealand
South Africa
Singapore
England
Canada
USA
Netherlands
India

Barbados

Great to be part of a truly international Celebration of the Great Game of Cricket and still time for you and your team to be part of the fun and friendship on and off the field.

If you are over the age of 35 and able to play cricket to the best of your ability you can be part of the action. All age groups are catered for and teams can be assured of playing teams of players close to their own age.

Teams are still able to enter, individual players welcomed and groups of players or part teams able to be topped up with local players or combined with other teams. To register your entry and to enjoy a fantastic Carnival just follow this link and let us know you are coming. 

Following the astounding success of the World Schools Golf Challenge (www.schoolsgolf.com) which involves schools from Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Namibia and Zimbabwe, we are pleased to announce the soon to be launched World Schools T20 Challenge-a competition for schools teams from any part of the cricketing world involving a week long competition of T20 cricket at a fabulous cricket destination.

Schools will be invited to enter their 1st XI and/or a Colts (under 16) XI to take part in the inaugural World Schools T20 Challenge scheduled for early 2013. Full details will be released early next year and invitations for School teams to take part will be issued.

Look forward to the release of details and let your school cricketers enjoy the excitement of an international schools T20 competition in a great cricket destination.

Played in England since 2003 cricket for players over the age of 60 has really taken off in Australia with many teams playing in all States and taking part in an annual Australian State Over 60s Championship. The quality of the play is surprisingly good and the fitness and ability of the players is something to admire.

Recent Test Series have taken place between Australia and England Over 60s teams have proved to be a triumph for the England team who have completed a very successful tour of Australia.

Vintage Cricket has recognised the value of Over 60s Cricket by introducing an Over 60s Section at the 6th World Vintage Cricket Carnival, Wellington, March 2012. 

Teams attending the Carnival will be graded into age groups: 
35 up (currently 6 teams)
45 up (currently 24 teams)
Over 60 (currently 8 teams)

A feature of the Carnival will be the visit from two Victorian Over 60 teams who will make the trip to New Zealand to be part of the Over 60s Section. They will be joined by teams from New Zealand and New South Wales who will complete a good number of Over 60s team.

Vintage Cricket have sponsored teams from New Zealand to the last 3 Over 60s State Championships and are proud to be involved in introducing Over 60s Cricket to New Zealand. 

Maybe the Over 60s movement will not only expand in New Zealand but spread to other parts of the cricketing world and we can look forward to seeing more teams from more countries involved. 

Over 60s Cricket is all part of the 'Cradle to the Grave' love of our wonderful game.

If you are an Over 60s player or team who wish to take part in the fun and enjoyment of cricket suited to your age, agility and fitness let us know and be assured of a warm welcome to Wellington…..just follow this link

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Over 60s Action at Armidale, New South Wales

Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club (Easts) of Kilbirnie has become the latest club to enter the Carnival and is preparing to host teams to their ground and relaxed clubrooms. With 4 pitches at their home ground (approximately 15 minutes from Carnival accommodation) the Club will be able to host up to 8 teams on each playing day of the Carnival.

Easts is one of the leading clubs in Wellington having won the Premier title in Wellington Club Cricket in 9 of the last 10 seasons. The Club fields 15 senior teams and 40 junior teams and has a proud history of outstanding performances at all levels. The Club was established in 1993 following an amalgamation of three clubs: Midland, dating from 1883, Kilbirnie, dating from 1890, and St Pat's Old Boys, dating from 1936.

The Club and its original component Clubs have been extremely successful. Midland have been Senior Champions on 27 occasions, Kilbirnie on 18 occasions, and St Pat's on a further 4 

In this period of more than 100 years, the three clubs have produced 29 New Zealand cricketers. Of these the undoubted top man was the late Eric Tindill. As well as being the only person to have played in test matches for New Zealand in both rugby and cricket, he officiated as umpire or referee in tests in both codes. Other outstanding players included Barry Sinclair who captained New Zealand, Bruce Edgar, Wellington's highest run scorer as well as a most successful opening batsman for New Zealand and Stephen Fleming former captain of New Zealand from 1996 to 2008. Stephen, known for his astute tactical abilities is New Zealand's most capped Test player with 111 appearances, longest-serving and most successful captain, having led the side to 28 victories, winning Test match series against India, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. The Clubs current New Zealand Black Cap player is right arm off-spinner Jeetan Patel. 

Vintage Cricket gratefully welcome Eastern Suburbs Cricket Club to the ranks of local club teams looking forward to taking on our visitors.

For more information about this outstanding cricket club check out www.eastscc.co.nz

Vintage Cricket has two great tours in planning at present-both of which are well worth considering.

South America 2012: 

We are delighted to offer an exclusive tour to South America visiting 3 wonderful countries and playing cricket at some remarkable clubs and grounds reflecting cricket’s exclusive niche status in Argentina, Peru and Chile. Arranged with the assistance of our regular suppliers and good friends, Sundance Tours of Buenos Aires, the tour over 3 weeks offers fantastic sight-seeing, great hospitality, excellent attractions and some exciting cricket in the company of like-minded cricketers, their wives or partners and supporters. 

The fully escorted tour is open to cricketers of all ages (over the age of 40), abilities, skills and experience plus wives, partners, supporters and umpires from anywhere in the cricketing world. The team is called Vintage Internationals is committed to combining outstanding international cricket experiences with wonderful sightseeing opportunities in great destinations.

Register your interest by following this link.

England and Ireland and the Ashes 2013:

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Vintage Cricket is proud to announce a sensational cricket experience for players, supporters, umpires and cricket-lovers of all ages and abilities. A unique tour to England, Ireland and the Ashes Test Match at Lords plus one other Test venue to be confirmed. Enjoy three games in wonderful villages on beautiful grounds in England followed by three games in equally attractive surroundings in Ireland.

We have access to a limited number of tickets for the Tests and the itinerary which is being finalised will consist of four weeks of fun, friendship and camaraderie on and off the cricket field. To be escorted by a leading cricket personality and with the services of an experienced tour manager from Vintage Cricket, this will be something very special.

Four glorious weeks of watching the very epitome of Test Cricket, the opportunity to play on delightful village greens in England and Ireland or to just come along and relax in wonderful cricket surroundings with a great group of fellow cricket lovers.

To all our many Vintage Cricket friends and to all cricket players, officials and supporters we wish you a relaxed and enjoyable festive season and a happy and prosperous New Year. Let us hope we play or watch and enjoy plenty of great cricket during 2012

All the best from all of us at the Vintage Cricket Office, Takapuna, New Zealand.

Vintage Cricket Mantra for the New Year

We have said it before but it is worth repeating……

“At a time when cricket is taking off in unprecedented ways at the top commercial levels, your presence here will remind us that the soul of cricket still resides in the hundreds of thousands of players from many different backgrounds in many different places who play the game socially for the love of it promoting respect and understanding amongst people in the process.” 

Andre Odeendal, Western Province Cricket Association, South Africa 

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