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MT

Alastair Cook – Time for the vice captain to become one of the greats

The second half of England’s winter was notable for a tour to Bangladesh that had a 100% win record. Every international that England played, they won. Admittedly, the calibre of opposition wasn’t the highest – Bangladesh, though improving, are no Australia. But England were calm, efficient and they played their cricket in a professional and highly effective manner. They were also led by Alastair Cook, deputising for the absent Andrew Strauss. Cook, a man touted for the England captaincy almost from the morning of his Test debut, led them to a 3-0 one day series win and a 2-0 Test clean sweep, in which he racked up two hundreds in four innings.

Whilst many held reservations about his inexperienced captaincy, few could complain about his batting form. A Test best of 173 in Chittagong was followed by a match winning 109 not out in Dhaka as Cook, like so many before him, found the captaincy to be a positive influence on his game. Now that Strauss has returned to lead the team and Cook has returned to the ranks, what’s next for the young left hander? After a stellar start to his international career, his star has ever so slightly fallen. Despite the good recent form, the runs aren’t coming as prolifically as they once were and it only takes a couple of bad scores for the cynics to start questioning his value to the side.

Early success

Cook’s debut seems like a lifetime ago now. Drafted into the injury hit touring party in India in 2006, he made his debut in Nagpur and immediately had people talking. A sedate 60 followed by a classy 104 not out demonstrated a temperament that was ideally suited to the rigours of Test match cricket. He’d already set pulses racing the previous summer against the touring Australians when he raced to a double century in a single day and now he was confirming what those in the know had long suspected about him. His was an old head on young shoulders and he confirmed his promise with stylish hundreds against Pakistan that summer.

A chastening Ashes experience followed. Cook’s technique was brutally dissected by a rampant Glenn McGrath and his Australian colleagues, yet a fighting century in a losing cause in Perth enhanced his standing and hundreds against the West Indies the following summer put him statistically amongst the greats. At 22 years of age and with six Test centuries to his name, he was only two behind the number held by Sir Donald Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar at the same age. Cook was being earmarked as a fixture of the England side and as a future leader.

Problems and promotion

A tough period followed. Between December 2007 and February 2009, Cook failed to pass three figures. The fifties were coming with regularity but he was unable to capitalise on the numerous good starts. It was a frustrating time for him and the weight of expectancy was weighing heavily on his still young shoulders. The fiasco surrounding the England side at the time didn’t help. Coach Peter Moores and captain Kevin Pietersen were sacked after a dispute and, despite Cook’s promotion to vice captain under the new leadership of Strauss, he, like his team, were suffering.

There was soon to be, however, a brief return to big scoring. Cook hit an uncomplicated 139 not out in a bore draw with the West Indies in Barbados before racking up 160 in a win over the same opposition. Questions were still being raised about his technique, though, and particularly about his weaknesses around his off stump. A lean Ashes summer followed and after a double failure in the first Test against South Africa in Centurion, Cook’s place in the side was, for the first time, genuinely under threat. He responded in brilliant style with a gutsy century in the next Test to help set up victory and a pair of fifties in Cape Town confirmed to many that he had ironed out the flaws in his technique. Gone were the careless thrashes outside off stump. Back was the resolute concentration and desire for runs. As the England team were on the mend, so was Cook.

The next step

Though his numbers aren’t so atmospherically high as they once were, Cook is still statistically punching above his weight. 56 Test matches have brought him over 4000 runs and 12 centuries. He averages a very healthy 44. He’s led the team and put in match winning performances doing so. So what’s the next rung on the ladder for him?

Consistency would be a good start. Cook performed brilliantly with the bat in Bangladesh but for the return series in England last month, he failed to pass fifty. Admittedly, he only batted in three innings and was on the receiving end of some questionable umpiring decisions but he’ll know more than most how fickle the game can be. A couple more low scores could see the same panicking over his place from last summer. But it would be best for him to look forward.

Along with his opening partner Strauss, Cook is one of the bedrocks of this team and still one of the first names on the team sheet. His no-nonsense approach to accumulating runs can only be a positive for the side and if he is able to recapture the stratospheric form of his early England days, then the team will have rediscovered a precocious talent. The Ashes series in Australia this winter is a perfect opportunity for Cook to erase the demons of his last trip and to consolidate his standing as one of England’s finest. That’s what he should aspire to be – one of the greats.

They say that with great power comes great responsibility and, make no bones about it, Cook certainly carries the weight of responsibility. Be it responsibility to get England off to a good start or to help his captain in the field or to play his role as a senior figure. He is no longer the child batting talent of this side, fawned upon by the media. Cook has grown up. Time to start acting the part.

Time to step up to the next level.

(blokely.com, 2010)

Enough said

What was it that changed England's one day fortunes?

Cast your mind back to September. England had just won the Ashes and there was a glorious feel-good atmosphere reverberating around the game as the team headed into a seven match one day series with the wounded Australians. What followed next was akin to lambs heading to the slaughter. England were out-played, out-thought and out-muscled to the tune of a 6-1 series defeat, with the solitary win coming in the last game.

England were a spent force and their one day cricket looked bland and lacking in ideas. The batting was one dimensional and seemed to get bogged down to easily. All too often, England would crawl to a pitiful 70 or so after the first 20 overs, leaving too much work to be done by the rest of the team. The bowling, though impressive in patches, was ordinary and showed an inability to cope with aggressive batsmen.

England, so often the latecomers to the one day party, were at rock bottom and the situation didn’t look too hopeful. But less than a year later, we enter into another one day series with the old enemy and we’re brimming with confidence. Hell, we’ve even got a one day World Cup title to our name. So what has changed? What inspired this remarkable turnaround?

Aggression

Many credit the success of batsman Eoin Morgan as core aspect of England’s progression as a one day side. Dublin-born Morgan, who made his debut last year, revolutionised the side with his unorthodox and highly attacking style of play. His 67 off just 34 balls against South Africa really caught the eye of the cricketing world and the explosive performances that followed made him one of the few English players to earn a lucrative Indian Premier League contract.

Since Morgan’s inclusion in the side, England have played a new brand of exciting, attacking cricket. Players like skipper Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood, who were previously thought to be incapable of producing big-hitting innings, have transformed their one day games with aggressive shot selection. Naturally hard-hitting players such as Kevin Pietersen and Luke Wright have been allowed to let their strokeplay reign supreme.

And new players have been brought in to help accelerate this process. Craig Kieswetter, a wicket keeper known around the domestic game for his ability to blaze away at the top of the order, has been fast-tracked into the England side and has made an excellent start to his international career, hitting a century in only his third game.

Twenty20

Despite being the nation that gave Twenty20 cricket to the world, England have traditionally struggled in the shortest format of the game. But the new all-guns-blazing England have rapidly altered their T20 fortunes also. Choosing a bold selection policy for the World Twenty20 tournament in the Caribbean back in May, England produced a string of hugely impressive performances, mixing aggressive batting with intelligent bowling.

With players like Kieswetter, Pietersen and Morgan all regularly scoring at an extremely healthy rate, the bowlers were able to come into their own. Tim Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom, two players discarded by recent England selection policies, kept a lid on the opposition along with Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann. Though England’s game plan was evident, it was also highly effective and impossible to defend against.

England blazed their way into the final and held their nerve to turn out another highly efficient performance, taking the honours against Australia. It was a symbolic tournament win and England’s first major one day trophy. It showed that England had changed the way they approached limited overs cricket and that their bold new tactics were here to stay.

The future

So whilst England are involved in the current one day series with the Aussies, thoughts will surely be on the 50 over World Cup, scheduled for next February on the subcontinent. With the advent of Twenty20 cricket and the dwindling interest in the 50 over format, it could turn out to be England’s last chance of claiming a World Cup triumph. It is clear that planning has gone into England’s selection – the inclusion of a second spinner in Michael Yardy shows that England are prepping their team for the slow, spinning pitches that they will encounter next year.

And with players such as Pietersen and Collingwood hitting their peak, there remains a good chance that England could replicate their success of last month’s exploits in the Caribbean. However, the success they’ve had so far is one thing. Producing it consistently is the next challenge and England will need to show some self-belief should their new system occasionally fail to produce the goods.

Still, there’s much to be excited about and with young players like Kieswetter, Wright and Broad all certain to improve, English fans can look forward to a positive future. Gone are the days of slow scoring defeats and abject humiliations. England have a young and vibrant team that can achieve big things. Who knows? We could be celebrating another trophy in a years time.

(Blokely.com, 2010)

White Hart Lane

White Hart Lane is the home of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club, who play in the English Premier League and have a long-standing reputation for playing attractive football. Nicknamed 'Spurs', the North London side enjoy a great deal of support and are historically one of the most successful teams in English football history. They enjoy a fierce rivalry with neighbours Arsenal, though they are generally considered to be the weaker of the two teams at present. Tottenham have enjoyed a period of slow progress recently, however, and observers say that the gap between the clubs is narrowing. White Hart Lane is a comparatively small stadium with a capacity of approximately 36,240 but the club currently have plans to build a new, bigger ground very close to the current site. The new stadium is planned to hold around 55,000 supporters and will be considered as a host venue should England be awarded the 2018 World Cup. As a result of the huge fanbase and limited number of seats, tickets for Spurs matches are sometimes difficult to come by. Visit www.tottenhamhotspur.com for more details.

Address: Bill Nicholson Way, 748 High Road, N17 0AP

Telephone: 0844 499 5000

(LondonTown.com, 2010)

Friends Provident Twenty20: Surrey v Middlesex

The stars of the international game descend on South London as the Surrey Lions host the Middlesex Panthers in a thrilling evening of high-octane Twenty20 cricket at The Brit Oval. As well as being a local derby with loads to play for, the game will be illuminated by the presence of some of the most explosive players in the world. Australian legend Adam Gilchrist should open the batting for Middlesex along with the big-hitting David Warner while middle-order powerhouse Andrew Symonds will want to get one over on his compatriots and help his Surrey team to a win. Both sides have been in sparkling form in this season's Friends Provident t20 tournament and will have high hopes of coming out on top at the Oval. One thing's for sure: expect fireworks and a shed load of sixes.

Address: The Brit Oval, Kennington, London, SE11 5SS

Telephone: 020 7820 5700

(LondonTown.com, 2010)

Hard-Hitting Hants Put Essex on the Back Foot

Neil McKenzie provided the anchor around which Hampshire batted on an interesting first day's play at The Rose Bowl. McKenzie made a fine 83 before falling just before the close, on a day where several players got in but none were able to go on to the big score needed.

Hampshire, after winning the toss and electing to bat, began the day tentatively and paid the price early on. Opener Jimmy Adams departed for just 3, nicking one behind to James Foster off Maurice Chambers.

This brought Michael Lumb to the crease aiming to avoid his fourth consecutive duck in all formats, which he did with an early single. Despite recent stories circulating in the press regarding his availability for selection, Essex included Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria in their side and he produced a well executed maiden in his first over as Lumb and Michael Carberry tried to build a solid foundation after the early loss.

And build they did, taking advantage of perfect batting conditions under bright sunshine. They inched their way to a fifty partnership against a good Essex bowling unit that looked threatening early on. The pair expertly drew the sting from the away side’s attack, though, and headed into lunch with Carberry on 40, Lumb on 30 and Hampshire in a solid position on 82 for 1.

Essex struck immediately after the break, however, when Lumb, who had battled hard for his runs, was bowled by Kaneria. Undeterred, Carberry moved on to his fifty with a punch through the covers and a beautifully timed pull shot off David Masters, both shots travelling to the boundary. Despite looking in such good touch, he was out soon after, smashing a cover drive straight to Jaik Mickleburgh at extra cover, leaving Hampshire in a slightly precarious position.

New batsman James Vince made an instant impression with a regal drive through the covers and, before long, he and partner Neil McKenzie were regularly finding the boundary edge. Vince was particularly strong in the cover area and the pair put on an important fifty stand at a run rate of just over four and a half. But just as Vince was looking like he might go on to a big one, he failed to get on top of a short one from Chambers and was caught and bowled for an impressive 44.

Sean Ervine, promoted up the order, got going with a big heave for six over square leg. But, having played himself in for a few overs, he then got an edge to a spinning Kaneria delivery and was caught at slip by Essex skipper Mark Pettini for just 15. And captain Nic Pothas didn’t last for very long either, trapped lbw for just a single in Ravi Bopara’s first over of the day. Hampshire went into tea on 190-6, with McKenzie defiantly unbeaten on 38.

The final session of the evening saw Hampshire desperately needing to stick in and the tail needed to play around the established McKenzie.

Dominic Cork helped the South African take the score past 200 and the veteran even managed to loft Kaneria over long on for a mightily impressive boundary before cutting Bopara behind square on the off side.

McKenzie reached his fifty with a neatly steered single before a towering six from Cork off Ryan ten Doeschate brought up the fifty partnership as Hampshire fought back after those pre-tea break wickets. The new ball was taken by the away side but it was more of the same treatment as Cork moved into the 40’s with another boundary.

A flurry of boundaries, including a fiercely struck cover drive off a ten Doeschate full toss, advanced McKenzie’s score also, as Essex strived to break what had turned into an excellent partnership.

It may have taken a hint of fortune but Cork brought up an excellent fifty with a slice over the covers for four. Soon after the pair were exchanging handshakes in the middle after the hundred partnership was reached. But it wasn’t smiles for long - McKenzie’s long innings was brought to an end as he was bowled around his legs by the returning Bopara for 83.

Cork remained unbeaten on 54 alongside David Balcombe as Hampshire ended the day on 298-7.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

Royals Beat Spitfires in Nail-Biting Finish

Hampshire made the worst possible start to their run chase as Michael Lumb pulled the first ball from Stevens straight to the waiting fielder. Tight bowling from Stevens and Mahmood kept the pressure on the batsmen but a flurry of boundaries off Stevens’ second over kicked started the Royals’ run chase. However, after an assured start, Carberry was bowled by Simon Cook, leaving Hampshire teetering on 29-2.

Ervine joined Adams at the crease and the two put on a nerve-reducing partnership. Ervine looked particularly in the mood and found the fine leg area much to his liking, hitting identical boundaries. With almost half the runs made, Adams gave his wicket away, top edging a sweep off Tredwell straight to Khan at midwicket. Ervine was then dismissed in similar fashion and Hampshire looked to be feeling the heat out in the middle.

Razzaq joined McKenzie at the crease and the two took Hampshire to within 20 runs of their target with some clean striking and sensible running. Razzaq, known for his big hitting for Pakistan, deposited leg-spinner Bandara over midwicket for consecutive fours and looked to be steering the Royals home. But the returning Stevens had him caught behind as the nerves increased around the ground.

Needing a run a ball from the last three overs, Pothas and McKenzie calmly took Hampshire towards their victory target. Bandara’s last over was picked off for two boundaries and with two needed off the last three balls, Pothas ran one down to third man for the winning runs.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

World Cup fever set to grip the nation

With England’s failure to make an appearance at the last major international tournament, this summer’s World Cup is one of the most highly anticipated competitions in a long, long while. A plethora of world class talents will descend on South Africa for a month of gladiatorial footballing contests, with the glorious prize of being crowned world champions awaiting the victor. All we are required to do is watch and enjoy. But for Fabio Capello’s England, the task is eminently more demanding.

England arrive in the Rainbow Nation as third favourites to win the tournament, after an extremely strong qualifying phase. Pundits credit England’s revival largely to wise Italian coach Capello, who picked up the pieces from the shambolic Steve McClaren reign and transformed England into an extremely competent side.

Whereas in years past talents like Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard were flattering to deceive on the international stage, Capello has got his big players firing once again. Known to be a strict disciplinarian, Capello has secured the respect and the obedience of the supposed egos in the England dressing room and, by doing so, has forged a team that is extremely difficult to beat.

But what hope do the Three Lions actually have in South Africa? Will it all end in penalty heartbreak once again, leaving a nation of beleaguered and disappointed fans? Let’s face it: no matter how good a side we may appear to be, England have a dreadful record in big tournaments. One thing Capello must be wary of is England’s tendency to choke at the big moments or to lose their self belief. If he can keep the player’s heads right, England could go far.

Historically, England tend to struggle through their group stage but with an opening three fixtures of USA, Algeria and Slovenia, things could and should be relatively smooth sailing. The second round appears to be negotiable, too. But it’s in the quarter finals where the path becomes rockier. France appear to be the likely opposition, if all goes as expected, and whilst Capello’s men shouldn’t fear them, they will provide an extremely stern test of England’s credentials. And it doesn’t get any easier, either, with the likes of Brazil, Spain and Holland all possibly in England’s way.

But, if England want to win the World Cup, they’ll have to find a way to beat the best teams. The form of Rooney is likely to be key. England’s talisman has been in outstanding form this season and is scoring goals for fun. The continuing threat of injury lurks over him like a bad smell but a fit and firing Rooney will make England lethal. He’ll need support, also, and senior players such as Lampard and Gerrard will need to stand up and be counted. Capello’s squad also has a youthful exuberance to it and Tottenham starlet Aaron Lennon could make a big difference down the right wing if selected.

Who are the players to fear? There’s a fair few lying around . Brazil’s world class playmaker Kaka represents a giant thorn in many team’s side with his all round ability, as does Argentina’s Leo Messi, recently crowned World Player of the Year. Spain possess a couple of deadly strikers in Fernando Torres and David Villa and don’t forget Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo either, a player who spent the last few years making Premier League defenders look daft. There are some dark horses who could also give England a few sleepless nights. Didier Drogba will ensure Ivory Coast are an tremendously dangerous outfit while Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey, no strangers to English football, will relish coming up against the Three Lions in their first game.

Success or not, the World Cup promises to be a wonderful time for English fans as St Georges flags are proudly flown and patriotic fervour is at its highest. And, with a little bit of luck, it could just be our year. England have the right coach, the right players and the right attitude. What could possibly go wrong? Hold on to your seats.

(Chessington Chat, 2010)

Critically examine the link between cricket and politics since the 1970's

In the modern era, sport and politics are often interlinked. With political figures attaching themselves to sporting achievements in an attempt to gain favour with the people they may represent or hope to represent, one may assume that this link is beneficial only to the men and women in political power. But with various sporting incidents over recent years holding a political slant, there is perhaps the notion that the two entities are inextricably linked and that any potential benefits are shared.

Cricket is a sport that has dipped into political affairs on more than one occasion over the course of its history. Controversial events on and of the pitch often have a tinge of global politics to them and it is no surprise that escalating conflicts have arisen from some of the most relatively trivial disputes. Over the course of this essay, I shall attempt to examine the link between cricket and politics since the 1970’s, taking a close look at some specific examples of cricketing incidents carrying a political theme.

To understand the political aspect of cricket, it is important to have knowledge of the scale of the game on a global stage. Cricket is popular all round the world, despite only being played by a handful of nations. In the Caribbean, cricket is the dominant sport with a majority of islands competing in the domestic leagues and the islands joining together to form the West Indies for Test matches. In Asia, cricket is a supremely popular sport with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh all entertaining huge fan-bases. Australia, South Africa and New Zealand all enjoy good support, despite competition from sports like rugby and Aussie Rules football. Ironically, it is in England, the nation of its birth, where cricket is probably the lowest down on the pecking order of popular sports. Yet, Test matches in England still pull in good crowds.

Perhaps the best way to begin to understand the link is to understand the internal politics of cricket itself. This involves examining the various boards and institutional bodies that rule and regulate the game. Ehsan Masood provides an excellent account of the global politics of cricket in an article for open democracy.net:

“In a curiously democratic sort of way, while the MCC sets the rules, it does not enforce them. The twin roles of executive, judiciary (and much more) fall to a single organisation, the ICC, which is responsible for the game's umpires and referees, handling misconduct allegations, as well as training, development, sponsorship and negotiating TV rights. Until 2005, both the MCC and the ICC were based at the Lords cricket ground in London. But in August of that year the ICC moved to Dubai in what is seen as a deliberate push by the cricket governing bodies of Asia to break the symbolic dominance of England over ICC affairs.”

The occasional indifference between the Asian nations and the alleged sense of dominance from England is symbolic of the current state of distrust and frostiness between East and West in the world today. Respected cricket personality Simon Hughes claimed in 2006 that the Pakistan tour of England was significant as a ‘healing force’ and that the friendliness and camaraderie between the two sides was a positive image as the two sides of the world attempted to slowly reconnect. Hughes was speaking in the aftermath of the infamous ball tampering saga, a cricketing incident that had gargantuan political ramifications for the sport.

In the 4th Test match, with England batting in their second innings, Australian umpire Darrell Hair suddenly called for a replacement ball and awarded England five penalty runs. The decision was based on the suspicion from Hair that Pakistan players had tampered with the ball in an attempt to help their quest for English wickets. Severely aggrieved by the decision, the Pakistan side refused to take the field after the tea break - protesting at what they perceived was an insult to the character and to the sporting nature of their side. With no sight of the Pakistan team , umpire Hair removed the bails from the stumps in the middle and awarded the match to England. It was the first instance of a game being called off and awarded to one side by way of a team forfeit in the history of the sport.

The incident provoked furore from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and from observers all over the world. Pakistan captain Inzamam Ul-Haq, who was at the centre of the team protest, was charged with bringing the game into disrepute. Umpire Hair, who came under intense scrutiny, offered to resign from his role as umpire in exchange for a heavy cash sum but is request was exposed, piling more pressure onto the situation. Hair was eventually removed from the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) elite umpire panel, though that decision was eventually overturned after a court hearing. Years after the decision, the ICC decided to alter the official result of the match to a draw, after pressure from the PCB but then reversed the decision and changed the result back to an England win. Inzamam Ul-Haq said, on the U-turn from the ICC: “I think they [ICC] have made it a joke by changing the result and I don't rule out another change in the future. The PCB has also failed to take a stand against this change and they were also weak in handling this matter.”

Many who had witnessed that infamous day at The Oval cricket ground were astounded that a sport with a reputation from gentlemanly conduct and fair play had descended into such farce. Political figures were muscling their way in on the incident and were escalating to a situation which did no-one’s reputation any credit. It further strained relations between Pakistan and the ICC (East and West) and was a body-blow for anyone hoping that a good mannered and open series between England and Pakistan would help to ease tensions.

An alternative issue between cricket and politics is when the sport is forced to turn to politics for an answer and there is no greater example of this than in 2003 and the World cup in South Africa. England were due to play a fixture in Zimbabwe, a country with an appalling human rights record and a dictatorial leader in Robert Mugabe. England’s players felt morally obliged to consider whether they should play the game or not. In essence, if they played they would be actively supporting the Mugabe regime. Despite pleas from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to switch the fixture from Harare in Zimbabwe to a South African venue, the powers that be were unable to move the game.

England captain Nasser Hussain was faced with a difficult moral decision. There was no official British government stance that would prohibit England from playing the match - the decision was to be left at the hands of the players, who had received death threats from an organisation called the ’Sons and Daughters of Zimbabwe’. Eventually, England decided not to play the game, risking their reputation amongst world cricket and their chances of competing effectively at the World Cup - the points from the game were awarded to Zimbabwe. New Zealand’s cricket team also decided to forgo their match in Kenya, due to security fears, and also paid the price of exiting the competition.

The issue of Zimbabwe in world cricket has long since been a thorny one. In their opening game of the 2003 World Cup, players Henry Olonga and Andy Flower both wore black armbands and proclaimed that they were ‘mourning the death of democracy in Zimbabwe’. Both players subsequently retired from cricket in the country and chose to play oversees. Olonga claimed that to continue playing in Zimbabwe would be “condoning the grotesque human rights violations that have been perpetrated - and continue to be perpetrated - against his fellow countrymen.” With England taking the first step, countries have since no longer toured Zimbabwe and the Test status of the nation has been revoked. The decision is not a slight against Zimbabwean cricket in any way but it is a firm and conscientious decision to take a moral and a political stand against the continued oppression from Mugabe.

An early example of cricket and politics mixing circles comes from 1970 and the suspension of South Africa from international cricket due to its government’s policy of apartheid. The racial tensions that were present in South Africa at the time led to their cricket team only fielding white players and only competing against white nations such as England, Australia and New Zealand. They were kept out of international cricket for a period of 21 years until the apartheid policy was abandoned and South Africa were allowed to compete on a global scale again. The ban meant that some of the country’s greatest ever players such as Barry Richards and Graeme Pollock would never have a chance to grace Test match cricket. The decision also led to South African born players with foreign parenthood leaving the country to play cricket for other countries - Robin Smith and Allan Lamb both became influential players for England.

During the ban, South Africa also refused to allow Basil D’Oliveira the chance to tour the country. D’Oliveira was a South African born player who moved to England and qualified to play for his adopted country. However, because of his race, the South African government refused to allow him to come on England’s tour. England hadn’t picked him in their side as an attempt to maintain cricketing ties with South Africa (an extremely politically influenced decision). They cited his ability as the reason he was not picked but many saw through the excuse. However, injury to another player meant that England officially selected him and with the South African government unrepentant on the issue, the tour was cancelled - an incident that has since been seen as something of a watershed in the sporting boycott of apartheid South Africa.

Despite the breakdown of apartheid, South African cricket is still littered with racial and political concerns. In an effort to encourage non-white cricket players, South African cricket have employed a quota system which means that the national side has to feature a select number of non white players. There have been many opposed to this move and some players have taken the drastic step of leaving South Africa in order to play. Kevin Pietersen is the most noteworthy example. He left South Africa, disillusioned with the system and convinced that it would hinder his chances of playing top level cricket. He moved to England and qualified to play through his English mother. Since the move, Pietersen has developed into one of the finest players of his generation and has even captained his adopted country on occasion. His move has set the precedent for a number of players to try their luck in England with Somerset wicket keeper Craig Kieswetter the latest South African born player to make his debut for England. Whilst not all players who make the move are as vocal in their criticism of the quota system as Pietersen has been, it is a clear indication that some white players in South Africa feel under pressure to leave.

Nowadays, despite the quota system being officially binned, South African cricket is full of non-white players who flourish in the side. Ashwell Prince, JP Duminy, Loots Bosman and Vernon Philander are just a number of players who have been extensively involved in the side in recent years. The relatively liberal state of South African cricket is such that one of their leading batsmen, Hashim Amla, is a Muslim. But the racial tensions do still exist, even if they aren’t as prominent. Makhaya Ntini was a non-white fast bowler and one of the stars of the side for much of the last decade. But age and a rapid decline in form led to the question of his selection being raised. Ntini was and still is a leading role model for non-whites all over South Africa and there was the fear that his non-selection would lead to many becoming less interested or disillusioned with the side. Eventually, it was decided that Ntini should be dropped. And it remains to be seen what effect the decision will have on cricket and politics in South Africa.

Perhaps the biggest link between cricket and politics is one of security. Security, in this context, is referring to the safety of the teams in locations where many may have reason to be wary of that safety. For instance, last year’s Indian Premier League was moved from India to South Africa because of fears over the player’s safety. In 2008, a bomb blast by rogue militants in a Mumbai hotel caused England to abandon the last two games of their one day series in India and to reconsider whether they should come back weeks later to take part in the Test series. Consideration was given from a number of angles, both cricketing and political. Middlesex County Cricket Club, who were due to play in India also, were advised by the British foreign office not to. ECB media relations manager Andrew Walpole claimed at the time: “We will be guided by the foreign office. We need to get a clearer idea of what the situation is before we react further.” Eventually, on the advice of their own security consultant, Reg Dickason, England decided to return to India and to play the two Test matches. Their return was heralded as the correct diplomatic decision and the success (for the Indian team) in the series was cited as a perfect rebuttal to those who had threatened the safety of everyone involved.

If cricket is to be seen as a healing power, then the world is better off for it and the link between cricket and politics is a relationship that has the potential to benefit many. There remains, however, the thorny issues that people in touch with the game attempt to avoid. The Zimbabwe debate will run and run for as long as Robert Mugabe remains in power and it’s a difficult issue to resolve. For all the hope of not stunting the growth of Zimbabwean cricket, openly welcoming them into the international cricket family and playing games in their country would be akin to warmly shaking the hand of their tyrannical dictator.

There is little doubt that cricket will have to endure the ongoing mix of politics for a long while yet. Whereas most sports have to simply put up with the odd politician jumping on their individual bandwagons, cricket faces issues that have a direct and uniform link to the political world. Be it furore over selection policies, national security or simply a team threatening to pull out of the remainder of a tour because one of their players was accused of being a racist (India’s Harbhajan Singh was banned in 2008 for alledgedly calling Australia’s Andrew Symonds a ‘monkey’), cricket has to face up to issues of a political theme on a regular basis. It remains to be seen what and when the next international incident will be.

(University essay on Sport, Media and Culture, 2010)

Battling Solent overcome esteemed hosts

Team Solent's cricketers recorded a famous and moraleboosting 34 run victory over the Hampshire second XI, a team that featured first team players Kabir Ali and James Tomlinson.

In a landmark victory for the side, Solent showed remarkable character to overcome their esteemed opponents and are now in excellent form for the start of their upcoming season.

Team Solent coach Dave Yelling was proud of his players: "There’s not many sides who come here and get a big win. It was a really strong performance by a really strong university side."

Solent captain Will Adkin lost the toss and was invited to bat first by Hampshire skipper Tomlinson.

Mindful of the difficulty pacing a 50 over innings, openers Morton and Hill forged a solid opening stand, taking the score to 97 and seeing off the opening spell from one-time England Test player Ali.

Morton, something of a veteran in the Solent side, gave an excellent demonstration of his ability with a series of confident shots against the new ball.

He holed out for a splendid 66 soon after his partner had been trapped LBW but wicket keeper Cater arrived at the crease and played a calm innings, sharing fifty stands with skipper Adkin and middle order batsman Mohod.

He ground his way to an invaluable 69, mixing big shots with sensible running and drove Solent on to a hugely competitive total of 279-6.

Kabir Ali found himself in the unfamiliar position at the top of the order for Hampshire as they set about chasing 280 to win and immediately gave an indication of his class as he set about the wayward Solent new ball bowling. 10 extras were conceded in the first four overs of Hampshire’s reply and the fielders did not assist matters with a succession of dropped chances.

The partnership was broken by Morton with the score on 96, bringing regular number eleven Tomlinson to the crease at first drop. The established pair set about counter attacking Solent’s bowling with a series of explosive and assured shots.

More poor catching threatened to hamper Solent’s chances of victory but when Ali was dismissed 19 short of a hundred, Solent were back in the hunt.

As the required run rate skyrocketed, Hampshire players proceeded to throw away their wickets. Spinner Afzal picked up a match winning 3-47 as he dismissed Ali, Tomlinson and tailender Haggaty and also contributed a spectacular run out.

Skipper Adkin chipped in with three wickets, running through the Hampshire middle order and Solent bowled out their opponents for 245 with just under four overs to spare.

Opener Morton was immensely proud of his team’s accomplishment: "The future students at Solent will see that we play matches against Hampshire and it will attract them to the university.

"Comparing now to what it was four or five years ago, we have many more cricketers that come to the university then what we did back then."

(Solent Speaker Online, 2010)

Madchester scene revived..?

Over the years, Manchester has produced a multitude of exceptional musical talent. Oasis, The Smiths, The Stone Roses, New Order, etc – the list of bands slowly emanating out of the northern city reads like a who’s who of musical rock royalty. Delphic, a Manchester four-piece, look set to continue this trend and their debut album Acolyte could well be the perfect springboard for further success.

Shortlisted as one of 15 acts for the BBC Sound of 2010, Delphic are set to take the UK indie dance scene by storm. Described by many an expert as ‘the new New Order’, Delphic are able to produce a sound eerily reminiscent of their Manchester forefathers and Acolyte is a magnificent first up effort, with soaring melodies and ridiculously infectious dance hooks.

Doubt, the second song on the album, immediately sets the tone for the rest of the piece with lead singer James Cook’s vocals taking the listener to euphoric highs and he matches the intensity of the chorus melody tone for tone. Red Light is another contagiously brilliant song in that as soon as the main riff kicks in it’s almost impossible not to get off your feet and dance along to the free-flowing beats. It’s a song typical of the entire album - not necessarily one for the ages but one to immediately set pulses racing.

Listening to Acolyte is one thing. Seeing them live, leading their audience on a trail of brilliant indie melodies, is another treasure altogether. Their recent UK tour culminated in an intimate but no less thumping performance at Southampton University and they wowed the packed in crowd with a flawless set. It’ll be interesting to see where Delphic can go from here. Following up an album as instantly popular as this one could prove to be a Herculean task. But for now, they need not worry. Acolyte has put them on a wave of immediate success and it’s difficult to see that wave dying out anytime soon.

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Southampton voted friendliest city

Prospective students moving to Southampton need not worry about settling in on the south-coast as the city has been voted the friendliest and most welcoming in the country.

The study was commissioned by hotel chain Jurys Inn, as part of National Tourism Week, and saw Southampton top a list of 30 UK cities. Fellow south-coast city Portsmouth was voted 10th on the list whereas capital city London came bottom of the pile.

4,000 people from the 30 cities were quizzed on their views and it emerged that Southampton citizens are viewed as having excellent etiquette and superb customer service skills. Residents in the south-coast city also believed it’s more important to have good manners than anyone else polled.

Student Chris Hilton, 20, studies at Solent University and has been a resident of Southampton all his life: “I think it’s excellent that Southampton has been named the friendliest city in the UK and it’s definitely deserved. I’ve lived here all my life and can’t imagine a nicer city. It’s an excellent environment in which to both live and study. It doesn’t surprise me at all that residents in this city are considered the most welcoming. Students coming to Southampton should look forward to living in such welcoming atmosphere.”

A spokesperson for Jurys Inn said: “With London’s spot at the bottom of the list and the Olympics only two years away, the capital may need some tips from the friendly people of Southampton. It’s interesting that the top five most welcoming places are all coastal cities. First impressions are so important when travelling to a city - a lot can be learnt about a place simply walking down a street, and carrying out daily tasks helps you gauge how receptive the people are.”

UK’S MOST WELCOMING CITIES

1. Southampton
2. Norwich
3. Exeter
4. Brighton
5. Plymouth
6. York
7. Oxford
8. Nottingham
9. Derby
10. Portsmouth

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Carberry Makes Solid England Debut

Hampshire’s Michael Carberry may not have stolen all the headlines on his Test debut this morning but he certainly made a positive impression and rewarded the selectors' faith in him.

Opening the batting with the stand-in captain Alastair Cook, Carberry wasted no time and immediately set about attacking the Bangladeshi new ball bowling. He took three fours in an over from Rubel Hossain and gave England an assured and fluent start that they would later build heavily upon.

With the opening partnership on 72 he was given out for 30, lbw to Mahmudullah attempting to sweep. But despite missing out on the big score his excellent start had merited, Carberry can be satisfied with his morning's efforts and will hope to progress further in his next England innings.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

David vs Goliath: a south coast university rivalry

Local rivalries are a curious phenomena. Born primarily out of geographical proximity, the hatred between opposing camps can verge from the jovial to the fiercely passionate. There can be other factors involved, too - factors that add extra spice to the already sizzling cauldron of dislike. Class wars. Sporting achievements. Academic pedigree. All of these contribute to the somewhat inherent nature of the standoff. And when it comes to Southampton Solent University and the University of Southampton, one can expect much of the same.

I’ve been at Solent for almost three years now and have only ever had sporadic encounters with ‘them lot up the road’. Not having been part of any University sports teams, I’ve had no personal experience of the sporting enmity between the two sides, even if friends have described the derby games as ‘unfriendly’. But I have discovered from my occasional meetings with students from the University of Southampton that there is an apathy between the two educational institutes.

It’s a rivalry so strong that nicknames have been coined by the opposing sides. Solent revel in their reference to Uni students as ‘V-Necks’ and the Uni doubtless have a similar choice nickname for Solent students. The V-Neck nickname stems from a class rivalry – the stereotypical Southampton Uni student seen to be privately educated, upper class and pompous. The belief is that Southampton Uni students look down on the Solent public - an article for their online paper Wessex Scene last year rudely described Solent students as the ‘Kaos rabble’.

However, it must be said that there certainly is a small element of an inferiority complex on the Solent side of things. Being only a recently established University, they fall under the considerable shadow of Southampton University’s long-standing reputation and accomplishment. It’s a hard old slog competing for acclaim when your neighbours are one of the most reputable universities in the country. But where Solent may fall behind in academic achievement, where else does the abhorrence come from?

Let’s examine it from a sporting perspective. Derby clashes between the two universities are the highlight of the sporting calendar. Many a Solent student has fond memories of the famous 2008 rugby varsity victory over the V-Necks – a win that sparked wild and vociferous celebrations from Solent fans in attendance. Third year student Tom Tainton has dined out on his last minute winning try in that game for almost two years now and he considers the derby to be of utmost importance to all Solent students. “It’s one of the games that everyone gets themselves up for. Beating the V-Necks is a special feeling and the players put in everything they possibly can, as I’m sure is the case across all the sports. Southampton take it just as seriously, I can assure you. I think they see losing to us as something of an embarrassment.”

But if sporting achievement is the yardstick by which bragging rights will be judged, then perhaps Southampton Uni still hold all the aces. Solent currently lie in 83rd place in the BUCS Overall Championship points table – a full 64 places behind their neighbours. The V-Necks have also enjoyed their fair share of derby success since that Varsity victory of ’08. The most recent Solent disappointment came from a rugby defeat administered by the Southampton University 3rd XV over the Solent firsts and relations were further strained by the dissolution of the previously merged American football team, the Southampton Stags. With the growing sense that the Uni are continually staring down their noses at their Solent counterparts, the rivalry isn’t set to go away anytime soon.

It’s an interesting subject. Southampton Uni is clearly the more established institution but the sense is that the power of this reputation may have gone to a few heads. The arrogant sneering of a number of their students towards Solent attendees has only served to cause further friction and their continual mocking of Solent’s recent history as an ‘institution’ and not a university is surely starting to get old. In a city that houses thousands of students there must be an element of the students being able to co-exist. I myself know some Southampton Uni students who live and socialise with Solent students. If this can be the case and the petty bickering can cease in these examples, it begs the question: why can’t we just all get along?

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

The Speaker comments... The fall and fall of Portsmouth FC

There must be something in the water on the South Coast. Either that or just a long series of catastrophic business decisions.

Last week saw the spectacular fall from grace of Portsmouth FC who, after months of speculation and a season of terrible results, finally entered the dreaded realms of administration - the first Premier League team to suffer this fate.

Almost a year after the similar decline of fierce local rivals Southampton, Pompey have paid the price for a string of questionable financial moves. A multitude of inflated player wages and expensive signings have piled on the misery for the Hampshire club and the arbitrary nine point deduction has effectively sealed their relegation to the second tier of English football.

Their demise is eerily reminiscent to what Southampton suffered from last season. Administration brought about their relegation to League One and only a new owner and a mid season flourish have seen them partially recover. Fellow south coast club Bournemouth also entered administration two years ago. Now, with debts of over £60 million, Portsmouth have gone the same way.

So with whom does the blame lie? With their 2008 FA Cup success came the demand from the fans for further improvement. Then manager Harry Redknapp was told he had money to spend and promptly spent it. The likes of Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch were signed for tall fees and proportionally tall wages. Having a succession of unsuccessful owners can’t have helped matters either and all the promise of investment couln’t paper over the fact that staff weren’t getting paid.

Relegation will almost certainly see the departure of the handful of decent players Portsmouth have at their disposal. Fans will be praying that their club can recover quickly.

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Study shows students cannot name Labour leader

A poll has indicated that a third of students are unaware that Gordon Brown is the leader of the Labour Party.

The survey, carried out by student accommodation providers Unite, also showed found that a similar proportion failed to identify David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party.
The figures will come as a worry to those concerned about the level of interest in national politics amongst the nation’s younger generation.

And although The National Union of Students have denied students are completely unconcerned with political matters, the poll also suggests that almost half of students will not bother voting in the upcoming general election.

President of the NUS, Wes Streeting, told the BBC: "In many seats up and down the country the student vote has made a decisive difference in previous general elections and will do so again.

“There is a wealth of evidence to show that students care about politics and realise its impact upon their lives such as fees and housing, particularly when it comes to those who seek to charge them more for less.

"Last year, research by Opinionpanel showed that a political party's position on tuition fees would affect how 79% of students would vote in a general election. This is hardly indicative of an apathetic and out-of-touch student population."

In an interesting find, the survey also discovered a quarter of students believed actress Joanna Lumley and business mogul Sir Alan Sugar would do a better job running the country than the current candidates.

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Lumb Century for Lions

Michael Lumb delivered his finest performance of the England Lions tour by far as he fired a thrilling hundred to see his side through to a three wicket win over Pakistan A in Dubai.

Chasing 232 to win the match and level the series, the Lions stuttered on 56-3 but Lumb held firm and found a willing partner in Leicestershire batsman James Taylor. The pair put on a match-defining 109 run stand, swinging the game back in the Lions’ favour. Taylor departed for 61 but Lumb continued on to a superb 110, hitting 6 fours and a six.

The Lions nearly undid their good work in a chaotic final over. Needing just two to win, Lumb was dismissed before Steve Davies was clean bowled and Chris Woakes was run out. But David Wainwright and Adil Rashid held their nerve to scamper home via a leg bye and bring victory to the delight of the whole team.

Lumb said after the match: "It was a good win for the boys today. I thought it was a fair score on this wicket, maybe we could have put a bit more pressure on them at the death but thought we bowled pretty well. We knew we needed a couple of big partnerships if we were going to chase down that sort of total and it was pretty special getting a hundred.

"We're 1-1 going into the last game so we did the job today and Friday is a really big game for us. They're a good side and we'll need to play good cricket to beat them but we know that we're capable of it and it would be great to leave here with another series win."

The Lions had earlier put in a disciplined performance with the ball to restrict Pakistan A to 231-8. After Steven Finn had dismissed former Test opener Mohammed Hafeez, Pakistan A adopted a safety-first approach and the bowlers had to work hard for their wickets. Finn and Sajid Mahmood picked up two each and there was a wicket apiece for Wainwright, Rashid and Peter Trego. Despite a late assault, the Lions had given themselves an excellent chance - a chance that Lumb ensured was not wasted.

England Lions face Pakistan A in the final 50-over match of the series on Friday.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

Hot Chip create hot new album

In the world of British electro pop, Hot Chip stand out as one of the industry’s front runners. And their fourth album One Life Stand only confirms this ideal. Overflowing with infectious floor filling beats, the album represents some of the London five-piece’s best work.

Their aptitude for producing insanely catchy pop hooks is what keeps people streaming back for more and fans will not be disappointed with this latest offering. With every song brimming with energy, One Life Stand tells it’s story in the most synth-pop way possible. The story is that of the unique power of love and the album’s title track sees front man Alexis Taylor’s delicate and sometimes faint vocals tell that story in a perfectly suitable manner.

The middle part of the album has the band try their hand at a number of slower and more subtle attempts. Brothers, Slush and Alley Cats offer an insight into Hot Chip’s vast musical capabilities, still contagiously enjoyable but with less emphasis on disco beats and more on raw emotion.

But when it comes to what they do best, Hot Chip hit the proverbial nail on the head, as what they do best is provide music to dance to. We Have Love is an urgent yet somehow laid back number that forcefully picks you up and urges you onto the dance floor. For sheer impact, I Feel Better is one of the standout tracks. With the earnestly constructed vocals in the chorus and dramatic, sculpted beats that follow, the song is guaranteed to strike a chord with many a listener.

As one of the early releases of 2010, a lot of responsibility sits on the shoulders of these talented synth-poppers. With this mellow, mature effort, they’ve certainly released an album that’s force will continue to be felt all year long.

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Cameraderie the key to success for Solent Hockey

Solent hockey captain Matt Ireland has claimed the strong bond within the team is the reason for the side’s excellent form this season. The men’s team are yet to drop a single point from their seven league games so far and are in with a superb chance of winning the division.

Ireland said: “I think the main reason for the team achieving what we have this season is due to the vibe going around. Everyone gets on with each other really well and this makes us bond and communicate well on the pitch. We take care to play as a team, not as individuals, which is very important.”

Club captain Ireland has been an ever present for Solent over the last three years and feels the influx of fresh talent has been crucial to the team’s success. “We’ve had a number of really talented new players come into the squad this year which has definitely helped. In my three years in being here, I would have to say this is the best squad we’ve assembled so far. The team has progressed throughout the season in the best possible way, with seven wins out of seven and not dropping a point - you can’t really get much better than that.”

Despite disappointment in the cup, losing to Bournemouth in the quarter finals, the season has still been an overwhelming triumph for Solent. And Ireland says the season and the entire hockey experience has been extremely fulfilling. “It’s a good way to get to know people. We take our hockey very seriously but off the pitch, there’s always a big social scene with everyone mixing together. We’re hoping to go on tour to Bournemouth this year over Easter. It’s good to tour as a whole club as all the teams go together and the entire squad mixes together. I would say joining a sports team is definitely worth it to be able to play the sport that you enjoy and meet people who also enjoy it.”

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Michael Lumb fires Lions to victory over England

Michael Lumb continued his good progress with the England Lions, hitting two boundaries from the last two balls of his side’s run chase to seal an impressive victory against the full England side in Abu Dhabi.

Lumb, who had to depart injured midway through his innings, sealed the win in supreme style making a classy 58 not out off 35 balls. And it will fuel growing calls for his promotion to the full national side for the ICC World Twenty20 in April.

Adil Rashid’s three wicket burst had choked the England scoring rate and they required Luke Wright’s blistering late assault to carry them to a competitive but achievable 157 for 6. Lumb and opening partner Craig Kieswetter immediately set about hunting down the total with a flurry of early boundaries. But when Lumb was struck on the face by a Stuart Broad bouncer whilst on 40, he was forced to retire hurt and the Lions chase subsequently stuttered.

Kieswetter continued scoring despite the loss of captain Andrew Gale and Ian Bell. And when Hampshire batsman Michael Carberry also fell, Lumb rejoined his opening partner at the crease. Together they took the score to within 13 of the target when Kieswetter fell to Ryan Sidebottom. Lumb needed 14 off the final over from Wright and despite losing partner Peter Trego to the first ball, he struck an important boundary off the second and brought up his fifty the next ball.

With 8 needed off 2 balls, Lumb took control and sealed victory for the Lions in sublime fashion with two boundaries. The plaudits may well go to Kiewswetter for his brilliant 81 but Lumb certainly deserves equal credit. With 8 fours and 2 sixes Lumb played an integral role in the Lions victory and kept his cool when others may have panicked. His courage at having returned after injury will also have alerted the selectors to his temperament.

With every excellent innings it seems only a matter of time before Lumb is given his due rewards and is selected by England.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

Drivers flagged up over window signs

Southampton taxi drivers have been told they face being suspended if they do not remove St George flags that state they are ‘English-speaking’ drivers.

Drivers claimed that the signs were put up as some passengers complained that other drivers around the city were unable to speak English properly. But, despite drivers claiming the signs were not intended to be deliberately racist, ethnic minority drivers and members of the public have registered their complaints. City council officials have requested that the signs be taken down or the drivers face suspension.

Councillor Brian Parnell, Chairman of Southampton City Council’s Licensing Committee, said: “The drivers displaying the signs will be asked to take them down. If they do not do this, they will be given five days to do so. It will be looked at in a very serious manner.” Parnell also mentioned how the taxi drivers themselves had raised the issue in the first place. “It was the taxi drivers that brought it up at the trade consultation meeting rather than members of the public.”

Opinion amongst the city’s cab drivers is mixed, with some angry over the potentially racist nature of the signs. Ahmed, a driver for Radio Taxis, said: “I am really very angry, I can’t believe it. I can’t see what the idea behind this is. It’s very racist and it’s absolutely promoting an anti multi-cultural society. People should not encourage drivers who carry the signs.”

However, Tom, who also drives for Radio Taxis, disagreed: “The stickers in the windows aren’t racist. It’s a way for drivers to back at the council for letting standards drop with new employees.”

Council officers have spoken with several drivers and some have agreed to remove the signs. All prospective taxi drivers in Southampton have to pass a communications test to gain a licence and undergo a ‘knowledge’ test of the city.

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Lumb top scores for Lions

He spent last summer blazing the ball all over the park in the domestic Twenty20 competition in England. Now Michael Lumb has continued where he left off in the shortest format of the game, top scoring for the England Lions in their first tour match against United Arab Emirates A in Sharjah.

Coming in at number three after a reasonable platform had been set by openers Steve Davies and Craig Kieswetter, Lumb took the attack to the opposition in the manner that Hampshire fans have been accustomed to last season. He hit 3 fours and a six as he racked up 42 off 32 balls before being run out. His contribution allowed the rest of the England batsman to pile up an imposing total of 184 for 6, a score that UAE A were unable to even approach.

Lumb opened for Hampshire in domestic Twenty20 last season but adapted his game excellently to suit his new role at first drop for the Lions. And his assured performance will add to the growing calls for his inclusion in the full England side. A free flowing and naturally attacking batsman, Lumb could offer England a mode of attack similar to that provided by Eoin Morgan, another left hander, who has been wowing English fans over the winter.

Lumb’s talent is starting to be recognised on the world stage. His former Hampshire captain Shane Warne was quick to snap him up for the Rajasthan Royals for this season’s Indian Premier League, where he‘ll play alongside his current skipper Dimitri Mascarenhas. Lumb is one of only a handful of English players who will appear at the tournament, confirming his reputation as one of England’s top Twenty20 specialists.

More performances like the first one in Sharjah and Lumb’s international stock will continue to rise.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

The Speaker Comments... New signings make Hampshire a genuine force

With the 2010 County Cricket Championship fast approaching, attention will soon be turning away from England’s travels and on to the domestic game. And fans of Hampshire can be quietly optimistic with their chances this season.

With a plethora of new signings on board, the south coast county boasts a stellar line-up. Having secured the services of ex-England fast bowler Simon Jones, Hampshire coach Giles White quickly added Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis as the clubs overseas player for the season. Mendis is one of world cricket’s most promising young players and his capture can be seen as a huge plus for the county.

But they weren’t done there. The Hawks were also able to add explosive Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi as their overseas player for the Twenty20 Cup. Afridi is known to be one of the most dangerous players in the shorter form of the game and rival counties will already be dreading coming up against him in full flow. They also snapped up fast bowler Kabir Ali from Worcestershire and ex-South African opening batsman Neil McKenzie to complete what is shaping up to be a fearsome team.

Having won the Friends Provident Trophy and reached the quarter finals of the Twenty20 Cup last season, Hampshire already have a strong pedigree in limited overs cricket. But it’s the four day game that the Hawks want to master. Having briefly flirted with relegation last season, they fought their way to a sixth place finish. And with the shrewd additions to the squad, there’s every chance of success.

Along with the new signings, they have a fine group of current players, mixing seasoned experience with youthful promise. The likes of James Vince, Danny Briggs and David Griffiths represent a fine future for the club alongside the more veteran names like Nic Pothas and captain Dimitri Mascarenhas. If Hampshire can build on the steady progress of last season then it could be a interesting summer down at The Rose Bowl.

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Ervine Rocks Zimbabwe

With the off season winding towards a close, some of Hampshire’s players have been busy plying their trade overseas during the winter. A number have been involved with England’s various national sides. Others have been honing their skills in domestic competitions around the world. And someone has simply returned to their country of birth to rack up some big runs.

Sean Ervine, returning to his native Zimbabwe to play for the Southern Rocks franchise, made his mark immediately and in some style, crashing a glorious 208 in the first innings and a near match winning 160 in the second, on debut against the Mid West Rhinos.

In the first innings, Ervine made his way to the wicket with his side in dire straits having lost three wickets with the score on just 13. But despite that, Rose Bowl favourite Slug, put on a mammoth 178 run partnership with his brother Craig, who made 81, and took his side from the abyss to a healthy first innings lead.

It was his highest First Class score and rescued the Southern Rocks in an innings where they looked like crumbling into submission. Ervine had a successful 2009 season with Hampshire, scoring three hundreds and building on his reputation as a rock himself in the middle order. An average of 40 helped him become the Hawks’ fourth highest run scorer of the year. He was part of the ‘rebel’ group of cricketers that openly clashed with the Zimbabwe Cricket Union in 2004 and he left to start a new cricketing life in Australia and England.

Ervine’s debut innings for his new side will have re-established his status as one of his country’s finest cricketers. Joining his younger brother at Southern Rocks will give him a perfect opportunity to play himself into form and to get himself match fit for the upcoming English domestic season. With the plethora of new signings Hampshire have made Ervine will be aware that competition for places will be tough so his stint in Zimbabwe could be the perfect preparation for another high quality season.

Ervine also had a say with the ball on his first match back home. He took 1 for 37 in the Rhinos’ first innings, dismissing opposition captain Vusi Sibanda for just 10. After his considerable batting heroics, which earned his side an important 107 run lead, he claimed 2 for 63 as the Rhinos set about making up the difference. Ervine managed to remove the dangerous Brendan Taylor but only after Taylor had blasted his way to a thrilling 217.

Chasing 337 to win, Southern Rocks once again found themselves in trouble. However, Ervine once again responded in earnest. An audacious display saw Sean hit 17 fours and a six to register his second century of the match. A late collapse denied Southern Rocks victory with Ervine eventually dismissed for 160 in the dying stages and the game ended in a draw. But despite the match not going entirely his team’s way, he has put in a whole-hearted individual performance and this can be no bad thing for Hampshire fans.

The Rose Bowl will be hoping for much more of the same from Slug in the coming season.

(rosebowlplc.com, 2010)

Jamaica tour proves perfect preparation

Solent cricket captain Tom Morton claims that the January tour to Jamaica was he perfect preparation for the upcoming domestic season.

A 16-man squad travelled to the Caribbean island for a tournament organised by UTech University in the capital, Kingston. Solent played two Twenty20 matches, unfortunately slipping to defeat in both. But Morton feels the experience the squad gained the tour will be invaluable.

"We lost both games, the second game only by one ball. We all felt like we should have won the second game, it was a really close finish. It was difficult as we were in the middle of our off season and none of us had properly trained. In comparison, the sides we faced had alot of time to prepare and had played alot of competitive cricket in the process."

Morton insisted that the gulf in class between Solent and the opposition wasn't as great as the results suggest. "The league we played in last season would have been as good, if not better, than the standard of what we faced in Jamaica. But the sides out there were still very good. Each team had two fast bowlers which is different to what we face in the UK where there are more medium pace bowlers. These differences provided excellent practice for our batsmen and I feel the whole team handled the conditions and circumstances really well."

After the success of the event the previous year, the tournament was opened up to teams from around the world this year, although Solent were the only side from outside the Caribbean. Former West Indies Test bowler Courtney Walsh was an ambassador for the tournament and was present at the opening ceremony.

In their first game, Solent batted first and made 108-8 form their allotted 20 overs. Their opponents, GC Foster College, chased down the total winning with 6 overs to spare and a total of 8 wickets remaining. In the second match, Solent posted 111-9 and made opponents MICO University College work hard chasing the win but, despite taking the match to the last over, they were unable to stop the Jamaicans scoring the single they needed for victory.

Morton feels the trip provided a good opportunity for the team to play some competitive cricket before the season. "It was a fantastic experience. A lot of people hadn't played in conditions like that before because the surface was different. The wicket was literally rolled mud and it was good learning how to bat and bowl in different conditions, playing against different types of cricketers. Being in Jamaica and experiencing the culture out there was fantastic."

(Solent Speaker, 2010)

Solent students in Hampshire CCC link

Reporting on cricket matches can be a tough art to master but for Solent University students there is a fine opportunity to hone such skills. Hampshire County Cricket Club last year offered the chance for a selection of Solent students to work on a voluntary basis at the club and the success of the scheme has resulted in the initiative being offered again this year to another generation of budding Solent journalists and sports writers.

Students provided live match reports from The Rose Bowl, post game interviews, video and other content for the club website, whilst under the watchful eye of cricket journalist Jane Cable and Rose Bowl Marketing Executive Kevin Latouf. Cable was unmistakable in her praise for the work of the students: "It is purely down to the writing skills of the students involved that the reports read so well. It was really gratifying to see personal styles evolve alongside the by-lines that would become so familiar to our Hampshire website audience and members."

Sports Journalism course leader John May, who was involved in setting up the scheme, said: "The initiative is a tremendous opportunity for students to gain experience and to earn by-lines which they can show prospective employers. This summer the club is looking to expand the operation so as many as 20 students could be involved. There's also plans to develop the project so students will be required to provide content not just for the website, but also to provide video coverage too."

Working in a live environment was clearly beneficial for the students as they were placed side by side in the press box with seasoned journalists and the chance to work in a professional environment was greatly enjoyed. Steven Woodgate, 22, said: "It was a real revelation as to how good covering sport can be. I've managed to meet and speak with a host of cricket players such as Alistair Cook, Michael Carberry, Chris Tremlett and Dominic Cork. It's been a great experience and one I will always have with me wherever my journalistic career carries me. I've developed my skills which I can utilise when I leave university and progress in a career in the industry."

Nick Howson, 21, was also grateful for the opportunity: "There's an ambitious team down at Hampshire, on and off the pitch, and to be part of that one way or another is fantastic. The most fulfilling thing is that you're respected like an established journalist and to be treated like you belong was pretty gratifying. The club seem to trust us with the content that we've produced for the website and they've put plenty of faith in us to deliver on their expectations."

(Solent Speaker, 2010)