‘By-the-Byes’Australian Big BashAustralia’s BigBash continuesto be revolutionaryin theway it developsdifferent ideasto attract the viewing public each year, andthis year was no different.The 2012 tournament saw theintroduction of the Octocopter – ahelicopter with a camera strapped to it thattook the viewers closer to play than everbefore – and a camera in the umpire’s hat.This year they again breathed new lifeinto the tournament by using stumps thatflashed bright red when the bails weredislodged. The use of a camera in theumpire’s hat has also provided memorablefootage, such as Shane Warne’s run-in withWest Indian Marlon Samuels. It certainlykept us watching!Law changesNatWest CricketForce <strong>2013</strong>(5th, 6th and 7th April)The 4 th Edition of 2000 Code of Laws isbeing updated, with a view to beingreleased as the 5 th Edition later this year.In the first update of the Laws since2010, there are a number of Laws that arealready at the drafting and rewriting stage.An example of the Laws underdiscussion is Law 17 (Practice on theField) A change was made in 2010 whichstated that bowlers would no longer beallowed to bowl the ball into the groundin preparation for starting their spell, as itwas felt that this could alter the conditionof the ball.However, this Law is now beingaltered. In future, bowlers will be allowedto deliver their practice balls into theground but there will be more scope forthe umpires to step in if they feel that theball is being damaged, deliberately or not,as a result of this Law change.<strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> is a keen supporter of NatWest CricketForce.We believe that it’s a great way to bring the cricket communitytogether. A weekend revamping a club pavilion, trimming theboundary hedge or even constructing a new score box are allvaluable hours put back into the game prior to the first ball ofthe season.NatWest CricketForce <strong>2013</strong> will take place on the 5th, 6th and 7th April, and thegood news is it’s still not too late to sign up!Bring your players, officials, members and community together to get your groundready for the season and improve team spirit. By signing up you can benefit from thefollowing...• Eligibility forthe JewsonPrivilegeAccountScheme whereyour club onlyneeds to pay£100 into aJewsonaccount and<strong>ECB</strong> will add£400. There’sno catch, it’sthat simple.• Monthly competitions in the NWCF newsletters giving away fantastic prizesincluding flat sheet covers, boundary ropes and waterhogs.• The first 1,600 clubs to sign up get 30 free t-shirts each and with over 1,200 clubsalready registered you need to hurry!• Get exclusive deals on building materials, cricket equipment and groundsman’smachinery.• A host of online tools including posters, templates and logos for your club todownload to help plan for the event.Find out more and register at www.ecb.co.uk/natwestcricketforce<strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> Membership CardWhen you received notification of your <strong>2013</strong>membership you will have noticed, and ifyou hadn’t you’d have received a letter explaining,that this year there is no little plasticmembership card contained but just anotification of your membership status andnumber.The reason for this is that the <strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong>Board, following a recommendation fromthe Membership Services Committee, decidedto stop issuing cards from <strong>2013</strong>.The reason for this is two-fold, andlinked:• The cards no longer serve any direct purpose.• Therefore the annual cost of circa £10,000a year to produce them is unjustified.I hope this is an understandable decision, butwe are a membership organisation and theBoard’s decision is based on membership‘feedback’ – so if you have a view, pleaseexpress it directly to your Regional MembershipServices representative (Contact detailscan be found in the <strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> Directory onthe web site).(Ed: Your membership number will have alsobeen included within the confirmationcorrespondence. In the spirit of openness andtransparency we have copied two conflictingreplies below:Douglas Miller, of Buckinghamshireemailed “Hooray! Well done, so many organisationshand out plastic cards becausethey think it’s smart to do so.The <strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> card never earned the statusof going into my wallet because I havenever needed it. Thank goodness the numberhasn’t changed because the old card can sitwhere it always has in case I need to quotemy number.”James McKirdy, overseas member fromBermuda, has emailed to tell us that ourview is highly negative, and challenges us tojustify our 'weak, regressive, and poor' decision.He was also highly positive in suggestinghow we might embrace partnerships toenable us to produce cards without financialstrain on the <strong>ACO</strong>. His very detailed notecovered all the points we had considered atvarious times in the last 4 years, and so, toboth do him the courtesy and at the sametime explaining it to you all, the previousChairman of the Membership Services Committee,Pierre Tartari, will give the debate afull airing in the next issue. So those of youwho still have views to give, please sendthem to the Editor. Thanks.Website Re-VampThe <strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> website has undergone a revamp.We have tried to make it much easierand simpler to navigate by reducing the ‘tabs’on the home page and including hyperlinks inthe main text to take you to the necessary informationin a click. Under ‘Contact Us’ youwill find the complete <strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> directory.We’re aware that it is not perfect andwould appreciate any constructive comments.e-mail us at ecbaco@ecb.co.uk 22 contact us on 0121 446 2710
UMPIRING 1744 STYLEAn Ashes SummerTwo Cumbrian umpires have agreed to stand in a "Demonstration" game at the KeswickCricket Festival in July <strong>2013</strong>. These two brave individuals are Albert D`Leny and DougBeebe, assisted by Mrs Carol Sharp, the Scorers Secretary for Cumbria <strong>ACO</strong>, who will be the"Notcher". The ground staff has agreed to leave one pitch at the end of the square un-rolledtill after the event.The "Demonstration" game is to be played under the first "Laws of Cricket" published in1744, and the participants will be dressed, as far as possible, in clothes of the period. Kneebreaches, long sleeved shirts with buttoned cuffs, buckled shoes, tri-corn hats and staffs forthe umpires are also being manufactured. Curved bats are in the process of being made, andthe wickets (stumps) plus bails have already been cut from a local tree.This evening event is rapidly developing into a very practical history lesson for all concernedand we do hope the sun will shine, as I am sure it did in the summer of 1744.(Ed: The "Demonstration Match" will take place at Keswick Cricket Club, Fitz Park, Keswick, onThursday 25th July <strong>2013</strong> starting at 6-00pm. It is one event in the five evening program. Theother events include an invitation "Single Wicket Competition" and a "Five a Side Competition".)<strong>2013</strong> Duncan Fearnley RangeNEW to the <strong>2013</strong> range arethe Hooded Sweatshirtwhich is a great additionto the leisurerange, LargeWheelieHoldall,CoolMaxCricketSocks andMicrofibreBallTowel. Youmay also notethat we havechanged the materialfor both the onfieldSweater and Slipover; both are now madefrom a new performance single sided fleece.Duncan Fearnley can also supply Leaguepanel branded onfield jackets and shirts,please see the contact details in the catalogueinserted.Directive cards and insertsAccompanying this edition are a number ofinserts for your information prior to the startof the season:NEW <strong>2013</strong> Duncan Fearnley catalogue(see page 13 for the Duncan Fearnleyreport)NEW <strong>2013</strong> Asics trainer offer – <strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong>have negotiated this offer on behalf of all<strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> members.I addition to the above items we also enclosecopies of the most up to date <strong>ECB</strong><strong>ACO</strong> Directive Cards (five in total) thatcover areas such as ‘Pre-match ritual’,‘Scorer’s briefing notes’, ‘Penalty-run’,‘Safety Guidance’, ‘Fielding Regulations’,‘Fast Bowling Match Directives’ and‘Guidelines for Junior Players in Open AgeCricket’.Finally, there is an <strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> DisciplineReport Form inserted into this edition.Standardised Captain’sMarking formIn the previous edition (15, page 26) JohnFinch raised the topic of creating a standardisedmarking form. Paul Bedford, Headof Non-First Class cricket, responded askingfor <strong>ECB</strong> <strong>ACO</strong> members to send theirfavoured template for consideration. To datea very muted response. More templates requiredplease!An Ashes summer is nearly upon us and itwill be followed by an Ashes winter downunder – yes for those who didn’t know aback-to-back Ashes series is soon uponus. It may not be popular for cricketpurists but the rest of us won’t mind a jot.There’s nothing quite like watching Englandlock horns with the ‘old enemy’ torenew the age-old rivalry as illustrated onthe Lord’s match tickets…An Ashes Summer – Followon… One for the statisticiansAfter the 2nd Test vs. India at HyderabadAustralia has become the first side in Testhistory to lose by an innings after declaringin their first innings.This was the 11th instance of a team losinga Test after declaring in its first innings,but the first in which the team declaring haslost by an innings.The match was also special for India’swinning captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni,who with 22 Test wins out of 45 (winning48.88%), has set an Indian record for mostvictories as captain, bettering Sourav Ganguly'stally of 21 victories out of 49 (winning42.85%).India’s record breaking Captain and batsmanMS Dhoni celebrates after victorye-mail us at ecbaco@ecb.co.uk 23 contact us on 0121 446 2710