2017 Diary

A Ramble on Women's Cricket
 - with diversions -

This diary will be updated erratically throughout the year.

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That Woman Perry Again

Stats can be interesting things and not all fall easily out of the offerings on web sites around the world. Here's one for instance which I would not only not have realised, but which I wouldn't have thought to look.

It looks like a drink in the Cricketers' Arms has been well earned!

What Makes a Match 'Official'

When the ICC took over the Administration in 2005 only 10 countries were given official status; Australia, England, India, Ireland, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and West Indies.

This can only be changed after the World Cup Qualifying Competition. Hence Bangladesh were 'official' status in 2011 knocking out The Netherlands which has now lost its (official) ODI Status. To maintain their status a side has to play 3 ODI's and 3 T20 matches in any 12 month period.

You will see in the list of teams several countries appear e.g. Denmark, who took part in World Cup and European Cup. An International XI played in 2 World Cups as there were not enough teams available to play in Tournament. Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, played as separate countries until West Indies was formed.

Japan played in IWCC Trophy in 2003. As this was an official IWCC Competition it was agreed by the ICC that they should remain 'Official'.

Also Scotland Played in IWCC Trophy in 2003 As this was an official IWCC Competition it was agreed by the ICC that they should remain 'Official',

Young England Played in first World Cup as there were not enough teams available to play in Tournament

The European Cup again was an 'official ' competition recognized by the IWCC from1989 until 2001 and therefore all those matches recognized as 'official'.

There have been over the years Unofficial Test and ODI Series usually because the away team were not 'selected ' but were available and had to pay all their expenses or they were an Under-23 , or Under-20 side for example. However, it was the IWCC/ICC who decide if  a match was/is 'official' and if a country made a decision to send along a side they considered an age-group side, the ICC still recognised it as a full international side. This happened to England at one point (in 2001) after some of the matches in a European Cup were considered by the IWCC to be official since they were between two nations with that status, while England claimed it was an age-group side that had represented them. A number of players e.g. Kate Oakenfold are thus not considered as internationals by England but they are by the ICC. The particular tournament in question raised further embarrassment for the ECB when England, the favourites, well beaten by Ireland, with their right-arm medium pacer, Saibh Young, claiming just the 5th ODI hat-trick in women's ODIs. One of the victims is now a well-known face on TV. You will find details of that match and a clue to those unfortunate players who acquired only a 'virtual' England cap in the stats on this site. (see the match of 12th August 2001 here.)

They Don't Hang About

Have you ever watched any blind cricket. I have to confess I have only seen one game, but I discovered recently that they certainly know how to make runs.

Check out this link to the Himalayan Times.

172-3 in 16.1 overs is quite a charge. There are plenty of sighted clubs around who'd like to emulate that.

It also serves as a reminder to more developed countries that maybe they should be doing more to encourage blind women and girls to play this sport.

A Volunteer Recognised

The Sussex County Cricket Club have just published an article on their web site in recognition of a man who served women's cricket for 27 years before finally retiring from his post.

Terry Burton, here with his daughter Charlotte a Sussex player for many years and later the Senior Team Coach, at Fenners in Cambridge. The Cup and champagne acknowledge Sussex's winning of the County Championship in 2005, one of six years from 2003 to 2013. 2005 marked a hat-trick of consecutive wins.

Terry not only gave his time at matches etc, but spent many years as an officer on the Sussex Women's Cricket Association committee serving at various times as Secretary, Minutes secretary  and Vice Chairman. Always present at meetings and willing to tackle whatever tasks were required, he was always prepared to tackle work away from the limelight off the cricket field.

I have on file team shots from almost all years from 2003 to 2015. Never one to push himself forward I can find Terry in only a handful of them.

In 2003 Sussex were rewarded for their Championship win with a match against the international touring side, South Africa, at Fenners in which Sussex won a very closely matched contest. Terry is, as so often, in the background.

Also responsible for some innovations, here the Sussex girls took on a Sussex Visually Impaired team in 2007 and struggled to come to terms with a slightly different cricket ball.

Rosalie Birch Tries to impart spin on an unusual (for her) cricket ball.
Note the relaxed umpire and also the unusual wickets

Charlie Russell bats - well they say it should look as big as a football but it still has to be middled.

Sussex Team with the Championship Trophy in 2008

... and at Horsham CC with the Cup in 2010

Terry's Work Acknowledged by the Sussex Women's Cricket Association.

His period with the team has undoubtedly been the most successful in its long history, at one time boasting no less than 6 players in the England squad, a record that will be hard to match. Often found at senior matches, age-group matches, county selection days, and awards nights he has given unstintingly of his time to help not just the women but also the girls' game prosper in the county and, in co-operation with other counties, tried to ensure the cricket at this level provided the players on which international sides depend.

Many volunteers give of their time to keep this sport afloat without financial incentive or reward but few give of their time as generously as Terry Burton over so many years. He has left Sussex, and women's cricket in general, in a far better state than when he joined it all those years ago, not least due to his efforts and the few like him. Women's cricket owes him a great debt!

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