2nd XI fixtures calendar file updated

The venue for most 2nd XI fixtures is known now so i have updated the 2nd XI fixtures calendar file. It and the first team fixtures have been created using iCal and are in .cal format and can be easily imported into Outlook, iPhones et cetera. And if you do import them you'll see that we are just a week away from the first pre-season friendly!

Leicestershire (friendly) @ Grace Road Friday 3rd April

Bears falling apart already

The new season is closing in fast but the team appear to be falling apart just as quickly. Ian Westwood will be out for 6 weeks with an injured wrist and thus will miss the first few weeks of his first season as captain. Tony Frost is out with a hamstring injury and may miss the first games of the season.

NZ spin bowler Jeetan Patel could be our OS player however.

Don't bring the IPL here!

The rather amazing news that the IPL will not actually be played in India this year was then followed by England emerging as the early favourite to stage it instead. Thankfully now wiser heads are starting to realise the reality of playing cricket in April. Hardy county members are fine but i suspect scantily clad Bollywood dancers might not enjoy Headingly in an April gale. South Africa will be a better bet, you just know holding it here would have wrecked havoc with the early season.

Thank you Ian!

Ian Salisbury has retired from playing cricket to take up a coaching role at Surrey. I can't blame him for going now as his playing career was nearly over and he couldn't miss on such an opportunity. I'm sad to see him go though, unlike many fans i was pleased when he signed with us last year and he then won over many of the naysayers with his performances with bat and ball.

I think this seriously weakens the side to be honest, we may need a good overseas player now after all.

Pakistan attack

This article says it best, cricket changed forever when the Sri Lankan team came under fire in Pakistan.