*Official* English Domestic Season (2004)

[Rich2001]

You been smoking something with Liam?

No, Just Kent's attemp at being funny

SPITFIRES TO ADOPT ADDICKS ANTHEM
Well - we have to come clean that this was our contribution to April Fools Day. And it seems that it did fool quite a few of you - (including some of the KCCC staff!). At least it shows we have a sense of humour!

For those of you that haven't seen it we will leave the item on the web pages until tomorrow morning and leave it to you to judge whether or not you would also have been taken in.


In a move to further enhance the strong bond that already exists between Kent County Cricket Club and Charlton Athletic Football Club, Kent Spitfires will be taking the field to the tune of 'The Red, Red Robin' for all matches in the new totesport League in the coming season.

The song, recorded by the late Billy Cotton, has already been heard around the ground as popular pa announcer, David Goodban, begins his own pre-season training on the public address at Canterbury.

Explained Kent Commercial Director, Jon Fordham: 'After high level talks with officials at The Valley, it was decided not to adopt Charltons other favourite song - Valley Floyd Road which is sung to the tune Mull of Kintyre - as St Lawrence, Old Dover Road didn't quite fit.'

'However, I'm certain the players will be inspired by our new theme song, and will respond accordingly on the pitch.'

And the links will not just end there as Fordham explained: 'Before setting off to the West Indies, Geraint Jones spent two days with the Newcastle United goalkeeper coach, and both he and Shay Given were really impressed with Geraint's ability between the posts.'

'Given then told his Republic of Ireland colleague - Charlton goalkeeper Dean Kiely - and soon Jones had Alan Curbishley on the phone.'

'The result has been that Geraint Jones will be put on standby during the winter (cricket tours permitting) to provide cover should Kiely suffer an injury.'

 

[Rich2001]

As many of you have read if Symonds is selected for the Australia tour, then he will be released from his contract at Kent.

Anyone know when the party is announced as some of the names being thrown around here at the momment Iam really hopping he is picked :saint:

 

[Langeveldt]

Saw Ian Blackwell pigging out in the Taunton branch of Starbuck's last week.....

 

[luckyeddie]

This was Durham's offering on April 1.

I must confess that I was really tempted to run it as a CW headline - Andrew Jarvis certainly wanted me to do so, but whether that was to make me look an ass I'm not sure....

Durham CCC has completed the unique signing Norwegian all rounder Loof Lirpa as a Twenty20 specialist. Loof will join the staff in early July for the duration of the competition and will add considerable options to the team.

The 24 year old all rounder is considered as the David Beckham of Norwegian cricket, having finished the last three seasons as the leading bowler and batsman in the competition.

Loof's rise to play for Durham owes a great deal to Geoff Cook's holiday destination. Geoff explains, "I spotted Loof playing during my holiday last year to Norway. He was head and shoulders above the other players and I saw a talent that could transfer to the English game. He came and netted earlier this year and has earned his chance to play Twenty20. It’s a game he is used to as they only play limited overs cricket in the Norwegian league."

David Harker, Durham CCC Chief Executive sees many benefits to the deal. "Not only do we get a real gem of a player for the Twenty20 Cup, but Loof's signing could open up many commercial opportunities in Norway" he said.

Head Coach Martyn Moxon said, "Loof is a great player to work with. This is a step up in class for him, but he has shown a willingness to listen and learn and I'm sure he will surprise a few people come July. He is a powerful middle order batsman who bowls medium pace in a similar style to Adam Hollioake. If the Twenty20 Cup works out well for Loof, there is an option to extend his contract for the remainder of the National Cricket League season."

Captain Jon Lewis added, "Initially I was sceptical about brining someone in without a traditional cricket background. However, after watching him bat in the nets and face a few overs from him, I was totally convinced. He's a bit of a joker too so he should fit in really well with the rest of the lads."

Loof is currently travelling back to Norway where he will continue to work before heading back to Durham in the summer. Speaking before he left Loof said, "Det er en ære for meg å ha sjansen å leke i England", which translates as "It’s a great honour for me to have the chance to play in England." He added, "I used to watch Ian Botham on television and to play for the same county that he did will be amazing. I hope I can be an inspiration to other cricketers in Norway and help develop the game internationally."


I wish I had.

 

[marc71178]

Saw Ian Blackwell pigging out in the Taunton branch of Starbuck's last week.....

Glad to see he's taken on board the warnings the England management gave him. :rolleyes:

 

[Craig]

Really good to see a Norwegian playing cricket in England. Maybe this will help Sam's dreams of cricket taking off over there?

If news can get out then the game should help take off.

Sam to start the Loof Lirpa Fan Club and the Norwegian Durham CCC Supporters Association in 5...4..3

 

[Craig]

Really good to see a Norwegian playing cricket in England. Maybe this will help Sam's dreams of cricket taking off over there?

If news can get out then the game should help take off.

Sam to start the Loof Lirpa Fan Club and the Norwegian Durham CCC Supporters Association in 5...4..3

That is unless I have been made to look like a belated April Fool by LE?

 

[luckyeddie]

That is unless I have been made to look like a belated April Fool by LE?

(walks away, alternately chuckling and whistling)

That's why I didn't run it - but it was a very good one by Durham. The trouble is, the name 'Loof Lirpa' has been used too often. There's even a 'looflirpa.com' website dedicated to April fools.

I prefer to use the name 'Avril Sot' in my spoofs (of, I've written plenty in the past) - it's not so obvious because it's not an anagram (it's the literal French translation of the words for 'April' and 'fool') but the cheese-eating surrender monkeys (term just used to make our new-found American cricket-loving brethren feel at home) refer to it as 'Poisson d'Avril' - April fish.

But there you go.

That's a big 'quack quack oops' for Craig, but it wasn't meant to be.

 

[Craig]

There you go, I have been trapped :P :!( :alien8:

 

[brockley]

Scotland have signed their 2 pros neil mckenzie from s africa and yassir arafat from paksitan,and they will be available for the whole season.
You heard it here first.

 

[luckyeddie]

Scotland have signed their 2 pros neil mckenzie from s africa and yassir arafat from paksitan,and they will be available for the whole season.
You heard it here first.

I daresay Arafat will go down a bomb

 

[marc71178]

Interesting that - I thought that they only had 1 overseas player (as last year)

And without the funding, i wonder who's paying those 2?

 

[chris.hinton]

Arafat??????


Anyway Warwick have a Friendly at the Rose Bowl against Hampshire

Team

Knight, Bell, Wagh, Troughton, Piper, Trott, Brown, Hogg, Pretourios, Richardson, Carter, Mees, Ostler

 

[Rich2001]

Interesting that - I thought that they only had 1 overseas player (as last year)

And without the funding, i wonder who's paying those 2?

Marc you are forgetting that J.Kent (SA) also played the entire season for Scotland along with R.Dravid last season, so they did have 2.

 

[Rich2001]

FINAL SCORES FROM NORTHANTS - Northants v KENT pre season practice.

Northants 109 all out. Amjad Khan 5-37.

KENT 201-9 and 49-1

Rain brought an early finish to this pre season practice match and Simon Willis will be driving back to Canterbury reasonably pleased with this performance - the highlights being Rob Keys innings of 64, and Amjad Khan's five wicket haul.

However, Kent fans will also be delighted that one of the older hands -Min Patel - weighed in with three wickets, whilst at the other end of the age range newcomer David Stiff picked up a brace of victims.

With Key, James Tredwell and Martin Saggers selected for the MCC v Sussex match starting at Lords on Friday, Kent have added Joe Denly, Alamgir Sheriyar and Rob Ferley to the squad that will face Surrey tomorrow in a one day match at The St Lawrence Ground.


The full Kent squad for tomorrow is David Fulton (Capt), Joe Denly, Ed Smith, Matt Walker, Michael Carberry, Alex Loudon, Niall O'Brien (Wkt), Rob Ferley, Min Patel, Alamgir Sheriyar, Amjad Khan, David Stiff and Matt Dennington.

 

[Tom Halsey]

Another typically unbiased report on a Kent match from Rich. :P

On the other hand, from the scores, it appears that they did have the upper hand.

 

[Rich2001]

Another typically unbiased report on a Kent match from Rich. :P

On the other hand, from the scores, it appears that they did have the upper hand.

That particular match report wasn't written by me..... :P - No seriously it was from the Kent site, but at the time wasn't in a mood to type the scores for you all... I'll show you a real Rich2001 match report later

 

[Tom Halsey]

Well, that's sure to be unbiased if it's from the Kent site!! :P

 

[thechubhunter]

does anyone know where you can bet on 1st class cricket online?

 

[Rich2001]

Another typically unbiased report on a Kent match from Rich. :P

No mate, but this is


Ed Smith Tames Lions!

Friday, April 9 2004

Ed Smith stole the show with an unbeaten 101 at Canterbury today as Kent defeated current One-Day kings Surrey under the Duckworth Lewis system.

At the start of the day Surrey won the toss and elected to bat first, they performed solidly throughout with Alex Brown top scoring for the visitors with 70 and was well supported by Batty who hit 40. For Kent the standout with the ball was the England under 19-strike bowler David Stiff who took 2-51.

In reply Kent showed no mercy on the Surrey attack and plundered 140 from just 22 overs with the normally restrained Ed Smith blasting a unbeaten 101 out of the 140 total.

Unfortunately for Kent the English weather that was missing for so much of last season made a untimely welcome and cut the game short just after 4:30pm, however enough of the game was completed for Kent to be awarded the result under the Duckworth Lewis calculations.


Match Summary : Pre-Season Friendly

Surrey 237-5 off 50 overs: Brown 70, Batty 40. Stiff 2-51.

Kent 140-2 off 22 overs: Smith 101*.

Posted by Richard