Opening league programme

THE League’s 37th championship season begins on Saturday with a full programme of 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI fixtures, followed 24 hours later by the first mini-group games in the Jack Gardner 3rd XI Trophy.

Andy Newton’s Nantwich open their defence of the ECB Premier League title with a visit to 2010 Division One champions Macclesfield, while the other promoted club, Grappenhall, host Urmston.

In the First Division, promoted duo Marple and Sale take on Poynton at home and Cheadle Hulme away, respectively.

Relegated Bowdon’s first-ever taste of cricket at this level is at Christleton, with fellow relegatees Bramhall at Widnes.

League newcomers Stockport play their maiden Second Division game against local rivals Georgians at Cale Green - six days after eliminating them from the Red Insure T20 - while Malpas make the longer journey to Timperley.

Relegated Upton and Middlewich are both on the road, at Brooklands and Congleton respectively.

Fixture lists:

ECB Premier League (12.30pm): Alderley Edge V Oxton, Didsbury V Hyde, Grappenhall V Urmston, Macclesfield V Nantwich, Neston V Toft, Oulton Park V Chester Boughton Hall.

First Division (1pm): Bollington v Irby, Cheadle Hulme v Sale, Christleton v Bowdon, Heaton Mersey v Cheadle, Marple v Poynton, Widnes v Bramhall.

Second Division (1pm): Brooklands v Upton, Congleton v Middlewich, Mobberley v Tattenhall, Stockport v Stockport Georgians, Timperley v Malpas, Warrington v Bredbury St. Marks Second XI fixtures (1pm), Premier Division: Bramhall v Widnes, Cheadle v Grappenhall, Chester Boughton Hall v Oulton Park, Hyde v Didsbury, Nantwich v Macclesfield, Toft v Neston.

First Division: Bowdon v Brooklands; Irby v Warrington; Middlewich v Marple; Sale v Cheadle Hulme; Stockport Georgians v Alderley Edge; Urmston v Timperley.

Second Division: Bredbury St. Mark’s v Bollington; Malpas v Heaton Mersey; Oxton v Stockport; Poynton v Congleton; Tattenhall v Mobberley; Upton v Christleton.

Third XI Saturday fixtures (1pm), Division One: Brooklands / Sale Moor v Upton 3; Mellor v Neston 4; Neston 3 v Brooklands 3; Timperley 3 v Irby 3; Urmston 3 v Birkenhead Park 3; Warrington 3 v Chester Bo Hall 3.

Division Two: Birkenhead Park 4 v Urmston 4; Chester Bo. Hall 4 v Warrington 4; Irby 4 v Timperley 4; Macclesfield 3 v Oxton 3; Oxton 4 v Cheadle Hulme 3; Upton 4 v Sale 3.

Third XI Sunday fixtures (1pm), Jack Gardner 3rd XI Trophy mini groups.

East: Romiley v Macclesfield; Hale Barns v Hyde; Sale v Timperley; Urmston v Bollington; Bredbury v Ashley; Cheadle v Cheadle Hulme; Bowdon v Marple; Prestbury v Didsbury; Poynton v Stockport.

West: Alvanley v Runcorn; Stretton v Grappenhall; Chester Bo. Hall v Tattenhall; Nantwich v Warrington; Mobberley v Neston; Upton v Irby; Widnes v Winnington Park; Toft v Oulton Park.

New captains

Fifteen new captains have been appointed during the close-season.

They are: Gareth Edwards (Bowdon); Chris Grindey (Cheadle); Adam Wilde (Cheadle Hulme); Guy Newell (Christleton); Phil Nunn (Congleton); Gautam Narayanan (Heaton Mersey); Adrian Stubbs (Malpas); David Leonard (Mobberley); Andy Roberts (Neston); Robin Taylor (Oulton Park); Lee Dixon (Oxton); Mark Green (Stockport); Adam Gaskarth (Stockport Georgians); Mark Maddocks (Timperley) and Sumit Panda (Urmston).

A TOTAL of 24 OVERSEAS players had been cleared to play in the League up to April 18th. Further applications can be accepted up to Friday, April 22nd for players required to play in the opening games.

ALDERLEY EDGE: Jason Roodt, South African all-rounder. Plays for Old Parks in Gautang provincial cricket and for Frome in West of England premier league in 2010 scored 342 runs at 31 and took 11 wickets at 36.

BOLLINGTON: Tom Groth, Australian wicket-keeper-batsman. Plays in NSW Country districts.

BOWDON: Brett Forsyth, Australian batsman. Plays for Victoria 2nd XI and Prahran in Melbourne premier grade.

BRAMHALL: Sean O’Neill, Australian batsman. Plays for Thomson in Geelong grade, club previously served by Andrew Hall and Louis Bentley.

BREDBURY ST. MARK’s. Peter Zybrands, Australia batsman, continues for further season. Has lived in UK for almost two years, having married and settled here.

CHEADLE. Fletcher Stewart, Australian all-rounder (from May 17th).. Plays for Fitzroy Doncaster in Victoria premier League.

CHEADLE HULME: Liam Scammell, Australian all-rounder, 21. Plays for Lavington Panthers in top NSW Albury Wodonga grade and is ex-Australian Capital Territories U17 and U19.

CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL: Daron Cruickshank, Trinidad all-rounder for whom he has played first-class cricket. Played at Christleton in 2007-8, Chester in 2009 and St. Helens Recs. in 2010. Figured in Melbourne grade cricket last winter.

CONGLETON: Desmond O’Sullivan, Australian all-rounder. Plays in Victoria premier grade with St. Kilda.

DIDSBURY: Australian batsman. Plays first grade for Northern Suburbs, Brisbane. Was in Queensland Under 19s XI in 2009.

HYDE: Corey Rutgers, Australian batsman. Plays for Club Ocean Ridge in Perth first grade.

MALPAS: Nalaka Eranda, Sri Lankan all-rounder. Plays for Nugedoda, one of country’s premier clubs, captain in 2010.

MARPLE: Dominic Michael, Australian all-rounder. Was leading run-scorer with 411 for Northern Suburbs in top Brisbane grade in 2010-11, scoring 758 runs previous season when he won Peter Burge Medal. Was Division 2 Player of Year with Marple in 2009 with 1,000 runs and 26 wickets.

MIDDLEWICH: Darryn Busch, Australian batsman. Plays for Cragieburn in Victoria Turf Association. Ex-Chelford and Aston (Meller Braggins CL). .

MOBBERLEY: Mark Lehman. Australia fast bowler. Queensland first grade and SE Queensland Country XI.

NANTWICH: Glen Batticciotto, Australian batsman. Played for Nantwich in 2009, scoring 640 runs in 10 innings including three centuries, returning home to take up firstclass contract with Queensland; last first class appearance February, 2010. Has also played for Australia under 19s and currently in top Brisbane grade.

NESTON: Luke Pavlinovich. Australian batsman. Plays in Perth second grade for Swan Athletic with brother Luke, who appeared for Neston in 2009.

OXTON: Gayan Fernando, Sri Lankan all-rounder. Former professional in Sri Lankan cricket and for Wath in South Yorks League.

UPTON: Armand Strydom. South Africfan allrounder. Plays for Merafong City in North-West Gauteng premier league URMSTON: Jay Dyball, Australian all-rounder. Plays for Hawksbury in Sydney first grade; ex-Australia Under 15 and NSW Under 19.

SALE: Andrew Michael. Australian all-rounder. Captains Northern Surburbs in Brisbane first grade. Played for Ashtead in Surrey championship in 2010. Brother of Marple’s Dominic Michael TATTENHALL: Mark Hyslop. New Zealand all-rounder. Plays for Petone in North Island senior grade. Has played in Cornwall and Derbyshire leagues.

TIMPERLEY: Connor Neynens, New Zealand all-rounder, aged 17. Plays for Nelson in Central Districts and is in current NZ Under 19s squad TOFT: Aaron Sayers, Australian all-rounder. Played for South Australia 2nd XI in 2007. Senior grade player for Clifton Alliance.

WARRINGTON: Andrew Martel. Australian off-spinner, aged 23. Plays for South Brisbane in senior grade; ex- Queensland youth squad. Available from weeks 2 to 21.

OVERSEAS EXEMPT (more than two years and less than four years’ UK residence): Bollington: Muhammed Jahangir; Bramhall: Andrew Robertson; Bredbury St. Mark’s: Peter Zybrands; Malpas: Maneesha Nissanka; Neston: Jack Smith; Timperley: Mustafa Bashir; Upton: Andrew Cruice.

COUNTY CONTRACTED PLAYER. Lancashire’s 2011 Beneficiary Mark Chilton has been registered as a county contracted player by Bowdon. Chilton will play when available, which could be in about 40 pc of championship matches. Ex-Brooklands and League North-West Colts XI captain, Mark lives at Hale. Scored a century for Lancashire in the season’s opening game against Oxford University in the Parks.

Further applications for registration in all three categories should be submitted ASAP on the appropriate form to the Competition Secretary, with full cv in respect of Overseas players.

SCHOLARSHIP CONTRACT PLAYER. Formerly with Bowdon, Cumbria-born batsman Jordan Clark has been registered as a Lancashire Scholarship contract player by Chester Boughton Hall. Ex-Sedbergh Schoolboy Clark, who suffered a stress back fracture during the winter, made his first-class debut against Worcestershire in 2010.

A YOUNG Overseas player who has represented Canada in the Under 19 World Cup is available by contact through Nantwich chairman Rob Sproston (tel. 01270 624 638; e-mail rss.me.uk).

New boys Stockport win early Red Insure T20 game

LEAGUE newcomers Stockport gave an impressive debut performance on Sunday, April 17th when they won by 36 runs on the ground of neighbouring Stockport Georgians in the first round of the Red Insure T20 Trophy.

On a day of perfect April weather, Stockport totalled 122-8 batting first after winning the toss, with decent contributions from George Barber, 48 and Alex Hope, 25. Three Georgians bowlers who took two wickets each were Jamal 2-12, Simon Normanton 2-14 and Irfan Hussain 2-27.

After slipping to 9-4, Georgians were bowled out for 86 in 18 overs, John Leggatt 29, Nick Tyers 21, skipper Mark Green taking 3-17, while James Dunley enjoyed figures of 4-3-6-2.

Stockport host Hyde in round 2.

Remaining first round games to be played by the later limit date of Monday, May 2nd, are: Didsbury v Heaton Mersey (Thursday, April 21st, 5.30 p.m., umpires Alistair Davies & John Lofthouse); Cheadle v Macclesfield (TBA).

Second round games to be played by Sunday, May 15th: Didsbury or Heaton Mersey v Marple, Toft v Urmston Bramhall v Brooklands, Bowdon v Timperley, Cheadle or Macclesfield v Alderley Edge, Stockport v Hyde, Poynton v Cheadle Hulme, Bollington v Bredbury St. Mark’s, Mobberley v Nantwich, Malpas v Sale, Congleton v Oulton Park, Middlewich v Grappenhall, Oxton v Irby, Tattenhall v Neston;, Widnes v Chester Boughton Hall (holders), Warrington v Upton.

Third round games must be played by June 26th and quarter-finals by July 17th with the semi-finals and finals now on Sunday, July 31st at Warrington.

Although clubs have until mid-May to play their second round games, they are urged to make arrangements without delay. When agreed, the dates should be notified to competition co-ordinator Jon Hacking on 01244 814 110 or by e-mail at jhacking@gmail.com

ARRANGEMENTS are in hand to play two games in the first round of the Red Insure 2nd XI Cup on Sunday, April 24th (1 p.m.).

The enterprising clubs are: Hyde v Middlewich (to be confirmed) and Stockport v Marple.

FIRST round games in the ECB National Club championship have to be completed by Sunday, May 8th, although clubs are encouraged to play before then. Draw:

Group 2: Alfreton v Wickersley Village; Hanging Heaton v East Bierley; Reversley v Chesterfield; New Farnley v Townville; Bamford Fieldhouse v Treeton; Wollaton v HYDE; Doncaster Town v Papplewick & Linby; Mansfield Colliery Mills v Elsecar.

Group 6: Heaton v CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL; Farnworth Social Circle v Blackpool; Prestwich v Chorley; Blackrod v Wallasey; Kearsley v Colwyn Bay; Rode Green v New Brighton; Kendal v Egerton; Darwen v NESTON Group 7: Fordhouses v Leek; Audley v GRAPPENHALL; Wombourne v Himley; ALDERLEY EDGE v Lullington Park; NANTWICH v BOWDON; Walsall v Walmley; Smethwick v Hucknall; BOLLINGTON v Moddershall.

THE Cheshire Cup and Shield sees return of New Brighton and Wallasey from the Liverpool Competition, plus Holmes Chapel, Stalybridge St. Paul’s, The Groves and Winnington Park, totalling 55 clubs. Draws:

Round 1 (Sunday, May 1): A: Chelford v Ashley; B: Rode Park v Congleton; C: Winsford v Caldy; D: Birkenhead St.

Mary’s v Birkenhead Park.

Round 2 (Sunday, May 15): Match 1: Lindow v Hale Barns; Match 2: Ashton on Mersey v Timperley; Match 3: Brooklands v Cheadle Hulme; Match 4: Stockport v Poynton; Match 5: Cheadle v Hawk Green; Match 6: Winners of B v Stalybridge St. Paul’s; Match 7: Holmes Chapel v Marple; Match 8: Sale v Bramhall; Match 9: Bredbury v Winners of A; Match 10: Romiley v Bollington; Match 11: Heaton Mersey v Bowdon; Match 12: Wallasey v Crewe; Match 13: Aston v Winners of D; Match 14: Malpas v Upton; Match 15: Widnes v The Groves; Match 16: Davenham v Northwich; Match 17: Winnington Park v Middlewich; Match 18: Irby v Parkfield Liscard; Match 19: Winners of C v Elworth.

NEWSLETTER

OXTON chairman Gary Dixon and his former Upton colleague Darrin Clark ran the London Marathon on Sunday dressed in full England cricket kit kindly provided for them by the ECB.

They were picked out on BBC television wearing full whites, plus pads, gloves, bats - and carrying a two foot replica of the Ashes urn as they completed the 26 miles course in 6 hours, 1 minute, 5 seconds.

An experienced long-distance runner who has ’ marathoned’ all over the world, Garry explains the slow time by pointing out that they stopped to pose for official ECB pictures and visit several shops for refreshments, also because the bats became heavy in the heat.

Darrin and Gary, who is also the League Juniors chairman, have set up a website page inviting donations to their charity Dreams Come True, which helps terminally ill children. They raised £1,300 pre-run and hope to treble that figure with further contributions.

Whether or not you spotted them, you can donate by locking on to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/THEASHESBOYS 2011.

LEAGUE secretary Geoff Wellsteed explains the League’s approach to the possible future introduction of laptop scoring after it was revealed at the April management meeting that Chester Boughton Hall, Heaton Mersey, Malpas and Poynton would be operating the system during the 2011 season. .

He writes: “The Cricket Committee are adopting a cautious approach. Our strategy is one of promotion of the system without making it mandatory in the short term. The logistical and cost ramifications are important.

“The Liverpool Competition have a full blown (league funded) implementation programme in place so we should learn a fair amount about the pros and cons this summer.

“The ECB Premier League Accreditation Criteria for 2011 includes £500 for two or more clubs using computer based scoring systems with full scorecards uploaded within 24 hours; and £500 for evidence of one or more clubs using a live score service.

“So computer scoring is now with us, it’s the way forward and eventual adoption is a given. Its implementation is the crucial issue and revolves around timing, infrastructure and cost. The Cricket Committee steer for 2011, at least, is one of encouragement and learning from the pathfinders,” Geoff concludes.

A SUB-COMMITTEE has been formed to examine possible alternatives to the Playing regulations for 2012.

With members representing all levels of cricket in the League it comprises Andy Newton, chairman (captain of Nantwich); convenor Ian Sharrock (2nd XI Results secretary and Upton), Paul Sperring (captain of Didsbury). Keith McGuffie (chairman of Marple), Rob Arnold (chairman of Urmston), Brian Boys (3rd XI Saturday Results secretary and Warrington).

THE CRICKET Committee are considering extending the scope of recording 3rd and 4th XI results on the website in 2012.

A FINALS Day for the Jack Gardner 3rd XI Trophy is to be introduced in 2011, in August or September.

MELLOR have broken away from parent club Marple to operate in the 3rd XI Saturday First Division this season, as separate associate members. It is expected Mellor will apply to join the Cheshire Alliance for one team in 2012, although they have officially missed the limit date in order to do so.

WHILE new players joining clubs in the League prior to the start of the new season do not need formal transfers, the League Cricket Conference require clubs to ensure that any recruits do not come with any financial or disciplinary commitments from their previous clubs.

NUMBERS and names must not appear on the back of players’ shirts at all levels in senior cricket, the League edict. This edict does not apply in junior cricket.

CLUBS wishing to vary scheduled starting times or alter fixtures should obtain the agreement of their opponents on the day and notify the League via the respective Results secretaries: 1st XI and Over40s cricket - Mike Talbot- Butler; 2nd XI cricket - Ian Sharrock; ALL 3rd, 4th, 5th XI cricket - Peter Lawson.

TREASURER Brent Wilkinson has written out a cheque for £40,508 for this season’s Reader cricket balls distributed to all clubs at the April management meeting at Warrington. This is the final year of a three-year deal with Readers who currently provide a generous discount.

WEBMASTER Darren Sutcluffe has instructed all clubs to register their players on-line for 1st XI cricket.

MOBBERLEY have purchased a plot of land behind the pavilion from the National Trust in order to extend their car park.

FOLLOWING the ever-increasing price of petrol, the Management committee have agreed increases in umpires’ expenses to the following: Premier League up from £36 to £38; First and Second Division £33 to £35; T20 games £20 to £25. Cheshire Cup and Shield expenses will rise from £30 to £32

THE League are aiming to cover all 2nd XI Premier Division games with panel or regular club umpires this season. .

Seven clubs who have asked for such appointments are: Cheadle, Chester Boughton Hall, Didsbury, Grappenhall, Hyde, Nantwich and Oulton Park at an expenses rate of £35. Clubs who wish to continue with their own umpires will be free to do so.

LEAGUE umpire Rick Davis is back home from Asia where he acted as tournament referee and commentator in the 2011 San Miguel Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes in northern Thailand, where he acted as referee and commentator.

The Sixes is the world’s biggest and longest-established amateur six a side tournament with 32 teams from 11 countries competing over a week. The teams are divided into a Serious Players Division and a more social Gentlemen’s Division , then further broken down into five separate levels based on first round results with finals at each level played on the last day.

A frequent visitor, Widnes stalwart Phil Catterall was taking part, his team the Irish pub Gang Green losing out on a semi-final place on run rate. The winners were Redlands Tigers a young Aussie team who beat three times champions Bashundara Cricketers of Bangladesh, then Perth Lord’s Taverners in a close finale.

This year alone, purely from generous voluntary donations, more than a 250,000 Thai Baht (about £5,000) was raised for Schools Cricket Development Rick is keen to increase awareness in the cricket media of the tournament and its good causes to help boys and girls in a large number of schools in the Chiang Mai area.

He would also like to enter a team from the County League in the 2012 Sixes from one or a number of club as ideal pre-season net practice.

Rick is contactable on rickd1821@googlemail.com

WHILE League representative cricket is being scaled down, it is hoped to play three fixtures in 2011.

An approach to the Liverpool Competition has resulted in their backing for a third attempt to restore the annual Challenge Shield game, provisionally on the last day of the season, Sunday, September 18. Marple have offered their ground.

The Mullaney Trophy becomes a one-off match against he Derbyshire & Cheshire League, a match to be staged on a County League First or Second Division ground. Offers are invited.

The North-West Colts Trophy remains alive with another one-off clash between the League and Liverpool Competition, who won last year’s game at Orrell. This is also be played on a County League ground.

LANCASHIRE take County 2nd XI cricket to four County League grounds next season Worcestershire provide Lancashire’s opposition in a 3-day championship match at Nantwich - for the first time – from Wednesday - Friday, May 4 – 6, while Alderley Edge host the championship fixture against Northants from Tuesday – Thursday, July 12 – 14.

Chester Boughton Hall stage the games between the newly-formed Unicorns A and Northants on Wednesday, May 18, then Unicorns A v Lancashire 2nd 24 hours later on Thursday, May 19 (both 12 noon).

Neston then host Lancashire 2nd’s T20 two innings cup match against Yorkshire on Bank Holiday Monday, May 30 (11 a.m.).

There will also be two games between Lancashire’s Academy XI and the Cheshire Development XI at Toft on Wednesday, April 27 and Westhoughton on Friday, April 29 (both 11.30 a.m.).

Lancs 2nd also play a 40 overs match against Worcestershire at Northop Hall on Tuesday, May 3rd (11 a.m.).

CHESHIRE open their Minor Counties Knock out Cup campaign against Cumberland at Neston on Sunday, May 1.

(11 a.m.). They will again be captained by Andrew Hall, who has indicated this will be his last year in charge.

Cheshire figure in Group 1 together with Cumberland, Northumberland, Shropshire and Staffordshire.

The winners and runners-up enter the quarter-finals on Sunday, June 19, when Cheshire would, as winners, host either Berkshire, Cambs, Lincs, Norfolk or Suffolk, or, as runners-up, visit Beds, Dorset, Hereford, Herts or Oxford.

The semi-finals are on Sunday and Monday, July 3 or 4 and the final is at Lord’s on Thursday, August 25.

Cheshire are to re-engage professional all-rounder Richard Logan for a second season.

THE Cheshire Development squad are in early action against Lancashire 2nd XI at Toft on Wednesday, April 27th, and at St. George’s Oval, Westhoughton on (Wedding Day) Friday, April 29th (both 11.30 a.m.).

Both squads are entirely composed of players from the County League. At Toft: Jonny Kettle wicket-keeper and captain, Alex Matthews (Nantwich), Nick Anderson, Greg Dixon (Didsbury), Dan Cranmer (Hyde), Ross Dixon (Oxton), Dan Halkon (Sale), Ollie Law, Jordan Clark (Chester); Khalid Sawas, Ian Tait (Macclesfield), AN Other.

At Westhoughton: Adam Worrall wicket-keeper and captain (Alderley Edge), Nick Anderson, Jonny Fawcett (Didsbury), Mark Bennett (Heaton Mersey), Danny Berry, Danny Cranmer (Hyde), Lee Dixon (Oxton), Danny Halkon (Sale), James Hawley (Neston), Luke McCoy (Grappenhall), Calum Rowe (Bollington), Adam Syddall (Urmston).

Team manager is Steve Amison and coach Chris Murphy.

CHESHIRE Over Fifties open with two friendly matches, at Parkfield Liscard on Wednesday, May 4 and Notts at Cuckney on Wednesday, May 11.

National 50 Plus Championship games begin against Yorkshire at Grappenhall on Wednesday, May 25 Team manger is again Paul Freedman, while the new captain is ex-Oulton Park player Andy McIlroy.

HIGHLIGHT of Cheshire Over 60s programme will be a match at Chester Boughton Hall on Tuesday, August 16 against Australia Over 60s.

Winners of the National Over 60s championship in 2010, Cheshire begin their defence of the trophy against Derbyshire at Marple on Tuesday, May 10. Captain and manager of the Cheshire team is again Andy Hurworth.

MINOR Counties umpire Alistair Davies has prepared a review of the new MCC Laws which came into force in October, 2010 and will be operated during the new League season. Copies have been distributed to all 1st XI captains and are reproduced in full in the Handbook, although this does not contain the amendment to Law 17 explained below.

LAWS 3.8 and 3.9: It is now solely for the umpires to decide on the fitness of a ground, weather and light. There will be no more offering the batsmen the light or consultation with the captains regarding ground and weather.

LAW 12.4. There is now is a requirement for an umpire to be present to supervise the toss, but this will not affect the League who already operate a pre-match meeting between both umpires and captains.

LAW 12.5. Once then toss has been made, the winning captain must notify the opposing captain and the umpires immediately. They no longer have 15 minutes to decide.

LAW 17.3. The League management committee have agreed to adapt this new MCC law to read as follows: All forms of practice are permitted on the outfield before the start of play or after the close of play on any day or during the lunch and tea intervals or between innings, providing the umpires are satisfied that such practice will not cause significant deterioration in the condition of the outfield.

Practice, including bowling a ball into the ground at the fall of a wicket, must cease as soon as the incoming batsman steps onto the square. Practice during other legitimate gaps in play must not continue beyond the minimum time required for the activity causing the gap in play. No practice may take place on the field if, in the opinion of the umpires, it could result in a waste of time. In this circumstance, Law 42.9 or Law 42.10 shall apply as appropriate.

LAW 19.4. If the ball crosses the boundary it can only be caught if the first contact is by a fielder who has no part of his person grounded outside the boundary. In other words, he can no longer palm the ball back into the field of play then claim a catch if he was first grounded behind the boundary.

LAW 24.5. A bowler’s front foot must land with all of the foot, whether grounded or raised on the same side of an imaginary line joining the middle two stumps. If this is contravened he will be deemed to have bowled a no ball.

LAW 28.1 A batsman can now be out hit wicket if his bat breaks and some part of it puts the wicket down while he is in the act of playing a shot.

LAW 29.1 A batsman will be not out if, in the act, of running towards the wicket, he has grounded his foot behind the popping crease and then, with forward action, he subsequently loses contact with the ground with his body or bat and the wicket is put down.

LAW 42.14. A batsman now gets only a first and final warning for damaging the pitch wheras before he was cautioned before this warning. In other words, only two warnings for running on the pitch are given before penalty runs are awarded.

HANDBOOK AMENDMENTS

PAGE 2: Mellor added to list of associate members.

PAGE 9: Umpires & Scorers Association pre-season dinner is at La Boheme Restaurant, Lymm, on Friday, April 15th.

PAGE 86: Honours Board. 2nd XI Champions, premier: Oxton; Division 1: Grappenhall; Division 2: Sale, 2001 premier: Grappenhall. Other winners from pages 86 – 91 are out of sync.

PAGE 101: Finals Day picture gallery: top and bottom pictures and captions should be transposed.

PAGE 103: Red Insure Trophy final report: in seventh paragraph, runners-up prize was £125.

PAGE 119: Picture is of Cheadle chairman Colin Samuels with Fair Play trophy.

PAGE 130: Over 40s Central Group fixtures Wednesday, May 4: Grappenhall v Warrington switched to Thursday, May 5 PAGE 138: Bollington captain Matt Dawson’s correct e-mail: mgdawson80@yahoo.co.uk PAGE 145: New Didsbury League rep.: Adam Pearce, tel. 07855 298 420 (m); adpearce9@hotmail.com PAGE 147: Grappenhall 2nd XI captain Mike Holden’s mobile tels: 07791 945 688 and 07534 939 619.

PAGE 150: Macclesfield League rep. and Treasurer Roger Moss’s correct e-mail is: ramoss@ntlworld.com Delete groundsman Nick Warner. All inquiries contact club.

PAGE 160: Tattenhall Treasurer Anthony Rouse’s new address: 6, Brockway West, Tattenhall, Chester CH3 9EZ.

PAGE 162: Upton secretary Eric Anderton’s new e-mail: eric.anderton@o2.co.uk.

PAGE 181: New MCC Law 17 has been re-drafted to apply to League matches.(See this Newsletter) PAGE 192: 1st XI Division 1 fixtures Saturday, May 14: Marple v Bollington to start at 12 noon due to county match following day (to be confirmed) PAGE 203 - 204: 3rd XI Saturday Division One intro and fixtures: all references to Marple /Mellor to become Mellor.

PAGE: 274: Sunday, May 1 fixture should read Cheshire v Cumberland at Neston, 11 a.m.

PAGE 221: Item 8 is new and should be in bold type; likewise last paragraph on page 222, PAGE 278: Cheshire cricket fixtures are on page 236.

Please notify Editor of any further corrections / updates.