The Life of Brian …………

I sit here with tear in my eye reading the Facebook comments from so many different people who felt moved to reflect on the way that their lives had been affected by this wonderful man – a true legend at a time when such a eulogy is too frequently applied without real cause.

Brian “Harry” Firmin was a larger than life in every sense of the word in all that he did throughout his life. He embodied his beloved Halstead CC and was always the first person that people from other clubs would ask about when you told them you played for Halstead.  His association with HCC began in 1953, umpiring for the club in the school holidays. For 32 years Brian was HCC’s Groundsman, eventually hanging up his mower keys in 2018.

He was also a wonderful tourist both with the club, with the Hoboes and for many years, at home and abroad, for the Ipswich Greyhound Regiment, where he would spend much time after the game drinking the odd beer or two (and often more) and reflecting on the game he had just seen or officiated in. He was an excellent raconteur, I can still hear his infectious laugh and always rejoiced when the time came for him to break out in one of his famous songs – his voice became miraculously louder and the songs more risqué with the number of beers consumed!  His Regimental nickname of Harry was in fact born at Milsted Cricket Club by the opposition at the local pub after the game during the usual Regimental sing song, when they felt his appearance and voice reminded them of Harry Secombe and there can perhaps be no greater praise than that.

He will be missed of course but we can all hold our memories of those times spent in the company of this remarkable man.  More details will follow regarding funeral arrangements and tributes, but in the meantime, have a pint of bitter (possibly a wormer tops?) for Harry.  He will now probably as we speak be sitting down supping a pint of beer with Lloyd Rayner and his other mates now departed…..

RIP Harry – never to be forgotten…..

A list of Category 3 players (as at 05/05/2023) can be found on the website under the Overseas Players tab ……

Please be patient tonight when entering scores as play-cricket has some issues which they are attempting to resolve….  Leniency will be given tonight in the event of results not being entered within the timescale allocated.

Just to reinforce even though this has already been sent out to all clubs………….  The below Law changes apply to all matches played in the Championship

Law 18.11   This now been changed so that, when a batter is out Caught, the new batter shall come in at the end the striker was at, i.e. to face the next ball (unless it is the end of an over).

Law 41.3  This Law will not now permit the use of saliva on the ball, which also removes any grey areas of fielders eating sugary sweets to alter their saliva to apply to the ball. Using saliva will be treated the same way as any other unfair methods of changing the condition of the ball.

At long last I have updated the above on the Member Clubs tab  – can I ask that the Championship Representative check their various entries and email me with any errors please?

At a productive meeting last Tuesday with Umpires and Div 1, 2 and 3 captains, the feeling from both sides was that the current legside wide rule was ambiguous and could cause issues.  Following a meeting with a couple of umpires and some 1st team skippers it was agreed and decided to adopt the wording below from all Division 1, 2 and 3 matches (where there are Panel Umpire(s) officiating) for the 2023 season starting this Saturday 15th April.

The feeling of the MSC is that we should change, even at this late stage, to make the life easier for players and officials.  This simpified rule will also help in matches in Division 1, 2 and 3 where there are no Panel Umpires present and player/umpires are standing.

We have today also emailed Championship Reps and would ask that you spread the word.  The website Rule 14i has been amended.

“Any ball that is bowled and passes down the leg side and behind the batter shall be interpreted as negative tactics and called wide; irrespective of where the batter starts from or moves to.  That ball will then be re-bowled by that bowler.  If a batter changes stance for a switch-hit, they lose all the benefit of a leg side wide.”

Just a gentle reminder that the above Zoom Meeting will take place on Tuesday 11th April at 7.30. There is a substantial fine for non-attendance!

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82600203007?pwd=cFBiZnhJb2dSMlAxdDU2S3VRc0drUT09

Meeting ID: 826 0020 3007
Passcode: 364239

When you join please do so with your name and the club that you represent.

There is much to discuss and it is hoped that all 1st Team skippers will attend (or send a suitable replacement) and the meeting will look at rule changes and the new Disciplinary Code from the start of this season. It will be run by Steve Lilley – Chairman of the Umpires’ Panel.

The EAPL decided at their EGM last Thursday to move their fixtures from the Saturday 15^th April to Saturday 16^th September.  However the view of the MSC is that this will cause substantial disruption to clubs in the Championship both in terms of ground and player availability on that date, so the fixtures scheduled for this Saturday will take place as normal.  Obviously if pitches or grounds are not suitable for play then the 6 point rule for a cancelled match will apply.

All clubs are reminded that Rule 14b and 14c will apply with regard to these and all cancelled matches – these rules can be found under the Rules tab on the website.

Further to this, to maintain the integrity of the Championship for this Saturday, no player who has played in two of the last three EAPL matches in 2022 will be permitted to play in the Championship fixtures on Saturday 15^th April.

We have also today forwarded this information to all Championship Representatives

At the MSC meeting last evening Jeremy Jayasuriya (Easton CC) was appointed Acting Chairman for the remainder of this season.  We would expect this appointment to be ratified at the AGM in October.  Welcome aboard Jerry!

Below are details of the meeting via zoom with members of the Umpires’ Panel.

The purpose of this meeting is to go through the new conduct regulations and disciplinary regulations ahead of the 2023 season.  This meeting should last around 1 hour and attendance is compulsory from each club in the top three divisions.  The penalty for non-attendance will be the same as not attendance of the AGM (2 years subscriptions).

The meeting will be held on the 11th of April 2023 at 7:30pm.

We encourage that either the captain, vice-captain or senior player attends the meeting from the team that is going to be playing in the top three divisions.  For identification purposes we ask that each attendee joins using their own name followed by their club name.

Below are the details of the meeting;
Topic: Two Counties meeting
Time: Apr 11, 2023 07:30 PM London

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82600203007?pwd=cFBiZnhJb2dSMlAxdDU2S3VRc0drUT09

Meeting ID: 826 0020 3007
Passcode: 364239

The meeting will be chaired by Stephen Lilley (Chairman of the Umpires’ Panel) and admininistered by Scott Button (MSC)