C Ellis: England Cricket Diary (13 Jun 1998)

13 June 1998

Cricket Diary

By Clive Ellis

• Lord's look forward to big picture

  LORD'S have taken a giant leap into the next century and embraced the technological age. The home of cricket has become the first ground in the country to install video cameras designed specifically to assist third umpires with close run-out decisions.

  Officials presently rely on television pictures to decide on run-out calls. Now the addition of four broadcast-quality cameras mounted high in The Mound and Grandstand in direct line with the popping crease means they will help decision-making.

  The scheme, funded by the MCC with assistance from the English Cricket Board, means third umpires can now be used at Lord's matches not covered by television networks.

  Cameras will be used for the first time next week and trials will run until the end of the season. If successful, it seems likely that the scheme will be broadened to all Test venues.

• GARY KIRSTEN has established himself as one of the most reliable openers in international cricket, but his biggest fan has been unable to watch ... until now anyway.

Kirsten's mother has never watched him play in his 10 years at first-class level. In fact, she could not even bear the tension when he was playing at school level.

The South African vice-captain has come to an arrangement. "When we played the Lord's Test in 1994 I promised that if I ever played another Test at the home of cricket I wanted as many of my friends and family as possible to be there.

"I struck a deal with my mother. I pay her air ticket and she watches. At least I know there will be one person in the ground more nervous than me when I walk through the Long Room to open the innings."

England will be hoping that the maternal good-luck charm does not affect Kirsten in the same way that it did Barry Richards in his illustrious career: every time his mother watched him he scored a century.

• FOR many weeks the South Africans toured England believing they were hated. In Leeds their coach was kicked, scratched and dented by angry fans. In Bristol it was spat at by more angry young men. In Brighton the tyres were let down, forcing the team to travel to Arundel in a motley collection of hire-cars and baggage vans.

Finally they realised the truth. During the football season the bus belongs to Manchester United, and is recognised as such by rival fans around the country.

• AS Fred Trueman might say, "I can't believe it."

The rain-ruined Harrogate Festival's two single-stump shoot-outs produced just four direct hits from a total of 68 deliveries. Hardly a glowing testament to the accuracy of Northamptonshire (twice), Hampshire and Scotland.

Northants coach John Emburey, who played his part in the 22 successive misses by the county side which enabled Scotland to win the Costcutter Cup, tried to put the failure in context. "Basically it was a lottery. We weren't using a pitch on the square and the bounce was unpredictable, so you were looking at bowling a straight half-volley."

• PAUL PRICHARD has been a frustrated spectator as Essex have shrugged off their indifferent championship form to reach the final of the Benson and Hedges Cup.

The Essex captain has been out of first-team action since the end of April because of shin splints, but he is still optimistic of being able to lead the team out at Lord's on July 11 when they attempt to become the last winners of the trophy.

Prichard suffered a relapse after testing out his fitness in an under-19 game a fortnight ago and played in Essex's four-day 2nd XI fixture against Middlesex which finished at Southgate yesterday.

As long as he suffers no reaction he could be back in charge for Essex's championship match against Somerset at Bath next week.

• LAST week it was announced that Australia A's tour would be restricted to matches in Scotland and Ireland.

Now it appears that there will be no opposition for England A this winter, ending an unbroken run of tours stretching back to Zimbabwe in 1989-90.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)