There was a slight air of desperation around the unveiling of Ireland's newest professional player Ravi Rampaul last week. The Trinidadian fast bowler was certainly not Phil Simmons first choice, but the coach insisted the Indian Premier League had soaked up much of the available talent. I presume that CricketIreland were not able to trump the $982,000 Brett Lee picked up from the Mohali Kings, or even the $163,000 the least-paid foreign fast bowler, Dilhara Fernando, earned from Mumbai Indians.
The appointment didn't impress too many people in the West Indies either, with the Caribbeancricket.com web forum carrying several messages about the bowler's alleged lack of condition. 'Get him in the gym Simmo. Still promising. But I never see a big belly good fast bowler yet,' wrote one, while another feared that he would pick up 'the Guinness habit'. One brutally frank comment read: 'it's more fat he gonna get because he's going to drink more now'. Rampaul can prove them all wrong, starting at noon today in Leicester. Those confined to home can keep up with the excellent CricketEurope.com live coverage which last week commenced a ball-by-ball commentary service.
The rare milestone of a double century was passed in Leinster cricket last week – by an umpire! Alan Tuffery, indefatigable light of the Leinster Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association, has been editor of the body's newsletter since it commenced as a single sheet more than 20 years ago. It is now a news-packed periodical which has been known to cover six sides of A4.
Last week's 200th issue – now distributed by mail and email PDF to almost 250 people and read by more on the internet, features a tribute to itself by Peter Thew. The white coat brigade are making great strides, some of which are recognised by the ICC. No less than five of the 12 umpires appointed for the World League Division Five tournament are from Ireland: Mark Hawthorne and Trevor Magee (NCU), Charlie McElwee and Connie Mc Allister (NW) and Louis Fourie (LCU).
Another publication that thrives in PDF format is Cover Point, Ireland's only current cricket magazine. Editor Liam Rooney showed entrepreneurial skill in sitting his banners behind the largest group of Irish fans at Clontarf last Sunday. He was rewarded with several lingering mentions for his publication. The new issue is just out www.cover-point.com and includes an interesting interview with Peter Gillespie. The magazine has refocused itself on the wider world of associates cricket and now has an international editor in Tim Brooks. A very worthwhile magazine, it deserves support.
It is rare to hear of heavy scoring before April is out, but the cricketers of the University of Ulster set an intervarsities record last week when hammering College of Surgeons in College Park. The northerners made 404 for three off their 50 overs, which included an opening stand of 270 off 30 overs dominated by Michael Gilmore, who made 175, a record for the tourna-ment which has been running for 35 years. As the previous day's game saw Trinity beat UU by ten wickets, the two games saw 451 runs scored on College Park without a wicket falling.
It was quite a multi-media winter for Irish cricket, with books and DVDs emerging with unnerving frequency. Another television programme will be aired next week, but this time it focuses on the women's national side. Setanta Ireland have been showing a series entitled ‘Winning Women', and the cricketers get their turn in episode four, to be shown on Monday 12 May at 9.30pm (repeated the following Thursday at 10pm, and Friday at 9.30pm). The film, made by Athena Media, is called ‘Wicket Sisters' and focuses on sisters Cecilia and Isobel Joyce and Heather and Jill Whelan. ‘Wicket Sisters' talks to the women at Malahide and follows them to the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa. It features contributions from several others, including former Ireland men's captain, Trent Johnston. 'Women's cricket worldwide is one the fastest growing sports,' Johnston explains, 'Ireland have a very good team as well, I would say not a lot of people know that.'
The Irish women's team started their new season yesterday in the Intermediate B league, taking on Malahide's 5th XI. They are in action again on Monday at Merrion.