CRICKET:Ireland travelled to London yesterday for Sunday's Friends Provident Trophy clash against the all-star Surrey team fresh from a morale-boosting win and just as importantly, two days off. Having dispatched Canada in two days to win the intercontinental Cup, they face the daunting task of taking on one of the best sides in England at The Oval, arguably the county circuit's most batting friendly surface.
Last month, Surrey set a new world record for the highest ever total in a 50-over game when they amassed 496 against Gloucestershire. Ali Brown (176) and James Benning (152) the chief destroyers.
The Surrey batting line-up also includes Mark Ramprakash, fresh from an unbeaten 142 against Sussex at Hove this week.
It was the former England player's seventh hundred of the summer, following 266 on the same ground in the Championship. Sussex play host to Ireland on Monday, which is a bank holiday in England.
Back at home the Leinster clubs play a full schedule following a successful set of results last weekend in the Bob Kerr Senior Cup. Of the games that escaped the rain, only one was lost, YMCA going down to Instonians.
Andrew White scored a wonderful 124 to take the game away from the Claremont Road. White also took four wickets in the YMCA innings
Elsewhere, there has been an appointment aimed at developing the game. Reinhardt Strydom has been appointed as the new part-time of a new "Cricket in the Community" development officer in a venture jointly funded by Leinster Cricket Union and Fingal County Council. Strydom, who commenced duties on May 1st, will initially be concentrating on the "grassroots" area of development and has already visited many schools in the Fingal area.
His brief will also include promoting cricket in disadvantaged areas and also looking to increase participation within the girls' game. He will be working closely with cricket clubs in the area, co-ordinating the running of summer coaching clinics and will also be assisting club coaches who are looking to progress within the game.
Areas within the county (Clonsilla, Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart, etc) where cricket is not yet established will be targeted by Strydom who will be based at the county council offices at Swords and Blanchardstown.
Commenting on the appointment, cricket development officer Brian O'Rourke praised the efforts of the Fingal County Council: "Cricket has seen increased levels of participation in recent times and Reinhardt's appointment will be a great bonus to all involved in the game in the Fingal area.
"We need more people 'on the ground' to meet the new levels of demand and Reinhardt's work within schools and assisting local coaches can only help meet the union's development plans.
"By being based within the council offices, Reinhardt will be in an ideal position to assist clubs seeking funding towards capital ventures and coaching-related activities."
