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CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 10 Review - 14 Jul, Borrowash Exclusive: Roadshow reveals Labour pitches plan

Advice was the name of the game on Saturday's Channel 4 Cricket Roadshow as the focus switched from the international stage to the (mostly) amateur world of club cricket.

There were hints on marketing, pitch preparation and club expansion, while on the playing side Ian Bishop and Dominic Cork – Derbyshire players past and present respectively - teamed up for a seam and swing masterclass.

But perhaps the most significant revelation on the show, broadcast live from the Derbyshire Premier League club of Ockbrook and Borrowash CC, was given by the new minister for sport Richard Caborn MP.

In an exclusive interview with co-presenter Sybil Ruscoe he revealed the government plans to review its current policy on the sale of school and council-owned playing fields.

The minister's revelation came in response to a staggering (and saddening) statistic: one thousand playing fields are under threat from money-hungry property developers every year, a figure that includes five per cent of all cricket pitches throughout the country.

Elsa Davies, director of the National Playing Fields Association, deplored the current situation and said the government had a duty to act for the future generations. "If you look at them (playing fields) as the family silver we are selling them off far too quickly," she said.

And for any clubs facing the threat of losing their ground the Roadshow offered three pieces of advice: set up an action committee, write to your local newspaper, MP and radio station, and check out NPFA's Fields at Risk website for further information – a full help list with relevant names and addresses is at the bottom of this article.

Another former Derbyshire player on the show was Dave Hallack, overseas professional between 1985-89 and now captain of Ockbrook & Borrowash CC. He spoke with pride about the club's flourishing youth system which has provided three current Derbyshire players – Tom Lungley, Liam Wharton and Paul Aldred – and said it was there ultimate aim to produce a Test player.

But even with such a successful club there is always fundraising to be undertaken or grants to be acquired and the Roadshow spoke to PR consultant Alex Johnston about the need for marketing in cricket, while ECB pitch guru Chris Wood gave advice on wicket preparation.

Out in the middle Bishop, the former West Indian quickie, teamed-up with local hero Cork for a masterclass in the art of seam and swing bowling, handing out tips on how to grip the ball, on the wrist action required, the follow through and on foot positioning. But the most important thing, they said, was to make sure you keep your head as still as possible at the moment of delivery.

Cork was his ebullient self when talking to Mark Nicholas about England's chances of stopping the mighty Aussies. "They look infallible but they're not," he insisted, before adding that he hoped to be selected for the Lord's Test starting on Thursday.

"It would be nice to get back in the squad and into the final XI but at the end of the day I just want us to win. If I'm in the side great but if I'm not we've got to get 1-1 and then go on and win the series."

"I'm a confident person," he added by way of a barely-needed explanation, before saying he revelled in the unique atmosphere at a Lord's Test.

"It's a great ground with a great atmosphere and with a full house on Thursday, Friday and Saturday it's just one of the best places you'll play in the world."

Nasser Hussain might not agree in light of his most recent experiences but the injured skipper hooked up live from Lord's (where he was commentating for the C4 coverage of the B&H Cup final) to back the temporary re-appointment of Mike Atherton and call for a more gutsy performance than England managed at Edgbaston. "We've got to show the country and ourselves that we've got a bit of fight," he said.

HELP LIST/FACT SHEET

SAVE YOUR CRICKET PITCH

NPFA's Fields at Risk website

'Form an action committee'

'Write to your local newspaper, radio station and MP'

CASH FOR YOUR CRICKET CLUB (marketing)

ECB County Development Officers can help

Booklet "Sources of Grant Aid in Cricket"

The ECB has £1.4m for upgrading pitches and Flicx pitches

Write to: ECB Development, Lord's Cricket Ground, London NW8 8QZ

PITCH FACTS

'Restoration is preparation'

'Stand by your hose pipe and water late evening'

'Don't cut the square too short'

Mail the Cricket Show team at cricketshow@cricket4.com

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