THE CRICKET WRITERS' CLUB

ESTABLISHED 1946

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CWC LUNCH 2017

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The objects of the CWC are to further the interests of those involved with the media coverage of cricket and of cricket as a whole.

The CWC will in no way endeavour to dictate policy or influence opinion in the cricket media nor have any concern with the policy of newspapers and other outlets: and at no time have any concern with the relations between employers and their staff as to who is employed.

Full Membership shall be open to all those employed full-time for not less than four months in any one calendar year in the media coverage of cricket in the United Kingdom. Honorary Life Members may be elected at the Annual General Meeting from those who have given distinguished service both to the profession of cricket writing and to the Club.

Associate Members may be elected by the Committee at any time from those engaged in writing, reporting, photographing, commentating, broadcasting and recording cricket on a part-time basis in the UK. Honorary Associate Members may be elected by the Committee at any time from distinguished former Full Members, senior touring writers, scorers of first-class counties, who may be invited, and such cricketing persons as the Committee may wish to invite.

Only Full Members and Honorary Life Members will have voting rights. Full Members and Associate Members will pay a subscription. Honorary Associate Members will be entitled to attend all meetings and functions and, if based in the United Kingdom, will receive Club mailings. Overseas Members may be elected by the Committee at any time from those engaged in writing, reporting, commentating, broadcasting and photographing cricket outside the United Kingdom and British Isles. They shall be entitled to attend all meetings and functions and may apply, by electronic mail, for all the Club's mailings.

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DAVE CALLAGHAN

The media world was shocked on March 12 to learn of the death of Dave Callaghan, who gave website ball-by-ball coverage of all of Yorkshire County Cricket Club's first team matches for Radio Leeds. He died following a heart attack three days earlier.

Dave, a full member of The Cricket Writers' Club, was also a much valued member of the Dinner sub-committee, and at the Club's awards lunch in 2016 he did a question-and-answer session with Australian Jason Gillespie who was about to end his five-year association with Yorkshire which saw them win the County Championship in two consecutive seasons.

CWC President and Yorkshire cricket writer, David Warner, paying tribute to Dave, said: "His sudden and untimely death has come as a terrible shock to me and my heart goes out to his wife, Pat, and their family.

"In all of my 44 seasons of covering Yorkshire cricket, I have not come across a more likable or friendly colleague who was a larger than life figure and who was a consummate professional.

"He was superbly suited to his earlier roles as Radio Leeds sports editor before joining the Rugby League for a while but he it was when he began covering Yorkshire CCC home and away that he found his perfect niche in life.

"When the BBC local radio stations began their ball-by-ball coverage of County Cricket I wondered if the long hours and total commitment which was necessary would prove too arduous for Dave, but I couldn't have been more wrong.

"He relished the challenge and was absolutely brilliant, not only giving day-long live commentary but also cutting in several times each hour to serve the local radio stations throughout Yorkshire.

"Dave led the way and his expertise was admired by colleagues doing a similar job with other counties around the country.

"Both the media and Yorkshire County Cricket Club have lost a dear friend whom it will be virtually impossible to replace but it must be of some comfort to all who knew him that he went out at the very top of his game.

"Dave's death is also deeply felt by Yorkshire scorer, John Potter, and the three of us had many a happy evening together when Yorkshire were playing at away venues."

"'He was the life and soul of any gathering and was respected by all of the players that he was so closely connected with,' said John."

Mark Baldwin, CWC chairman, added:
 
It is with very great sadness that I pass on the terrible news about Dave Callaghan, who died today. Further details are now on the Yorkshire County Cricket Club website, so please go to 
 
https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/6390/dave-callaghan
 
Dave was held in great affection by so many people in cricket, both in our business and in the wider game. He was also an active contributor to the life of the Cricket Writers' Club, having served as a member of the Lunch sub-committee for a number of years. Indeed, the rest of us on this sub-committee were looking forward to seeing him next Monday (March 19) when we are holding the first main meeting of the year to plan and prepare for this October's Annual Lunch. As many of you will remember, Dave made a big contribution in particular to the Club's 70th anniversary lunch, held at the Merchant Taylor's Hall in London, in 2016, when he and Jason Gillespie performed a special version of their highly-popular stage double act 'Dizzy and Dave'. Can I join Yorkshire chief executive Mark Arthur (see Yorkshire website piece) in passing on my and the Club's heartfelt condolences to Dave's wife Pat and his family, and to echo the county's request to respect the Callaghan family's privacy at this time.
 
On what has been a truly sad day for CWC, I also learned earlier today of the death of Neil Bell, of BBC South East (and formerly of BBC Radio Kent) and another long-standing member of our Club, who had been suffering from cancer. Again, it is awful to lose such a popular and respected colleague at no great age, and the CWC's thoughts also go to Neil's family.

DAVID MUNDEN

The Cricket Writers’ Club has surely never endured a sadder 24 hours. Soon after the awful news of the deaths of Dave Callaghan and Neil Bell comes confirmation that David Munden has finally lost a long battle against Parkinson’s Disease.

Many CWC members will recall David’s fine cricket photography, and his immensely likeable character, but he was also a talented batsman who played for Leicestershire Second XI from 1975 until 1981 and was a contemporary of David Gower, with whom he also represented England Under 19s.

His passion for cricket was evident in the way he took to photographing the game once he realised he would not go on to enjoy a senior county career, and he was a highly popular and much-respected colleague in and around press boxes at home and abroad. Cruelly, David’s illness eventually forced him to retire from his photographic work and he fought against the debilitations of Parkinson’s for many years.

On behalf of CWC, I would like to send our condolences and best wishes to David’s family. The losses of David, ‘Cally’ and Neil Bell – all relatively young, and all within such a short time of each other – have hit this Club hard, but in different ways and across different mediums the three of them contributed much to the promotion and presentation of cricket to a wide audience and they will be remembered with huge affection. What they shared, meanwhile, was a deep love of cricket and respect for the game.

Mark Baldwin, CWC Chairman
13th March, 2018

CWC ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018

This year's Cricket Writers' Club AGM, and early-season social, will be held in the Boundary's Edge Room at Trent Bridge on Wednesday April 25, so please put this date in your diaries and do all you can to be in attendance. 

As at Edgbaston last year, the Club will be providing buffet food and drinks both before and after the AGM, which will start around 2pm. The pre-AGM reception will start at 12.45pm and the Boundary's Edge Room - which is situated close to the Media Centre - is ours to use until 5pm.

Nottinghamshire CCC are much looking forward to welcoming us on the day, and there might be some useful media briefings both from them and ECB personnel during the event.

After the success of last year's AGM/social at Edgbaston, this is an opportunity for Midlands and North-based CWC members in particular to support the Club, in addition to those travelling up from London and all points south on the day.

PEARSON CROWNED FOR SECOND TIME

Cricket Writers’ Club members were again invited by MCC to help to host this year’s Cricket Society/MCC Book of the Year Awards at a dinner in the Long Room at Lord’s on April 17.

Author Harry Pearson, a former Guardian journalist and a previous winner, won the 2017 award with his book ‘Connie: The Marvellous Life of Learie Constantine’ (Little,Brown).

I am grateful to Richard Hobson, the new chairman of CWC’s own Cricket Book Award sub-committee, Richard Whitehead, Lawrence Booth, Alan Gardner, Will Macpherson, Dan Norcross and Graham Morris for joining me as ‘event hosts’ at the function, which was entertainingly MC’d by our own Vic Marks in his capacity as head judge of the Cricket Society/MCC award panel.

Emma John, another CWC member, gave an excellent, well-received and witty address to a packed Long Room in her role as keynote speaker.

CWC’s Mike Selvey was a member of Marks’ judging panel, and former CWC chairman Patrick Eagar spoke briefly to the room about being the subject of Christian Ryan’s book ‘Feeling is the Thing that Happens in 1000th of a Second’, which was on a shortlist of six alongside Pearson’s winner and ‘A Clear Blue Sky’ (Jonny Bairstow and Duncan Hamilton), ‘In Sunshine and Shadow’ (Stephen Chalke), ‘Edging Towards Darkness’ (John Lazenby) and ‘Democracy’s XI: The Great Indian Cricket Story’ (Rajdeep Sardesai).

Mark Baldwin, CWC Chairman
18th April, 2018

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12/01/2018: ODI Series - Can England Dominate?

Following the disastrous Ashes series, it will come as no surprise that England are the 19/10 outsiders for the ODI series. Australia are 2/5 to win the series and it is 9/1 that they do so 5-0. That said, England are 6/4 to win the first ODI and it is 6/1 that Joe Root top scores in an England victory.
 
“England are a good one day side and the odds might just be underestimating their chances,” said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.

​​First ODI: 8/15 Australia, 6/4 England
9/2 Steve Smith Top Score In Aussie Victory
6/1 Joe Root Top Score In England Victory
Century Scored In Match: 8/13 Yes, 6/5 No
 
Series Betting: 2/5 Australia, 19/10 England
 
Series Correct Score:
13/8 Australia 3-2, 5/2 Australia 4-1, 9/1 Australia 5-0
5/2 England 3-2, 9/1 England 4-1, 40/1 England 5-0.