A stunning new documentary has the potential to rattle a few of the skeletons that blight the top level of world cricket.
Inside Edge was given an exclusive preview of the movie which has shocked fans worldwide.
‘Death of a Gentleman’ has been just released and may be shown shortly in Clontarf as a fund-raiser for the club.
Its message damns the men who have hijacked the sport in the name of India, England and Australia including Giles Clarke who was chauffeured around Malahide last week at the ICC qualifier.
The film started as an examination of why Test cricket was dying out in some parts of the planet, and followed Australian Ed Cowan as he started his career in baggy green.
But the movie switches direction as it talks to influential writers such as Gideon Haigh.
The Aussie nails it when he says the game “exists solely for the benefit of broadcasters, advertisers, entrepreneurial administrators, elite players, corporate institutions and sponsors. The fan, where he is considered at all, is there to be monetised and exploited.”
The film grates a little when it claims to have stumbled on this conspiracy, and it is a little hard to believe that the makers, including respected Cricinfo writer Jarrod Kimber, were completely taken aback by “discovering” that ICC had stolen the game.
Supporters in Associate nations could have told them that five years ago, and Haigh challenges ICC on the current 2019 World Cup scandal:
“How many sports are actively trying to diminish the number of teams playing at the highest level? That’s cutting off your nose to spite your face.”
The film hits the sweet spot with some telling lines, and there’s plenty of excellent footage including some scary interviews with Clarke and ICC chairman N Srinivasan.
Although unlikely to get a general release, it may get some more screenings in Ireland if enough fans request a showing at ourscreen.com.
***
Clontarf’s Aussie pro Mick Granger set them on the road to the cup on Saturday, but he has already had quite a record on this side of the world.
Granger toured England with Australia U16s in 2007 when he dismissed Joe Root three times for 14, 2 and 8.
The passion fruit farmer also played Queensland U17 and U19 and his cup final 5-38 was his third five-for in the competition.
***
This is Andrew Poynter’s 10th season with Clontarf but, amazingly, he has only lost one cup match in all that time.
He won his 6th winners medal on Saturday in what was his 25th appearance in the Leinster Senior Cup.
His only defeat was to Pembroke in the 2013 semi-final. He averages almost 40 in that run, with two 100s and three 50s.
***
Pembroke have come with a brilliant idea to raise funds and profile with a bid for the Guinness Book of Records. On Saturday 22 August they hope to break the record for most people doing cricket keepy-uppys in one place.
All welcome, details from cricketwra.com
***
An umpire who was banned for three-years after being caught up in a match-fixing sting has been starring for Laois CC in Division 3.
Anis Siddique, a Pakistani first-class umpire, had been a fourth official in four ODIs.
But on Sunday he was on the side that beat YMCA 2nd in the Senior 2 Cup final in Castle Avenue.
***
FIXTURES
Thursday: Leinster Div1: YMCA v North County 6.0; Women’s Div1: N Kildare v Malahide, Leinster v Pembroke, Hills v Merrion
Friday: Leinster Div2: YMCA2 v Phoenix 6.0
Saturday: Leinster Div1 (12.30): Clontarf v Merrion, Malahide v Cork Co, Pembroke v North Co, YMCA v Railway; Div2: Terenure v Leinster, Phoenix v Balbriggan, Rush v YMCA2
Sunday: Hanley Energy IP50: Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning, Waringstown 10.45; Super 3s: Typhoons v Scorchers, Claremont Road 1.0. Div1: Cork Co v Pembroke
Mon-Weds: Hanley Energy IPC: Northern Knights v Leinster Lightning, Stormont 11.0