Updated 4/01/2008

I could pretend that the lack of updates on the site were due to the complete dearth of suitable material (eg. that means you statto!), but as has been noted before, that doesn't usually stop me. I could also argue that it's been an attempt to see if anyone else at the club fancied a go at running the site, which even extended to missing the AGM (although I claimed some spurious work-related overtime in my defence), in the vain hope it might be delegated to someone else. Sadly though (for you at least!), it appears that I am destined to continue my editorship.

The AGM did see a notable, if not unexpected scalp, with the retirement from the captaincy of that club stalwart Mike Suffield. He has led with side with what can best be described as a "singular talent", and treated Kipling's twin imposters of Triumph and Disaster with equal fortitude, if not equal frequency. We shall all miss his random batting orders, inspired bowling changes and quirky fielding positions. Unfortunately, he's only retired from the captaincy, so we'll still have to put up with his excessive short-wearing, idiosyncratic pinch hitting, flat-jack bowling and incessant chuntering in the field - mostly directed at his "team-mates".

Into the sizeable breach left behind steps one of the "bright young things" of Barford Cricket - the unflappable Chris O'Reilly. We wish him all the best for the coming year, and trust his batting (and occasional wicket-keeping) will improve with the responsibility of captaincy as it surely will have to after last year's efforts...

However, it appears from recent paparazzi shots that the new captain's childish sense of humour (and unhealthy obsession with lemons!) has remained intact as he posed here with a former England great, and Devon Malcom.

Whilst here he is clearly <<insert catchphrase>> on his ascendancy to the throne of captaincy...

STOP PRESS

In other news, the funfest that is the Annual Dinner is hurtling toward us, Winter Nets have been confirmed and the provisional fixture list for 2008 has been published. In a shock devleopment, the Flabwatch experiment has been abandoned in a flood of mutual recrimination - well, not really but you had to click to check didn't you!