The Umpire Strikes Back

Welcome to The Umpire Strikes Back! A focus on fast bowling today and we have assembled an expert panel! Joining us today are;Hampshire legend and now Player Development Manager for Hampshire Academy, James TomlinsonHampshire's 2022 Player of the Year James Fuller Ex-Hampshire and now Dorset bowler Emily RobertsWe talk all things fast bowling including role models, intimidating batters, setting traps, bowling plans and the joy of running in FAST! We also look at coaching fast bowlers - James shares the pathways approach to identifying and developing fast bowlers. We discuss the fundamental elements of a good, powerful bowling action and how to try and limit injuries. Essential listening for all club coaches & parents of young aspiring fast bowlers! Please share and like! Get in touch and feature on our next episode;📧[email protected]

Welcome to The Umpire Strikes Back! Today the spotlight shines on our upcoming Coach Development programme. You can start or continue your coaching journey in Hampshire this winter. Full course details can be found here. To give more detail we speak to Katie & Ben, two coaches who have taken different routes into coaching but are now working for HCB as Community Coaches. They, alongside our Coach Development Manager John Cook, discuss their cricketing journey, apprehensions before taking their course and the benefits of being a qualified coach. We also speak to one of Coach Development Tutors Dave Gelling. Dave has been training new coaches in Hampshire and Europe for a number of years and shares his thoughts on how the courses have developed to focus on players, questioning and communication. For full details on our courses please visit https://www.ageasbowl.com/cricket-board/news/winter-coach-development-courses/If you have any queries regarding the courses please contact [email protected] share this episode with prospective coaches including parents and young adults at your club - it may have a massive impact in future summers! Please like, share and subscribe! 📧[email protected]

Welcome to The Umpire Strikes Back - Episode 45! An international feel today with a look at two European adventures and a request for stories related to Shane Warne. We start by talking to Ali Gajic & Rebecca Blake who have both been playing international cricket in Europe. Ali, who plays for Verwood CC in the Hampshire League, has been playing for Serbia in the European Cricket League and the ICC WT20 Qualifiers in Finland. Rebecca, from Hursley Park, has represented Romania in the recent Women's Balkan Cup and starred with a unbeaten 100! They talk about being contacted out of the blue, travelling to new lands and the highlights of being an international cricketer! Next, we speak to Ageas Bowl and Hampshire Cricket stadium announcer Robbie James. Robbie talks about his journey into sports presenting and the joy of being paid to watch cricket! He also makes a request for stories regarding Shane Warne for an upcoming audio project. If you have any tales from meeting the cricketing legend please get in touch with Robbie direct;[email protected]: @thatrobbiejames Instagram: @thatrobbiejamesFinally, Simon Jones reports on the initial early findings from our End of Season Player & Volunteer survey. If you enjoy listening to our podcast please like and leave a review on your listening platform! All reviews are massively appreciated and enable us to share the pod more widely! Thank you! 📧[email protected]

Welcome to Episode 44 of The Umpire Strikes Back! A busy episode this week featuring 3 great topics.First up is a focus on our ever growing W10 Women's Softball cricket. Simon from Overton CC talk us through their venture into the game, setting up a team, benefits to the whole club. Their captain Kitty, talks fun, new friends and challenges!For more information contact [email protected] I then attended our Hawks Academy game vs ACE Programme at the Ageas Bowl. It was a fantastic day and I managed to speak to all those who played a big role in getting the game set up, including; James Hibberd - Hawks Academy Head CoachHarry Kutty - Cantell School Head TeacherSam Moss - Wicketz Development OfficerPlayers Azhar & KitMohammad Abbas - Hampshire Star bowler Simon Lee - Ageas Head GroundsmanChevy Green - ACE Programme DirectorAnd finally Simon Jones joins us to talk about the upcoming HCB Player and Volunteer survey. Look out for our social media posts and emails! Please get in touch if you would like to be featured in any upcoming episode. We would love to tell your story! 📧[email protected]

Welcome to The Umpire Strikes Back! Two great features today: First up, we speak to the (anoynomous) man behind the newly formed Hants CL Player Loans Twitter account. He aims to bring together clubs looking for extra players and players without a game. The founder talks through the reasons for setting the account up, practicalities of running on Twitter and the future of club cricket. Be great if all our listeners could follow the account;https://twitter.com/HCLPlayerLoansNext, we join Calmore Sports CC Captain Mark Lavelle as he prepares to take his side back to Lords for the second year running for the Village Cup final. Having been victorious last year they are keen to repeat the feat and we talk through the run to the final and plans for the weekend! You can follow the final live on Sunday 18th September via this link;https://www.nationalvillagecup.com/We would love to feature your club on the show. Please get in touch and we will be in contact! 📧[email protected]

Episode 42 - Today we focus on access to cricket within urban communities on the back of the BBC documentary 'Freddies Field of Dreams' which saw cricket opened up to teenagers in Preston. This echoed with lots of current work within Southampton and plans to extend across the rest of Hampshire. We speak to Cantell School Headteacher Harry Kutty. Harry has recently become a non-exec director of Hampshire Cricket, with a remit to focus on communities. Cantell is a diverse and engaging school within Southampton, where cricket plays a large role. Harry talks inclusion, diversity, removing barriers to participation and the power of cricket to assist children academically.  We then speak to James Hibberd, Head Coach of Hawks Academy - a new programme formed on the back of the Wicketz programme and Harry's work in Cantell School. More information here. Finally, as we approach a hose pipe ban hear a top grounds tip from Ageas Bowl Deputy Groundsman Tom Cowley! Please like and share! 

Welcome back to the Umpire Strikes Back! Today we delve into cricketing history with Dr Duncan Stone, author of 'Different Class: the untold story of English cricket' We talk class structure, barriers to participation, league vs friendly and the future of cricket in England.Read Duncan's book Next we speak to Melissa Story, Hampshire Cricketer and now commentary star! She talks through her journey from player to BBCTMS commentator, working with heroes, being a role model and the perils of social media! We look forward to releasing more episodes in the coming months and it would be great to feature Hampshire Cricket Clubs with stories to tell! Get in touch! Email: [email protected] like, subscribe and share 👍🏻

Happy Cricket Eve! As the recreational season kicks off tomorrow we are back with a feature on Sarisbury Athletic CC. They have increased their community engagement in recent years with clubhouse refurbishment, comedy nights, Hundred game days, charity links and their #opentoall hashtag. Social Sec Mike Poyner talks us through the changes and plans for the season. Runs4research - https://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/campaign/runs4research/We then speak to NV Play Commercial Manager Neil Fairbain to discuss the advancements in match streaming and link to Play-Cricket NV Play - https://www.nvplay.com/Best of luck to all playing tomorrow - Go Well 

A focus on sustainability today as we look at how cricket will cope with environmental, social and financial changes. Firstly, we speak to Ageas Bowl Head Groundsman Simon Lee about the challenges of preparing professional cricket wickets in the ever changing climate plus the move towards green technology. Definitely one for your grounds teams!  Then Abi Moore, Ageas Bowl Head of Operations talks about the move towards an Eco strategy to keep the stadium up to date and even more effective. Next is Dave Worthy, Chair of Hursley Park CC who gives an update on recent changes within the club to improve finances and playing numbers but also introduces their Willow Tree project. This enables members of the club to sponsor a willow tree to be planted within the farm surrounding the ground. A fantastic initiative that will provide benefits all round!And finally we visited the Batting Lab in Fareham. There we found a state of the art batting simulator that provides sustainable playing opportunities in a small indoor space. Owner Richard Rigby talks through plans for community engagement and enabling consistent and safe chances for children to play. If you have any questions or would like to be featured on upcoming episodes please get in touch ⬇Email: [email protected] like, subscribe and share 👍🏻

Happy New Year! Welcome back to the Umpire Strikes Back! Today we are delighted to be joined by Hartley Wintney, Hampshire & England Physical Disability (and Love Island!) star Hugo Hammond. Hugo tells us about his whirlwind summer, his journey into D40 cricket in Hampshire, being a role model for the next generation and his plans for the future. For more info on any of our disability programmes please contact;D40 & Super 9s - [email protected] 1s - [email protected]🔗 Disability cricket in Hampshire We also speak to Jack Payne from Langley Manor CC. Jack was crowned Hampshire Coach of the Year when visiting the ECB Coach Awards in Derby back in December. Jack speaks about his work within the club, All Stars, coaching philosophy and mentoring younger coaches. If you would like to be featured on upcoming episodes please get in touch;📧[email protected]