Club Week: Artwork of WG Grace, fighting funds and fifty runs conceded in an over

The Cricketer rounds up some of the more unusual stories of the past seven days from across the local cricket scene...

Cannock Cricket Club launch fighting fund after losing access to their ground

Cannock Cricket Club have been denied access to their home ground Chase Park after it was put into receivership.

The Staffordshire club launched a fighting fund last weekend, as they aim to raise £10,000, and within the space of two days they had already raised £2,000. Chase Park is due to be sold at auction on the 23rd July to the distress of the club's players and members.

As a result of these problems Cannock have been forced to rent out other grounds in the local area. This has really challenged the club's finances and made it difficult for junior members to train regularly.

Club chairman Dave Robinson told the Express & Star: "We just don't know what the future holds at the moment.

"We need to raise several thousand pounds just to cover our costs until the end of the season let alone secure our future into next year and hopefully beyond.

"We've lost at great deal of income as we are having to pay to use other clubs' pitches and while we have been training away from our own ground, we don't have as many children coming to practice." 

If you would like to contribute to Cannock CC’s fundraising effort, visit gofundme.com and search for Cannock Cricket Club.

Bristol artist hopes to inspire the next generation of cricketers

Silent Hobo, a mural artist based in Bristol, is giving Gloucestershire's ground a makeover. His cricket themed artwork has been created in the hope that it can inspire youngsters in Bristol to take up the game.

The artwork will feature WG Grace, amongst other pieces from the man who is well known for his art on the streets of Bristol.

Neil Priscott, the marketing director at Gloucestershire, told the BBC: "WG Grace is probably the most famous cricketer of all time. It would be remiss if we didn't immortalise him in street art."

The mural is set to be unveiled on July 29.

Sports hub opened in Wolverhampton

The ECB and Wolverhampton council have teamed up to create a new sports facility that includes three all-weather cricket nets.

The facility is located at Dunstall Road's Peace Green and was unveiled over the weekend by Councillor Jasbir Jaspal, the City of Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for public health and wellbeing, Ged McDougall, the ECB's regional clubs and facilities manager, and development director for Staffordshire Cricket, Jason Britton.

The scheme cost £150,000 and was part of wider investment into public spaces in the Wolverhampton area by the ECB.

Britton told the Express & Star: "We've worked closely with Wolverhampton Council to ensure investment into providing places where people can play informal cricket was spent wisely; the sites at Peace Green and across the city show that we as a sport are committed to growing the game as much in inner city areas as in the traditional cricket club network.

"We're hoping that the recent hosting of the World Cup and the fantastic spectacle that was the final will inspire a generation of young people to pick up a bat and ball and make cricket a game for them – and what better place to give it a go than at Peace Green."

Over goes for FIFTY runs in match in the Sussex Cricket League

The match in question was a local derby between Sidley Cricket Club's first team against Bexhill 4th XI.

Bexhill set Sidley 154 runs for victory and in the 14th over of the chase something extraordinary happened. Sidley's total changed jumped from 81 for 1 to 131 for 1 in the space of the over. A combination of wides, no balls and boundaries from Jamie Ramsden and Steve Ramsden accelerated Sidley towards their target.

The pitch at Bexhill had been affected by rain from that morning, yet this did not seem to hinder the Ramsdens. Sidley completed their chase in the 22nd over with six wickets to spare. Certainly a day to forget for some of the Bexhill bowlers.

Weekly and Warkton make hard work of chasing 22

A very unusual game took place in the Northamptonshire Cricket League Division Five over the weekend. Rushton CC 1st XI took on Weekly and Warkton CC 2nd XI in a game that saw 19 wickets fall and only 45 runs scored.

Rushton CC were inserted by the home side, and they didn't last long. Opening bowler Jack Issitt ripped through the Rushton batsmen as he returned figures of 8-11 off his 10 overs. Dean Joy top scored for the visitors with a vital eight runs.

At the halfway stage the Weekly and Warkton team must have been assured of victory, but this confidence may have faded slightly when they found themselves 21 for 8. A vital eight not out from Luke Peasnall, accompanied by a one not out by Samuel Peasnell was enough to see Weekly and Warton across the line. 

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