ANOTHER of the heroes of 2007 has just kicked off his career as a coach in international cricket – in Africa!

While Jeremy Bray guides Denmark and Trent Johnston works with New South Wales, Andre Botha has been coaching the Malawi national team. The Malawians were invited to a triangular with Zambia and Mozambique so invited along the former Ireland all-rounder, now a coach with Khosa CC in South Africa.

Malawi – birthplace of Irish legend of the 70s Simon Corlett – finished second under Botha, who is now set to coach one of the T20 sides in the Lenasia Premier League as well as running his own academy.

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THE death of Australia’s Philip Hughes shone the spotlight on the potential flaws in traditional cricket helmets.

The batsman died in December after being hit on the side of the head from a bouncer in a state game.

But now TWO Irish cricketers have designed head gear that they hope will ensure it never happens again.

In the World Cup John Mooney wore a prototype he and his father-in-law designed.

And now a former Munster batsmen has seen his own vision realised after teaming up with a leading Indian manufacturer.

Cork man James Vincent, known to all as ‘Ryano’ runs a thriving sportswear and equipment business from his base in Thailand.

This weekend Omtex Sport delivered the first of his helmets to Mumbai and he has high hopes they will prove popular in the cricket-mad nation of 1.3 billion people.

"It's brilliant to see my vision realised and this has revolutionised the game in both India and around the world. Safety is a massive issue for our sport and the new Omtex Xtrax grilles provide new standards at affordable prices to all”, says Ryano.

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THERE are a number of Irish batsmen out-of-favour at their counties at the moment, including George Dockrell and William Porterfield. But Paul Stirling should be back in the four-day team soon after a stunning seven days for Middlesex 2nds.

He made almost 400 runs in a week, including the 25th and 26th centuries of his career – including the first for over a year.

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HUGE congrats to Co Galway who shocked Fox Lodge in the Irish Senior Cup at the weekend. The Westerners benefited from Terenure’s withdrawal – ‘borrowing’ pro Ben Speake as well as two Galway players playing in Dublin, Conor Mullen and Subi Ramnathpur.

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THERE are ten ways of being out in cricket: five happen in almost every game (caught, bowled, lbw, stumped, run out) while ‘hit wicket’ happens now and again. The other four are very rare indeed.

In all first class cricket there have only been 59 batters out handled the ball, 21 hitting the ball twice and six timed out.

And in all 54,000 first class games – well over a million innings – only 23 batsmen have been out obstructing the field, including Mark Ramprakash in 2011.

But Phoenix’s Rory Anders found himself out that way on Saturday against Terenure.

A ‘nure source says a return throw hit Anders on the leg and, on appeal, umpires Asim Ali Baig and Jeremy Jeffrey gave him out.

Anders says he had come down the track for a quick run, but an opponent picked up the ball and threw it at him as he got back.

He told the Star: “I am certain he knew exactly how he was trying to get me out and fair play to him for doing that, it was smart cricket. The umpire then gave me out.

“I certainly did not agree with the decision as I don't feel I changed my direction on my way back to the crease.”



FIXTURES

Thursday: Div 1 (6.0): Clontarf v Railway Union, Merrion v Pembroke; Women’s Division 1 (6.0): The Hills v Malahide, Leinster v Merrion, YMCA v North Kildare; Tour match (11.0) Irish Universities v MCC, College Park

Saturday: Leinster Senior Cup Rd1 (11.0): Balbriggan v North County, Cork County v Railway Union, Phoenix v YMCA, The Hills v Pembroke, Malahide v Rush, Clontarf v Leinster; Div2: Terenure v Trinity

Sunday: IP20: North West Warriors v Leinster Lightning, Eglinton

Monday: Div1 (1.0): Malahide v Pembroke

Tuesday-Friday: Intercontinental Cup, Ireland v UAE, Malahide 11.0