Aimed at cricket loving kids aged 11-17, the camp is an intensive six-day program covering all aspects of cricket plus key sports topics including nutrition, match fitness, respect and team spirit.

“While our camps are primarily about developing cricket and sporting skills, a great outcome is the friendships that are fostered, many of which endure for years after the camps, which is very much in keeping with the spirit of Sir Donald Bradman” said Rick McCarthy, Bradman Foundation Head Coach.

The camp is aimed at players of all skill level from cricket tragic to beginner, developing or elite player. All players are placed in small groups based on age and ability and coached to that level. Specialist sports staff is on hand to guide, train and inspire the young cricket players.

The coaching staff for the 2012 camp includes Bradman Foundation Director of Coaching Rick McCarthy, guest coach Ken Davis (author of Cricket 99.94 Tips to Improve Your Game), Level 3 coaches Keith Wyatt, Amanda Owens and John LeRoux and umpire John Ewing.

The coaching staff has worked at all levels of the game with some having assisted with the development of current and past NSW and Australian players. The camp support staff includes a fitness instructor, a dietician and a physiotherapist.

“We’re really proud of our cricket camps, they are enormously popular and offer young people a fantastic opportunity to have an in-depth sporting experience” said Rina Hore, Bradman Foundation Executive Director “Throughout the week the players have direct access to people who are at the leading edge of the sport and the skills and experiences the kids gain translate into all aspects of their life.”

Over the years the camps have attracted well over 4,000 young cricket lovers from as far afield as the West Indies, South Africa, the UK and the Pacific Island region. Many participants have gone on to First Grade cricket and beyond including; Australian players Phil Jacques, Doug Bollinger, Brett Lee and Michael Bevan, South African player Makaya Ntini, English player Nasser Hussain and Indian Player Bishin Bedi.

The cost of the camp is currently being revised.

To find out more information or to make a booking click here.

Englishman Harold Larwood toured Australia in 1932-33 when he tormented the Australian team with the infamous Bodyline bowling technique.

The three-day fixture will see Cockley return to his home town after resuming Grade cricket this season after a nine month lay-off due to a knee re-construction. Cockley has taken 12 wickets for the Randwick Petersham club this year, with his last State appearance coming in a one-day match against Western Australia in Perth in November 2009, almost 2 ½ years ago.

Joining Cockley in the side will be NSW SpeedBlitz Blues debutant Chris Tremain, who took 10-2-32-2 on debut in the Ryobi Cup match against Western Australia yesterday.

In addition, fellow NSW SpeedBlitz Blues representatives from this season Sean Abbott, Scott Henry and Timm Van Der Gugten will add strength to a side captained by David Dawson.

The team is:
David DAWSON (c) (University of NSW)
Sean ABBOTT (Parramatta)
James CAMPBELL (North Sydney)
Burt COCKLEY (Randwick-Petersham)
Scott HENRY (Sydney University)
Daniel HUGHES (North Sydney)
Tristan MCDONALD (Northern District)
Cameron MERCHANT (Manly-Warringah)
Nathan PRICE (Randwick-Petersham)
Chris TREMAIN (University of NSW)
Timm VAN DER GUGTEN (University of NSW)
Adam ZAMPA (Sutherland)

Katich, who was hit above the eye in the Bupa Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart on February 6^th, suffered swelling and mild concussion from the incident, but has recovered sufficiently to be selected.

In another interesting move, University of NSW opening bowler Chris Tremain has also been selected in the squad. Tremain, a 20 year old, tall right-arm fast bowler, who originally hails from Orange in the state’s Central West, performed well for the NSW Futures League team against the ACT earlier this month. Tremain, took four wickets in the match in addition to scoring 14 not out, and has also performed well in Sydney First Grade where he has 31 scalps at an average of 20.29.

Mitchell Starc will join the squad in Perth after being released from the Australian one-day side.

Peter Nevill was left out of the side, while Nathan Hauritz (shoulder strain), Scott Coyte (back in Sydney for the birth of his first child) and Moises Henriques (injured side), were not considered for selection.

The full squad is :
Steven O’Keefe ( Captain )
Sean Abbott
Trent Copeland
Luke Doran
Brad Haddin
Phil Hughes
Simon Katich
Usman Khawaja
Nic Maddinson
Ben Rohrer
Steve Smith
Mitchell Starc
Chris Tremain

TICHOF has a large cricket ceramic collection from the Victorian era when one of Britain’s most successful industries combined Britain’s most popular pastime to create popular collectables.

Searching for that one place that will take your delegates breath away? Stand out from the crowd by choosing The International Cricket Hall of Fame located in Bowral is at the heart of the Southern Highlands.

We offer a range of venues that will marry perfectly with any manner of requirements. Our appointed caterers, Food Wine Design have a stunning reputation in the district that has been established by their successful ongoing restaurant at Centennial Vineyards. A fantastic range of menus, drinks packages and bespoke dining options are available.

Imagine your company’s name up in lights on the enormous video screens in The International Cricket Hall of Fame or delivering your next sales briefing in our theater, finishing up with a VIP tour of the museum and a cocktail reception. The options are endless…

Call Shannon O’Connor on 02 4862 1247 or email shannon@bradman.com.au to discuss your requirements.

Only 2000 tickets for the match are still available to purchase so spectators are urged to book now to avoid disappointment.

The match will see Sydney fans have their last opportunity to see Sachin Tendulkar appear at the famous ground this tour, as Sydney will not host a final of the Tri-Series.

Greats seats are also still available for the match against Sri Lanka tomorrow night at the SCG. Fans are encouraged to buy a ticket to this match to avoid the disappointment of missing out on the Indian game.

All tickets are available through : www.ticketek.com.au

FRIDAY 17 FEBRUARY : Australia v Sri Lanka – Sydney Cricket Ground – day/night match : START TIME – 2-20pm

SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY : Australia v India – Sydney Cricket Ground – day/night match : START TIME – 2-20pm

It was an interesting Test on a number of fronts. Firstly, we saw 16 wickets fall on the first day with Pakistan bowled out for 99 and England just pass them at the end of the day. Secondly, I had my first two player decision reviews overturned with the second perhaps a little unlucky but I still had to deal with and try to recover from a count of naught from two. I personally had twenty appeals on the first day and it is a day that taught me a lot about umpiring and mental strength.

The next three days of the Test were equally as tough and it was very satisfying to get through them error free and I was able to prove that there are strategies that can work to recover from setbacks. It was new territory for me and it was a good experience from which to draw strength and knowledge from. Pakistan ended up winning the game through the second innings partnership of Younis Khan and Azhar Ali, who both scored centuries, and bowled England out on day four, to win by 71 runs. It was only the second time in Test history when a side has won after being bowled out for less than 100 runs.

Jeff Crowe and I were then fortunate enough to play golf at the Els Club at Dubai Sports City. I partnered with Vince van der Bijl while Jeff partnered with Dave Richardson. I spent most of the round playing from the desert, but did manage to hit one good drive only then to find the only water on the course with my second shot – needless to say, Jeff and Dave took the cash but I can think of worse ways to spend an afternoon.

I then umpired Afghanistan’s first one day international match when they played Pakistan in Sharjah – a ground which holds the record for the most ODIs (something like 202 matches played there). It was also the international debut of my on field partner from Pakistan, Shozab Raza. It was like a local derby match played between neighbours and was well supported with a full house of spectators complete with horns and hooters. Afghanistan took the contest to the Pakistan bowlers and were eventually bowled out for 195 and nearly batted out their full 50 overs. It would have been worse had Afridi not chipped in with 5 wickets. Pakistan were in early trouble in the chase under lights but got the winning runs with 7 wickets and 10 overs to spare. Afghanistan were very impressive the way they played and it was challenging to umpire a team who had very few players who could speak English which made sign language more important when giving guard and communicating over rates!

We then headed across to Abu Dhabi for the one day series with England. A 90 minute drive to the new hotel and city. The first ODI here was a couple of days ago and England batted first with Kevin Peterson opening with Alistair Cook. My first decision to give KP not out LBW was challenged by Pakistan and it took over 2 minutes for Hawk-Eye to generate an image to support my decision – it was close to the longest 2 minutes of my life as it was a tight call that happened in the first couple of overs in the match – a lot goes through your mind in this time! DRS saved Cook when I gave him out LBW from an inside edge (and I could hear referee Ranjan Madugalle laughing from Sri Lanka) and he went on to score his highest ODI total of 137 which helped England to 260 runs from their 50 overs.

Pakistan were never in the hunt as they lost their first four wickets to the pace of Steve Finn – two LBWs in a row (that were not challenged) and then two caught behinds. Pakistan finally were dismissed for 113.

On our day off yesterday, I spent around 5 hours in meetings with my boss doing performance reviews and discussing upcoming training events and needs. Following that, I joined my umpiring team mates (Kumar Dharmasena and Aleem Dar) to do a ground inspection and we then stopped off at the large Mosque here for a visit.

It is the 3^rd largest Mosque in the world and is similar in stature and style to the Taj Mahal in India. Apart from being so big, you cannot be but amazed by the quality of coloured marble inlays, the cut crystal windows, hand made Persian carpets and spectacular domed ceilings with chandeliers.

We spent about an hour there at sunset – hope you like the photos, but they really don’t do it justice.

Yesterday, also being Valentine’s day, it was a little harder being away from home, so the next best thing was to spend the night and have a meal with all the match officials at a local Pakistani restaurant. Eight of us enjoyed some good, “hot” fresh dishes and were well fed for the princely sum of US$9 each!

Well, back to work today as 3^rd umpire for the second ODI and then back to Dubai tomorrow, so please take care and hug your loved ones. Simon.

It is the 3^rd largest Mosque in the world and is similar in stature and style to the Taj Mahal in India. Apart from being so big, you cannot be but amazed by the quality of coloured marble inlays, the cut crystal windows, hand made Persian carpets and spectacular domed ceilings with chandeliers. We spent about an hour there at sunset – hope you like the photos, but they really don’t do it justice.

The museum’s new website, www.plotyourpitch.com, allows both past and present cricketers to plot the location of their first game of structured cricket into the site and share it with their friends and family, encouraging them to do the same.

“Our objective is to map every ground around the world where cricket has been played, and to use the data collected as a geographical and educational resource” said Bradman Museum Curator, David Wells.

The data collected through Plot Your Pitch is then projected in the ‘World of Cricket’ gallery. All of the pitches and their accompanying images and stories can be accessed on a giant projected globe of the world that can be navigated by the visitor.

“Plot your Pitch creates a unique opportunity to view and share international cricketing experiences and contemplate the vast geographic reach of the game,” continued David.

Visitors to the website can use the search field to find their pitch, drag and drop the bat icon onto the pitch and add their own personal story which can be shared on Facebook and Twitter.

“And of course, Sir Donald Bradman’s details were the first to be entered into Plot your Pitch,” said David.

Bradman’s Plot your Pitch entry, of Glebe Park in Bowral from his first match in 1919, can be viewed at http://www.plotyourpitch.com/#pitch=56&story=62

Set adjacent to historic Bradman Oval, the very same cricket ground where the late Sir Donald Bradman honed the skills that made him the greatest cricketer in the history of the noble game, The International Cricket Hall of Fame offers a cricket experience unlike any other in the world.

Plot Your Pitch has been developed by the interaction design company Lightwell and museum designers Freeman Ryan Design. The project has been made possible with assistance from Google Australia.

Watson and Haddin will replace Simon Katich and Sean Abbott. Katich has residual concussion symptoms after the incident that occurred during the recent Tasmanian Shield match. He has been advised by Cricket NSW medical staff not to resume competitive cricket until these symptoms have fully resolved themselves.

Brad Haddin will keep wicket in the match.

Doug Bollinger (hamstring), Moises Henriques (side) and Josh Hazlewood (stress fractures – foot), were not considered for selection.

The squad is :
Stephen O Keefe ( Captain )
Trent Copeland
Scott Coyte
Brad Haddin
Nathan Hauritz
Phil Hughes
Usman Khawaja
Josh Lalor
Peter Nevill
Ben Rohrer
Steven Smith
Shane Watson