Posted by Mark Williams on 11 Aug 2000
Thanks to all at The Cricketer and everyone else who helped to organise such a wonderful festival of cricket. Having played in this form of the game for about 30 years, it was a wonderful experience to be part of it all, and to renew countless frendships. The dinner last night was a particularly joyous occasion. Do try to organise another one before I'm too old to play! Many thanks once again.

Posted by Nick Wheatley on 11 Aug 2000
a big thank you to the organizers of the festival. i ran a team for the wiltshire queries on wed. and played on mon. and was very impressed by the good spirit of everyone..good cricket, good fun..another one please. with thanks, nick.

Posted by Clayers on 10 Aug 2000
Unfortunately I am unable to attend the festival, but am keeping touch via the internet & particularly the daily match reports. Although Tom Scanlan's fare is good, I must complement Mr John Westerby on his reporting. He appears to have entered into the spirit of the whole occasion splendidly. I understand that he is a pup journalist, but on this form will go far. Bravo, John & well played sir!

Posted by Jon Ford on 10 Aug 2000
Thoroughly enjoyable: congratulations to all involved in the organisation: why didn't I stay all week. 'Declaration cricket' is the very ethos of all the participating clubs & in general encourages attacking, imaginative cricket in all departments of the game. You can play your formulaic overs game with your Saturday league team. Let's do it again.

Posted by Debra Tuohy on 10 Aug 2000
To the Stanley Cricket Club From all of us in the Eastern Cape we hope you are having a great time. We notice you won your first game and are doing well today. Well done. Do they keep some Castle's in the nearest pub for you guys? I hope your President (my boet) is having a great time and setting a good example of how to have some fun. Cheers

Posted by Duncan Fletcher on 10 Aug 2000
F.O.A. Charles Wollaston. Are you available for the Oval Test?

Posted by julian mcalpine on 10 Aug 2000
Really enjoyable festival playing in great surroundings against bizarrely-named teams. Some brilliant jazz-hattery (is that a word?)going on. I wish it took place more often than every thousand years (only S. Ox Ams keeper will still be playing then). Excellently organised, great atmosphere and Park End club was really kicking on Monday night(Jim Harper has the moves!). Warning to anyone playing Leics Gents - drop down the order, Charlie Wollaston is bowling express.

Posted by Peter Booth on 9 Aug 2000
I umpired matches on the first two days. Wish I could have done all four. Please do it again next year.

Posted by Peter Barnes on 9 Aug 2000
For Gentlemen of Philadelphia. Please contact me re fixture for Radlet on Friday next. What strenght team and do you want a BBQ afterwards. Watchout as I am playing !Phone 01438 832906 or e-mail Cheers and good luck Peter

Posted by Phil Nuttall on 9 Aug 2000
Tell the Gentlemn of Philadelphia we have every confidence in a tournament championship.........great knock craig

Posted by Peter Farrow on 9 Aug 2000
Please pass my best wishes to Stuart(Tiger) Surridge - is he now bleaching his hair? And is Charlie Webber still paying for Romany?

Posted by jim north on 9 Aug 2000
Hello, Firstly, I'd like to wish you all the very best for the festival. How does one get involved in the tournament? I run a roaming team called The Commandos and we play 15 matches a season as well as the odd tour - this year we're going to Sri Lanka. We have a squad of around 30 keen players and although we're not brilliant, we do love the game. We're based in London and we play villages in Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Oxfordshire. Our home ground is the Jesus pitch. I'd be very interested to know if we might be eligible for next year. All the best, Jim North

Posted by Simon Prodger on 8 Aug 2000
Having played on the opening day for Stragglers Of Asia, I would like to commend all those involved in the running of the festival....(note to Ben Brocklehurst)...Sorry for the delayed start - we managed to finish in time despite all. Hope you enjoy the rest of the week.

Posted by Piers Inkin on 8 Aug 2000
To Tim Brocklehurst The most fantastic day yesterday on what was the first day of the festival.As I sit at my desk now,I cannot think for the life of me why I did not take the rest of the week off for what and partake fully in what is a unique occasion.You have achieved a quite remarkable feat and I hope that the many months (years!) of hard work have been worth it from your point of view.From a players perspective it will be a joy to play some competitive cricket on some very good wickets and judging by the Christchurch pitch yesterday,the Groundsmen at Oxford have been working very hard to make it a success.I hope that the rest of the week goes well and many congratulations to you all.

Posted by Kathy Jackson on 8 Aug 2000
I watched my husband and son play for the Wiltshire Queries against Romany on Monday whilst my nine year old helped with the scoreboard and enthusiastically fetched balls. What a wonderful days cricket and such a friendly and fun atmosphere from both teams, may the rest of Oxford 2000 continue in such a vein

Posted by Tony Bradshaw on 8 Aug 2000
Just to say that while I understand it's very charming to play declaration matches, I think this tournament would benefit enormously from some competition. e.g. South Africa have a country districts cricket week comprising 12 teams in two pools of six to play five matches. Top two teams go througn to semi-finals on Saturday with the final on Sunday. I'm not a great fan of declaration cricket - particularly when yesterday we lost to the South Oxford Amateurs in a match we would have won quite easily had we received the same number of overs we bowled to them. This kind of cricket is wonderful for bonding but too contrived on the field!!!

Posted by Matthew Knight on 8 Aug 2000
What a tremendous idea. Many thanks and congratulations to the organisers. I only wish that I could have played more than one game!!