Irish Cricket Weekend previews: Given the upcoming matches against Ireland of his national team, it is something of a coincidence that Zimbabwe-born all-rounder Patrick Gada will be in action for Clontarf as they take on last year's outright winners
Railway Union in tomorrow's LHB Leinster Senior League Section B match at Castle Avenue.
And, by another quirk of fate, one of the umpires is a fellow country-man of Gada's - Eldon Gilmour, who moved to Ireland last season, and who has stood at one-day international level in the past.
The match, originally fixed for today, was switched by mutual agreement because of this afternoon's AIB League Division 1 play-off between Clontarf and Buccaneers. Which is sure to mean a busy sporting weekend for Clontarf's Ronan O'Reilly, a young man well versed by now in the arts of cricket and rugby.
Zimbabwe, under their captain Heath Streak, arrived on Thursday in England, and will meet the home side in two Tests on May 22nd and June 5th, as well as competing in a one-day international series. They are scheduled to play Ireland at Stormont on Friday, June 13th, and again on Sunday 15th at Eglinton.
According to English media sources, campaigns to protest against Robert Mugabe's reign and the presence of his country's cricketers are already well past the planning stage. "A controversial tour which seems certain to face a campaign of demonstrations that could be as disruptive as those which blighted the South African rugby tour three decades ago" was the recent prediction of the Independent on Sunday; the "Stop the Tour" group is being led by veteran campaigner Peter Thatchell.
Railway, chasing their second successive league victory this season, will be without their talented wicketkeeper, batsman and captain Niall O'Brien, currently on a month's trial with Kent, so Aidan Murphy takes over as skipper. The team includes a few new additions: Australian left-hand opening bat Olly Hodges and Gary Black, who has migrated to the southside from Phoenix.
Last weekend, Railway had a narrow, seven-run away win over Leinster, with Kenny Carroll contributing a useful 43. A full schedule of senior league matches (not forgetting the lower grades) is on offer over the weekend, while the North West League Senior One also continues today and tomorrow.
North West League champions Brigade have lost former Ireland wicketkeeper Alan Rutherford, who has returned to Woodvale.
UMPIRES - Today: Leinster Senior League Section A: At Anglesea Road: S Daultrey, D Walsh; At Balrothery: A Tuffery, M Sheridan: At Milverton: P Thew, G Lyons. Section B: At Rathmines: M Russell, P Byrne; At Phoenix CC: R O'Reilly, L Fourie. Middle B League: At Terenure: L Hewson, N Adams; At Sydney Parade: J Bristow, B Goodwin. Senior 3 League: S Moore, J Fennell.
Tomorrow: Leinster Senior League Section A: At Kenure: D Walsh, J Bristow. Section B; At Castle Avenue: Clontarf v Railway Union: N Parnell, E Gilmour. Senior 2 League: At Rathmines: D Watson, S Moore; At Malahide: D Thompson, M Russell; At Anglesea Road: G Lyons, J Ford; At Sydney Parade: S Daultrey, B Gailey.
Monday: Leinster Senior League Section A: At Balrothery: R O'Reilly, P O'Hara. Section B: At Phoenix CC: P Thew, P White; At Park Avenue: A Tuffery, R Molins. Middle A League: At Castle Avenue: L Hewson, S McCann; At Kenure: N Adams, A Hughes. Senior 3 League: At Anglesea Road: S Moore, P Cooke.
CLONTARF: I Synnott (capt), T Fourie, A Cusack, C D'Arcy, P Gada, J Flynn, P Lee, G Molins, R Maybury, R O'Reilly, K Spelman.
RAILWAY UNION: A Murphy (capt), K O'Brien, G O'Brien, G Carroll, K Carroll, O Hodges, R Whelan, C Mullen, G Black, P Johnson, R Wynne.
