Perhaps some one somewhere has been reading Huttonian's comments on the poor state of cricket in this part of the world-if so the letter published in the Berwickshire yesterday is most encouraging Hutton Think Tank has been asked to produce a study on 'Hutton's role in retaining the Ashes' (at stake again next Winter in Oz) So far the report is a very short one and the analysts in the Sports and Media section (Media as Cricket success is mostly spin) will welcome this grist to their mill. Certainly Hutton and Paxton CC will be privileged to challenge the next international touring side to a game of Kwik Kricket on the Paxton Village Green. We are currently X players short of an XI but active recruitment is in hand. If the Borders can beat Middlesex then a team of Huttonians/Paxtonians should surely see off the overage and underpreforming Aussies. Nae Bother, in two words


SIR, - In the light of a recent comment on cricket in Scotland, we should like to remind readers of the healthy state of the game in the Borders at both senior and junior levels.The South of Scotland Cricket Association has 12 member clubs.Within it the Border League first teams take part in a league and two knock-out tournaments.In addition the reserve teams play on Sundays and there are weekly practices in the nets.The attractive grounds and the pitches are for the most part maintained by voluntary and enthusiastic effort.At the junior level, the South fields Under-16, Under-14 and Under-12 aged teams in inter-district competitions. In the winter, the young are offered coaching in the nets at Hawick High School, in addition to the practices organised by the local clubs in the course of the summer.Cricket Scotland have a Borders Development Officer, who takes the game to the primary schools in the form of a Kwik Cricket, under the auspices of the local government Sports Development Unit in Galashiels, which also provides courses in the summer holidays. Nor are the girls neglected.This year has been a particularly successful one and a Select Border XI defeated an English touring club from Middlesex.The standard of our play is high with St Boswells and Kelso vying for top place.Penicuik is now firmly established in the National League, and we hope that one of our leading teams may join them.Our cricket is a hands-on game, bat, ball and mowing machine, and flourishing.(name witheld to frustrate lionisation Blog-ed))  ¶ 4:27 PM