Kent Cricket News ------------------------------------------------- http://www.kent.cricket.org ----------------------- Sun 31 Jan 1999 FIVE WICKETS FOR EALHAM Mark Ealham recorded the third best figures in a one-day international by an English player on Friday in the Carlton and United Series match at the WACA. England beat Sri Lanka by a huge 128-run margin as Ealham took 5 for 32 from 10 overs. Neil Fairbrother's 81 was the main contribution in England's 227-7, they then proceeded to dismiss Sri Lanka for just 99 with nearly 17 overs to spare - Jayasuriya the top scorer with 40 as only two other batsmen could make it into double figures. CricInfo has a full scorecard of the game along with reports from three newspapers, all accessible from our tournament pages. --------------------------------------------------------------------- PRESS RELEASE: Planting of new Lime Tree Kent County Cricket Club issued the following statement on Friday: Kent County Cricket Club has decided to plant a new lime tree on the St Lawrence Ground at Canterbury. This new tree may eventually replace the famous old lime that has graced the boundary at the ground for around 180 years. There are no plans to chop down the old lime at present but our intention is to be prepared for a time in the unforeseeable future when the old tree either dies, falls or becomes unsafe. When this does occur the Club will transplant the young and vigorous lime into its place. The new tree, a Tilia Platyphyllos, will be planted about 25 yards back from the boundary. It is about 18 foot high and it will be `rootballed'. This means the tree has its roots partly encased and then can be pruned two years before any possible transplantation. This technique is a thoroughly reliable way of planting a large tree and is also guaranteed by the supplier, Civic Trees from Hertfordshire. The old lime was last examined in detail in 1996 by Mr John Dolwin, a well known arboricultural expert in the South East, who carried out an internal investigation on the trunk using a Sibert decay drill. This revealed the density of the trunk. The Club's own tree surgeon, Mark Jones from Sandwich who is trained at Merrist Wood and John Lambourne, the Canterbury City Council tree expert were both present on that occasion. At that time it was considered to be in reasonable vigour for it's age. The tree was inspected again late last year and a certain amount of deadwood, not visible in the summer was found. Some pruning and reduction in the top part of the tree is to be done in the next few weeks. All these decisions that have been made about the tree by the Club are made with advice from these experts. The Club has received advice, even some poetry, from other experts and enthusiasts and for this we are appreciative and grateful. As with all living objects it is not possible always to be correct in predicting the future. No one can foresee if the old tree will last another five or fifteen years. It is, however, the Club's intention to be positive and to make plans to preserve this fine tradition. This ceremony is about planting for the future. The ceremony at 10.00 a.m. on Tuesday 2nd February is to be led by Mr A Levick, the President, who will be joined by one of the Club's oldest members, E W Swanton and one of it's youngest, six year old Nathan Perry from Chartham. Members of the Club and the public are welcome to attend this occasion. --------------------------------------------------------------------- We've been asked to mention that if you want to advertise on the Kent CCC official website (which will be launching later in the year at www.kentcountycricket.co.uk) you can email the club's marketing department at this address: marketing.kent@ecb.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------