Here’s a bite-size compilation of the latest news from the club cricket scene. Some of it’s proper village.

Plans to erect a £100,000 life-sized statue of George Michael outside his hideaway cottage in Goring-on-Thames have hit a snag after the local cricket club lodged an official objection, claiming their pitch would be damaged by fans and their neighbours could be deprived of hearing the splendid sound of leather on willow.

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Talbot CC player Craig Rochford completed a 24-hour net session in December to raise funds for fellow player Rob Franks to have his leg amputated. Franks represents the Middlesex Disability side and coaches Ellingham CC, but two serious leg injuries have left him in constant pain. During the fundraiser, Rochford was bowled on just 11 occasions from the 5,880 balls (980 overs) he faced.

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A former policeman who stole nearly £30,000 from Lascelles Hall CC between 2011 and 2014 will have to pay back just £20 of his ill-gotten gains, reported The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Matthew Essex, 36, a former treasurer of the club, received a suspended sentence in 2016. He appeared at Leeds Crown Court earlier this month for a proceeds of crime hearing, but Essex’s available assets fell £29,313.19 short of the total owed.

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Wicketkeeper Phil Stride was involved in a hat-trick of run outs in a corporate indoor match dubbed the ‘Tunnelling Ashes’ at The Oval. When Tideway, who are building the ‘Super Sewer’ underneath the Thames, met Crossrail, constructors of a new network of rail tunnels, Stride’s direct throw claimed the first run out before he collected returns from other Tideway fielders to make it three in three balls.

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The Yorkshire Cricket Foundation has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Yorkshire’s Cricket Heritage: A Lasting Legacy project.