Let's hear it for the Catapulta!

I've been following comments on the Barclays website re Frank's Sidearm and notice occasional outraged comments from dog-owners who have been using something similar to chuck balls at their pets for years. BUT, as other commentators point out, wearily, cricketers and dogs are, would you believe it  ... different!  The doggie chuck gave Frank his idea but the adaptation is all his own (and registered as such with the patent lawyers).

A much more erudite comment came from Barry Kernon (of life-saving accountants H.W. Fisher) who drew our attention to one Nicholas Wanostrocht (born 1804) - who prefered to be known as Nicholas Felix. He was, says www.cricinfo "one of the most remarkable cricketers of all times ... a talented man, being a classical scholar, musician, linguist, inventor, author and an artist. During his life he did much to improve cricket, for he invented the Catapulta, a bowling machine, originated indiarubber batting gloves and, as an author, left behind him several books and small works on the arts of the game." If anyone knows what a Catapulta looked like we'd love to see it - but did c19th century dog owners raise any objections? For the latest on Frank Thorogood's sidearm go to www.sidearm-cricket.com

The Essex Chronicle has now had its say on the 'cricket-mad farmer'   - mad farmer would seem to be the executive summary.