The 40-year-old former England international played four games for Stockton in January this year and was well liked and respected by most at the peninsula club.

"I thought he was a great bloke," Stockton president Ron Hancock said. "He was really good around the team and was a pretty laid-back sort of bloke.

"I've read things on websites about how he has abused and been rude to people, but we never saw anything like that.

"I never, ever would have picked him for something like that."

* Newcastle District Cricket Association officials are concerned about the growing problem of vandalism of pitches after being forced to postpone last Sunday's Tom Locker Cup semi-final.

The match between Stockton and Toronto Workers was scheduled to be played at Waratah Oval, but vandals watered the wicket overnight and it was too wet for play on Sunday.

It is the second time hoses have been placed under the covers the night before a match between the two sides this season.

Both teams were seeded high enough to progress to the second round of the one-day knockout competition when the same thing happened at Toronto's Ron Hill Oval in October.

"It is a growing problem and something that we really need to look at," NDCA chairman Paul Marjoribanks said.

Three other first-grade games and some lower-grade matches have been affected by vandals this season.

* Cardiff-Boolaroo's English imports Nick Lamb and Steve Coleman are running cricket coaching clinics over the school holidays for those interested in advancing their skills.

There will be morning sessions for beginners between the age of eight and 11, and in the afternoon the more elite players will be put through their paces.

The cost is about $30 per session, and that includes net practice, playing matches and access to video analysis of their performance.

Contact Lamb on 0404 100 157 or Coleman on 0410 465 773 for more information.