ing it on a direct line toward the flag.How about a walk-off on the first shot? I said as the ball floated toward the flagstick.Nope. It landed 18 feet aw

As English cricket votes in principle for a city-based T20 competition, and the ECB lifts its controversial non-disclosure agreement on the counties, we look at the movers and shakers in the game.1. Brett Gander, Australian fitness coach Gander has become one of the most trusted advisors to the ECB hierarchy after the rise of the Big Bash. Mate, jeez mate, you should take a gander at the Big Bash, mate. The crowds, mate, families, mate, and the weather, jeez, the weather. Cities are where its at mate, not this Outback Cricket. Ganders analysis is central to the ECBs belief that change in Englands T20 tournament is now essential.2. Jim Johnson, Chairman of Littleshire CC Johnson has been chairman of Littleshire, the smallest of the counties, for 35 years and has never really understood why he gets a vote on the issues that matter, especially at this time of year when he has little time to study the issues in detail as there is so much to do in the garden. How he votes is often immaterial, but the trip to London is always something to treasure and he particularly likes it when he is patted on the shoulder by someone over the canapés and told: Well done, Jack, you have served cricket well once again.3. Vaibhav Dey, Indian investor Dey is a rich and charismatic Indian businessman, still only 23, who has turned his attentions to cricket after being turned away from several English football clubs. Dey sees potential in English T20 as long as all matches start at noon, to attract an Indian TV audience, a proposal that the higher echelons of the ECB only dare discuss after a considerable intake of legal stimulants. Dey has already bought 20% of Northamptonshire in exchange for a season ticket with Royal Challengers Bangalore, and has become prominent because of his bestselling book The Name Game, in which he advocates that people should constantly change their name in order to be at one with their feelings. So Vaibhav, meaning one who looks after the universe, has been known to meet the ECB as Neerav (meaning silent) whenever he is unhappy with the pace of negotiations and Divit (immortal) when emphasising that he intends to be around for a very long time.4. Ronnie de Vere, manager at the Golden Fleece As one of St Johns Woods most strategically placed watering holes, the oak-panelled back bar of the Golden Fleece, with its hidden tables and low lighting, has long been a favourite of ECB administrators who have long valued Ronnies understanding that all conversation will remain entre nous. Naturally, like all such confidentialities, Ronnie regards it as appropriate to use his knowledge wisely, investing it in his favourite online bookmakers, which has led to a steady stream of Caribbean holidays over the years to escape North London winters. Occasional jaunts on administrators yachts add to the pleasure.5. Naomi, aged 7 ? Naomi, aged 7 ?, would be surprised to learn that she has had a huge influence on the ECBs plans for T20, but the day her grandad took her to the swings continues to have a decisive influence over the ECBs plans. Not only did she say: Whats a shire, Grandad? as she was regaled with details of a last-day run chase between Derbyshire and Leicestershire, but during the long-winded explanation that followed she burst into tears and fell off the swing, grazing her knee. Many a time the administrator concerned has stood up at a function and said: Ill tell you something now, before repeating this sorrowful tale, ending with the line: Itll take more than a sticking plaster to mend the problems with English cricket.6. Alfie McRuckus, TV producer The influence of McRuckus, a fiery, red-headed TV producer, on the delicate deliberations on English crickets future should not be underestimated. Rumours abound of how McRuckus passionate belief in the need for change has led ECB executives to cower in corners whenever he manages to gatecrash a late-night drinks party. He advocates the need for cricket to move closer to football with a greater commitment to sledging, the eyeballing of umpires at every opportunity, and regular post-match slating of the opposing coach whenever the opportunity presents itself. In his view, fan segregation is also a must. 7. Chinese hacker, unknown An unknown Chinese hacker has had access to all ECB internal emails for the past ten years and has taken great delight in the confusion he brings. At least 20 imaginary ECB employees are thought to have been employed by the hacker, to the confusion of senior management, who have never seen them but who nevertheless assume they are important enough to be put in charge of several important sub-committees. This explains the delay in many pressing decisions relating to T20, as emails are sent up and down the chain of command without any resolution. Eventually the hacker briefly tires of the disruption and announces a series of imaginary resignations to allow a few decisions to take place before the whole charade begins once more.8. Amelia Clutteridge, Tory Chair, city council Clutteridge had no wish for the city council she chairs to lend a county cricket club ￡5m at low rates of interest, especially as she has had to supervise the imposition of 30% cutbacks across the council budget, and personally she is sceptical of claims that a rain-affected one-day international brings an additional ￡350m to the local economy. But if she has to be forced into it, then she is damn well going to make sure the county club knows its duty when it comes to voting on whether it wants to bring a new county competition to the city.9. Julian Fellowship, chief executive of Be A Sport Be A Sport is regarded within English cricket as the leading Sports Business Group, valued for its assembly of a uniquely talented department offering unchallenged commercial, legal and financial expertise, including the ￡350m calculation above. All the latest analytical methodology, an appreciation of what drives and sustains business, plus an uncanny ability to conclude exactly what the ECB wants it to conclude has taken Be A Sport to new highs and has allowed its chief executive to claim with justification: Fellowship by name and fellowship by nature.10. Gerry Hatchett, ex-England captain and pundit There may be consternation at placing Hatchett as low as No. 10 on this list of Most Influential People in English cricket, which hopefully should bring some welcome publicity. There is nothing in cricket that Hatchett, down from No. 2 last year, does not know on account of the belief within the ECB that non-disclosure clauses naturally do not apply to former England captains, who have an unspoken right to know what millions of others dont on account of their proud cricketing service and the considerable influence that can be brought to bear on a Twitter following running to several million. Swell Wood Water Bottle . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Cheap Swell Traveler . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. http://www.swellbottlesale.com/ . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. SWell Bottle Sale .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Swell Bottles Wholesale . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. PHOENIX -- The dimpled ball soared in a parabolic arc, landing 10 feet behind and a little right of the flagstick. Immense spin created by crisp contact pulled the ball back on the firm, tightly-mown grass, slope turning the ball toward the cup.This was it. After more than 160 swings over three rounds, we were finally going to witness a hole-in-one.Instead, the ball trickled to a stop six inches to the right. Great shot, just not an ace.Think about all the rounds of golf youve played and how many hole-in-ones youve had, said Matthew Phillips, GM and head pro at Palm Valley Golf Club. Its not an easy thing to do.Thats for sure.According to the National Hole-in-One Registry, an average golfer has a 12,000-to-1 chance at an ace. Low-handicap players its a 5,000-to-1 shot, tour players 3,000 to 1.But its not just the odds that make aces among sports most magical moments.Unlike rolling 300 in bowling or tossing a no-hitter in baseball, a hole-in-one is possible for anyone, with a little skill and lots of luck; 3-year-olds are in the aces club, so are centenarian grandmothers.My buddy Jeff Locke and I were already members -- twice for me, once for him -- so we figured we could at least scare the hole if not knock one in, given enough cracks at it.We tried stacking the odds, playing Palm Valleys 4,745-yard Lakes Course because it has 10 par 3s instead of the standard four. Arizona also has the third-most aces in the United States, matching Michigan with 5 percent, so we were in a good place to do it.The quest nearly ended right after it started. Hitting first, Locke pured a wedge on the opening par 3 -- the 118-yard third hole -- sending it on a direct line toward the flag.How about a walk-off on the first shot? I said as the ball floated toward the flagstick.Nope. It landed 18 feet away to set up a good birdie chance, but no ace.Weve got this, I said as we walked back to the cart.Foolish thinking.The next three-plus hours were spent hitting balls toward flagsticks between 109 and 182 yards away, none really having any chance of going in. Our best shot after 15 holes and 60 shots -- we played the back 9 twice -- was 5 feet, by Locke on our second chance at No. 15.We originally planned to play one round, hopefully get our ace and be done with it. Disgusted with our performance, we wanted another shot.Maybe Ill get a ringger for the next round, said Locke, who works for golf marketing firm Communication Links.ddddddddddddHe did, adding aspiring tour player Kyle Maze and Dale Moseke of OB Sports Golf Management for our next round.Maze, who works at Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, had a fluid, effortless swing, the exact opposite of my Tin Man-lurching-at-the-ball move.He hit a couple of solid shots the first two par 3s, then stepped up to the 173-yard sixth hole.The 7-iron is my favorite club, Maze said as he took a couple practice swings with it. I had both of my hole-in-ones with a 7.It makes sense. Of all aces, 7-irons match 8-irons in producing the most, accounting for 14 percent each.Maze gave himself a chance at it, too, drawing a shot right at the flag.Perfectly on line, it hit six inches from the hole and ... kicked left. The ball stays straight, maybe it goes in. Instead, he had a 12-foot birdie putt -- another good shot, no ace.Maze and Moseke had to leave after nine holes, and Locke and I somehow got worse on the back nine; our closest shot was eight feet, again on No. 17.Well, that was pathetic, I said to Locke, who nodded his head in agreement. Guess well have to do this one more time.For the final round, we enlisted another ringer, Aaron Ramos, a junior at Desert Edge High School who won the 2015 Division II state championship.Locke and I hit some good shots -- seven inside 10 feet -- before being joined by Ramos and Junior Golf Association of Arizona executive director Scott McNevin for a second 18.After some quality shots on the front nine, Ramos stepped to the 10th tee with pitching wedge in hand.With a fluid motion, he sent a shot that appeared to be too far right. Once it hit the green, spin pulled the ball back as if it were on a string anchored inside the cup. We watched with hope as the ball took the slope toward the cup, only to grimace as it stopped just to the right.I think that was the one, I said.It was. We really didnt come close after that.One hundred-seventy four swings between a golf professional, a top junior player, three people who work in the golf industry and one hacking sports writer, and no hole-in-one.According to the odds, thats precisely what should have happened. ' ' '