This week Fivemiletown musician Neil Hannon adds another string to his bow as he releases a new album under the guise of the 'Duckworth Lewis Method'.

The Duckworth Lewis Method is a cricket-inspired Irish pop group formed by Hannon of The Divine Comedy and Thomas Walsh of Pugwash, and is also the title of the group's forthcoming album, which is due to be released next Monday 6th July. A timely date which coincides with the Ashes tour. A concept album in keeping with the cricket theme, 12 tracks make up the album, of which one is instrumental. All tracks are connected to cricket. The album was mixed and recorded in Dublin, and mastered near Lord's, in Abbey Road Studios.

Hannon and Walsh have described their album as "a kaleidoscopic musical adventure through the beautiful and rather silly world of cricket."

For example the track 'Jiggery Pokery' is a Noel Cowardesque account of Mike Gatting facing the 'ball of the century' at the 1993 Ashes. It features guest cameo performances from Phil Jupitus, Alexander Armstrong, Matt Berry and more.

Overall the 'Duckworth Lewis Method' is a suitably eclectic, eccentric overview of cricket, and has been hailed as 'magnificent' by cricket lover Stephen Fry.

Hannon and Walsh first met at the wedding of Father Ted creator Graham Linehan. They then discovered a mutual, unfashionable fondness for symphonic rockers, ELO, whose influence can be found in the album's artwork and a hidden backwards track.

The pair also intend to perform live at this year's Latitude Festival on 17 July. They will appear on stage as a five-piece band this summer, with auxiliary members of the Divine Comedy and Pugwash making up the numbers.

The first single from the album called 'Age of Revolution' was released at the start of this week.