A moment of silence was observed at the start of Friday’s (Dec 5) Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce (ICCC) Sports Forum in memory of the promising young Australian cricketer Philip Hughes, who had died after being struck by a rising ball.
The morning session began with guest of honour, Mr. Bal Gosal, Canada’s Minister of Sports, ICC President, Mr. Dharma P. Jain, and board members taking their seats on the front podium. ICCC Vice-President, Mr. Tony Chawla, then said: “Friends, before we start our morning, I would like to have one minute’s silence for the late cricketer Philip Hughes. who just passed away.” Silence was then observed.

Condolences on the Cricket Canada Website and Social Media
Cricket Canada had posted website and facebook tributes to Philip Hughes: “all connected with Cricket Canada have expressed its deepest sympathy to Phil Hughes’ family, friends and the Australian cricket fraternity. Internet links to TV, and radio feeds of the funeral service via the Cricket Australia website were subsequently provided.
Cricket Canada’s facebook postings received recognition from some of cricket’s global family.
Some of the Canadian-Australian cricketing links
Canadian cricket has had many relationships with Australian cricket, cricketers and officials over the years. During the course of the forum it was said that Canada’s best cricketer has been John Davison, who played for Canada in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 ICC Cricket World Cups. Davison struck what was then the fastest century in a World Cup against the West Indies at Centurion Park, Centurion, South Africa, during the 2003 World Cup that helped spark interest in Canadian cricket.
During the forum it was stated that current Canadian national team coach Mukesh Narula, and Canadian women’s team member Monali Patel each hold Cricket Australia level 3 coaching certificates. An invitation for women to attend try-out sessions are headed by Monali Patel on Monday evenings at the Sorkkam facilities in Scarborough, Ontario appeared during November.
Around the start of November 2014 a Cricket Australia a coaching clinic had been held in the Toronto area for Canadian coaches interested in advancing their coaching knowledge and certifications. Practical sessions associated with the course had been hosted at Qasra Sports, Etobicoke.
The late Clifford Cox will have had a leading hand, over the years, in arranging tours for club and representative team tours to and from Australia as a result of the many relationships he built with the international cricketing fraternity. He was well respected by those associated with the “original MCC” – the Marylebone Cricket Club – but he was doubtless known by some at Australia’s Melbourne Cricket Club. A commemoration of Cliff Cox’s contribution to Canadian cricket was held in the pavilion after the 2012 MCC touring party had played a game with a British Columbia XI.
The original M.C.C. first published what eventually became the accepted laws of cricket in 1788. Some “Noblemen and Gentlemen” who played at the Royal Artillery ground in London, England, published a code of laws of cricket in 1744. That code applied to games played at that ground. But the date of that code will be the reason why someone answered “1744″ when Mukesh Narula asked Friday’s gathering “When was cricket first played?”.
The first Australian tour to Canada
The Australians first played in Canada during October 1878 as part of a tour of North America. The Australians beat an Ontario 22 by ten wickets in Toronto and drew against a Montreal 22. It was not unusual in that era of cricket for a powerful team to play with 11 against a batting line-up of 22 opponents.
Tom Garrett took 12 wickets for 16 runs as the Ontario first innings ended on 100 all out. The Australians made 123, bowled out Ontario for 54 then hit 32/0 to win by ten wickets. Frederick Spofforth took 10 wickets for 13 runs in the Ontario second innings to add to his 7/47 in the first innings. Garrett did not take a wicket in the Ontario second innings.
Montreal won the toss, elected to bat and was bowled out by the tourists for 91. Spofforth took 8/39, Garrett captured 5/5 but top bowling honours went to Frank Allen’s 8/24. Charles Bannerman struck 125 for the Australians who ended the drawn two-day game on 319/9.
Charles Bannerman played three test matches for Australia, peaking with an innings of 165 not out. Spofforth and Garrett were right-arm fast-medium bowlers. Spofforth captured 94 wickets in his 18 test matches, Garrett took 36 wickets during his 19 test matches. Allan was a left-arm pace bowler who picked up four wickets in his one test career.
In the current era of cricket’s as an emerging sport in Canada, it was fitting that John Davison played his last international game for Canada against Australia, the land where he developed his cricket, at the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. Davison has been helping to coach and develop talent in the ongoing effort for Australia to remain at or near the top of the cricketing tree.
John Davison’s appearances for Canada included 31 One Day International matches, five first- class ICC InterContinental Cup games and five T20 internationals. His top-score in ODIs was his 111 against the West Indies in the 2003 ICC Cricket World Cup. His best first-class score was 165 against Bermuda in 2006. Davison took 17 wickets for 137 runs in Canada’s May 2005 Intercontinental Cup win against the USA in Florida.
Michael Clarke’s moving tribute to Phil Hughes
I must admit that it was only during this past weekend that I listened to the very emotional and moving tribute Michael Clarke gave at Phil Hughes funeral. Clarke had clear feelings that the presence or spirit of Philip Hughes was still with him: “I don’t know about you, but I keep looking for him. I know it is crazy but I expect any minute to take a call from him, or to see his face pop around the corner. Is this what we call the spirit? If so, then then his spirit is still with me. And I hope it never leaves.”
“I walked to the middle of the SCG (Sydney Cricket Ground) on Thursday night…..I could see him swagger back to the other end, grin at the bowler, and call me through for a run with such a booming voice a bloke in the car park would hear it……Is this what indigenous Australians believe about a person’s spirit being connected with the land upon which they walk? If so, I know they are right about the SCG.”
Michael Clarke spoke of the reactions of the cricketing fraternity around the world. He talked about “The bonds that saw players old and new rush to his bedside from wherever they heard the news to say their prayers and farewells. This is what makes our sport the greatest sport in the world.”
“Philip’s spirit, which is now part of our game forever, will act as a custodian of the sport we love. We must listen to it. We must cherish it. We must learn from it. We must dig in and play through to tea. And we must play on.”
A powerful message to remember in the sunshine, rain, snow and darkness, the dark and light of all our lives. All living things are meant to live in harmony, is a very simplified synopsis at the heart of Canadian aboriginal teachings.
Rest and peace to Philip Hughes. May his family and friends live on in the strength of his achievements in what, sadly, became a short life, and the strength of his memory that may last into future generations.
Eddie Norfolk