International Cricket Council awards CIMA Canada -- Posted Monday, April 30 2007
The CIMA Canada Mayor’s trophy 2006 received the International Cricket Council's award for the best cricket promotional and marketing event in the Americas. This is the second consecutive year in which CIMA Canada has received this award.
The Toronto Mayor's trophy is the main promotional event for CIMA Canada and has attracted a crowd in excess of 500 people. In 2006, the event (and CIMA) was promoted at some of the busiest subway stations in Toronto for six weeks and information was sent directly to senior corporate executives. Interviews with CIMA spokespeople were broadcast on three popular TV stations and CIMA received coverage in a number of national newspapers in Canada.
CIMA Canada and cricket
CIMA is a UK-based leading membership body that offers an internationally recognised professional qualification in management accountancy, focusing on accounting for business. CIMA has 155,000 members and students in 158 countries. There are approximately 1,000 CIMA members – professionally-qualified management accountants - in the GTA. CIMA members in Canada have roots in cricket-playing nations, a sport that is loved by many Toronto communities - yet have very limited opportunities in which to enjoy this sport. Recognising this need, CIMA Canada has organised an annual cricket event for CIMA members and their families since 2000. The event has grown in popularity and profile since its inception.
In July 2005 CIMA formed a partnership with Bell Canada to expand this event to cricket-loving Torontonians and invited Toronto Mayor David Miller and Police Chief Bill Blair to play cricket at the event. CIMA in partnership with Bell Canada sponsored the entire event with free BBQ lunch, tea and children’s play area.
Special invitations
Mayor David Miller,
Police Chief Bill Blair,
Toronto Transit Commission GM Rick Ducharme,
Consular representatives in Toronto,
City of Toronto councillors,
Ontario Transport Minister Harinder Takhar,
Immigration Minister Mike Colle,
MPPs and corporate executives.
CIMA Canada has received tremendous support from all three major newspapers in Toronto. Phillip Crawley - Publisher & CEO of the Globe and Mail, Steve McAllister, sports editor of the Globe and Mail, Graham Parley, sports editor of the Toronto Star, David Walmsley, foreign-national editor for the Toronto Star, Jim Jennings, editor-in-chief of the Toronto Sun and Pat Grier, the sports editor Toronto Sun, have all joined their respective cricket teams to celebrate cricket with CIMA Canada.
ICC Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Award Celebration of Cricket – CIMA (Canada)is noted at:-
Information about the awards on the ICC website,
ICC Best Cricket Promotional and Marketing Award Celebration of Cricket – CIMA (Canada) is noted at:-
http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/development/annual_awards/2006/2006_winners.html
Some of Canada's fixtures for 2007 -- Posted Monday, April 30 2007
ICC Intercontinental Cup, 2007
Thursday June 28 - Sunday July 1 2007
Canada v Netherlands
Venue to be confirmed in Toronto
Saturday 7 - Tuesday 10 July 2007
Canada v United Arab Emirates
Venue to be confirmed in Canada
Friday 12 - Monday 15 October 2007
Kenya v Canada
Venue to be confirmed in Kenya
Thursday 25 - Sunday 28 October 2007
Namibia v Canada
Venue to be confirmed in Namibia
A Canadian umpire reports on the WC2007 final -- Posted Sunday, April 29 2007
After all the criticisms leveled at the I.C.C. over the way the 2007 Cricket World Cup was so badly mismanaged, it was important that the Final at Kensington Oval should be a success. Sad to say, the game descended into farce instead, and only the Australian fans went home happy.
Not all the problems were man-made, it is true: the tropical downpours that forced a delay of two hours and three-quarters were beyond the control of the I. C. C. As a result, the I. C. C. powers that be were then forced to
make a difficult decision: either play the game on the Saturday, with the number of overs per side reduced, or elect to have the full game played on the rain day, Sunday.
No doubt the knowledge that too many bigwigs, as well as ticketholders, had been so overconfident that the game would take place on the scheduled date, and had booked their departure from Barbados on the Sunday, plus the
undoubted pressure from the TV authorities that the game take place, to avoid conflicts with their other programming, led the I. C. C. to decide to play a reduced-overs game.
Was the decision to play 38 overs a side correct? It has been some time since I have had to calculate the loss of overs per side caused by a delay to the start to a match. If the calculations are still based on one over
lost per four minutes the game is delayed, then, even with the reduction of the interval to ten minutes from forty (which was done), you have to factor in a loss of 34 overs in total, or 17 per side (based on a total delay of
135 minutes). In other words, should it have been 33 overs per side, not 38?
It might be that there was something else that was overlooked as well.
Barbados is the closest island in the Caribbean to the Equator, where darkness descends much more rapidly than it does in more temperate zones.
Once the game began, it looked as though things would work out. We had great (albeit hot and humid) weather, and were treated to a sparkling display of power hitting by Adam Gilchrist. Sri Lanka were relying on Vaas, Malinga and Murali to contain the Australian batsmen, but Gilchrist soon took Vaas out of equation by hitting him for six and four off of consecutive balls in the bowlers second over. Malinga bowled well, but was inexplicably
taken off after he had completed just four of his eight overs, and Murali contained the Australians, at least at the start of his spell. Australia, however, piled on 281 runs in their innings, a truly awesome performance.
With so many sixes and fours being struck, more time was used up retrieving the ball and getting it back to the bowler. Not surprisingly, it also had to be replaced (and probably is now in a cricket ball hospital under intensive
case!).
The second innings also began well, but then the clouds began to gather again, and the light began to fade quite noticeably. Sri Lanka fought back, and, for a while, was on a par with the Australian score at the same time in
the innings: there was the potential for a sparkling finish. Unfortunately, the rains came, and we were treated to a spectacle of star international cricketers being called upon to play in unacceptable conditions. It began to rain, the light deteriorated, and the umpires eventually took the players off the field. Six minutes later, they were back, and two overs had been lost, so the target score was reduced to 269. Then it rained, the light
worsened, and the umpires took the players off the field for a second and (so we thought) final time.
The Australian players and fans began to celebrate, the covers came out, and the 30-yard discs were removed.
We thought the game was over. But no!! A few minutes later, a member of the ground staff appeared, and put the 30-yard discs back, off came the covers, and the stumps were replaced. Half of the (totally inadequate) floodlights were switched on and then switched off again!
In light conditions bordering on ridiculous, the remaining three overs were completed. Could the public see anything? I doubt it. Certainly from my seat, way up in the North Stand, I saw virtually nothing.
Throughout the game, the Public Address system had made totally incomprehensible announcements, so when it came to the Awards Ceremony, not much could be expected. In fact, we got nothing at all! If the North Stand had been supplied with loudspeakers (I did not see any), they were not working. Despite chants of “Turn up the volume!” nothing was ever audible.
All in all, this was a sad end to the game, which had started with such sparkle.
In my previous column, I complimented the CWC volunteers in Barbados for their friendliness and helpfulness. The entire complement of volunteers ran a lap of honour around the ground during the interval. It was fully deserved.
N.B:- Since preparing this article, I have read that the Match Referee, Geoff Crowe, has admitted that he made an error, in that he insisted that the final three overs would have had to be bowled the
following day to conclude the match. Had that happened, I am sure that there would have been riot if that had happened! The captains decided to bowl out the last three overs to get the game over.
Article submitted by Colin Hoare.
Legends at Skydome revisited -- Posted Sunday, April 29 2007
To say that I was disappointed by how things turned out at the so-called Legends of Cricket match in Toronto on March 3 would be an understatement. The ineptness of the organizers meant that a match that had the potential to be a roaring success in front of a crowd of 40,000 or more, turned out to be a damp squib played out in front of paltry numbers that even the most generous estimate would put at no more than 10,000. It was depressing to see so many empty stands knowing that there were legions of cricket fans in the city and indeed the country, that didn’t turn up. Having said that, they didn’t miss much. The game was a dud - done and dusted in no time, with only two actual legends on hand, in the shape of Wasim Akram and Abdul Qadir. Under the circumstances we should be thankful that they were even there, though bizarrely Qadir bowled less than one over and was Pakistan’s captain for the match when Akram had been advertised as captain from the very beginning. But that is a minor gripe. The bigger issue is that the roster kept changing from the time the match was first announced. The website’s front page by the way, never listed the players who were scheduled to appear, with the information buried in the site. It is elementary that the first thing a fan looking to buy tickets would want to know is who’s playing.
Players like Mohammad Azharuddin, Rameez Raja and Moin Khan were at one time or another advertised on the roster and were then taken off without explanation. More unforgivable is that even today, with the match now confined to the trashcan of Canadian cricket history, the website still lists Aamer Sohail and Rashid Latif as a part of the Pakistani team. The organizers did not even have the basic sense to have a disclaimer on their website that the roster was subject to change. That could have perhaps diminished the disappointment of the group of young cricket fans who stopped me after the game to ask if I knew why Sohail didn’t play. They had bought tickets specifically to see him.
I am compelled to mention the utterly ridiculous television ad that also greeted people anytime they went on the event’s official website. The script was as follows: “In 1991 they came to fight for the victory (sic) now they are back to finish… the Game!” What on earth does that even mean? How does that sell tickets or generate interest in the match? And then there was the event logo, which I assume is a giant cricket ball being hit out of the Rogers Centre, but looks more like deadly radiation from the Red Sun of Krypton assaulting the building. Not even Superman could salvage this disaster.
With virtually no advertising in mainstream media, it seems the idea was that word of mouth would be enough to get fans to the stadium. The amateur nature of the promotional effort is all the more infuriating when hardly any information made its way to legitimate cricket journalists and yet the organizers anticipated that foreign media would cover the event. The press box was ill-equipped (no Internet connection, for crying out loud!) and for some reason had more hangers-on than journalists.
The organizers may not have paid any attention to the media, but in sycophantic fashion, efforts were not spared in trying to secure A-List dignitaries. While it was pleasing to see the likes of Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle lending their support to an event that meant something to Ontario’s South Asian community, I was also simultaneously distressed at what opinions they might be forming about the province’s cricket community.
I had a pleasant chat with Minister Colle and discovered that he had a good understanding of what cricket means to a sizeable section of Ontario’s population. Recognizing this, the Ontario government has recently given one million dollars to the Ontario Cricket Association and one can only hope that there will be tangible results for cricket in the province.
But the continued support of the government and for that matter, corporate Canada should not be taken for granted. At the gala dinner, government ministers and the major corporate sponsors of the match were generous in their praise for this lacklustre, poorly attended and ineptly organized event. They will however have every right to be sceptical the next time someone comes knocking at their door looking for support for cricket. The Canadian Cricket Association must also be more selective and cautious before throwing its weight behind cricket related events. The sport is still not on a solid enough footing to afford alienating those who could be its benefactors. (Faraz Sarwat)
Faraz Sarwat’s book, “The Cricket World Cup: History, Highlights, Facts and Figures” is available at www.thescore.ca/cricket
Article sourced from:-http://www.thescore.ca/blogs/index.asp?name=sportsworld/2007/03/legends_of_cric.html
It's not ju$t cricket -- Posted Saturday, April 28 2007
The largest sporting event in West Indies history, the Cricket World Cup will put the nine host countries on the global map.
Barry Critchley, Financial Post
Published: Saturday, April 28, 2007
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados
Financial Post readers know Barry Critchley is passionate about the financial world. But some readers may not know he is also passionate about cricket. A former university player in his native Australia, Mr. Critchley talks about cricket with the same enthusiasm that many Canadians bring to talk about hockey. Today, Mr. Critchley is in his element -- his team, Australia, is in the Cricket World Cup final against rival Sri Lanka in Barbados, and he is there. In a special report, Mr. Critchley looks at the economic impact the tournament has had on the nine host countries, the diplomatic rivalry between China and Taiwan over maintaining relations with the cricket-mad Caribbean and the massive job involved in organizing the games.
Pankaj Paghak, a British lawyer and one of thousands of cricket fans who have flooded to this Caribbean country for the Cricket World Cup 2007, is over his initial disappointment. His team, India, didn't make it out of the first round of the Cup. But he is here, the site of today's CWC final, and making the best of it.
"Thankfully, cricket took second place and my family and I were able to enjoy a wonderful holiday and experience a destination that otherwise we wouldn't have seen," Mr. Paghak said as he and two British colleagues strolled along Rockley Beach, one of the popular stretches of sand just outside Bridgetown.
Like Mr. Paghak, most of the fans who have come to the Caribbean will be going home happy, even if their team didn't win. In the process, they will have pumped millions of dollars into the region's economy.
But the largest sporting event in West Indies history, set to wrap up today when the final takes place between Australia and Sri Lanka, has not been without hurdles that had to be overcome.
For the West Indies, a former powerhouse in the world of cricket, there were two main problems that had to be faced.
Never before had nine separate countries won the right to stage the World Cup -- three (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), worked together to host the 1996 World Cup. Kenneth Gordon, chairman of organizing committee of the World Cup, said the organizers were faced with "one of the most difficult assignments in the tournament's [32-year] history, to stage the biggest ICC Cricket World Cup to date across nine individual countries."
In addition, never before did a host have to upgrade its facilities to such an extent to meet the standards laid down by the International Cricket Council, the world's governing body. The result has been a spending spree of more than US$200-million to build new stadiums or renovate existing facilities, including a completely revamped Kensington Oval, where today's final will be played.
Organizing the event has also been a mammoth task. Like the International Olympic Committee, the ICC is a giant bureaucracy. The Dubai-based organization, which oversees the development of world cricket, is made up of 98 membercountries. Like the IOC, it collects huge television revenue: in 2003 it signed a US$500-million deal with Global Cricket Corp. for the rights to the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. The ICC also signed up the four official World Cup partners: LG Electronics, Pepsi, Hutchison Essar and Hero Honda Motors. Bank of Nova Scotia is an official sponsor, a status it shares with five other companies.
Like Mr. Paghak, most of the fans who have come to the Caribbean will be going home happy, even if their team didn't win. In the process, they will have pumped millions of dollars into the region's economy.
But the largest sporting event in West Indies history, set to wrap up today when the final takes place between Australia and Sri Lanka, has not been without hurdles that had to be overcome.
For the West Indies, a former powerhouse in the world of cricket, there were two main problems that had to be faced.
Never before had nine separate countries won the right to stage the World Cup -- three (India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), worked together to host the 1996 World Cup.
Kenneth Gordon, chairman of organizing committee of the World Cup, said the organizers were faced with "one of the most difficult assignments in the tournament's [32-year] history, to stage the biggest ICC Cricket World Cup to date across nine individual countries."
In addition, never before did a host have to upgrade its facilities to such an extent to meet the standards laid down by the International Cricket Council, the world's governing body. The result has been a spending spree of more than US$200-million to build new stadiums or renovate existing facilities, including a completely revamped Kensington Oval, where today's final will be played.
Organizing the event has also been a mammoth task. Like the International Olympic Committee, the ICC is a giant bureaucracy. The Dubai-based organization, which oversees the development of world cricket, is made up of 98 membercountries. Like the IOC, it collects huge television revenue: in 2003 it signed a US$500-million deal with Global Cricket Corp. for the rights to the 2003 and 2007 World Cups. The ICC also signed up the four official World Cup partners: LG Electronics, Pepsi, Hutchison Essar and Hero Honda Motors. Bank of Nova Scotia is an official sponsor, a status it shares with five other companies.
Full article can be located at:-
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/financialpost/story.html?id=a12ff5a4-ed55-4b5d-8b77-557ba1658522&p=2
Ireland's unforeseen heights in WC2007 -- Posted Friday, April 27 2007
Ireland's heavy loss to Sri Lanka in its last World Cup game could not obscure the fact that its debut at the tournament has been a massive success.
The team finally exited with Wednesday's eight-wicket defeat and the lowest score - 77 - so far in the championship. But it will fly out from the Caribbean four weeks after they had been expected to do so and with a new prestigious status.
That several of the squad had to call home to request extra time off from their full-time jobs when they qualified for the second round showed how surprising their success has been.
A thrilling tie with Zimbabwe and victory over Pakistan, arguably the biggest shock in the tournament's 32-year history, propelled Ireland into the Super 8s stage of one-day cricket's top competition.
Once there, Ireland kept surprising other teams to earn the greatest honour in the country's cricket history.
It beat another test nation, Bangladesh, by 74 runs last week to ensure its formal status will change from a temporary one-day international nation to permanent.
"It's phenomenal and a hell of an achievement for these 15 guys, our coaching staff and Irish cricket," captain Trent Johnston said. "It's going to be massive for Irish cricket to keep this momentum going."
The change puts Ireland in the ICC's one-day rankings and means that top nations may start planning visits to the country for a full scale one-day series before or after major tours to England.
Ireland could also be invited to take part in tri-nations series with powerhouse teams.
With more competition, Irish cricket administrators hope, will come higher standards at the 2011 World Cup in south Asia.
Whatever comes next, Ireland's players will be remembered for taking their team to heights no one expected.
Victory over Sri Lanka at Grenada National Stadium was never likely, but that didn't dampen spirits.
"There have been a lot of high points - the way we fought back against Zimbabwe to get us going, and then obviously Pakistan was huge on St. Patrick's Day," Johnston said. "We've been away from home since Jan. 7. A few of the guys are looking forward to getting home to a bit of reality."
Fitness instructor, postman and electrician are among the occupations of the squad, but many may now follow Boyd Rankin, Eoin Morgan and Andrew White into English county cricket.
The Irish Cricket Union is trying to bring in sponsorship to help their players fulfill the obligations of a strange mixture of international matches and fixtures in an English county cricket one-day tournament.
South African-born coach Adrian Birrell said the foundations for Ireland's success came with a lengthy training session in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, this year.
"This four-month trip was a massive undertaking for the Irish Cricket Union, and it is all about us giving something back to them because they've done so much for us," Johnston said. "I hope they're going to get their rewards for that in the coming months and years."
Like other non-test countries at the tournament, Ireland drew on players born elsewhere for its 15-man squad, although nine are from the Republic and two from Northern Ireland.
Johnston, David Langford-Smith and opener Jeremy Bray - the scorer of 115 not out against Zimbabwe - are from New South Wales state in Australia. Allrounder Andre Botha was born in South Africa.
However, Birrell, who stepped down after Wednesday's game, thinks Ireland's future success is safe with homegrown players.
Ireland, after all, is European Champion at under-13, under-15, under-17, under-19, under-23 and senior level.
"That's one hell of an achievement and it suggests that there is talent in our youth system," Birrell said. "We do have young players in the wings awaiting their chances, and certainly on the spinning front, batting front and fielding front we've got all those bases covered with young players."
Birrell said the only area of concern was Ireland was struggling to produce fast bowlers. However, he was sure the possible exit of older players, who include the 33-year-old Bray, can be covered.
The 46-year-old coach had decided before the tournament to step down after four years in charge to spend more time with his family in South Africa.
"It's mainly a sense of great pride that I've achieved what I've achieved," Birrell said. "Many times in my career that I've felt I've underachieved as a player and a coach and never really got the just rewards.
"But I think now cricket has paid me my dues."
Detractors maintained the success of Ireland and Bangladesh hit the tournament by denying powerhouses Pakistan and India a place in the Super 8s.
While that undoubtedly hit attendances and led to many from the Asian subcontinent cancelling plans to fly out, Ireland's presence provided a welcome change at a tournament that has often been disappointingly predictable in its domination by two-time defending champion Australia.
With West Indies sliding from championship reckoning early in the Super 8s stage, many local fans started supporting Ireland.
About 6,000 Guyanese cheered Ireland to victory over Bangladesh, along with the few hundred fans who made the long journey to the Caribbean after seeing their team advance.
The team's success has reportedly prompted a fivefold increase in interest in the sport in Ireland, a country more passionate about Gaelic football, rugby union and soccer.
"One thing we wanted to do here was put Irish cricket on the map - not just in the world but in Ireland itself," Johnston said. "I think we've done that, and the public response back home has been fantastic."
Article sourced from:-
http://www.canada.com/topics/sports/cricket/story.html?id=a7d00b44-6c18-445a-87f8-7a7fc7314f7c&k=11639&p=2
Editors note:
Ireland has a population approximately one tenth of Canada. Should we anticipate that the CCA will take note of the obvious disparity? (JH).
Final of ICC Intercontinental Cup set for Grace Road 22-25 May (ICC) -- Posted Thursday, April 26 2007
The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup between Canada and Ireland will take place at Grace Road, the home of Leicestershire County Cricket Club, from Tuesday 22 May until Friday 25 May. Following its high-profile successes in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, defending champions Ireland will go into the final as favorites to retain the title it won in Namibia at the end of 2005. But the Canadian outfit has shown good form in this tournament and will not be short on confidence either.
Chief Executive of Leicestershire CCC Paul Maylard-Mason said the club was delighted to host such a prestigious event and was looking forward to welcoming the teams and their supporters.
"We are thrilled to be asked to host the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup at Grace Road," said Mr Maylard-Mason. "We are no strangers to international cricket here, having hosted matches during the Cricket World Cup in 1999, and I think it's going to be a great setting for this event as well.
"I think this is an excellent tournament and Leicestershire is proud to be a part of it. Like the rest of the world we have been watching the great strides made by the top Associate teams lately, especially at the recent World Cup, and so I am sure this is going to be a hard-fought cup final of a high cricketing standard."
The new format in the ICC Intercontinental Cup means sides play a minimum of three four-day matches in this tournament. This increases to seven four-day matches in 2007 and 2008 when it is hoped the event will be a full round-robin format.
That compares to a minimum of just two three-day matches per year under the previous structure which, until the semi-finals, was regionally-based rather than global.
The ICC Intercontinental Cup began in 2004 to give the leading players from Associate sides the chance to improve by exposing them to a longer form of the game.
In the 2006 event Canada finished on top of Group B having got off to a flying start. Outright victories over Kenya and Bermuda at the Maple Leaf ground near Toronto in late July and early August was enough to ensure top spot.
Centuries for Davison (165), Ian Billcliff (126) and Abdool Samad (119), all in the first innings, set up a stylish nine-wicket win over Bermuda while the Kenyans were defeated by just 25 runs thanks in no small way to an undefeated 91 by Qaiser Ali in the first innings and a classy 136 by Geoff Barnett in the second. Canada's opening bowling partnership of Umar Bhatti and Henry Osinde were also instrumental in their success.
Canada stumbled in its final game of the group stage when it lost by seven wickets to the Netherlands in a game played in Pretoria, thanks mostly to the influence of Ryan ten Doeschate who took match figures of 9-112, including 6-20 in the first innings, and also scored 259 in the first innings and 31 not out in the second.
On the other side of the draw, it always looked like it would be between 2005 winners Ireland and the 2004 champions Scotland. Their match in Aberdeen was a rain-affected draw but with Scotland taking more out of it in terms of points, it was always going to be difficult for Ireland to get ahead.
Both sides beat Namibia but then Scotland left the door open for Ireland when it was unable to overcome the United Arab Emirates at Sharjah Stadium in January. Outright victory over the UAE in Abu Dhabi the following month was enough for Trent Johnston's team to progress to the final.
In that game, Eoin Morgan became the first Ireland batsman to make a double century and Ireland's bowlers did superbly well in getting the 20 UAE wickets needed for victory.
"The ICC Intercontinental Cup is an excellent opportunity for the Associate players to improve as all-round cricketers," says ICC President Percy Sonn. "They tend to play a lot of one-day cricket so I think it is important that they be given the chance to learn the skills needed for the longer form of the game as well.
"It is encouraging for us at ICC to see the top Associates improving and this competition is another way to continue that process. Canada has some fine players, particularly its opening bowling attack, while I was very impressed with the Irish during the World Cup. It should be a very interesting final," said Mr Sonn.
Cricket World Cup delivering an 'all rounder' -- Posted Thursday, April 26 2007
Cricket World Cup delivering an 'all rounder' to West Indies economies says Scotia Economics
Beyond the field, the 2007 event is 'lofting' economic expansion and generating positive long-term benefits for the region through tourism growth, infrastructure investment and regional integration.
TORONTO, April 20 /CNW/ - As the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC 2007) heads into its final dramatic innings, Scotia Economics expects that the international event will make a positive impact on the Caribbean region. Its research indicates that, as the third largest sporting event in the world, CWC 2007 will have a significant direct and indirect effect on foreign investment, tourism and infrastructure development in the nine host countries, continuing well after the event concludes on April 29th.
"You could say the Cricket World Cup will deliver an 'all rounder' to the West Indies," says Pablo Bréard, Vice President, Scotia Economics, referring to the cricket term for a player who excels in at least two of three key game skills. "The event has triggered considerable near-term investment spending on hotels and facilities construction, boosted demand for goods and services and inspired strong foreign currency inflows."
Bréard adds that the short term benefits of the CWC 2007 will be mirrored by positive longer-term gains for the Caribbean economies as a result of exposure for the tourism sector, improved infrastructure development and regional cooperation. "In the past the West Indies economies have faced economic challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, the need to compete with other aggressive tourism destinations for traveler dollars and significant macroeconomic imbalances faced by national governments," observes Bréard. "The financial investments and political advances achieved through the CWC 2007 will help many West Indies nations tackle these challenges in the years ahead."
Expected high 'off-the-pitch' scores
Scotia Economics notes that the Caribbean region's economy is expected to grow by around 5.5 per cent in 2007, compared with more than 8 per cent growth rate in 2006, in large part due to the CWC 2007. The region's economy has been underpinned by event preparations over the last few years, including resorts and facility construction. In fact, host country governments have invested approximately US$500 million in upgrades to airports, roads, power generation and information and communications technology, around US$300 million spent on stadium development and another $40 million on temporary facilities. Overall, CWC projects have employed more than 10,000 persons.
Foreign direct investments are anticipated to generate between US$500 - 700 million. Tourism spending will be boosted by an estimated 100,000 event visitors. CWC officials add that the World Cup's estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion - including television viewers in non-traditional tourism markets such as fast-growing India - will produce a positive, long-term marketing impact.
Scotia Economics notes one less positive outcome: excess demand for goods and services may have caused upward price pressures for transportation, accommodations, food and other services. They add that Caribbean currencies should remain relatively stable over the spring in the context of strong foreign currency inflows and favourable macroeconomic conditions. The games are expected to affect the current accounts of host countries in opposite ways, with tourism receipts balancing the buoyed imports such as construction materials required by games organizers.
Bowling strong growth in Jamaica
As Jamaica is a co-host for the CWC 2007, its tourism sector will be on a positive track leading economic growth this year. Jamaica's total CWC expenditure, on facilities such as Sabina Park and Trelawny Stadium, has been approximately $8 billion Jamaican (US$100 million). Organizers expected to see approximately US$9 million in revenue from island ticket sales and an estimated 20,000 visitors who will spend an average of US$1,300, for a total of US$26 million. They project that the country will receive approximately US$400 million in foreign direct investments from the CWC 2007 between 2007 and 2012, and new non-traditional exports worth nearly US$200 million.
Overall, Scotia Economics observes that Jamaica's economic outlook is brightening with inflation trending downwards while output growth shows signs of a moderate pick-up. They predict that the Jamaican economy is poised to expand by approximately 3 per cent year over year in 2007-2008, with tourism and mining, supported by major fixed investments, serving as the main growth engines.
Bowling strong growth in Trinidad & Tobago
As a co-host for the CWC 2007, Trinidad & Tobago's tourism industry will be boosted by the event which has already played a big role in supporting the construction industry. That sector is growing by nearly 15 per cent year over year in real terms. Government and the private sector have invested considerably to polish the country's image by upgrading hotels and stadiums. In addition, the launch of Trinidad and Tobago-based Caribbean Airlines, an official carrier for event participants, will also support national economic growth.
Overall, Scotia Economics observes that Trinidad and Tobago's resource boom will support continued economic expansion and healthy fiscal and current account surpluses. The economy will remain on a favourable expansion trajectory in 2007-2008 with real growth expected to average about 7 per cent. The oil and gas sector, fuelled by high energy prices and increased capacity, will continue to be the main driver of local economic performance.
Bowling strong growth in Barbados
As a co-host for the CWC 2007, Barbados' tourism sector - which expanded by an estimated 2.5 per cent in 2006 - is expected to perform strongly, with approximately 27,000 event visitors and close to 750 media attendees. Government spending on infrastructure projects and redevelopment projects, such as the US$40 million enlargement of Kensington Oval and upgrades to Grantley Adams International Airport, have spurred a boom in the construction sector. While official estimates have not yet been published, total government expenditures for the CWC 2007 are estimated at US$150 million.
Scotia Economics expects the Barbados economy to stay on a robust growth trajectory throughout 2008 while inflation will trend downwards. In fact the Barbadian economy will grow by about 4 per cent per year through 2008, led by the tourism and construction sectors. The country's current account deficit will decline slightly throughout 2008, primarily due to the effect of lower fuel costs on imports and to an expected increase in tourism revenue that will partially offset the large trade deficit.
World Cup results batted as far as Canada
While the playing action is focused thousands of kilometres away, the CWC 2007 will expect an impact as far north as Canada, according to Scotia Economics. With Canada's multicultural composition, many Canadians will spend thousands of dollars on food, drink and entertaining during the seven-week event. According to the International Cricket Council, in 2006 there were more than 6,735 senior cricket players in Canada and 1,920 juniors. In addition, player numbers have increased steadily over the past four years.
Statistics Canada census data also indicate that Canada has many large immigrant populations from countries where cricket is a top sport. These include: United Kingdom 606,000; India 120,000; Sri Lanka 87,000; Pakistan 80,000; Trinidad and Tobago 64,000.
As leader in the banking sector in the Caribbean, Scotiabank is committed to supporting the communities in which we live and work. Scotiabank is a Regional Official Sponsor of the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007. Scotiabank is also the Official Bank of West Indies Cricket and the Exclusive Sponsor of Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket.
Scotia Economics provides clients with in-depth research into the factors shaping the outlook for Canada and the global economy, including macroeconomic developments, currency and capital market trends, commodity and industry performance, as well as monetary, fiscal and public policy issues.
The report can be found at
http://www.scotiacapital.com/English/bns_econ/special0420.pdf
Canada's home international matches in 2007 -- Posted Wednesday, April 25 2007
Intercontinental Cup
June 16 Canada v UAE - 4 days - starts at Maple Leaf CC in King City
June 21 One day match - Canada v UAE , Toronto
June 22 One day match - Netherlands v UAE , Toronto
(above not official ODIs as UAE does not have that status)
June 23 ODI 1 - Canada v Netherlands Toronto
June 24 ODI 2 - Canada v Netherlands Toronto
June 27 Intercontinental Cup v Netherlands - 4 days .
Source - Cricket Europe
Watching WC2007 semi-finals and final -- Posted Tuesday, April 24 2007
York University Cricket Club advises that they have arranged showing the Cricket World Cup 2007 Semi Finals today (24th April) between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at room 430 in the Student Center.
There will be showing of the other Semi final between Australia and South Africa tomorrow (25th April) in the same room at Student Center.
Also on the 28th we will be showing the Final game also in the Student Center room 430.
See you there.
Mahjuj Sourav.
York U CC
Role of commerce and gambling in the rise of cricket -- Posted Tuesday, April 24 2007
The image of cricket, more than any other, has become associated with fair play, unselfishness and high ideals. But at vital stages in its history the game developed under the impetus of the profit motive. Such was the case with the first English tour to Australia, sponsored by the Melbourne catering firm of Spiers and Pond. Furthermore, during the important formative years the gambling nobility in England used the game as a vehicle for massive wagers.
Once upon a time Reverend Lord Frederick Beauclerk, in a public oration, emphasised that cricket is a fine character-building game, “unalloyed by
love of lucre and mean jealousies”. On other occasions he boasted that the game was worth 600 guineas a year to him, gained in side-bets.
A tidy sum in the early l800s when a labourer had to work for three weeks to earn a guinea.
In the early days of cricket the gambling lust provided the material base that the game needed to progress beyond the level of a country yokel’s diversion to become a self—supporting part of the entertainment industry. So, like a beautiful flower growing from a dungheap, the great and noble game survived a precarious infancy to become the joy and delight to flannelled fools the world over.
Particularly important were gambling members of the upper classes who had plenty of time and money to waste and in this respect Oliver Cromwell’s rule was a critical period. He banned Sunday cricket and one of his strategies to subjugate the unruly and turbulent Irish was to order that all the cricket bats and balls in Ireland be collected and burnt by the common hangman. But he unwittingly fostered the game because large numbers of the nobility quit London during the puritan administration to pass the time on their country estates waiting for the restoration of a good old—fashioned monarch. There they discovered that their gardeners and ploughmen had a jolly good game going in their spare time.
And although a moralistic tract of the times listed cricket as a pastime of ‘the common sort’, on a par with ‘lying in ale houses’, the gentry acquired a taste for the game and after the restoration it became quite the thing in London to organise clubs and cricket matches, not devoid of financial interest, of course. Later the game received vice— regal patronage from Frederick, Prince of Wales (father of George III) who died in 1751 as a result of a tumor precipitated by a blow from a cricket ball. This was probably a moral victory for the puritans. It was also a sad loss to the Surrey team (which he financed) and an equally sad loss to the gambling fraternity at large (he lost up to 2000 pounds on some games).
This was the era of the feudal lords of cricket who ran the game by promoting matches between teams of their own choice partly for the sport and partly for massive wagers. Outstanding players were not originally paid as such but were employed by their patrons. Sir Horace Mann lured a fine young batsman away from the Hambledon club with the offer of a bailiff ‘s position on his country estate and the Earl of Tarikerville employed ‘Lumpy’ Stevens as a gardener.
Stevens’ nickname has aroused quite a deal of learned controversy; it may have had something to do with his bowling action, or his once eating a whole apple pie at a sitting, or, as an exponent of underarm shooters, his liking for a wicket pitched on uneven ground. Stevens had the distinction of being the first lower class cricketer to have his portrait painted. Some patrons of the game were immortalised in oils because they were noblemen, but Lumpy was painted because his crafty shooters made such an impact on the game.
In view of the modest remuneration for players and the large sums of money hanging on the major games there was obviously great scope for bribery and corruption of the players by patrons, backers and the bookmakers who began to divide their time between the racetrack and the oval. Some of these unscrupulous ‘legs’ went down into Hampshire in the spring to try to buy up the players early in the season. The wretched bookies even set up their tables and called the odds in front of the pavilion at Lords; the moneychangers were at work in the very temple of cricket. Eventually they disappeared as the game ceased to attract bettors and, as it happened, the sheep lasted longer at Lords than the bookies. The M.C.C. was extremely loath to defile the sacred sward with a newfangled contraption like a mower. Rumor has it that when the first such engine appeared a gentleman passing by recruited a nearby gang of roadworkers who beat it to death with sledge hammers.
Not surprisingly, betting was a vital part of the early game in Australia. An early single-wicket contest in Tasmania was played for five pounds and a bottle of wine, and on the Sydney domain when negotiable currency in the form of coin and folding money was in short supply, wagers on early matches were laid in such items as sawn timber, fat pigs, boots, butter and salt fish.
During the first contest between Victoria and N.S.W. the odds started at 3 to 2 on Victoria but after various New ‘South Welshmen ‘lowered their flags’, ‘had their stumps unsettled’ and ‘declared the wicket vacant’, the betting firmed to 3 to 1. However, the northerners eventually won, no doubt to the financial embarrassment of the Victorians.
When one of W.G. Grace’s teams looked like losing to Victoria, W.G. allegedly used the newly installed telegraph to warn his friends in London to lay off some of their bets. Bookmakers in the main stand at the S.C.G. in 1879 were blamed for a riot which almost ended cricketing relations between Australia and England. The English captain, Lord Harris, claimed that the bookmakers urged a mob of larrikins to invade the field when a Sydney batsman was controversially given out.
Nowadays commercial sponsorship, including the opportunity to advertise crunchy breakfast cereal (like a cricket bat with holes in) is taking the part once played by the gambling feudal lords. Money flows into the game from purveyors of cigarettes and razor blades (a rich irony in view of the facial adornment of the early players). No doubt the players will respond energetically to the new incentives, after all, Lumpy Stevens would have bowled his heart out for a good helping of apple pie.
The game assumed a new dimension with the advent of international tours. The first would-be tourists planned to travel from England to Paris in 1789 at the invitation of the British Ambassador, the Duke of Dorset, a great patron of the game who organised many matches in England for the Hambledon Club. When the players arrived at Dover to board ship they met the Duke on his way home, fleeing from the French Revolution. And so the first international tour was abandoned for political reasons.
The records do not indicate who the tourists would have played when they reached Paris. They may have put on single wicket games, or split up to play five a side, or they may have gone into the field with local players. People played cricket in France as early as the fifteenth century and French colonists took the game overseas to Canada and the French West Indies. Enthusiastic cricketers among the lace—makers from Nottingham who settled in northern France established local competitions in Dieppe and Calais, as did a number of English residents in Paris.
Over fifty years elapsed before the next international tour. This occurred in North America in 1842 when eighteen players from the St. Georges Club in New York traveled to Toronto, in Canada. Early English colonists carried the game to New York where- the first recorded game, in 1751, was played between ‘London’ and ‘New York’. In Toronto the local side comfortably beat the tourists in a one day game, played for a prize of fifty pounds, not counting side bets. A pickup game followed and in the evening the visitors wined and dined in a riotous celebration with innumerable toasts.
Some years later Canada and the United States played the first recognised international game between representative teams. A prize of a thousand pounds was at stake, a massive sum by today’s standards, and enthusiastic supporters made side bets of many thousands of dollars. Canada won the game with scores of 82 and 63 against the United States’ scores of 64 and 58. No bowling analysis was recorded In the second innings the U.S. opening batsman, George Wheatcroft, did not arrive at the ground until the game was over. His negligence is surprising in view of the prize money, but the delinquent batsman may have been bribed by a Canadian or he may have had his own money on the opposition.
In the following year two international matches occurred but the fourth game, in 1846, produced an ugly incident which halted the series for seven years. A Canadian batsman charged down the bowler as he accepted a caught-and—bowled opportunity. In the very early days it was a legitimate tactic, provided that the batsman did not leave the vicinity of the pitch. When the bowler regained -his feet he threw- the ball at the batsman and despite apologies from the U.S. team, including the bowler, the Canadians refused to continue the game.
The series resumed in 1853. The United States won the match and harmonious relations were sealed after the game when the Canadians were entertained lavishly at Delmonico’s Restaurant. Up to 1970, 48 games have been played in the series. The United States had won 27, Canada had won 16, and 5 were drawn.
In 1859 North America featured in another milestone in cricket history when the first intercontinental touring party arrived from England. The Montreal Cricket Club sponsored the tour, helped by the proprietors of the St. Lawrence Hotel in Montreal. The players were guaranteed 50 pounds plus expenses. Twelve professionals sailed from Liverpool in September, rather late in the year as it turned out by the time they reached the end of their itinerary. George Parr from Nottinghamshire, ‘The Lion of the North’ was captain but at sea he was anything but a lion. He frequently had recourse to gin and water to settle his nerves during heavy weather.
Among the other players were John Wisden the leading allrounder, H.H. Stephenson who captained the first tourists in Australia, and William Caffyn, ‘The Surrey Pet’ who toured Australia with Stephenson and settled in this country. They played five games, all against teams of twenty two players. This allowed the bowlers to return some spectacular figures. George Parr captured 16 wickets for 25 runs in one innings and in another Caffyn took 16 for 26. Despite their disadvantage in numbers the tourists won all their matches, some by an innings. The local players were competent and keen in bowling and fielding but they could not cope with the English bowlers. The slow lobs delivered by Parr and Caffyn were particularly effective and in a game against XXII of U.S.A. the fast bowler Wisden took six wickets in six balls.
The first game was a two day affair against Lower Canada in Montreal. The tourists won by eight wickets and after a splendid banquet at the St. Lawrence Hotel they proceeded to Hoboken, New York. The local populace greeted them with extraordinary enthusiasm. A great crowd waited at the station, the streets were packed and a band at the hotel played ‘Rule Britannia’. The day before the game started over 2,000 people visited the ground, just to see what it looked like, and over 25,000 saw the game. In Philadelphia equally large crowds turned out, including a thousand ladies, dressed in the height of fashion, who occupied a special stand reserved for the fairer sex. Winter was setting in by this time and the wet ground required several wagon loads of sawdust to allow the play to proceed.
The first English cricket tour of Australia in 1861 came about because the novelist Charles Dickens was not inclined to travel. The Melbourne caterers, Spiers and Pond, invited the great man to tour Australia for mutual profit. He declined the offer, and their second choice was a cricket team. Only twelve players came, with seven from Surrey including the captain H.H. Stephenson and William Caffyn, two of the North American tourists of 1859. A crowd of 10,000 waited at the docks when their ship berthed in Melbourne on Christmas eve, and the sustained Interest and hospitality of the locals forced the tourists to travel some miles out of town to practice in peace.
They played against teams of twenty-two in all their games except the first. Stephenson pleaded that they had not recovered from the voyage and only eighteen Victorians went into the field. The Melbourne ground at Richmond was even then the best cricket arena in the world for spectators. The grandstand held 6,000 and there were banked seats for the general public. On the first day 15,000 people came to the ground. The Englishmen wore hats resembling helmets to protect them from the fierce colonial sun. They also wore sashes in various colours, identified on the score cards, so that spectators could tell one from the others.
The tourists won the first game by an innings and In their twelve games they only lost two. One was against a combined twenty-two of Victoria and N.S.W., the other against twenty-two of Castlemain. The second defeat may sound surprising but several things made life difficult for the Englishmen. Apart from the odds against them the team had no reserves, the programme was hectic, traveling was slow and tiring, and everywhere the hospitality was overwhelming. Caffyn wrote “Scarcely a day passed without our being entertained to champagne breakfasts, luncheons and dinners”.
Apart from the games on the programme there were light-hearted diversions. In Melbourne ‘Surrey’ played ‘The World’ and won. At Beechworth, where the local twenty—two made only 20 (twelve failed to score), Griffith played and beat eleven locals in a single wicket game. After the main fixture at Castlemain, Griffith, Lawrence and Iddson salvaged some prestige by beating eleven of the locals in a single wicket match.
Spiers and Pond made so much money from the tour that they allowed the Englishmen to share half the profits from the last game. The promoters could well afford this generosity because the tourists received only Ł150 plus expenses and bonuses. S piers and Pond cleared Ł11,000 all told. When the touring party returned to England, Charles Lawrence stayed behind in Sydney to coach for the Albert Club.
Two years later, in 1863, George Parr brought a stronger team to Australia. Again they played against teams of twenty-two but they went through the tour, including three games in New Zealand, without any loss. Dr. E.M. Grace, oldest of the three formidable brothers (all three played for England), was the only amateur in the party of twelve. Other players included Caffyn, ‘Tear-Em’ Tarrant the fast bowler who a young Australian called Spofforth adopted as a model, Julius Caesar the brilliant batsman and fielder, and John Jackson, the other fast bowler, called ‘Foghorn’ because he blew his nose loudly whenever he took a wicket.
Their only anxious moments in the field occurred in a game against N.S.W. The tourists escaped with a one wicket victory after the renegade Englishman, Charles Lawrence, took six wickets cheaply for N.S.W.
The team suffered the usual indignities of traveling long distances in horsedrawn vehicles but their worst experience came at sea when their steamer ran down a small vessel off Sydney Heads. The incident occurred in the dark, adding to the confusion. George Parr, ‘The Lion of the North’, was petrified with fright. Tarrant panicked and tried to jump into the boat being lowered to rescue the crew of the other craft. Julius Caesar remained calm and helped the crew while Jackson slept through the whole drama.
Nine years elapsed before Dr. W.G. Grace brought out the third touring party. The Champion demanded a fee of Ł1,500 plus expenses for himself. Not bad for an amateur although he had to pay a locum to look after his medical practice. The professionals in the party received Ł170 plus expenses. The team played fifteen games, including two in South Australia. They lost three, including the first of the tour, an innings defeat by a Victorian eighteen.
At Ballarat W.G Grace and his younger brother Fred each scored centuries in stifling heat. The Victorian fast bowler Sam Cosstick complained that there seemed to be a whole family of Graces batting against them. A local journalist wrote ‘The sun shone infernally, the eleven scored tremendously, we fielded abominably, and all drank excessively’. Drinking was partly responsible for the defeat at Stawell, although leading players such as Cosstick, Allan, Cooper , Wills and Conway repeatedly turned up to play for the country teams.
In a special exhibition at the M.C.G. Dr. Grace and partners batted against eleven Victorians to show how he could perform against a normal contingent of fielders. He scored 100 in 58 minutes. Sam Cosstick became disgruntled with his part in the proceedings, and let fly three ‘beamers’. The press reported ‘the missiles passed near enough to the. Leviathan’s body to make him wince’. The game stopped forthwith and Sam was placated with the aid of liquid refreshments.
Friction between the professionals and amateurs in the party marred the tour. The amateurs traveled first class, the professionals traveled second. They also complained of inferior accommodation and entertainment. Feelings ran high in an exchange of letters in the Argus between the tour promoter and James Lillywhite, spokesman for the professionals. Lillywhite’s final letter had expletives deleted from it. Despite this bone of contention, Lillywhite captained the next touring team in 1876—77, the tour which started the continuing series of test matches between England and Australia.
Historical article sourced from:-
http://www.the-rathouse.com/Revivalist4/cricketessay.html
West Indies 1886 tour to Canada -- Posted Tuesday, April 24 2007
The First West Indies Cricket Tour – Canada and the United States in 1886 Edited and with an introduction by Hilary McD Beckles with The Tour of the West Indian Cricketers August and September, 1886, gives cricket lovers a clear synopsis of the tour of the West Indian cricketers August and September, 1886.
Hilary McD Beckles is Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal, and Professor of Economic and Social History, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados. He has published extensively on West Indian history, women and slavery and West Indian cricket history.
The book includes a vivid memory by one of the cricketers LR Fyfe that gives a clear connection between North America and the development of cricket in the West Indies. The historical context of the book is remarkable.
The description of the tour’s social and historical significance adds immeasurably to the appreciation of the diary and enhances its appeal as a delightful journey and ball by ball account from so many years ago.
It is not generally known that the West Indies cricket team, formed in 1884, made its first overseas tour two years later to Canada and the United States. The tourists played thirteen matches during August and September; they won six, lost five and two were drawn.
The first match was played again in the Montreal Cricket Club in August 1886. It ended in a draw after which the West Indians moved on to Ottawa, Toronto and Hamilton.
They arrived in the United States to play a number of matches in Philadelphia where the cricket culture was well established.
Local clubs proved too strong an opposition for the tourists. The press was encouraging but made it clear that the islanders were out of their depth. It was an important tour for the West Indies cricketers. It was the first international step in an apprenticeship that lasted decades.
The English decided, finally to host the West Indians in 1900. This book speaks to the Canadian and American beginning of the West Indians cricket culture that was to emerge a century later as the most powerful performance force the game has ever seen.
The book has been launched in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, and will be launched in Barbados and Guyana over the course of the ICC Cricket World Cup. The book is currently available at the bookstore at the University of the West Indies in St Augustine.
Review sourced from:- http://www.newsday.co.tt/features/0,55491.html
Cricket conference in Toronto -- Posted Monday, April 23 2007
THE CHANGING FACE OF WORLD CRICKET:
THE FUTURE OF CRICKET AFTER THE 2007 WORLD CUP
A conference co-sponsored by the University of Toronto, (Faculty of Physical Education and Health), and the Canadian Cricket Association
Thursday May 3, 2007 - 9.30am to 4.00pm U of T Athletic and Physical Education Centre, 55 Harbord Street at Spadina
PROGRAM
Welcome and Opening - Bruce Kidd
Greetings from the Canadian Cricket Association
- Ben Sennik, President
"The Impact of the 2007 World Cup upon cricket in the West Indies" - Speaker from the West Indies
"Murder and mayhem: can cricket survive the negatives?"
- Dr. Boria Majumdar, University of Calcutta
"Canadian cricket: the times they are a changing"
- Steve Ferley, Canadian Cricket Association
"Hail to the champions: the athletic highlights of the 2007 World Cup" - David Cooper, University of Toronto
Match results for Canada - Aug 2006 to March 2007 -- Posted Sunday, April 22 2007
Thursday, 22 March 2007
ICC World Cup
Canada: 249-9 ( 49.2 overs )
New Zealand: 363-5 ( 50.0 overs )
Sunday, 18 March 2007
ICC World Cup
Canada: 228-7 ( 50.0 overs )
England: 279-6 ( 50.0 overs )
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
ICC World Cup
Canada: 199 ( 50.0 overs )
Kenya: 203-3 ( 43.2 overs )
Thursday, 08 March 2007
Other Match
Canada: 115 ( 32.5 overs )
Ireland: 116-3 ( 26.5 overs )
Tuesday, 06 March 2007
Other Match
Canada: 196 ( 46.4 overs )
Pakistan: 273-8 ( 48.0 overs )
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
International Triangular Series
Bangladesh: 278-5
Canada: 265-7
Monday, 26 February 2007
International Triangular Series
Bermuda: 206-8 ( 50.0 overs )
Canada: 207-7 ( 44.1 overs )
Monday, 05 February 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Kenya: 250-9 ( 50.0 overs )
Canada: 92 ( 14.5 overs )
Sunday, 04 February 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Canada: 312-4 ( 49.4 overs )
Ireland: 308-7 ( 50.0 overs )
Friday, 02 February 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Bermuda: 106 ( 15.5 overs )
Canada: 162-8 ( 21.0 overs )
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Canada: 269-9 ( 50.0 overs )
Scotland: 276-4 ( 50.0 overs )
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Canada: 200 ( 44.0 overs )
Netherlands: 201-2 ( 35.0 overs )
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
International Triangular Series
Kenya: 144 ( 35.1 overs )
Canada: 213-9 ( 50.0 overs )
Tuesday, 23 January 2007
International Triangular Series
Canada: 208 ( 44.3 overs )
Scotland: 209-8 ( 47.2 overs )
Thursday, 18 January 2007
International Triangular Series
Canada: 292-5 ( 50.0 overs )
Scotland: 293-8 ( 49.5 overs )
Thursday, 30 November 2006
NatWest International Triangular Series
Bermuda: 178-9 ( 50.0 overs )
Canada: 179-7 ( 39.4 overs )
Thursday, 22 March 2007
ICC World Cup
Canada: 249-9 ( 49.2 overs )
New Zealand: 363-5 ( 50.0 overs )
Sunday, 18 March 2007
ICC World Cup
Canada: 228-7 ( 50.0 overs )
England: 279-6 ( 50.0 overs )
Wednesday, 14 March 2007
ICC World Cup
Canada: 199 ( 50.0 overs )
Kenya: 203-3 ( 43.2 overs )
Thursday, 08 March 2007
Other Match
Canada: 115 ( 32.5 overs )
Ireland: 116-3 ( 26.5 overs )
Tuesday, 06 March 2007
Other Match
Canada: 196 ( 46.4 overs )
Pakistan: 273-8 ( 48.0 overs )
Wednesday, 28 February 2007
International Triangular Series
Bangladesh: 278-5
Canada: 265-7
Monday, 26 February 2007
International Triangular Series
Bermuda: 206-8 ( 50.0 overs )
Canada: 207-7 ( 44.1 overs )
Monday, 05 February 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Kenya: 250-9 ( 50.0 overs )
Canada: 92 ( 14.5 overs )
Sunday, 04 February 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Canada: 312-4 ( 49.4 overs )
Ireland: 308-7 ( 50.0 overs )
Friday, 02 February 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Bermuda: 106 ( 15.5 overs )
Canada: 162-8 ( 21.0 overs )
Wednesday, 31 January 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Canada: 269-9 ( 50.0 overs )
Scotland: 276-4 ( 50.0 overs )
Tuesday, 30 January 2007
ICC World Cricket League
Canada: 200 ( 44.0 overs )
Netherlands: 201-2 ( 35.0 overs )
Wednesday, 24 January 2007
International Triangular Series
Kenya: 144 ( 35.1 overs )
Canada: 213-9 ( 50.0 overs )
Tuesday, 23 January 2007
International Triangular Series
Canada: 208 ( 44.3 overs )
Scotland: 209-8 ( 47.2 overs )
Thursday, 18 January 2007
International Triangular Series
Canada: 292-5 ( 50.0 overs )
Scotland: 293-8 ( 49.5 overs )
Thursday, 30 November 2006
NatWest International Triangular Series
Bermuda: 178-9 ( 50.0 overs )
Canada: 179-7 ( 39.4 overs )
Monday, 27 November 2006
NatWest International Triangular Series
Bermuda: 235-8 ( 50.0 overs )
Canada: 239-5 ( 47.5 overs )
Sunday, 26 November 2006
NatWest International Triangular Series
Canada: 254-8 ( 50.0 overs )
Netherlands: 271-8 ( 50.0 overs )
Sunday, 06 August 2006
One Day International Series
Canada: 94
Kenya: 97-5
Saturday, 05 August 2006
One Day International Series
Canada: 129
Kenya: 237-9
Monday, 27 November 2006
NatWest International Triangular Series
Bermuda: 235-8 ( 50.0 overs )
Canada: 239-5 ( 47.5 overs )
Sunday, 26 November 2006
NatWest International Triangular Series
Canada: 254-8 ( 50.0 overs )
Netherlands: 271-8 ( 50.0 overs )
Sunday, 06 August 2006
One Day International Series
Canada: 94
Kenya: 97-5
Saturday, 05 August 2006
One Day International Series
Canada: 129
Kenya: 237-9
Wickets in The West -- Posted Saturday, April 21 2007
One of the first cricket tour books, Wickets in The West or The Twelve in America deals with the MCC amateur tour of Canada in 1872.
Some concerned devotees of Canadian cricket approached the MCC with a view of having a visit to the colony by a group of cricketers.
The secretary of the Marylebone Cricket Club, R.A. Fitzgerald, was charged with the responsibility of finding eleven other MCC members to accompany him on the trip. As membership of the club was confined to 'gentleman' the tour was limited to amateur talent.
The one stipulation of the Canadians was that W.G. Grace was to be a member of the touring party. It seems his fame had crossed the Atlantic, as the greatest cricketer in the world, this at the age of 25.
This was not the overweight and overbearing figure that most people now imagine when they think of the Grace legend. This was a tall, lithe, broad shouldered athlete (although he already sported a magnificent beard).
The tour was in doubt almost up to departure time, with Grace only agreeing to terms three days before sailing, and three players withdrawing at the last minute. Two with illness and disappointedly C.I. Thornton the biggest hitter in the game, withdrawing with fright after passing a shop window and spying a photograph of a sinking ship.
The most notable of the other players selected were the Hon. George Harris, soon to become Lord Harris and eventually to become one of the most powerful men in cricket. The other notable was A.N. 'Monkey' Hornby who led England in the legendary 'Ashes' Match in 1882.
Both became lifelong friends and staunch supporters of WG, and both helped him in later life when his cantankerous nature occasionally came to the fore during cricket matches.
As for the tour itself, the 'twelve' (they always fielded 12) met ridiculously easy opposition, winning every game (except for a farcical draw in the last match), despite the fact that they played against 22 in every match. Imagine having to steer the ball through 22 fieldsman!
What they lacked in cricketing skill the hosts certainly made up for it in the entertainment stakes. The 'twelve' seemed to be in attendance at a dance or ball or stage play every night of the tour.
Grace was the undoubted star of the tour scoring most runs 540 (next best 146) best average 49.1 (next best 16.4), claiming his fair share of wickets, and also proving a very adept dancer.
R.A. Fitzgerald also conveys the speech style of WG; his first speech went as follows: "gentleman, I beg to thank you for the honour you have done me: I never saw better bowling than I have seen today, and I hope to see as good wherever I go."
For the rest of the tour whenever Grace was called on to make a speech he would simply replace the word bowling eg. Batting, fielding so forth, but otherwise repeat the entire speech verbatim. Much to the delight of his team-mates.
Although the tour proved a great success, the team returned to England to find themselves heavily criticised for excepting money to tour, this accusation was strenuously denied by Fitzgerald in the book.
In Scores and Biographies it was stated that apart from having all of their expenses paid, each gentleman cricketer was paid 600 dollars in gold for each match (they played eight matches). According to the rules of the day amateur players were only to accept expenses.
The writing style after 134 years can be a little confusing, with each player seemingly having half a dozen nicknames. It seems it was written in a light-hearted humorous manner, but time has caused many expressions and sayings to become meaningless.
An important and rare book, every W.G. Grace biographer has dedicated a chapter to this Canadian tour relying heavily on this book for information, and it is still after all this time a quality read.
Unfortunately Wicket in The West is a hard book to find and a little expensive at about 200 US dollars.
Published: 1873
Pages: 335
Publisher: Tinsley Brothers
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Item sourced from:-
http://www.cricketweb.net/content/bookreview.php?NewsIDAuto=3546
Quandry for victorious Irish -- Posted Saturday, April 21 2007
Cricket diary: A delicious quandry for victorious Irish
Ireland's remarkable success in the World Cup has given the Irish Cricket Union an unexpected problem. Nearly all of its players are amateurs who have taken time off from work to play and only expected to need the fortnight of the pool stage.
Qualifying for the Super Eight would mean asking for one more month. The ICU compensates employers for their absent workers, and the thought came irresistibly to mind of when Irish public broadcasting was nearly capsized by a national success in the Eurovision Contest, as a hat trick of victories meant that the state broadcaster, RTE, was forced to take on the considerable staging costs of the contest three years running.
Early indications, though, were good, with the ICU secretary, John Wright, reporting that contact had been made with two-thirds of employers and no problems had arisen.
Full story can be read at:- http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/03/21/sports/cricket.php
Editors comment:-
There would appear to be an object lesson for the Canadain Cricket Association administrators to make similar contacts in future. (JH)
Cricket Lovers - Wanted -- Posted Saturday, April 21 2007
Cricket Lovers - Wanted
Location: Winnipeg
Date Listed: 14-Apr-07
Anyone who is interested in playing competitive hardball cricket, please contact us at 204-782-5735. We play at Assiniboine Park during summer months. We welcome all nationalities. Just join the fun. It would be a great way to meet a new group of people.
You have nothing to lose but a lot to gain by joining one of our clubs.
First practice sessions will be held in May….
Look forward to hearing from you ….
Cricket: Season Set to Open in Western Canada -- Posted Friday, April 20 2007
The domestic Canadian outdoor cricket season begins over the course of the next month. The first competitive matches are scheduled for Victoria, on Vancouver Island starting this Saturday (April 21).
Cricket enthusiasts and, hopefully, new followers of the game, attracted by publicity surrounding Cricket World Cup 2007, will come along to watch or even participate in the sport in the local parks and grounds across the country.
The milder climate in southern British Columbia allows the Victoria and District Cricket Association (VDCA) to schedule play on the weekend of April 21 and 22. The British Columbia Mainland Cricket League (BCMCL) starts on April 28. Outdoor cricket resumes in other parts as the climate allows.
In Manitoba, cricket playing continued for much of the winter in Winnipeg, thanks to 7-a-side and 6-a-side indoor leagues. The 7-a-side competition was won by Winnipeg Juniors.
The Manitoba Cricket Association has a number of indoor coaching sessions that continue during April. Some are aimed at High Performance cricketers but others have a broader-based participation. The sessions have operated from Under 13 up to Senior Mens, as well as promoting coaching for women..
Staying in the west, the Calgary and District League season is also set to open on April 28. Predators will be hoping to repeat their Premier Division win and success in the Provincial Championship. Cricket followers in Edmonton will soon be able to see action in the Edmonton and District League.
The intense rivalry between these two Alberta cities, which crescendos on the (ice) hockey rink, continues in cricket. A series of Inter-City matches are scheduled this summer at several levels. These include Master, Senior, Under-23, Under-18 and Under-15.
The other prairie province, Saskatchewan, also has a small cricket league involving teams from Saskatoon and Regina.
A number of web-sites exist for Provincial Cricket Associations, cricket leagues/associations, and for some clubs through which news, schedules, results, and contacts in the cricket scene can usually be found. Some of the leagues do a fine job in maintaining information.
The start of the season in Eastern Canada is also imminent. In Toronto, the City is to stage a series of exhibitions linked to South Asian Heritage month starting in May and, according to latest information, continuing into June. News of cricket in the east will follow next week.
Eddie Norfolk
Bridgetown, Barbados
Lara quits international cricket -- Posted Friday, April 20 2007
West Indies captain, Brian Lara, had stuck to his guns on focusing on West Indies last two Cricket World Cup matches rather than West Indies future needs or his own plans....until tongight (Thursday night).
Lara ended the media conference ater his side's win over Bangladesh by saying " On Saturday I will bid farewell to international cricket as a player. I have already spoken to my board and my players."
He had been asked about previous comments on him continuing to play Test cricket until he is 40, and if he would be going to England next month to play in West Indies next Tests.
Lara clearly has ideas on how West Indies needs to re-generate development of the game, but stuck to his guns on that theme. He has said over the last few days, he would only share those ideas with the West Indies Cricket Board and other relevant bodies, such as the Cricket Committee, headed by Clive Lloyd.
The closest he came, today, was to say "The team is good enough, the talent is there. Success in international sport stems from more than the players on the field."
"Our cricket needs a strong foundation."
"I was confident I'd play my 300th game in this World Cup," said Lara, but he will close on 299 matches. Earlier in the conference, he said "I have enjoyed every single day I've played for the West Indies.
As for today's Super 8 match, West Indies, put in to bat by Bangladesh, struggled at first but went on to make 230 runs for the loss of 5 wickets. Ramnaresh Sarwan ended on 91 runs not out (89 balls, 5x4, 2x6). Lara made a brisk 33 runs off 27 balls (including 1x4, 2x6), batting sixth in the order. Shivanrine Chanderpaul anchored the innings with 50 runs (85 balls).
Bangladesh never got going against the West Indies bowlers. although it was only in the late overs that West Indies had been able to put momentum into their batting.
Darren Powell took 3 wickets for 38 runs off ten overs as Bangladesh was all out for 131 runs. It took a stand of 58 runs for the sixth wicket to take the total towards respectibility. Maharafee Bin Mortaza made 37 runs and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim was 38 runs not out when the last wicket fell.
Corey Collymore, Dwyne Bravo and Chris Gayle each took two Bangladeshi wickets.
But at the end of the day, the media looked at each other to re-confirm, Lara's just said he's finished playing international cricket, hasn't he.
England Coach Quits
Earlier in the day the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that coach Duncan Fletcher was stepping down after this Cricket World Cup. England meets the West Indies on Saturday in their final Super 8 match. Both sides have missed qualifying for the semi-final stage next week.
"The ECB would like to formally put on record our grateful thanks to Duncan Fletcher for his outstanding service to cricket throughout England and Wales," said ECB chief executive, David Collier.
"England's rise to number two in the LG ICC Test Championship is in no small measure due to his rigorous plannig and excellent coaching skills." Collier noted the 2005 "Ashes series victory over Australia, a record eight successive test wins".
"Away from the international arena, Duncan was instrumental in persuading the ECB and the First Class Counties to introduce central contracts and his contribution provides an excellent legacy for his successor. He leaves with our best wishes and genuine appreciation from ECB for his achievements."
Fletcher feels "it is in the team's best interests over the long term that I should move on and seek a new challenge elsewhere."
Eddie Norfolk
Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
P.S.
The late Bob Woolmer, who coached Lara at Warwickshire in the mid-1990s, once said: "He has five double-hundreds, a 375, a 400 and a 501. Anyone who can score that prolifically has to be one of the greatest batsmen of all time, not just of his era."
Read full story at:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/west_indies/6574711.stm
Pre-game comments from the two captains -- Posted Thursday, April 19 2007
West Indies v Bangladesh -
West Indies perspective: Lara looking for two wins
West Indies captain, Brian Lara, want to”finish with two wins” in the Super 8's to end this CWC 2007 for the hosts. “The England team's wins have been against the minnows, like Kenya. We've beaten Pakistan so we can beat big teams. Bangladesh has taken care of a couple of big teams. It's still an opportunity for us to play cricket like we know we can.”
“I think it is most important we do start on our second round (West Indies has not recorded a win in Super 8 matches, so far) and finish on a high. It's very important for us to do something at this stage. We've been disappointing to this stage.”
“We've got to finish on a high, The tournament will continue for a week and we won't,” he continued, referring to his side not being in the semi-finals or final.
Asked about the contributions from senior players, including himself, he replied “Yes, we (the senior players) wanted to produce more. We all know (there is disappointment among supporters) from Chris Gayle down to myself. Its disappointing for use we didn't get our act together.”
He turned aside a number of questions around some of the growing impatience with the West Indies performance in this event. He would discuss “structual issues” with the “people in charge or the (West Indies Cricket) Board” if asked. This would be done in private. “This is not the time for condemnation. It is a time for constructive criticism to we build something for the future.”
So there were no profound answers today to such questions as “how long he would continue his test career”, “who he thinks should be the next captain”, or whether the team “didn't get the wickets they would have liked”.
What will Biran Lara do in the future? “Thirty-four years with a bat in my hand. That is something I'm proud of. (In the short term) I'll sit back and enjoy myself. Possibly enjoy a vacation.” Then at some point, Lara will decide what he is interested in doing.
It was interesting to see the controlled manner in which Lara responded to the questions. He had one basic message “we want to win our last two matches” and he stuck to that theme.
Bangladesh perspective: Habibul Bashar looking for a win and greater consistency
Despite the loss to Ireland on Sunday, Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar and his players “are ready for it (playing the West Indies) tomorrow. “In this World Cup we beat India and South Africa. West Indies should be a good team for us. What's important to us is how we play on a particular day.”
Questioned about his team never having beaten the West Indies, he replied “For us it is a big motivation, as it is to win any match in the World Cup. We don't want to be number eight.” Sri Lanka beat Ireland not too long after Habibul spoke, so Bangladesh will, at minimum, place seventh, but clearly he was hoping for a win on Thursday.
He agreed his team is fairly young. Some of theBangladesh squad could still represent Bangladesh at Under-19 level. “It has been a big learning experience for us. We had a lot of games played (in preparation for this tournament). We are a pretty young side. I hope we can keep this team together for 1 or 2 years. We can become a good side and get more consistency.”
“The main need is for consistency in all departments. Batting, bowling and fielding.”
He admitted to being “very much” disappointed with his own form with the bat. “The captain always wants to do something so he can lead by example. It's been unfortunate for me and for my side I have not done better.”
** Bangladesh did not win a match at CWC 2003. Their record included a loss by 60 runs to Canada.
Eddie Norfolk
Bridgetown, Barbados
Windies tour to Canada and USA in 1886 -- Posted Thursday, April 19 2007
UWI Professor calls for a 'Strategic Response” for West Indies Cricket
Professor Hilary Beckles noted it is far easier to lose a cricket culture than it is to develop or restore one at the launch of the book ”The First West Indies Cricket Tour”. The book celebrates the tour of Canada and the United States in 1886. In a CWC 2007 context, Beckles had concerns over the current criticisms of current West Indies players by past ones could be seriously counterproductive to the development of young players.
Beckles is a Professor of Economic and Social History at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill, Barbados. He has a passion for cricket and has published works on West Indian history, slavery, women and cricket history in the Caribbean. Cricket has been a unifying force in the past social history of the diverse Caribbean islands. The book launch was staged at the Three 3's ground at Cave Hill, used for CWC 2007 warm-up matches. The C.L.R. James Centre for Cricket Research sits next to this ground.
Beckles underlined ”Cricket and the UWI have been regional forces. The three W's first played for the West Indies in 1948. The UWI started in 1948.”
”Sobers sat with the three W's (Weekes, Worrell and Walcott). Everton Weekes called Sobers aside and gave him his first bat. There were also the likes of Gomez and Stolleymeyer, Ramadin and Valentine in the dressing room. We saw the results as the West Indies were world champions in the mid-1960s under Sobers as they beat England, India and Australia in consecutive test series.”
The West Indies then won the first two World Cup competitions under Clive Lloyd, now serving as Manager to the current squad during CWC 2007. Lloyd was one of the audience at this reception. Beckles said “ I sat next to Lloyd in 1995 when we lost the Sir Frank Worrell trophy (to Australia). I cried. Clive obviously felt it deep inside.”
Beckles asked “In the face of the current negativity and condemnation, would Sir Gary (Sobers) have survived? I believe he would have been destroyed.” Beckles was especially hurt by the strident criticism of “scapegoat Brian Lara, “one person who we have produced.”
“Who will mentor the next generation of players?”, Beckles almost begged.
The first West Indies tour took place to Canada and the United States. Beckles highlighted how the United States actively moved away from cricket after the Civil War, but in 1886 they were the ranking cricket nation in the Americas, with Canada also rated ahead of the West Indies.
In the USA “a cricket culture was lost in about a generation.” Cricket had been declared the national game by the first Canadian Prime Minister but by the end of the 1800's it had been overtaken by other sports. Beckles was firing warning shots that the same could happen in the present Caribbean environment. ”There has been no strategic response” to the current criticisms and “systematic decline” from the greatness of the 70's and 80's.”
“We need to come up with a strategic response. The Australians did it in the 70's. England did it, India and Sri Lanka have done it.”
“In post-World Cup reality, what will be the nature of the next step we will take after April 28?”
The book combines a previously published series of writings on ”The Tour of the West Indian Cricketers - August and September, 1886” with a cricketing and social history introduction written by Beckles. His introduction puts context to the state of the game in 1886, notes some of the subsequent developments - the rise of West Indian cricket and the fall on the North American mainland.
The hundredth anniverary of the first tour passed with barely a mention. The original text had been published in 1887 by The Argosy Press in Demerara (part of modern Guyana) but was basically a lost work until traced by (the head librarian at UWI Cave Hill.
The touring party comprised fourteen players from Jamaica, Barbados and Demerara. They played 13 matches, winning 6, losing 5 and drawing 2. The first West Indies win was against Halifax Wanderers in Montreal and the first loss was to Hamilton CC, Ontario. Four of the wins came in Canada, with four of the losses in the USA.
Professor Beckles notes the encouragement of the diplomatic community, especially the Canadian High Commissioner to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Michael Welsh, who “empowered” him to restore ”details of a phenomenal experience that has been buried, and largely forgotten.”
The past history recalls, for some, and reveals for probably many in the global cricketing community, the fact that the USA versus Canada in September 1844 was the first international cricket match. It briefly mentions what was probably the only cricket ever played in the Arctic circle. It involved two Royal Navy vessels seeking the North-West Passage between the Atlnatic and Pacific Oceans in 1822.
Beckles ends the first section of his introduction with a “fitting....eloquent invocation” from tour captain L.R. Ffye. It is fitting in a current context for the three Americas teams in the current era.” Let us hope, as a result of our visit, that bonds of sympathy which always exist between cricketers, no matter whence they hail, may be tightened between ourselves and the cricketers of the great American continent.”
The West Indies have had a tough CWC 2007. Former West Indies players, like the tournament organizing committees, seemed to be saying positive things before the warm-up matches began. But several jumped off the bandwagon when the team was skittled by India in a warm-up game. Some were back on the wagon with an opening match win over Pakistan, only for their wheels to wobble off again.
The US national team seemed on a possible revival course at the Americas Division of the World Cricket League in 2006 but on-going administrative issues have seen the ICC suspend the US association. Canada has progressed at the international level over the winter, but faces some challenges if it is to sustain a place as a leading Associate country.
It can take a lot of effort to develop many things in life, but destruction? As Beckles has observed, this can be swift. The West Indies has produced many fine international cricketers. CWC 2007 was hoped to be a platform to re-generate enthusiasm for the game. The Kensington Oval was vibrant on Sunday (Ireland v Bangladesh) and Tuesday (South Africa v England). The fun and love of cricket was there to see.
I heard West Indies coach Bennett King answering a range of questions on Monday. In reply to one of them, he told how he provided a plan for developing the game and facilities. His keynote was the need to “implement and sustain” facilities, player development and a range of related items in order to return to better days and restore the calypso kings magic. It made sense to me.
The Book: ”The First West Indies Cricket Tour”, edited and with an introduction by Hilary McD. Beckles, is published by Canoe Press, University of the West Indies. (www.uwipress.com)
Eddie Norfolk
The reference to an article '.... the only cricket ever played in the Arctic circle. It involved two Royal Navy vessels seeking the North-West Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in 1822.' can be located at:-
http://www.canadacricket.com/opinion/121002-jh.htm
Fifth anniversary -- Posted Thursday, April 19 2007
The following is from canadacricket.com archives dated
26.03.02
Yes we have been operating for five years plus. (JH)
The (T&DCA) President's proclamation was that "He would not rest until all 11 of the Canadian team is from Toronto." To date perhaps 8 out of that team are playing in the Toronto and District Premier Division.
This is a highly commendable goal and would most certainly create a high drive for excellence, however, it is counter productive to the National picture. It is also a dangerous precursor to breaking ties with the CCA.
In my piece "The Art of War" I alluded to disparate generals (lowercase fully intended!) overseeing their own Fiefdoms. This is the case developing within the Toronto and District. The proposals presented by George Williams are certainly viable, albeit in need of a few adjustments, to reform the current executive. Certainly, these proposals should have been presented and argued years ago. I find it intriguing though, that the executive would openly state their disapproval, certainly legal but in very bad form.
One major salient point was made; that the same people are elected every year. Now then, why is that? Are we as a community so lacking in leaders that none can come forward; or is it a case of latency? The responsibility for this problem is squarely on the shoulders of the cricketing community. Why have we allowed a Fiefdom to develop? I agree to a certain extent that the T&D did manage some progress in keeping the GTA Parks and Recreation happy and our players on the field. However, when questioned about the implementation and execution of a methodology with a defined goal, the deflection was worthy of Bush's spin-doctors.
Ladies and Gentlemen we need to stop this chaos and adopt Professional attitudes. My question then becomes twofold: why did we allow this Fiefdom to develop, secondly why are the Executives of Toronto and District so hell-bent on having the National team selected solely from the GTA? Based on recent reports and demographics on immigration patterns the Greater Toronto Area will always have a consistent influx of people from the cricket playing nations and thus will have a distinct advantage in developing First Class athletes. I fail to understand why they are seeking to isolate the rest of the Provinces.
We are at a point where we can gain the momentum of the World Cup to adequately sell this sport to the North American public. However, without strong internal organization, nothing of the sort will materialize. In the National schema there are far too many egos running unchecked and behaving counter productively to positive development. Can you imagine the implications if Ontario suddenly decides to sever ties with the rest of the country?
I agree that the board has a large responsibility however they are still running at a marginal C grade mainly because of bad internal organization, lack of professionalism, poor dissemination of information and by their own admission, the failure to start meetings on time.
It would be a tremendous waste if this opportunity to advance Cricket passes us by because the leadership are too busy plucking the strings of the famed Roman violin, yet why has this attitude prevailed over the years?
Can we not admit there are flaws and repair them? George Williams' proposals are a step in the right direction but we must not allow the ageing chieftains to dissuade our decisions. Their time has ended, it is the moment to step down gracefully and allow change to progress; and we must not be afraid to step up to the challenge and do the justice Cricket deserves.
Bagai to captain Canada in UK match versus Ireland -- Posted Thursday, April 19 2007
Ashish Bagai has been named to lead Canada against Ireland in the Final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup Final in May. Bagai was the vice-captain in CWC (Cricket World Cup) 2007 and did lead the side in a match in Nairobi (Kenya) against Uganda before the World Cricket League (WCL) in January. Bagai had success with the bat in Canada's winter matches in South Africa and Kenya.
Bagai was named Player of the Tournament at the WCL. Bagai scored 137 runs not out against Scotland in the WCL, and a century against Ireland. His best first-class score is 76 runs against Bermuda in an IC 2005 match.
Slow-left arm bowler Kevin Sandher, from British Columbia, has been named vice-captain. Both Bagai and Sandher have progressed through Canadian cricket to the international stage. Their international debuts came as part of a combined Americas Under-19 team in the 2000 World Under-19 Championships. Sandher took 6 wickets for 68 runs in the IC 2004 match with Bermuda at Toronto's Sunnybrook Park.
Thirteen players have been named in the squad which will fly to England on May 15. Warm-up matches against the England Under-19 team preceed the 4-day match with Ireland. Grace Road, Leicester is the venue for this Final starting on May 22nd.
Ten of the thirteen, including Bagai and Sandher, were at the recent Cricket World Cup in St Lucia. Five of these players - Qaiser Ali, John Davison, Geoff Barnett, Ian Billcliff and Abdool Samad - each scored a century in IC 2006 Group matches.
Davison set a Canadian record of 165 runs against Bermuda that Ali eclipsed with 174 runs in the second innings against the Netherlands at Sinnoville in December 2006. Billcliff made 126 runs and Samad 119 runs against Bermuda, as Canada reached 588 runs all out. Barnett scored 136 runs in the second innings against Kenya. Ali had lead a first-innings recovery against Kenya ending on 91 runs not out.
Of the bowlers, Umar Bhatti took ten wickets in a match in each of the two IC 2006 home games, against Kenya and Bermuda. He took 8 wickets for 40 runs against Bermuda on his IC debut in 2005. Bhatti showed all-rounder potential with an innings of 83 not out against the Netherlands in South Africa. He has captained Canada at Under-19 level.
Ashif Mulla and Austin Codrington are the other World Cup 2007 squad players heading to England. Mulla transformed into a useful batsman for Canada during the winter, highlighted by his 58 runs against England. He, like Bagai and Sandher, was also part of the Americas Under-19 squad in 2000.
Trevin Bastiampillai, a 21-year old batsman, comes back to the side. He has played for Canada at Under-19 level and in two senior team internationals.These were in the World Cricket League Americas Regional championships at Maple Leaf CC in August 2006. He took a catch but did not have to bat in a 9-wicket win over Argentina or a 10 wicket win over the USA.
Ashish Patel, a pace bowler from Quebec, is set to return after a couple of years with injury problems. He did travel to a senior team net practice in January, in an attempt to prove his fitness, but the session was not attended by any of the National Selectors. Patel played two matches in the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa. He took 3 wickets for 41 runs against the host nation, including the early dismissal of star players Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis. He scored 25 runs against New Zealand.
Ashish Patel made three appearances in the 2004 Intercontinental Cup. His best first-class bowling is 3 wickets for 13 runs in Bermuda's first innings at Toronto's Sunnybrook Park in 2005. He took 1 wicket on his debut against the USA, a match where Davison took 17 wickets for Canada, and scored 25 runs not out in the loss to Scotland in the 2004 IC Final.
Also in the squad is Naresh Patel, a Gujarati-born slow-left arm bowler, was in the squads for the home Intercontinental Cup matches in 2006 but did not play. He plays his cricket in Quebec.
Ireland has just completed their CWC 2007 campaign in Grenada with a loss to Sri Lanka. But incoming coach Phil Simmons is trying to arrange for as many of his players with English county affiliations to be released to play at Leicester.
Canada lost to Scotland in the inaugural 2004 IC 2004 Final. Ireland kept the title in the British Isles with a win in the 2005 Final.
Eddie Norfolk
Bridgetown, Barbados
Quo vadis Davidson -- Posted Wednesday, April 18 2007
The following is cut and pasted from the CCA web site.
What should be noted is that Ashish Bagai is shown as Captain of the Canadian squad.
What should also be noted is that Davison is still a member of the Canadian squad.
It would appear that something untoward occured during the trip to the WC2007.
Rumours suggest that Davison was dismissed as Captain Canada.
The truth will out - eventually. (Jon Harris).
CCA Names Final 13 Players to Intercontinental Cup Final Squad
April 15, 2007
The CCA announces the Intercontinental Cup final squad to play Ireland from the 22nd May to the 25th May 2007. The game will take place in Leicester at Grace Road. The team leaves on the 15th May for Birmingham. The team will be staying at the ECB Academy in Loughborough and will play a series of warm up games there prior to traveling to Leicester on the 20th.
L’ACC nomme les 13 joueurs du peloton pour le finale de la Coupe Intercontinental
L’ACC annonce le peloton pour jouer contre l'Irlande au finale de la Coupe Intercontinental, le 22 mai au 25 mai 2007. Le match aura lieu ŕ Leicester ŕ Grace Road. L’équipe départ le 15 mai pour Birmingham. L'équipe restera ŕ l'académie de cricket Anglais ŕ Loughborough et y jouera une série de matchs de préchauffage avant de voyager ŕ Leicester sur le 20 mai.
1 BAGAI Ashish Ontario Batsmen/WK - Captain
2 SANDHER Kevin BC Spin Bowler –Vice-Captain
3 ALI Qaiser Quebec Batsman
4 BARNETT Geoffery BC Batsman
5 BASTIAMPILLAI Trevin Ontario Batsman
6 BHATTI Umar Ontario Pace Bowler
7 BILCLIFF Ian BC Batsman
8 CODRINGTON Austin Ontario Pace Bowler
9 DAVISON John BC All-rounder
10 MULLA Asif Ontario Batsman/WK
11 PATEL Ashish Quebec Pace Bowler
12 PATEL Naresh Quebec Spin Bowler
13 SAMAD Abdool Ontario All-rounder
PICK Andy Coach
HENRY Mike Manager
KIESEL Dan Physio
CROSSE Geoffrey Match Analysis
Davison Encouraged By Increased Competitiveness -- Posted Tuesday, April 17 2007
Canada captain John Davison was encouraged by the way his side had put up a decent fight before going down to England by 51 runs.
Chasing 280 for victory, they fell short but managed to post their top World Cup score.
Speaking after the game, he first focused on a slightly under par bowling performance, commenting:
“We probably bowled a few too many extras early and we let them get away but I thought in the middle period we bowled pretty well and then the two Pauls (Collingwood and Nixon) got into us at the end there. 270 or 280 was probably a little to many for us on that wicket."
He went on to praise the 96 run partnership that gave the Canadians some hope of pulling off an unlikely victory:
“It would have been nice to go hard early and not lose the wickets that we did lose but Abdool Samad and Asif Mulla put on a nice little partnership there in the middle.
“I think we’ll go away from this a lot happier than we did from the game against Kenya. It has been a great experience for us to come here and play against the big sides and we showed today that we can get out there and compete. We didn’t completely match them but we did compete.”
Article located from:-
http://www.cricketworld.com/rest_of_the_world/article/?aid=10143
Editors comment:-
Three matches, three losses and the Canadian team captain is 'Encouraged'??? Methinks his best before date has expired. (JH)
An historical cricket snippet -- Posted Tuesday, April 17 2007
1840 - Cricket First introduced to Nova Scotia at King's College by Charles Bowman of Spa Springs, (King's Meadow) Windsor, who had been studying in England
http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/windsor/big-firsts.htm
1858: THE PUBLIC ADOPTS A FLAG
Some 233 years after the grant of arms, and 109 years after the settlement of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the first use of the flag is recorded, and not as a symbol of provincial authority as the 1625 grant implicitly allows, but as a celebratory offering to a cricket club. As the Acadian Recorder of June 12, 1858 tells it, "The Mayor, on behalf of Dr. Cogswell, also presented them [the cricket club] with a flag, embodying in visible shape for the first time in our history, the arms of the Province. The flag consisted of a blue cross of St. Andrew on a white field, charged in the centre with an inescocheon [sic] of the Royal Arms of Scotland.".
Article sourced from:-
http://fraser.cc/FlagsCan/Provinces/NS.html
In Vroom's Notes on the History of King's College in Nova Scotia he says, "...cricket was brought to Windsor about 1845. It was played on the field to the north of the College, part of which is now covered with spruces, and part attached to the Clifton property, having been given to Judge Haliburton in an exchange for a right-of-way through his property to town. The field was near the large elms in the hollow, which stood out prominently with no spruces about them, and hence the name of "the Three Elms Cricket Club", which is so well known in the history of cricket in this province..."
In another article about "the Three Elms" the author says, " ... Long Pond was in the College grounds, and the level ground to the east of it was the cricket field ...
Articles sourced from:-
http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/birthplace/long-pond/long-long-pond-story.html
Twenty20 gaining, says Gilly -- Posted Tuesday, April 17 2007
Adam Gilchrist fears 50-over cricket could be on the verge of being "cannibalised" by the Twenty20 game and has urged administrators to drop ticket prices for the World Cup.
Gilchrist admitted the "sterile" atmosphere of the World Cup, with its half-filled grandstands and over-regulated crowd control, had lacked the rich Caribbean flavour of Australia's last Test tour four years ago.
The tournament revved up with a wonderful match when Sri Lanka beat England by two runs yesterday but the sight of raucous fans celebrating in the stands has been all too rare.
As Gilchrist was suggesting tickets be sold at a cut-price rate for the rest of the tournament, besieged Cup organisers were meeting last night to discuss that very issue.
Stunned by the poor turn-out, even for matches involving the West Indies, administrators are likely to widen the areas of the lowest priced tickets which go for $US25.
Gilchrist had previously cautioned against making the Twenty20 game too big, too quickly but now wonders whether its swift progress will be unstoppable.
"I have suggested a softly, softly approach (with Twenty20 cricket) which does not mean I disapprove of the game," Gilchrist said.
"(But) having seen the lack of crowds at this World Cup maybe it is going to be the way to go. It might cannibalise the one-day game a little bit but we might have to deal with that as we go. It is a popular format.
"There are a lot of people interested in the World Cup and just talking to the locals everyone is aware of it and very excited to have it here, but that is not being translated into big numbers at the grounds which is a bit disappointing as a player.
"You come here, as spectators do, to experience the unique atmosphere of Caribbean cricket. There is certainly a sterile feel about it.
"Whatever the policy is at the moment does not seem to be working so maybe we can look at dropping the price and having a sale."
source - news.com.au
ST. CATHARINES CRICKET CLUB -- Posted Tuesday, April 17 2007
The St. Catharines Cricket Club has the honour of carrying on a tradition of cricket in the Niagara Peninsula that traces its origin to the early 1800's, with games on wickets mown by sheep between the local military garrison and the towns people.
With the establishment of Ridley College in 1889, a schoolboy cricket tradition sprung up to the advantage of all, as the Ridley Cricket grounds provided one of the most beautiful settings in all of Canada.
The changing face of the population in Canada has been mirrored in the variety of backgrounds in cricket that have been reflected in the teams field by the St. Catharines Cricket Club. Ex-Patriot Brits, Canadian schoolboys, West Indians, East Indians – all have contributed to the success of the teams in the Hamilton and District League - including the League Championship in 2001 - and tournament play and the continuing strength of the Club at the beginning of play on our third Century.
Whether practising the finger roll of the leg break or the foot work of the on-drive, weekday nets practice prepares seniors and juniors for the weekend fixtures, details of which are set out of the year’s schedule.
Cricket is a game of the ages, for all ages. Come and play or watch and help keep the tradition alive!
Item sourced from:-
http://www.cricket.computan.com/history.asp
Tom Smith’s New Cricket Umpiring and Scoring -- Posted Tuesday, April 17 2007
“Tom Smith’s New Cricket Umpiring and Scoring“ deals with the Laws of Cricket. It deals with the interpretation of the laws for umpires and guides the scorer on how to complete a scorebook. I picked up a copy of this book during the summer of 2006 and have intended to publicize it ever since. One testimonial on the back cover notes “The true Spirit of Cricket, vital technical information and essential hints on techniques are all contained in this one exceptional book.” I agree with the comments. So that’s the short version of this review!
My experience from Canadian domestic and international matches in the past ten months is that umpiring and scoring could do with a boost. A couple of people involved in the Canadian cricket scene have asked about giving umpiring and scoring a push so some new faces come forward.
This book, produced by The Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers can certainly help. Once read, the lessons and laws need to be applied in game situations. That’s the difficult part but that’s where umpires can work together to advance their standards.
It would be really useful for many of those involved in scoring – be they volunteers or pressed persons - to review the guidance provided by this book. The art of scoring comes down to doing things methodically. The method needs to go beyond asking the other team’s scorer what entries he or she made for the previous ball.
This book provides a solid indication how a match can be scored. Ideally, the scorers work independently but make periodic checks and balances to ensure the scores agree and are balanced between the bowling and batting analyses.
The final part of the balancing act, as per Law 3.15, requires the Umpires to ‘satisfy themselves as to the correctness of the number of runs scored, the wickets that have fallen, and, where appropriate, the number of overs bowled.” They check the basic scoring with the official scorers so Law 21.8 ‘Correctness of Result’ can also be satisfied.
I was going to suggest that the next version of the book or even a revision to the Laws might need to spell out that these checks ought to be done at the start of an interval - rather than at the end - or immediately after the game or the day’s play ends. But is there such a need? The ‘hint on technique’ is for checks to be made when players leave the field. Perhaps it should be embodied in the Laws as there are umpiring guides.
The 6th edition is based on the 2003 updates to the new 2000 code of laws and is a major enhancement to the 5th edition that dealt with the 2000 code. The latest edition has many illustrative photographs and illustrations than the previous version.
Lord (Colin) Cowdrey of Tonbridge had mentioned ‘the deterioration in recent years of player behaviour on the field’ as a reason for some of the changes made for the 2000 code. He also looked to umpires ‘not to shirk their responsibilities’. Umpires ‘can do much to ruin a game of cricket but more often will make an important contribution to the conduct of the game, ensuring it is played with the correct spirit.” His foreword is not included in the 6th edition but he noted “there is still much in the game to take pride in” and study of this book “will do much to enhance the reader’s understanding of the game.”
The Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers - Sixth Edition published by Wiedenfeld & Nicholson, London, England. Avaikabke at The World’s Biggest Bookstore, Edward’s Street, Toronto. Cost about $25 in Canada.
Eddie Norfolk
If Ireand can do it - what should the Canucks be doing for the next 4 years? -- Posted Monday, April 16 2007
Bray set the platform for a late assault which propelled Ireland to 243 for seven.
By Richard Gibson, PA Sport, Barbados
Ireland won permanent one-day international status after beating Bangladesh by 74 runs at Kensington Oval.
Victory for the Irish over a second Test opponent - they famously beat Pakistan in the group stage to qualify for the Super Eight - added a new chapter to their World Cup fairytale.
Two wins over major teams qualifies associate countries for full limited-overs status so Ireland, who eyed this match as their big chance to avoid the second-round wooden spoon, have become the 12th name on an International Cricket Council ranking list which includes the 10 Test-playing nations and Kenya.
The size of their achievement was put into perspective by the fact Bangladesh ousted India from the competition, thrashed South Africa last weekend and made England sweat on a four-wicket win here on Wednesday.
Success was founded on Gloucestershire hopeful William Porterfield's industrious 85 and clean late hitting from Kevin O'Brien (48) and Trent Johnston (30).
Porterfield, who heads to Bristol for a trial with the English county after this tournament, dominated an opening stand of 92 with Jeremy Ireland captain Johnston's decision to take on the new ball in early morning conditions rather than have to force the pace against Bangladesh's trio of spinners in a run chase paid off, as early consolidation preceded 98 runs from the final dozen overs.
Their usual enthusiastic fielding, paired with regular wickets, meant it was comfortably enough for further Caribbean celebration.
Fittingly it began when Johnston bowled opposite number Habibul Bashar to spark jubilation in front of one of the biggest crowds of the tournament.
When the schedule was planned out this contest was supposed to be between India and Pakistan, so with thousands of tickets bought on-line in the sub-continent but not taken up, organisers allowed free entry to bolster the 500-strong Blarney Army.
Article sourced from:-
http://worldcup.cricket365.com/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=cricket/07/04/15/WORLDCUP_Ireland.html
Ireland wins big over Bangladesh -- Posted Monday, April 16 2007
A couple of days ago, one of the International Cricket Council (ICC - cricket's governing body) circulars advised how Australia was now back at the top of the ICC LG ODI standings. South Africa had managed to top those charts for a brief - and key - period but Australia is back in pole position. The 'key' element for South Africa was it topped the table at the right time to win some money.
However, today I thought of the LG ODI standings as Ireland was moving towards a second win over an ICC Full Member side. Ireland stuck to the basics, had an opening stand of 92 runs, had some good scoring in the closing overs to reach 243 for 7, and made breakthroughs with the ball. Sufficient breakthroughs to put pressure on Bangladesh and ultimately win the game by 74 runs.
This win came a couple of days after near disaster against the powerful Australians. Some in the Irish camp probably think that match was a disaster, but they showed some pluck to recover from a very dark position.
Ireland has now beaten Pakistan and Bangladesh. Two wins over Full Member countries, and playing a sufficient number of ODI games, can place a leading Associate Country into those same LG ODI standings I didn't care about a couple of days ago.
For the record, I wasn't concerned about the current standings in the middle of CWC 2007. All things have their time and place, in my view.
Ireland also tied with Zimbabwe, another Full Member country, in the Group stages of CWC2007. Have they played enough official ODI games to gain a ranking ? Certainly.
Most of the six leading Associate Countries have had their predominantly amateur players trotting round the globe since late October or early November, if you include the ICC Winter Training Camp for 4 players from each country. So they have all played sufficient games to potentially reach the LG ODI standings but have to meet performance criteria to do so.
A long winter's journey to success
I had a TV set next to me at today's game at the Kensington Oval. At least one of the commentators was going on about it being hot for Ireland to play here. Does this cricketing "expert" know that the Irish spent most of January in South Africa preparing for the World Cricket League in Nairobi, Kenya that took them into February?
The Irish moved from Nairobi to the United Arab Emirates to play the deciding match of their 2006 ICC Intercontinental Cup group. Ireland won and are set to meet Canada at Grace Road, Leicester, England in May.
From the UAE the Irish went home for about two weeks, then flew to Trinidad for a couple of warm-up matches. They gave South Africa a big scare - the 13 players in a team proviso might have saved South Africa from defeat - and then beat Canada. This was a revenge win for the amazing six wicket win by Canada in the World Cricket League in Nairobi. Canada chased 309 runs to win and did it!
Well, the World Cup warm-up games gained more publicity than the World Cricket League to the global cricket and non-cricket communities. So not many people outside the players, support staffs and die-hard followers of international Associates and Affiliates (an even lower classification in the ICC's membership ranks) would know of Canada's win in Nairobi.
You will be able to read elsewhere how outgoing coach Adrian Birrell said after today's win over Bangladesh. "I am very proud of what we have achieved. We have a great squad of players. As Trent Johnston said, we are a tightly wound team."
"Five years ago we were ranked below Denmark. Now we lead the other Associates."
"I am very proud of the five years spent in Ireland. People accepted me as one of their own. The overriding feeling is we have moved forward in every year."
The squad also has a number of people surrounding it who have worked hard for Irish cricket. It was great to see some of the smiling faces after today's match.
It's almost a shame the win came over Bangladesh. Bangladesh was praised by ICC High Performance Manager, Richard Done, at a Tri-Nations series in Antigua recently for being willing to play the Associate countries. That event included Canada, who put up a good showing, and Bermuda. Done also mentioned Bangladesh's ODI series with Kenya and Scotland.
Bangladesh has been improving over the course of the last year. Birrell mentioned Bangladesh having ODI wins over Australia, and during this CWC, South Africa. There are some big gaps in playing experience for a number of the potentially up-and-coming cricketing countries.
On certain days these gaps look big on the field. On others they do not. In addition there are issues over infrastructure to help develop and administer the game.
Many of the leading Associate countries players have been progressing towards a professional level of performance in order to be able to attempt to compete at the top level.
Ireland are set to have "a couple of quiet beers" (approved by the coach), fly to Grenada in the morning and then meet Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka took part in CWC 1979 as an Associate member, as did Canada. There were 8 teams in the event. CWC 2007 included 16 teams, 2 more than in 2003.
Irish captain Trent Johnston, asked about the impact of this World Cup on Irish cricket said "Sri Lanka was introduced to one day cricket in the early 80's and won the World Cup ten years later. They turned one day cricket on it's head."
"There are a lot of guys playing cricket (in Ireland). People in hurling country are picking up bats." Progress has come from hard work from a determined squad of players and support staff whose success at CWC 2007 has produced much more publicity and visibility for cricket in the Emerald Isle.
Normally my cricket reports would be headed by the facts that Ireland scored 243 runs for 7 wickets in 50 overs. William Porterfield topped the scoring with 85 runs. He shared an opening partnership with Jeremy Bray of 92 runs in 25.3 overs. Bray took a while to get going. He made 31 runs. Kevin O’Brien came in and scored 47 runs in 45 balls, mostly in tandem with skipper Johnston, who scored 30 runs in 24 balls. Masharafe Mortaza bowled well for Bangladesh. He took one wicket for 37 runs in ten overs.
Bangladesh was going well up to the fall of their second wicket with the score on 45 runs. Mohammad Ashraful was looking threatening until out for 35 runs off 35 balls. He was the fifth wicket to fall and the Bangladesh reply was creaking. Captain Habibul Bashar battled away but never got on top of the bowling. He was last man out, bowled by opposing skipper Johnston, for 32. Bangladesh 169 runs all out. Ireland wins by 74 runs.
They did a victory lap around the ground to celebrate and pass back affection to the many West Indians, Indians and Pakistanis in the crowd. The seedings for this event had this match penciled in as India versus Pakistan. Bangladesh beat India, and Ireland beat Pakistan in the initial group stages. There was free admission to the Kensington Oval after 11 am to fill the void of seats sold on the sub-continent to Indian and Pakistani supporters who did not travel to Barbados for the Super 8’s.
It is a significant achievement for Ireland to enter the LG ODI standings. Cricket has earned visibility in Ireland as a result of this CWC 2007 and people will start to recognize the faces of some of the island's cricket players.
Remember, also, the Irish Cricket Union covers both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Or, put another way, it covers Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. A great day for the Emerald Isle, one day after there was an Irish-trained winner in the Grand National, one of the major horse-races in racing in the British Isles.
What next for Irish cricket? Birrell is just looking to his last match as coach, against Sri Lanka in Grenada, one of the top team in this tournament.
And another example where sport can help bring people together.
Eddie Norfolk
Kensington Oval,
Barbados
What associate nations go through -- Posted Saturday, April 14 2007
A game of haves and have not
An amateur solution in a professional world
Martin Williamson
April 13, 2007
Amid all the World Cup headlines, one piece of news from Holland understandably slipped under the radar. Daan van Bunge, who is destined to be forever introduced as the man who Herschelle Gibbs smashed for six sixes in an over, announced that he was retiring from international cricket.
In itself, that's not earth-shattering news. He is just one of many players who will choose to bow out after the game's biggest tournament. The difference is that van Bunge is 24, talented, and represents the future for Netherlands cricket.
Full article can be read at:-
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/current/story/290309.html
Irish executive dies at WC2007 -- Posted Saturday, April 14 2007
Former Irish Cricket Union president Robert Kerr died of a suspected heart attack Wednesday, the second fatality at the Cricket World Cup in Kingston, Jamaica. He was 68.
Irish assistant coach Matt Dwyer told reporters that Kerr died from "a heart attack. He was with his wife [Hope] on holidays and spent time with the fans.
"We last spoke to him after the Pakistan match and he was in good spirits. He was not in ill health."
Dwyer explained that the Kerrs were staying at the Jamaica Sunset Grand Hotel in Ocho Rios, and that she summoned hotel staff in the middle of the night.
Kerr died en route to the hospital.
"He had a very big part in Irish cricket over the last six or seven years," Irish head coach Adrian Birrell said. "This is tragic news. Bob was a great ambassador for Irish cricket. He worked tirelessly."
Kerr was the chairman of the Irish Cricket Union from 2000 to 2002, and was president in 2004.
He also was an executive board member of the ICU and chairman of the North West Cricket Union.
Kerr held "almost every senior position in the land with distinction," said former ICU chairman Joe Doherty in a statement.
"His sudden passing will leave a big void in Irish cricket."
Former Irish Cricket Union president Robert Kerr died of a suspected heart attack Wednesday, the second fatality at the Cricket World Cup in Kingston, Jamaica. He was 68.
A cricket bounce from the World Cup -- Posted Saturday, April 14 2007
Jamaican PM is hoping for a cricket bounce from the World Cup
Apr 04, 2007 04:30 AM Marc Lacey
New York Times
KINGSTON, Jamaica–Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is not a member of the West Indies cricket team now competing in the World Cup. She neither bats nor bowls for the Windies.
But Simpson Miller, who doubles as Jamaica's sports minister, sure doesn't act that way sometimes. She recently donned cricket apparel, complete with shin protectors, gloves and a bat, for a newspaper advertisement promoting the tournament, which is being played in Jamaica and on eight other Caribbean islands.
Full article can be sourced from:-
http://www.thestar.com/article/199234
Cup bosses blamed for poor crowds -- Posted Saturday, April 14 2007
World Cup bosses have only themselves to blame for poor attendances, says Caribbean cricket writer Tony Becca.
"The World Cup was not promoted as a West Indian World Cup but as a World Cup for the world.
"They went for north American tourists so much that they ignored the local population," said Becca, who has been covering cricket for 34 years.
Full story available from:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/west_indies/6513159.stm
Australia v Ireland match report -- Posted Saturday, April 14 2007
Australia turned the screws on Ireland with an emphatic 9 wicket win at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados on Friday (April 13). Ireland was put in to bat by Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, and was soon in big trouble at 12 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Ponting might have picked up a catch at slip to make it 16 runs for 5 wickets, but he couldn't hold on.
Andrew White survived that chance but did become the fifth man out with the score on 32 runs. Irish captain Trent Johnston, himself raised in Australian cricket before moving to the Emerald Isle, came in to hit some good shots that first took the score past the previous Cricket World Cup low total (36 all out by Canada) and then to 50. That was a landmark in danger of not being reached when 3 wickets had gone down for just 2 runs.
Sadly for Ireland, Johnston did not last much longer. He was bowled by Shaun Tait for 17 runs with 54 runs on the board. Kevin O'Brien had been dismissed for 16 runs in the meantime. For Tait his return to the attack had brought his side a 7th wicket. But it was a strange morning for Tait.
He took 2 wickets in 2 balls in his second over, but then conceded several wides. A steady start moved towards waywardness almost at the drop of a hat. He ended with 3 wickets for 39 runs, 11 of those being wides. He even included a no-ball to give the equivalent of two extra overs. His coach will have liked the figures of 2 wickets for 2 runs, but will be concerned about the wides. These can come back to haunt in a tight game.
John Mooney came to bat when Johnston was out and helped move the total towards the century mark. However, having lost 2 partners, Johnston went for a quick single and was run out to end the innings at 91 runs all out from 30 overs. Mooney made 23 runs.
Veteran opening bowler Glenn McGrath took 3 wickets for 17 runs from 7 overs. He set the tone, bowling Jeremy Bray from the sixth ball of this match.
Australia used Mike Hussey to open their innings alongside Adam Gilchrist. Hussey has not spent much time batting during this CWC 2007 campaign with just 20 runs from 4 brief innings before the Ireland game.
Gilchrist set the tone in the opening over which ended with 9 runs on the board. He fired consecutive drives through mid-off and one through point in the 5th over that all reached the boundary. Hussey then hit consecutive boundaries off Johnston that brought up the fifty and put Hussey into double-figures.
Gilchrist was then bowled by Johnston for 34 runs. The Irish showed their delight and it was 62 runs for 1 wicket. New batsman Andrew Symonds should have been caught when driving to mid-off, but escaped, gaining two runs from the missed catch. Bray could not make the sizzling catch off John Mooney. A straight drive for six from the next ball merely deepened the bowler's wounds.
The target was reached in the 13th over and the match never reached the normal time for the change of innings break.
Hussey was 30 runs not out and Symonds 15 runs not out. Ireland gave away 8 runs in wides, plus a no-ball.
It proved how professional this Australia team is. The fielders chased hard after shots that broke through the infield. They were assisted by an outfield that was slowed by overnight rain. The three Irish batsmen who made double-figures stuck to the basics of getting behind the line of the ball and playing each ball on merit. Some of the others would probably say they were trying to do the same.
The Irish, like the other Associate teams now out of CWC 2007, do not get many chances to play against the leading countries. By reaching the Super 8 stage they have added five matches against the world's top eight countries to their schedule, compared with about 2 such matches in a non-World Cup year.
So the Aussie juggernaut rolls on. England are the one side to have pushed them so far. Ireland meets Bangladesh at the Kensington Oval on Sunday. A match that the tournament seedings expected as India versus Pakistan. Sri Lanka is leading the charge for the sub-continent and hook up with the Aussies on Monday April 16 in Grenada. The top four sides from the Super 8's progress to the semi-finals. The Final will be at the Kensington Oval on April 28.
It will be interesting to see if there are any post-game comments about the wicket. England's Andrew Strauss found it a strange pitch in their game with Bangladesh. Today, two Irish batsmen were hit on the helmet when ducking bouncers that did not lift. Last man Rankin was hit on the helmet by a bouncer when standing up. Ponting even rushed up to try and run out the batsman at the bowler's end. It is an understatement to suggest the Aussies have 'we want to win' on their hearts.
Next week, South Africa and England collide at this ground (Tuesday April 17) in a match that might decide a semi-final place. The South Africans were unhappy with a pitch of variable bounce during a warm-up match with Pakistan in Trinidad. Let's hope for reasonable wickets in the remaining matches.
Scoring summary from Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados. Friday April 13, 2007.
Ireland 91 runs all out (30 overs: John Mooney 23 runs, Glenn McGrath 3 wickets for 17 runs, Shaun Tait 3 wickets for 39 runs)
Australia 92 runs for 1 wicket (12.2 overs: Adam Gilchrist 34, Mike Hussey 30 runs not out)
Australia won the toss and elected to field.
Australia won by 9 wickets.
Eddie Norfolk
Barbados
P.S. I expect to be in Barbados for the rest of the Super 8 stage. I may try for a quick visit to Grenada in order to see Sri Lanka play.
West Indian Cricket Club, Toronto -- Posted Friday, April 13 2007
West Indian Cricket Club Est. 1934
An Historical Perspective
The West Indian Cricket Club of Toronto (WICC) has had a long and impressive history in the social and recreational lives of Caribbean immigrants to Canada. In 1934 the club was established, (the first West Indian base cricket club in Toronto). Its main objective, outside of providing a social and recreational outlet, is "to foster and promote the game of cricket within the community and to develop gentleman-like and sportsmanship qualities among its members". Today cricket, like hockey, has established itself as part of the Canadian mosaic due to the range of ethnic groups participating. In its 68 years of existence, the West Indian Cricket Club has been and continues to be a solid contender in the various divisions in which it has fielded teams. In particular, during the mid seventy's (70's) to mid eighties (80's) the club boasted championships titles in all three divisions, thus establishing itself as the marquis of cricket in the Toronto and District leagues. The club also won the Ross Robertson Challenge Trophy for eastern Canada in 1984, and the Woods Cup knock out competition on several occasions. In the eighties, WICC was the only club to win the first division championship three times. This achievement brought our club recognition from the Government of Ontario and all players received a certificate of achievement. Also, several of our members have represented the club at both the provincial and national levels. Most notably is Franklyn Dennis, who played for the Canadian national team in the 1979 World Cup in England.
In recent years, the club has undergone major restructuring, and is now well on its way to reclaiming its former position. In 1996, WICC won the conference championship for the second division, winning 13 of 16 games. In 1997, the first division team came second in their conference, losing by only one game. In 1998, the first division team wond their conference, and the championship.
CURRENT CLUB ACTIVITIES:
The success of the club can be measured both on and off the field. In recent years, attendance and support of club activities have been tremendous.
The activities are outlined below:
• Playing 16 Toronto & District Cricket Association (T&DCA) league games per team during the regular season (May- Sept.)
• Playing 5 to 10 friendly matches against teams in cities, such as Rochester (NY), London (Ont.), Woodstock (Ont.), Guelph (Ont.) and many others.
• Having two regular fundraising dances, one in the spring and one in the fall. Average attendance of 350 to 450 people.
• Annual bus trip to New York City to visit Primrose of Bronx.
• Hosting two visiting teams per year. This involves organizing games and special functions; there is usually a dance or a party, with an average attendance of 100 to 150 people. The highlight of which, is our longstanding relationship with the Primrose Cricket of (NY) and the Desnoes & Geddes Sport Club of Jamaica.
• Club family day picnic held usually in July at Sunnybrook Park in North York. Average attendance of 100 to 150 people
• Club practices, held two days per during the regular season. Indoor practices held one night per week in the off season (November to April).
The strength of our club is our interaction with many communities locally and abroad. South of the border, we socialized with teams in Rochester, Bronx, and Long Island. In the Caribbean, clubs from Jamaica and Antigua. Outside the metropolitan area, clubs from, Guelph, London, Cambridge, Woodstock and Ajax. Locally we interact with the cricketing community of over 65 teams.
Item sourced from:-
http://www.cricketstar.net/tdca/index.jsp?page_id=WICC
An historical Canadian cricket snippet -- Posted Friday, April 13 2007
1840 - Cricket First introduced to Nova Scotia at King's College - by Charles Bowman of Spa Springs, (King's Meadow) Windsor, who had been studying in England
Item sourced from:-
http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/windsor/big-firsts.htm
1858: THE PUBLIC ADOPTS A FLAG
Some 233 years after the grant of arms, and 109 years after the settlement of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the first use of the flag is recorded, and not as a symbol of provincial authority as the 1625 grant implicitly allows, but as a celebratory offering to a cricket club.
As the Acadian Recorder of June 12, 1858 tells it,
The Mayor, on behalf of Dr. Cogswell, also presented them [the cricket club] with a flag, embodying in visible shape for the first time in our history, the arms of the Province. The flag consisted of a blue cross of St. Andrew on a white field, charged in the centre with an inescocheon [sic] of the Royal Arms of Scotland.
Article sourced from:-
http://fraser.cc/FlagsCan/Provinces/NS.html
In Vroom's Notes on the History of King's College in Nova Scotia he says, "...cricket was brought to Windsor about 1845. It was played on the field to the north of the College, part of which is now covered with spruces, and part attached to the Clifton property, having been given to Judge Haliburton in an exchange for a right-of-way through his property to town. The field was near the large elms in the hollow, which stood out prominently with no spruces about them, and hence the name of "the Three Elms Cricket Club", which is so well known in the history of cricket in this province..."
In another article about "the Three Elms" the author says, " ... Long Pond was in the College grounds, and the level ground to the east of it was the cricket field ...
Article sourced from:-
http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/birthplace/long-pond/long-long-pond-story.html
English cricket team in North America in 1859 -- Posted Friday, April 13 2007
English cricket team in North America in 1859
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The English cricket team in North America in 1859 was the first ever overseas cricket tour.
The idea for the tour came from WP Pickering (1819-1905), who had been captain of cricket at Eton College in 1837 and 1838. He had emigrated to Canada in 1852 and played for Canada against the United States the following year. He originally opened discussions for a possible tour in 1856 but financial problems meant that it was three years before the money could be raised. The English team required a guarantee of Ł750, which Pickering obtained through the Montreal Club.
The English team comprised six members of the All-England Eleven and six of the United All-England Eleven. With George Parr as captain, the twelve players were effectively the cream of professional talent in the 1859 English cricket season that had just ended:
George Parr (captain)
James Grundy
John Jackson (all of Nottinghamshire);
Robert Carpenter
Alfred Diver
Thomas Hayward (all of Cambridgeshire);
Julius Caesar
William Caffyn
Tom Lockyer
HH Stephenson (all of Surrey);
John Lillywhite
John Wisden (both of Sussex)
Five matches were played, all against XXIIs, so none had first-class status. Three exhibition games were also played in which the 12 England players divided and added five North Americans to each team to make up eleven-a-side matches. Including travelling time, the trip lasted two months and each English player (all professionals) cleared about Ł90, a sizeable sum at the time.
The team's opponents were:
22 of Lower Canada by 8 wickets at Montreal, Quebec on 26-27 September
22 of the United States by an innings and 64 runs at Hoboken, New York State on 3-5 October
22 of the United States by 7 wickets at Philadelphia on 10-12 October
22 of Lower Canada by 10 wickets at Hamilton, Ontario on 17-19 October
22 of the United States by an innings and 68 runs at Rochester, New York on 21-25 October.
In addition to the exhibition matches they also had two excursions to view the Niagara Falls.
The English side was of course exceedingly strong and would probably have beaten any XXII in England. There were excellent crowds for the first three matches but the weather in mid-October turned very cold and reduced the attendances at the last two. It was reported that the fielders wore gloves and overcoats in the last match.
A product of the tour was a book by Fred Lillywhite, who travelled as scorer, entitled The English Cricketers' Trip to Canada and the United States and published in 1860.
For the general growth of cricket in the United States, it was most unfortunate that this pioneering tour occurred only 18 months before the US Civil War began. If the war had not broken out, it is highly likely that two or three follow-up tours might have been arranged in the early 1860s, thus building on the interest created by the initial trip. As it was, the enthusiasm for cricket faded in the war years and the troops on both sides adopted the embryonic game of baseball. When English teams resumed tours to America in 1868, not only did they have to try to rekindle the enthusiasm, but in baseball they had a serious rival to contend with.
Article sourced from:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_cricket_team_in_North_America_in_1859
Children playing cricket in the park -- Posted Thursday, April 12 2007
Laurie Monsebraaten
Toronto Star Staff Reporter
Apr 11, 2007 04:30 AM
For residents of Scarborough Village, children playing cricket in the park are an important sign of change.
Last summer's twice-weekly informal cricket sessions saw local volunteers teaching the game to area kids in a Toronto neighbourhood that's starved for community and social services. It grew out of a two-year federally funded project to help ailing neighbourhoods help themselves.
But impromptu cricket has done more for Scarborough Village than give 20 to 30 kids something to do for three or four hours.
Through the games, members of the village's large South Asian community discovered the underused recreation centre, which agreed to store the cricket equipment. Now the Bengali Social club and the Urdu Women's club both meet in the building near Eglinton Ave. E. and Markham Rd.
As a result of community requests for more youth programs, the centre, which was primarily geared to serving seniors, has introduced martial arts classes and a youth drop-in. And plans are underway to designate a permanent space in the centre that youth can call their own.
Full article can be read at::-
http://www.thestar.com/article/201751
John Davison's Last Fling? -- Posted Thursday, April 12 2007
Tribute to a Maverick: John Davison's Last Fling?
By Citizen Correspondent Robin Benger
03/23/07
The joy of sites like Orato.com is that one can throw a bit of limelight on overlooked but deserving characters. The world of cricket has been scandalized by the murky tragedy of Bob Woolmer’s apparent murder. Lost in all of this is the John Davison story, a brighter side of the current World Cup.
Thursday saw the likely end of the career of the best cricketer ever to play for Canada. John Davison went down guns, and gums, blazing as Canada lost, comprehensively, to New Zealand. Davison has been the single reason why Canada has emerged from its two World Cup adventures with pride justifiably intact.
The world needs fearless mavericks like John Davison. Born in Campbell River British Columbia 36 years ago while his mum and dad were on a teachers exchange, Davison left for Oz, a babe in arms. He attended the prestigious Australian Cricket Academy but wasn’t able to crack the top level in that extremely competitive environment. The Australian national team is like a Panzer Division, all pistons and grim efficency, whereas the last person to play like Davison in the Caribbean was Johnny Depp, slashing and burning his way through allcomers.
Without Davison and his fellow fly-ins, Kiwis Geoff Barnett and Ian Billcliff, Canada’s showing would have been pretty dismal. They accounted for more than 40 percent of the runs scored by Canada.The team is a hybrid of foreign players either born in Canada or parented by a Canadian; and club players born and raised in cricket playing nations.
It was a triumph of administrative dickering by Canadian officials with the financial backing of the expansionist International Cricket Conference to field a decent team at all; but the success of the antipodean ringers masks deep flaws in the team.
Most of the Canadian-based players are too old to keep going. Only Ashish Bagai, Asif Mulla, Sunil Dhaniram and Anderson Cummins produced moments of first class cricket.
At moments some of the others, especially in their fielding and bowling, resembled weekend stoners at Eglinton Flats.
“Canada's domestic league needs to be semi-professional at least, if not professional if you have to compete at this level," Davison said in the aftermath of the country's elimination from the World Cup.
But Davison went down fighting…for who? For his wallet?. No. He’ll get paid a pittance compared to his ex Academy mates in the Australian National team. For Canada? I doubt it.
Davison happily confessed his understandable ignorance of Canadiana. No. Davison did it for himself and for all of those who play games too recklessly and joyously to be groomed for the metronomic marketing business that is much of top level sport.
He hooked and slashed his way to 52 in 23 balls, the third-fastest in World Cups. He is the only player to score two fifties in 25 or fewer balls in World Cup games. Last World Cup he scored the fastest century in its history, and hit one of the hugest sixes ever. He also bowled his slithering offspinners as meanly as a Footscray loanshark, and captained cleverly, with his sweat-stained Canada cap and tacky Dubai wraparounds. On Thursday he hit Kiwi quickie Mike Mason for four consecutive fours, shots struck “like tracer bullets” according to commentator Mike Atherton. He was also bowled taking a piratical swish, but it was a No Ball. Davison’s larcenous grin said it all. To the Brave, Good Fortune. He had taken his shots and notched a bit of cricketing immortality.
Good on ‘im. I’ll buy him a beer anytime. One. And if the other 15 Canadians who love this game do the same he might have another go in 2010. If he retires then...thanks for the ride Davo. I’m nominating you for the Order of Canada.
Story sourced from:-
http://www.orato.com/node/2026
Andy Pick has steped down -- Posted Thursday, April 12 2007
With no government funding or sponsorship imminent, Andy Pick has steped down as Canada's cricket coach 11 months into the job.
Pick signed a one-year contract with the Canadian Cricket Association last April, with the hope it might turn into a longer deal.
"Originally, I had asked for a three-year term, but the CCA was opposed to that," he said. "They had said they were waiting for some funding before they could commit to a three-year term. I fully understood their position.
"I have, however, been under some pressure from the English & Wales Cricket Board to confirm whether I would be going back to work for them or whether they should go ahead and appoint someone to replace me."
With the deadline approaching, Pick said he made the decision to cut ties with the CCA and return to the ECB, which has granted him permission to coach Canada in the International Cricket Council Intercontinental Cup final against Ireland from May 21-24 in England.
"In that way, the CCA will not have to go and look for someone to come in right away and work with the team," said Pick, whose first coaching assignment with the national team was in the Tri-Nation One-Day International series involving Zimbabwe and Bermuda in Trinidad.
"I have really enjoyed Canada and I would have loved to stay on had things been right," added Pick. "I think that for the exposure Canada has had in the World Cup and their upcoming appearance in the Intercontinental Cup final in England, there will be a lot of candidates for the job."
In 22 one-day international games with Pick as coach, Canada won six and lost 16.
Story sourced from:-
http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2007/03/20/canada-cricket-coach.html
Cricket World Cup !979 and all that -- Posted Wednesday, April 11 2007
The 1970s: Glam rock and T-Rex, the Conservatives and Margaret Thatcher, Tudor Crisps and Quosh cordial, cricket and Canada.
Most remembered with fondness, some with fear and the latter pairing, well, probably not at all.
The decade that fashion forgot was also a time when Canadian cricket enjoyed unprecedented success, although it was something, both now and then, that would have slipped the mind of many.
It all began in 1975, when a provincial side beat a strong Australia touring party.
Four years later, Canada took another giant leap forward by qualifying for the World Cup at the first time of asking.
For a country more renowned for its ice hockey excellence, making the World Cup could have been compared to Cheryl Ladd joining 70s TV heroines Charlie's Angels - a surprise, but welcomed in many circles.
But unlike Ms Ladd, Canada's entry into the big-time began with more of a whimper than a bang.
Canada, mostly made up of players who had emigrated from the West Indies, were drawn against England, Pakistan and Australia in the group stages.
First up were Pakistan, a team they played their best cricket against.
Canada donned the pads against the third favourites, who had the likes of Imran Khan, Safraz Nawaz and Majid Khan in attack.
The Canadians were intent on making themselves hard to beat.
Openers Chris Chappell and Glenroy Sealy made a 54 partnership, before Chappell (no relation to the famous Australian brothers) fell for 14.
It was a dream start for the minnows.
Up stepped Franklyn Dennis to the crease, a man with a perm only rivalled by captain Brian Mauricette and England's speed merchant Bob Willis.
Sealy managed to make 45 before he was caught and bowled by Asif Iqbal with the scores at 85-2.
Dennis went on to make 25, falling just as Canada reached their ton.
Unfortunately, things turned pear-shaped soon after with the North Americans losing the next six wickets for 36 runs before the end of the innings.
It did not take long for the West Indies to reach 140, and they did so with the loss of just two wickets.
Next up were home side England. With Ian Botham, Chris Old and Willis spearheading the attack, the visitors knew they were in for a rough time.
But they probably never envisaged being dismissed for just 45.
Dennis managed to score 21 runs of that meagre total - the only player to make double figures.
In total, Canada scored 284 runs from their three matches, at an average of just over 90 runs. To say they were outclassed, was an understatement.
Finally, came the might of Australia.
With the Canadians effectively out of the World Cup, pride was the only thing left to salvage.
They did that to some extent by making more than a century against the tough opposition.
However, the Australians lost just three wickets before Kim Hughes and Graham Yallop guided the side past the 105-run mark set for victory.
So by the end of Canada's campaign, the statistics read: Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3.
They might not have won a game, but at least the world found out that North Americans did know something about cricket.
Above sourced from:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2330000/newsid_2339900/2339977.stm
Harris happy with progress
Canada bade a fond farewell to the 2003 World Cup following their final group match against New Zealand.
The minnows, who qualified for the tournament by coming second in the ICC Trophy, finished their campaign with a five-wicket defeat.
But despite the loss, Canada captain Joe Harris was delighted with his side's efforts in a World Cup which saw them pick up their first-ever win in the tournament.
"I think the World Cup has given us tremendous exposure. The first win over Bangladesh was major news in Canada," he said.
"We came to South Africa from our winter and having not played cricket for six months, so I think the boys should feel proud.
"I must take the opportunity to thank the South African crowd and the country."
Looking back at the match against New Zealand, Harris said his side had failed to capitalise after reducing their opponents to 32-3 at one stage.
We got a few early wickets and thought we could make a game of it. But it was a great batting track and we had to rest a couple of our quicks, who were not feeling well.
"We then bowled a few bad balls and they soon accelerated the run rate," said Harris.
"They came out with a plan to chase the net run rate - they even advertised it on television and we had the limitations of the first 15 overs.
"We could do only so much in the field and we put a lot of pressure on them. In all it wasn't really a bad day of cricket for us."
Above sourced from:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2810000/newsid_2815900/2815955.stm
Davison keen on county deal
Canadian John Davison is hoping his eye-catching efforts during the World Cup might attract the interest of an English county side.
Davison, an aggressive, fast-scoring batsman and a canny off-spinner, boasts a game ideally suited to one-day cricket.
He picked up two Man of the Match awards in Canada's six games and also has experience of playing state cricket for South Australia.
English counties are permitted to include two overseas players for the 2003 season and there are still one or two vacancies.
Davison scored 75 off just 62 balls in his side's final match against New Zealand, with four sixes in his innings, and also also took three wickets.
Earlier in the tournament, he hit the fastest century in World Cup history against a stunned West Indies team and ended up averaging 37.7 with the bat and 18.7 with the ball.
Davison said: "A lot of good friendships were made here and a lot of good contacts were made.
"We also received a lot of admiration from the South African public.
"I would definitely be available to play county cricket in England if the opportunity arose. I am available."
Davison expressed a hint of frustration that Canada's campaign did not go even better.
Although they beat Bangladesh, they were unable really to hurt any other sides and it was their batting which tended to be their weak suit.
"A couple of guys found it difficult to get off strike," he said, referring to the middle overs of the Canadian innings in Benoni.
Davison was asked if he would be tempted to stay in South Africa in case Australia, for whom he is also qualified, had an injury crisis.
"I'd love to hang around and keep playing but I don't think that's going to happen," he laughed.
Above sourced from::-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2810000/newsid_2816500/2816543.stm
CRICKET WORLD CUP 2003
Minnows 'need pro status'
By Martin Gough
BBC Sport in Potchefstroom
Last Updated Thursday, 27 February, 2003, 11:53 GMT
Kenya struck a blow for the minnows of international cricket this week with their upset victory over Sri Lanka, but the win was no surprise for Dougie Brown, coach of fellow tiddlers Namibia.
But Brown believes a single victory does little to narrow the gulf between teams at the top of the international game and the chasing pack of associate members.
"To see a team we know we can compete with beating a Test nation is great - the team have taken heart from it," said Brown, whose side lost 3-1 to Kenya in a hard-fought one-day series in Namibia last year.
"One of the minnows was always going to over-turn someone.
"We had a chance against England but we couldn't quite take it."
Namibia, the fourth African nation in the tournament, have put up an impressive display so far, having England in trouble for much of a rain-threatened 55-run defeat in Port Elizabeth.
Pakistan also found the going anything but easy against Namibia's bowlers in Kimberley, although they subsequently reduced the batting line-up to 84 all out.
But, while the World Cup is littered with Davids who have taken on Goliaths with nothing more than leather and willow, it is no reliable indicator of a solid improvement in standards.
Brown admits there is only one way to gain a professional standard, and become capable of finishing matches off after laying down the gauntlet, and that is to become professional.
"To have professional standards you have to be paid all the time," he said.
"We're a group of doctors, nurses and electricians."
Home series in the last year against Kenya and Bangladesh have helped improve the level of experience.
But perhaps the deciding factor was Namibia's inclusion in the Standard Bank Cup - South Africa's domestic one-day competition - in the run-up to the World Cup.
Brown, who appeared for Scotland before playing nine one-day internationals in English colours, believes that his own country will benefit from a similar plan in the National League.
"We learned a lot from the Standard Bank experience," he said.
"In four of the five games we were 20 or 30 runs ahead of the game at halfway but the lack of professional discipline enabled the other sides to get back in each one.
"If we had come into the World Cup blind we would have been annihilated."
Other plans are in place as part of the International Cricket Council's development programme, which saw Brown appointed by programme head, Bob Woolmer.
Brown's former Warwickshire coach hopes to introduce two and three-day domestic cricket to associate member countries, with the aim of improving the standard of batting - currently lagging behind bowling ability.
There are plans for an intercontinental cup, featuring composite sides playing an extended version of the game.
Expect to see a super-minnow team at the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy. Woolmer has even lobbied for 16 teams to be admitted to World Cup 2007.
Just do not use a win for one of those minnows in the Caribbean as solid proof that standards are improving across the board.
Above sourced from:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2800000/newsid_2803900/2803917.stm
Editors comment:-
"So by the end of Canada's (2003) campaign, the statistics read: Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3."
WC2007 the statistics read: Played 3, Won 0, Lost 3
Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose. (JH).
P.S.
Canada's rich cricket history
Ice hockey, baseball, skiing and skating are widely regarded as the most popular sports in Canada.
And cricket - that's right cricket - is aiming to join that elite group.
It is estimated that there are 12,000 players within the Canadian Cricket Association, playing in 400 teams around 145 grounds. Not bad for a country with a population of 30 million - just over half of England.
So how did cricket reach the northern-most areas of North America?
Many enthusiasts in Canada believe that the sport reached their shores during the mid 1700s with British soldiers following the battle at the Plains of Abraham near Quebec City.
But it was schoolmaster George A Barber, considered to be the father of Canadian cricket, who spread the word throughout Toronto during the early 19th century.
Popularity for the game grew rapidly in the country and, in 1844, Canada played the United States in New York.
The match happened 30 years before England and Australia contested a series, and historians believe the contest is the oldest international sporting fixture in the world.
A Canadian record
In 1892, the Canadian Cricket Association was formed. However popularity for the sport was on the wane as baseball's grew.
Between that time and the Second World War there were a number of cricketing highlights, including a 1932 tour by an Australia squad including Don Bradman.
In a match against Western Ontario, Bradman scored 260 runs - a Canadian record which stood for 58 years.
After the war Pakistan and the MCC visited Canada on tours, beginning a cricketing revival in the country.
But it was in 1975 and 1979 that Canada came under the sport's spotlight.
First, Eastern Canada beat the touring Australian World Cup side by five wickets.
Four years later, Canada reached the final of the first International Cricket Conference Trophy, only to be beaten by Sri Lanka.
That effort earned them a place in the 1979 World Cup, where they performed valiantly against the likes of England, Pakistan and Australia, but still failed to win a single match
And in 2001, Canada played host to the International Cricket Council Trophy tournament.
The nation finished third out of 22, to qualify for the 2003 World Cup.
Above article sourced from:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/cwc2003/hi/newsid_2300000/newsid_2307600/2307651.stm
PPS: Without a focus on cricket at the grass roots in Canada we can anticipate "Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose" - again. (JH)
Toronto set to host Twenty20 event -- Posted Tuesday, April 10 2007
With a limited amount of Twenty20 internationals scheduled for 2007 Pakistan have arranged a four team tournament in Toronto in August as preparation for the inaugural Twenty20 World Cup.
The tournament scheduled to place in Toronto over the Labour Day weekend at the end of August will involve hosts Canada and Test Nations Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.
The inaugural Twenty20 World Cup takes place in South Africa at the end of September and with only two games set to be played before the World Cup all three Test Nations will be anxious to play as many games as possible.
The format of the tournament will see each team play four games, three in the group stages and then one further game in either the Grand Final or the 3rd place play off.
The Twenty20 World Cup will take place with only 14 Twenty20 Internationals completed in the previous two years, the West Indies and Sri Lanka will go into the World Cup with the most experience having played 7 Twenty20 Internationals followed by England and Pakistan having played a game less.
While some teams have come to grips with the shortest form of the game India, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe will have only played one Twenty20 game, even more concerning Scotland and Kenya who qualified from the ICC's World Cricket League Division 1 tournament will have never played a Twenty20 International against a Test Nation until the World Cup starts in September.
Whilst the tournament is being used as a pre World Cup warm-up all four countries competing are also very keen to help promote cricket in North America, Tony Deyal, WICB's Corporate Manager, told cricket20 that the WICB are committed to provide support to the Canadian and US crickets associations.
"The WICB is committed to cricket in North America and have signed MOUs with the Canadian and US associations to provide support. Additionally, we need to improve our own financial position. One of the ways to do both - a win/win for all parties - is to promote high-level cricket entertainment in both countries."
"The timing of the Canadian event is perfect - a long holiday weekend (August 31 - September 3) two weeks before the first ever ICC Twenty20 World Cup with Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Canada is going to be our first major joint venture and will be a template for further promotions."
"On the Thanksgiving weekend in November we wll be promoting an Internatinal Sixes Tournament in Lauderhill to open the world's newest cricket venue."
(Tony Deyal WICB Corporate Manager)
Article sorced from:-
http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk/news/article.asp?NewsID=1186
Twenty20 gaining, says Gilly
Adam Gilchrist fears 50-over cricket could be on the verge of being "cannibalised" by the Twenty20 game and has urged administrators to drop ticket prices for the World Cup.
Gilchrist admitted the "sterile" atmosphere of the World Cup, with its half-filled grandstands and over-regulated crowd control, had lacked the rich Caribbean flavour of Australia's last Test tour four years ago.
The tournament revved up with a wonderful match when Sri Lanka beat England by two runs yesterday but the sight of raucous fans celebrating in the stands has been all too rare.
As Gilchrist was suggesting tickets be sold at a cut-price rate for the rest of the tournament, besieged Cup organisers were meeting last night to discuss that very issue.
Stunned by the poor turn-out, even for matches involving the West Indies, administrators are likely to widen the areas of the lowest priced tickets which go for $US25.
Gilchrist had previously cautioned against making the Twenty20 game too big, too quickly but now wonders whether its swift progress will be unstoppable.
"I have suggested a softly, softly approach (with Twenty20 cricket) which does not mean I disapprove of the game," Gilchrist said.
"(But) having seen the lack of crowds at this World Cup maybe it is going to be the way to go. It might cannibalise the one-day game a little bit but we might have to deal with that as we go. It is a popular format.
"There are a lot of people interested in the World Cup and just talking to the locals everyone is aware of it and very excited to have it here, but that is not being translated into big numbers at the grounds which is a bit disappointing as a player.
"You come here, as spectators do, to experience the unique atmosphere of Caribbean cricket. There is certainly a sterile feel about it.
"Whatever the policy is at the moment does not seem to be working so maybe we can look at dropping the price and having a sale."
source - news.com.au and at http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk/news/article.asp?NewsID=1250
Billionaires' Twenty20 vision
Two billionaires are threatening to revolutionise cricket just as Kerry Packer did 30 years ago by capitalising on the popularity of the Twenty20 game.
Antigua-based American Allen Stanford and Indian Subhash Chandra, who made his fortune in the grain trade, are on the verge of establishing separate big-money Twenty20 competitions.
Stanford plans to stage an international Twenty20 carnival in the West Indies next year. In the build-up to their match against England today, talk in the Australian dressing room is about the tournament, including speculation that prizemoney could be up to $24.5 million. The winner of the current World Cup, by comparison, stands to win just over $3 million.
An Australian player's agent has been in touch with Stanford's representatives to clarify the situation and was advised the tournament was in its preliminary planning stages.
As with Packer, who launched World Series Cricket in 1977, television rights are believed to be the reason Chandra wants to shake the game's foundations.
Twenty20 cricket has attracted massive crowds, huge television ratings and eager sponsors — it also is seen as the best hope of opening cricket up to new markets, including China and the US. But there has been a reluctance to push it at the expense of the traditional forms of the game. The first battlefront has been established on the subcontinent, where the powerful Board of Control for Cricket in India is on a war footing with Chandra.
As with Packer, he formed a rebel competition, the India Cricket League. Chandra hopes to give the six-team league a foothold in the India market with a series of Twenty20 matches that would feature overseas stars, Indian internationals and talented rookies.
Chandra, who owns Zee Telefilms, has reportedly outlaid about $28 million to start the competition. In a situation that mirrors Packer's 30 years ago, the BCCI rejected Chandra's $378 million bid in 2004 to broadcast the sport on his network — despite being the highest bidder.
Australian players such as Shane Warne, Justin Langer and Glenn McGrath have been linked to the rebel competition, but McGrath's manager Warren Craig said he had had no contact with the ICL.
A source close to Chandra told the Indian media the body intended to recruit top players from around the world. The danger for Cricket Australia would be if global companies such as Pepsi or Coca-Cola decide they could reinforce their standing in the growing Indian economy by helping, for example, the New Delhi Devils target a Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist or Brett Lee.
So far, the BCCI has used the same tactics employed by the Australian Cricket Board to try to block Packer. It has banned the ICL from using BCCI facilities. "First, if he (Chandra) is planning a local tournament, he can't use our sports facilities without our permission," BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi said. "If he is roping in international players, that requires the sanction of the BCCI and ICC."
Stanford proved last year he had the financial clout to be taken seriously. He ploughed $34 milllion into a successful Twenty20 competition that involved 19 Caribbean nations.
The series introduced black bats and helmets, orange balls and thousands of fans because he didn't charge an entrance fee.
Former England captain Mike Atherton applauded the endeavour. Besides paying each of the 19 competing nations a $122,000 development fee, each man of the match took home $30,000. That was increased to $122,000 in the final. "The days of a trinket and bottle of champagne are long gone," Atherton wrote. Guyana got $1.22 million for winning, while runner-up Trinidad and Tobago won $611,000.
The West Indies is in position to become the epicentre for Twenty20 cricket. The grounds are small enough to allow big scores, the wickets are batsman-friendly and the population loves fast-paced cricket.
West Indies commentator Tony Cozier reported last month that Stanford met with ICC president Percy Sonn and chief executive Malcolm Speed in Jamaica but their discussion was kept a secret.
Stanford was burnt by the West Indies Cricket Board last year when his plan to stage a $6 million three-match Twenty20 series between South Africa and his All Stars XI was scuttled because it clashed with the tour of Pakistan. He has since paid the West Indies $2.5 million to sanction his tournaments to avoid such conflict.
A 12-team World Cup is scheduled for South Africa in September. If two billionaires get their way, it may be the only game worth playing.
So far, the BCCI has used the same tactics employed by the Australian Cricket Board to try to block Packer. It has banned the ICL from using BCCI facilities. "First, if he (Chandra) is planning a local tournament, he can't use our sports facilities without our permission," BCCI vice-president Lalit Modi said. "If he is roping in international players, that requires the sanction of the BCCI and ICC."
Stanford proved last year he had the financial clout to be taken seriously. He ploughed $34 milllion into a successful Twenty20 competition that involved 19 Caribbean nations.
The series introduced black bats and helmets, orange balls and thousands of fans because he didn't charge an entrance fee.
source - theage.com.au
and at
http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk/news/article.asp?NewsID=1251
Sunrise C.C. - Waterloo, Ontario -- Posted Tuesday, April 10 2007
The Kitchener-Waterloo area of southern Ontario has rich legacy of cricket since 1895 when the first club was formed in Waterloo.
The Southern Ontario Cricket Association (S.O.C.A) League itself had started around the time of World-War I.
Immigrants from the Caribbean region formed most of the clubs. As time went by immigrants from South Asia such as countries like India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka were slowly settling down in this tri-city area.
These new cricket-playing immigrants from South Asia were then playing with the older clubs who were run according to cricketing traditions in the Caribbean. For instance some founders of Sunrise Cricket Club, namely Parveen Sharma started playing cricket in this tri-city since 1990 and was with Waterloo cricket club until 1994. Similarly Jaspal Rana had also arrived into the scene since 1990 and was with Kitchener Cricket Club until 1995. Peter Jeranie (mukesh) too was a member of both Waterloo Cricket Club and Cambridge Cricket Club.
A few of the south Asian cricket players had the idea of starting a new club with Asian players. They were confident that they could win the league championship.
Thus in 1995 Parveen Sharma, Jaspal Rana, Irfan Arab, Dharmesh Modi, Kamal, Peter Jeranie (Mukesh) and Syd Wazir formed International Cricket Club (ICC) in Waterloo. Incidentally Peter Jeranie (Mukesh) was the only member who originated from Guyana, yet was integral in forming this new club. ICC immediately became part of S.O.C.A. and played well in their first year. Next year the club admitted Bahadur Singh Mangat, Jang Singh Mangat, Nimesh Modi, Rudi and Rizwan Arab as part of the ICC squad. Later that season Dhramesh Krishnammagaru joined ICC.
With the induction of Dharmesh K, the team moral soared high. Young guns like Bahadur found someone to look up to and they started performing well. Jang Singh was also a great supporter and helped to run the club smoothly. Both in 1995 and 1996 the club had reached playoffs. In 1997 two new players arrived in to the scene while Dharmesh K. had moved to Toronto and had quit ICC. The players who joined were Anil & Rajan Sharma.
Due to inevitable circumstances, in 1997, the ICC was split and from that emerged Sunrise Cricket club.The initial constitution of the club was formed with the help of Mr.Schmelling Ramlal.
In 1998 Sunrise Cricket Club was formed and Mr. Art Browne took over as the first president. Through the help of Waterloo Cricket Club, the constitution of the club was drawn. Mr Browne had set the standards of how the club should function where the moral responsibility was distributed evenly to all the members. In the first year, the members who resigned from ICC were Mr. Art Browne, Parveen Sharma, Jaspal Rana, Dharmesh Modi, Peter Jeranie, Nimesh Modi, Jang Singh, Bahadur Singh, Kamal, Irfan Arab, Rizwan Arab, and Anil Sharma. Later that season Raghu Peddada, Swami Iyer, Samuel Jones, Sarabjit Singh, Harpal Singh and Kuldeep Joined the new club. The captain was Jaspal Rana and the club played well and qualified to the playoffs in their first year.
Next year in 1999, Parveen Sharma took over as captain. Incidentally Dharmesh K. who came back into to the tri-city joined Sunrise Cricket Club. The club played well and reached the S.O.C.A Knock-Out finals as well as the League finals and were runner up in both finals. The club also added some new members such as Arfan Ahmed, Amandeep Singh, Jagtar Singh, Ajay Singh and Saqib Sheikh.
Year 2000 was a tough year as leadership became split on petty and some avoidable political issues. However under the able leadership of Mr. Art Browne and Raghu Peddada, the club survived some nasty politics. Samuel Jones, Dharmesh Modi, Ajay Sharma and Rajan Sharma had to quit the club. Later just before the season started Raghu Peddada left for California, who became instrumental to keep the team together. Jaspal Rana became the captain. Sunrise was able to put everything behind and win the Knock-Out Championship. New player Ajit Singh (Tiger) was a key performer and moral booster all throughout the season. Inderjit Singh a 14year old was inducted due to talent beyond his age. By stroke of luck Raghu Peddada came back. Full of enthusiasm Mr. Art Browne, Raghu and Swami Iyer joined in effort and laid the plan for success of 2001.
2001 was a season with a lot mixed luck but will remain memorable for the club. Jaspal Rana was elected captain. Meanwhile Ajit Singh was unable to play due to family reasons, while a new talented batsman cum wicket keeper named Nizar Moosa replaced Ajit. Just before the season started Mr. Art Browne was detected with terminal brain cancer. The club was in shock. Mr. Art Browne a spirited individual went through the ordeal in a super human manner. He went through surgery, met the team members to give them a moral boost. The club came together emotionally and rallied to dedicate the season in Art Browne's honor.
Sunrise won the pre-season Eagle Trophy by beating all the teams. The regular season had some problems in the beginning, when Jaspal Rana decided to hand over the captainship to Parveen Sharma. This change somehow became a good turn around. The club won 11 straight matches to reach the League Finals. In the finals was the coveted Kaituer Cricket Club, who had players who represented West Indies, Canada and also Guyana. This same club had won the league finals since the last six years and had also won Canadian Championship in the past.
In 2001 Sunrise Cricket club made history by winning four out the five league tournaments. It was made possible by the hard work of every single individual of the club. Art Browne, Raghu, Mike,Dharmesh Dua, Parveen, Rana, Swami, Jang, Dhermesh, Mukesh, Bahadur, Harpal, Sarabjit, S. Rana, Ajit, Nizar, Saqib, Neeraj, Amandeep, Jagtar, Inderjeet and Arvinder all stood together and contributed both off and on the field.
In the mid season we had one more addition to our team in the shape of Sukhjinder Rana. A coveted all-rounder who has played in the Canadian national team. He is believed to be the fastest bowler in Canada. This made a lot of difference to the strength and made our moral high that helped us to keep our concentration towards our goal. Sunrise cricket club became The Champion Team, by beating kaituer in the league final.
Article sourced from:-
http://www.sunrisecricketclub.com/history.php
-- Posted Tuesday, April 10 2007
Wickets in The West -- Posted Monday, April 9 2007
One of the first cricket tour books, Wickets in The West or The Twelve in America deals with the MCC amateur tour of Canada in 1872.
Some concerned devotes of Canadian cricket approached the MCC with a view of having a visit to the colony by a group of cricketers.
The secretary of the Marylebone cricket club R.A. Fitzgerald was charged with the responsibility of finding eleven other MCC members to accompany him on the trip. As membership of the club was confined to 'gentleman' the tour was limited to amateur talent.
The one stipulation of the Canadians was that W.G. Grace was to be a member of the touring party. It seems his fame had crossed the Atlantic, as the greatest cricketer in the world, this at the age of 25.
This was not the overweight and overbearing figure that most people now imagine when they think of the Grace legend. This was a tall, lithe, broad shouldered athlete (although he already sported a magnificent beard).
The tour was in doubt almost up to departure time, with Grace only agreeing to terms three days before sailing, and three players withdrawing at the last minute. Two with illness and disappointedly C.I. Thornton the biggest hitter in the game, withdrawing with fright after passing a shop window and spying a photograph of a sinking ship.
The most notable of the other players selected were the Hon. George Harris, soon to become Lord Harris and eventually to become one of the most powerful men in cricket. The other notable was A.N. 'Monkey' Hornby who led England in the legendary 'Ashes' Match in 1882.
Both became lifelong friends and staunch supporters of WG, and both helped him in later life when his cantankerous nature occasionally came to the fore during cricket matches.
As for the tour itself, the 'twelve' (they always fielded 12) met ridiculously easy opposition, winning every game (except for a farcical draw in the last match), despite the fact that they played against 22 in every match. Imagine having to steer the ball through 22 fieldsman!
What they lacked in cricketing skill the hosts certainly made up for it in the entertainment stakes. The 'twelve' seemed to be in attendance at a dance or ball or stage play every night of the tour.
Grace was the undoubted star of the tour scoring most runs 540 (next best 146) best average 49.1 (next best 16.4), claiming his fair share of wickets, and also proving a very adept dancer.
R.A. Fitzgerald also conveys the speech style of WG; his first speech went as follows: "gentleman, I beg to thank you for the honour you have done me: I never saw better bowling than I have seen today, and I hope to see as good wherever I go."
For the rest of the tour whenever Grace was called on to make a speech he would simply replace the word bowling eg. Batting, fielding so forth, but otherwise repeat the entire speech verbatim. Much to the delight of his team-mates.
Although the tour proved a great success, the team returned to England to find themselves heavily criticised for excepting money to tour, this accusation was strenuously denied by Fitzgerald in the book.
In Scores and Biographies it was stated that apart from having all of their expenses paid, each gentleman cricketer was paid 600 dollars in gold for each match (they played eight matches). According to the rules of the day amateur players were only to accept expenses.
The writing style after 134 years can be a little confusing, with each player seemingly having half a dozen nicknames. It seems it was written in a light-hearted humorous manner, but time has caused many expressions and sayings to become meaningless.
An important and rare book, every W.G. Grace biographer has dedicated a chapter to this Canadian tour relying heavily on this book for information, and it is still after all this time a quality read. Unfortunately Wicket in The West is a hard book to find and a little expensive at about 200 US dollars.
Published: 1873
Pages: 335
Publisher: Tinsley Brothers
Rating: 2.5 Stars
Item sourced from:-
http://www.cricketweb.net/content/bookreview.php?NewsIDAuto=3546
The first West Indies cricket tour -- Posted Monday, April 9 2007
The 1886 tour was a blend of networking and cricket outings, designed to expand business while enjoying the international cricket offered in the United States and Canada at the time. As they played their way from Canada to Philadelphia ('the great centre of cricket in the American continent') to New York, the fourteen men from British Guiana, Jamaica and Barbados may not have realized the significance of their journey in forging a sense of West Indian identity.
"Beckles analyses the journal kept by the Jamaican captain, Laurence Fyfe, and locates the tour within the developing social tapestry of West Indian cricket, identifying the banding together of business interests and cricket as first steps towards imagining a West Indian nation."
Vanesia Baksh, cricket writer, researcher, Wisden contributor, and former director of the ICC-West indies World Cup, Inc.
Ittem sourced from:-
http://bookshop.uwimona.edu.jm/products/prog_details.asp?PID=SO0042&Cat=
For ordering information click bookshop@uwimona.edu.jm
Cricket World Cup records -- Posted Monday, April 9 2007
Cricket World Cup records
But who holds the current records surrounding the tournament? BBC Sport reveals all...
TOP RUNSCORERS
Sachin Tendulkar (India) ...1,732
Javed Miandad (Pakistan)... 1,083
Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka)... 1,064
Viv Richards (West Indies)... 1,013
Mark Waugh (Australia)... 1,004
MOST CENTURIES
Sourav Ganguly (India) ...4
Mark Waugh (Australia)... 4
Sachin Tendulkar (India)... 4
Ramiz Raja (Pakistan)... 3
Saeed Anwar (Pakistan)... 3
Viv Richards (West Indies)... 3
Ricky Ponting (Australia)... 3
HIGHEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES
Gary Kirsten (South Africa)...188 not out v United Arab Emirates, 1996
Sourav Ganguly (India)...183 v Sri Lanka, 1999
Viv Richards (West Indies)... 181 v Sri Lanka, 1987
Kapil Dev (India)... 175 not out v Zimbabwe, 1983
Craig Wishart (Zimbabwe)...172 not out v Namibia, 2003
MOST WICKETS
Wasim Akram (Pakistan)... 55
Glenn McGrath (Australia)... 45
Javagal Srinath (India)... 44
Allan Donald (South Africa)... 38
Chaminda Vaas (Sri Lanka)... 36
BEST BOWLING FIGURES
Glenn McGrath (Australia)...7-15 v Namibia, 2003
Andy Bichel (Australia)... 7-20 v England, 2003
Winston Davis (West Indies)...7-51 v Australia, 1983
Gary Gilmour (Australia)... 6-14 v England, 1975
Shane Bond (New Zealand)... 6-23 v Australia, 2003
Ashish Nehra (India) 6-23 v England, 2003
MOST CATCHES (outfielders)
Ricky Ponting (Australia)... 18
Chris Cairns (New Zealand)... 16
Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka)... 15
Aravinda de Silva (Sri Lanka)... 14
Anil Kumble (India)... 14
Steve Waugh (Australia)... 14
MOST DISMISSALS (wicket-keepers)
Adam Gilchrist (Australia)... 35 (33 catches, 2 stumpings)
Moin Khan (Pakistan)...30 (23, 7)
Alec Stewart (England)... 23 (21, 2)
Ridley Jacobs (West Indies)... 22 (21, 1)
Wasim Bari (Pakistan)... 22 (18, 4)
Mark Boucher (South Africa)... 22
HIGHEST TEAM SCORES
Sri Lanka...398-5 v Kenya, 1996
India... 373-6 v Sri Lanka, 1999
West Indies... 360-4 v Sri Lanka, 1987
Australia... 359-2 v India, 2003
Zimbabwe... 340-2 v Namibia, 2003
LOWEST TEAM SCORES
Canada... 35 v Sri Lanka, 2003
Namibia...45 v Australia, 2003
Canada... 45 v England, 1979
Scotland... 68 v West Indies, 1999
Pakistan...74 v England, 1992
Detail sourced from:- http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6327059.stm
Cricket in the USA -- Posted Monday, April 9 2007
If modern cricket is dated from the 1780s, when the Laws of Cricket which still rule the sport today were first formalized in England, North America would have to be considered a major participant in the world cricket scene for two-thirds of the time that modern cricket has been around.
The first cricket clubs in the USA were established in the 1700s, not long after they made their first appearance in England. Originally played by officers of the British Army with local landed gentry predisposed to be Anglophiles, cricket became a major recreation of American gentlemen of leisure.and indeed, several Founding Fathers of the United States were known to be avid cricketers---John Adams among them, who stated in the US Congress in the 1780s that if leaders of cricket clubs could be called "presidents", there was no reason why the leader of the new nation could not be called the same!
Eastern Canada had developed cricket clubs as well, shortly after the US clubs had made their initial appearance. Both US and Canadian cricket clubs roamed far and wide in search of competitive cricket, as was the custom in those times. Soon, an animated cross-border traffic developed, and it was out of that friendly rivalry that the first international cricket developed in the modern world.
Full article can be read at:-
http://www.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/USA/USA_HISTORY.html
Crowd rules relaxed at WC2007 -- Posted Sunday, April 8 2007
World Cup organisers have been forced into making various concessions in a last-ditch attempt to boost flagging attendance figures at matches.
Many observers have bemoaned the lack of steel bands and consequent lack of a Caribbean atmosphere at matches.
So now, as the event enters its final three weeks, fans will be allowed to take musical instruments into grounds without making written applications.
The controversial policy of no re-entry has also been abandoned.
Full story can be read at:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6536147.stm
Tipping point came about four years ago -- Posted Sunday, April 8 2007
For David Purdy, the "tipping point" came about four years ago during the ICC Cricket World Cup series.
"That year we did more business on the World Cup than WrestleMania," says the vice-president and general manager for Roger Cable Inc. television services.
Full article can be read at:-
http://www.thestar.com/article/196659
An early cricket tour of North America -- Posted Saturday, April 7 2007
An early cricket tour of North America
AR Littlewood
One of the rarest of all cricket books, The Log of the "Old Un" from Liverpool to San Francisco 1886, was "Printed for Private Circulation" at Exeter in that same year. It was reprinted in facsimile, with the addition of a preface by P. Wynne-Thomas, in 1994 in the valuable series of reprints by J. W. McKenzie of interesting but largely unobtainable cricket monographs. Due, however, to publishing delays copies have only recently become available.
Under the pseudonym of the "Old Un" lurks William Clulow Sim, who in retirement from the Indian Civil Service was the Honorary Secretary and chief benefactor of the Devonshire County Cricket Club. In 1886 he combined a visit to his son in California with one to Eastern North America in the capacity of scorer to the English Cricketing Eleven's tour that was arranged by his friend E.J. Sanders, a leading member of the Devonshire Club. Sanders chose County and University players, of whom the best known are K.J. Key and H.W. Bainbridge (later captains of Surrey and Warwickshire respectively). His captain was W.E. Roller of Surrey, the batting hero of Sanders' similar tour of the previous year. Nine games in all were played, two in Canada and seven in the U.S.A., of which the two in Philadelphia have been assigned first-class status. The team was victorious in all its matches except for a draw in Boston against a New England XV. The match in Toronto was won by eight wickets against an Ontario Cricket XI for which F. Harley scored 40 out of only 72 in the first innings and A.C. Allan and R.B. Ferrie (who also took three wickets) 45 and 38 respectively out of 111 in the second. At Montreal the England XII (including Sanders himself) easily beat XVI of Montreal C.C. by an innings and 117 runs after scoring 257. Sim gives scores for all the matches, but omits bowling analyses and, for four matches, details of the innings of the opposition. The 20 remaining pages of his "plain, unvarnished 'Iog'", as with so many descriptions of nineteenth-century tours to North America, do not decribe the actual cricket but revel in travel arrangements and the scenery. Sim actually left the tour after the second match (at Toronto) and expatiates on his journey to California and that state's prospects for future greatness. Inevitably he discusses the American love for baseball: "Cricket", he claims, "is more likely to take root and prosper in Canadian than in American soil. It is not fast enough for the go-ahead Yankee." He particularly notes the dangers to a baseball umpire: "If one meets a man in the street with his arm in a sling, one broken leg, and an eye out, it may safely be conjectured that this 'wreck of humanity' had been 'adjudicating' at some recent big base ball match, and had to run the gauntlet of some two or three thousand infuriated lookerson. .",
Wynne- Thomas writes a sober account (in contrast to Sim's pun-Iaden prose) of the history of earlier cricketing tours, briefly describes the one of 1886 (making the interesting point that many of the U.S. teams, but neither of the Canadian, were strengthened by visiting English professionals) and gives brief biographies of the members of the party, with a strange emphasis upon their deaths (but omits to say that Sir Kingsmill Key died of an insect bite and completely omits Hugh Rotherham, the Warwickshire all-rounder and well-known rugby football threequarter for Coventry who died in 1939). Some explanatory notes would have been useful. Many readers may not realize that the "Tristie" to whom Sim refers is the Somerset wicket-keeper F .T. Welman; and who is Handford (no initials given) who played for the English team at Boston ? Could this be the U.S. player Saunders Handford, brother of the Nottinghamshire professional Alick Handford, who was drafted into the team because of the injury or indisposition of Roller and Rotherham ?
Wynne- Thomas quotes the notoriously misguided prophecy from the New York Commercial Advertiser that "It is believed by some Americans that cricket will very soon supersede the game of baseball, especially as a gentleman's game. It is conducted in a quiet manner and without the usual howling that marks the game of baseball." But he concludes with the provocative observation that if cricket had forged ahead in popularity in the U.S.A. Sanders' two matches in Philadelphia may have been regarded to-day as Test Matches, since they were of a higher standard than those in 1888/89 between Major Warton's English team, captained by "Round-the- Corner" Smith, and the South Africans that were subsequently granted that status.
William Clulow Sim, The Log of the "Old Un" from Liverpool to San Francisco 1886 (with an introduction by Peter Wynne- Thomas, 16 + 30 pages) is available from J.W. McKenzie, 12 Stoneleigh Park Road, Ewell, Epsom, Surrey, KT19 OQT, England at 15 pounds sterling.
Article originally published on June 24, 2000 at:- http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/89904.html
Professor Littlewood is a classical scholar at the University of Western Ontario. He has written extensively about cricket
ICC Development Program Annual Awards -- Posted Saturday, April 7 2007
Uganda and Canada the big winners in ICC Development Program Annual Awards
James Fitzgerald
March 26, 2007
Associate Members Canada and Uganda each picked up two of the ICC Development Program Annual awards, making them the big winners of this year's competition.
Canada was awarded the Best Junior Cricket Initiative for the Ontario Junior Program
Information sourced from:-
http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-development/content/story/287275.html
Editors note: Does anyone have the details for "the Best Junior Cricket Initiative for the Ontario Junior Program"?. Jon Harris.
Intercontinental Cup final venue up in the air -- Posted Friday, April 6 2007
No ICC final for Chelmsford
Cricinfo staff
April 4, 2007
The ICC intercontinental Cup final between Ireland and Canada will now not be held at Chelmsford after discussions between the ICC and Essex stalled.
A fortnight ago the Irish Cricket Union announced that the County Ground would host the four-day match starting on May 21, but a spokesman for Essex today told Cricinfo: "When we were originally advised about the opportunity of staging the final we welcomed it. We have been in discussions with the ICC over the last couple of weeks but now understand they have decided to stage it elsewhere."
The ICC are now understood to be looking for an alternative venue.
Information sourced from:-
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/icccont/content/story/288780.html
Viv Richards attacks WC2007 organisation -- Posted Friday, April 6 2007
West Indies legend Sir Viv Richards has attacked organisers of the World Cup, accusing them of stifling the true spirit of the game in the Caribbean.
The event has been characterised by small crowds and a lack of atmosphere.
And the International Cricket Council has been criticised over ticket pricing and strict ground regulations.
Full report can be read at:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/other_international/west_indies/6531839.stm
WC2007 - Jamaica PM -- Posted Friday, April 6 2007
Jamaican PM is hoping for a cricket bounce from the World Cup
Apr 04, 2007 04:30 AM
Marc Lacey
New York Times
KINGSTON, Jamaica–Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller is not a member of the West Indies cricket team now competing in the World Cup. She neither bats nor bowls for the Windies.
But Simpson Miller, who doubles as Jamaica's sports minister, sure doesn't act that way sometimes. She recently donned cricket apparel, complete with shin protectors, gloves and a bat, for a newspaper advertisement promoting the tournament, which is being played in Jamaica and on eight other Caribbean islands.
Full article can be sourced from:-
http://www.thestar.com/article/199234
It's just not cricket -- Posted Thursday, April 5 2007
As the recent murder shows, this sport has a dangerous, seedy side
CATHY GULLI | Apr 09, 2007
"Cricket is often referred to as a gentleman's sport, but in recent years it's lost some of that lustre," says Kevin Boller, a historian and spokesperson for the Canadian Cricket Association. "Years ago there was no such thing as match-fixing and betting, and [there was] very little rioting. But in the last 50 years there's rioting, accusations of ball tampering and bribing." There's also illegal drug use among players and political connections -- Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf heads his country's cricket board, and Zimbabwe's club is reportedly run by affiliates of President Robert Mugabe. Books such as Cricket and National Identity in the Post-Colonial Age and Pride and Passion: An Exhilarating Half Century of Cricket in Pakistan demonstrate how seriously people take the sport. And titles such as Village Idiots? An Affair with English Cricket and Cricket's Hall of Shame suggest an insanity.
Full article can be read at:-
http://www.macleans.ca/homepage/magazine/article.jsp?content=20070409_104112_104112
Editors note: This article was submitted by my 12 year old grandson who resides in Medicine Hat, where there is no cricket. (JH).
America boss calls fo 'All-Star" team -- Posted Thursday, April 5 2007
Colin Thompson, The Royal Gazette (Bermuda)
28 February 2007
An All-Star or an elite cricket team comprising of players from the ICC Americas region competing against teams in places such as the West Indies could benefit smaller associate member countries like Bermuda in the long term.
That’s the opinion of ICC Americas Development Manager Martin Vieira who believes that a combined team from the region playing abroad in tougher leagues could go a long way towards bridging the gap between the Americas and Europe.
During the recent World Cricket League in Kenya, it became evident that the gulf between European and Americas associate members had widened considerably.
“I certainly think it could work and be beneficial to the better players in the Americas. It would be a good method of allowing the better players from several countries like Bermuda, the United States and the Cayman Islands to get experience playing among good competition on a more frequent basis,” Martin said.
“What the players need is more exposure. The European associates seem to be widening the gap because their better players are playing English county cricket. And so maybe this would be a way of keeping pace with the European associates. I think what this would do is improve the best players — they would become the core and leaders of your national team. They could then impart knowledge to the other players in the squad when they returned on just how international cricket is played and the mental toughness that is required at that level of cricket.”
Since qualifying for the World Cup in 2005, Bermuda have struggled at the next level. And one of the team’s biggest shortcomings, Martin believes, is the limited amount of players the Island has to choose from.
“I think Bermuda’s progress has maybe been disappointing to some in the sense that it’s not been as rapid as hoped. But when you look at the pool of players Bermuda has to select from . . . it’s somewhat limited compared to some of the other associates,” he said.
“Scotland and Ireland, for example, have thousands of players. And if they were to lose two or three of their top players it really doesn’t really affect them. But for Bermuda, any sort of injury or setback to maybe one or two of their players is a tremendous blow. And so the depth isn’t there as it is in other countries.”
Martin defended the ICC’s decision to increase associate member involvement in the World Cup in the wake of recent criticism from former West Indies pacer Michael Holding who believes that the cricket minnows will “devalue” the event.
“I know there’s been a lot said and written particularly about the World Cup. There are pros and cons as to whether all six associates or just one or two should or shouldn’t compete. But I think we must remember that it’s a World Cup and not a Champions Trophy where just the elite go,” he said.
“In the World Cup you only have four groups of four with only the top two teams from each group advancing to the Super Eight. So it’s an excellent format . . . the so-called minnows will be eliminated if they are not good enough to beat the full member countries. And so there really shouldn’t be any concern about associate members being in the World Cup.”
The real challenge, Martin added, was getting amateur cricketers on even par with their professional counterparts in a short period of time once teams like Bermuda had qualified for the World Cup — hence the need for the ICC’s High Performance Programme designed to bring associate players up to scratch.
“The ICC High Performance Programme has pumped an awful lot of money and energy into the project and in time results will come,” Vieira added. “But those who are expecting amateur players to become professionals right away, I think they are being sort of narrow-minded in their thinking because it will take time. Basically what the ICC like to see is a chart of progression, both a learning chart of an upward trend and a performance chart with an upward trend. That’s what we are hoping to do by having this High Performance Programme. The World Cup is certainly the pinnacle of the programme, but it’s not the end of the programme. This is a continuous programme that should last for many, many years and bring the top six associate members up to a better standard of play.”
Former West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd agreed that having an Americas team compete in a competitive league abroad could only benefit smaller countries in the future.
“When you are constantly playing against top sides you will always learn, picking up one or two things along the way. And I think this would certainly give the Bermuda players something to look forward to,” he said.
“There are so many things for Bermuda to look forward to now. But first they must realise that they can play the sport for a living because at the moment they are not thinking about playing for a living. They could be playing in a professional league instead of having a job and only playing cricket part- time. And this is what I think is lacking in Bermuda at the moment — a professional attitude."
“Bermuda are playing a lot of competitive cricket now and if you look at Sri Lanka . . . in 1975 they were in the same position. They were one of the so-called minnows. But now look at what they have achieved — they have already won the World Cup. And so I think constant competition, and having more passion for the game will only bode well for Bermuda cricket.”
Canada national coach Andy Pick would also like to see the plan come to fruition.
“The concept is a good one. And I am a firm believer that players need more exposure because in Canada at the moment we don’t play enough high quality games. And I also think all of the teams will improve from that,” the former English County cricketer said.
Former West Indies quickie Kenny Benjamin said the Island’s cricketers would get a “better understanding” for the game.
“I certainly would want to see them playing more cricket against tougher opposition,” he said. “They would get a better understanding as to how the game is progressing. The more they can play against teams like Barbados and Leeward Islands or any other opportunity they can get, the better. We need to go way back when there was only England and Australia playing Test cricket and then others started coming through and the West Indies eventually. And when you look at team like Sri Lanka, they were associate members but now they are a team to be reckoned with. They have won the World Cup already while Bangladesh are moving up quite nicely."
“So while it’s going to take some time for Bermuda to progress, if they continue to invest in cricket and development then I’m sure they are going to start to see the quality rise. It’s not easy to be an amateur and perform consistently well against the guys who are doing it for a living. But I’m sure if Bermuda continue to strive forward they are going to make good progress.”
Article sourced from:- http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000039/003919.shtml
Fort McMurray cricket -- Posted Thursday, April 5 2007
“Fort McMurray is a place we are proud to call home. And it is our hope that through this donation, Syncrude will continue to help our community meet the growing and diverse needs of its residents,” said Syncrude CEO Charles Ruigrok.
This investment will assist in the construction of a new field house for the Syncrude Timberlea Athletic Park – a facility that will feature four soccer pitches, six ball diamonds, an outdoor hockey rink/lacrosse pitch, and a cricket pitch.
Editors note:-
Fort McMurray has the most northerly cricket club in Canada. A mere 4 hours drive from Edmonton.
Snippet sourced from:-
http://www.syncrude.ca/users/news_view.asp?FolderID=5690&NewsID=74
Cricketer fined for breach of Code -- Posted Thursday, April 5 2007
Scotland’s Paul Hoffman fined for breach of ICC Code of Conduct
Scotland player Paul Hoffman has been fined 50 per cent of his match fee for breaching the ICC Code of Conduct during his country’s ODI against Canada in the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 in Nairobi.
At a hearing that took place following the conclusion of the match, tournament referee Roshan Mahanama of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees found that Hoffman had committed a Level 2 offence by breaching clause 2.4 of the Code.
The clause relates to inappropriate and deliberate physical contact between players in the course of play and Hoffman pleaded guilty to the offence.
The offence occurred after Hoffman had delivered a ball which the batsman played to the on-side. Hoffman was deemed to have breached the Code after he ran across the pitch and deliberately dropped his shoulder and forcefully bumped into the running non-striker, knocking him to the ground.
The non-striker was able to get up and complete the run but then play had to be stopped for four minutes so that he could receive treatment.
Explaining the decision, Mr Mahanama said: “It is very important that this tournament, as with all cricket, is played in the true spirit of the game and Paul’s behaviour was clearly unacceptable. In coming to my decision I took into account Paul’s clean past record and the fact that he apologised for his actions.”
The charge was brought by on-field umpires Gary Baxter of the Emirates International Panel of ICC Umpires and Roger Dill of the ICC Associates and Affiliates Umpires. Mr Mahanama reached his decision after the hearing, which was attended by the offending player, Scotland captain Craig Wright, Scotland team manager Dick Auchinleck, and umpires Baxter and Dill.
All Level 2 breaches carry a minimum penalty of a fine of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee and a maximum penalty of their full match fee and/or a one Test match or two ODI ban.
The player does have a right of appeal. An appeal must be lodged in writing with the ICC Legal Counsel setting out the grounds of appeal within 24 hours of the ICC Match Referee’s decision.
Report sourced from ICC Press release.
Editors comment:-
"player's match fee"!? Does the CCA have any money to provide players with a match fee, or are the players given an IOU? Does the CCA have an insurance policy for Canada's cricketers being disabled on the field of play, as per the discription in the above report? (JH)
USA news -- Posted Wednesday, April 4 2007
Stakeholders move in to fill void
Life continues despite suspension
Deb K Das
March 15, 2007
Only two weeks since the USA Cricket Association (USACA) was stripped of its membership in the community of cricketing nations, some familiar patterns are beginning to emerge in US cricket. And depending on how one reads the tea leaves, they may bode well for its future.
True to form, of course, the USACA website carried no mention of its suspension, let alone an explanation of its actions that had led to this unfortunate event. The site did carry a brief note saying that "More than 70% of the member clubs voted in favor of ratifying the proposed USACA constitution. 29.97% were against," ignoring the fact that this so-called ratification was under court challenge and had also failed to meet the standards set by ICC for a valid tally.
Complete article can be read at:-
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/usa/content/story/285381.html
ICC can't stop fixing -- Posted Monday, April 2 2007
ICC can't stop fixing, says Waugh
Former Australia cricket great Steve Waugh says the International Cricket Council has shown itself unable to eradicate match-fixing in the sport.
And he called on players to take the lead to stamp out the problem.
Waugh said: "I think it is disgusting, but what do you do to stop it? I don't think the ICC knows how to stop it or it would have been stopped before.
Full article can be read at:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/6520153.stm|x||x|
Canada tour to England 1936 -- Posted Monday, April 2 2007
Despite the hardships of the thirties, Canada undertook a most ambitious tour of England in 1936 under the captaincy of W.E.N. (Billy) Bell. The side was gathered together under the patronage of the Hon. R.C. Matthews who had been the Minister for National Revenue in the government of Prime Minister R.B. Bennett. He was a pillar of strength to Canadian cricket for many years prior to World War II. The side made sporting history when they defeated the M.C.C. at Lords by 76 runs to record the first victory by Canada over an English XI.
One interesting member of the Canadian side of 1936 was all-rounder Lloyd Percivil who was an expert on physical fitness. In later years, the U.S.S.R. was to adopt his training techniques for ice hockey players which enabled the Soviets to rise to world prominence. Also on the team was his brother Gordon who in 1931 had recorded a century in 42 minutes while playing for the Yorkshire Cricket Club against the Rosedale Cricket Club in Toronto. The first 50 runs came in 17 minutes and he was finally dismissed for 177 runs compiled in just 80 minutes. Some years later in 1954, a third brother Allan toured England with the Canadian national side.
Article sourced from:-
http://www.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/CAN/CCA_HISTORY_11SEP1997.html
R.C. Matthews's Canadian cricket team suffered the first defeat of its English tour today at the Oval, famous London ground, when the Grasshoppers, a team of Surrey amateurs, scored a 57-run victory. The teams played twelve a side, the Grasshoppers making 203 runs against 146.
Snippet sourced from:-
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0B1EF83C59167B93C1A81783D85F428385F9|
Back from the West Indies -- Posted Sunday, April 1 2007
I'm back from the West Indies - for at least the time being. I returned on Sunday night and managed to spend almost five days away from the Internet and e-mail. That must be a record for the period since early August 2005 when I was spotted taking notes while watching Canada playing an ICC Intercontinental Cup match at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.
I did meet - albeit briefly - some new faces, or was able to put faces to some names from the Canadian cricket scene- in St Lucia but commitments of trying to get out text and pictures for various outlets, not always in just the Canadian cause, meant there was little time to sit back.
In fact, I nearly took the 'easy' option and decided to watch games on TV from my home.
One of the things you learn in the big corporate world is that you can't do everything yourself. It was great that Canada had media representation at CWC 2007, would that it could have been more, but the challege now is to keep up the momentum at the international and domestic levels.
Given the range of agency and international media at the CWC matches, in a way, all I had to do at the final Canadian media conference was to pop a couple of questions and some other people were then able to report Coach Andy Pick's comments on the tremendous efforts the Canadian players had put in over the winter. For the record, included in the scope of the question those who helped in the other winter tours or at the nets at Qasra sports in Etobicoke.
I've got extensive notes, as usual - my voice recorder had been filled up - and I will relay some additional points not covered via the AFP correspondent in a recent article on Cricinfo. A question, almost a comment, about Canada laying to rest the millstone of having set record low scores in the two previous CWC appearances (45 v England in 1979 and 36 v Sri Lanka in 2003) is not overtly covered in the AFP piece.
Despite the batting improvements over the winter, there were still a couple of hiccups in certain matches in Africa (two against the Dutch in particular), that made me count the runs to 37 and 46 in both matches against the Full member countries. Did I expect this team to be routed - no, but I did once see an English county side bowled out for 14 in the County Championship.
In my periodic updates to certain sources during the New Zealand match, I reckoned a Canadian score of 250 or more would be a good response by Canada. I won't quibble over 1 run, especially as Sunil Dhaniram was injured - he broke a bone below the knuckle when going quite well. I saw him on Sunday and it is expected to take 4-6 weeks for the break to heal. I'm sure all Canadian fans wish him well.
Moving Forward
I have already heard about one initiative for promoting the game since returning home, and on Sunday the ICC distributed the news that Canada had won two ICC Global Development awards. One award went to the Ontario Junior Development program and the other for the CIMA (Toronto) Mayor's Trophy event.
Fiji took the Spirit of Cricket/UNAIDS award, the third category in which there was a global Canadian challenge.
In Nairobi, Canada beat Uganda in a warm-up match prior to the World Cricket League. In this year's ICC Global Development Awards, Canada and Uganda both took 2 awards, which shows that people in those countries are trying to see the game develop.
The CIMA Mayor's Trophy will be back this year. It is scheduled for June 23 at Sunnybrook Park, Toronto.
But the next big challenge is to wrest the ICC Intercontinental Cup away from the Celts. Scotland won the first event, beating Canada in the Final, and Ireland won the 2005 edition. Canada faces Ireland in the 2006 Final in Chelmsford, Essex, from May 21-24.
Ireland's progress in CWC 2007 should assure a good deal of interest. Who knows, perhaps some Australasian broadcasters might take an interest? They liked the spunk the team showed in the batting against England and New Zealand.
Those who saw the two home ODI defeats to Kenya in 2006 may have thought the batting had improved in this CWC loss to Kenya. Those who saw - or who played in - the win over Kenya in Mombasa had a higher target. But that reflects the increasingly professional attitude that is being bred and is needed to compete against the better countries.
So that's it for now, a few thoughts off-the-cuff. I'll sort out a few more quotes and comments for a later date and dig up some pictures. Some other items are in the pipeline and I need to get something out to some of the ethnic media contacts.
Eddie Norfolk|x|
The basis of corruption in cricket -- Posted Sunday, April 1 2007
Backstreet bookies thrive in Pakistan
By Alastair Leithead
BBC News, Lahore
On a roof-top terrace high above Lahore, four men are seated with mobile phones scattered around them, the cricket playing on a TV set in the corner.
Betting may be illegal in Pakistan but it's big business, and modern mobile technology makes it almost impossible to crack down on.
The cricket World Cup is a good opportunity - they are betting on the result and spread and spot betting throughout each match.
There are different opinions on whether there was fixing in the Pakistan-Ireland match, when Pakistan were defeated knocked out of the World Cup at the group stage.
Full article can be read at:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6511049.stm
Canada's home international matches in 2007 -- Posted Sunday, April 1 2007
Intercontinental Cup v UAE - 4 days - starts June 16 at Maple Leaf CC in King City
One day match - Canada v UAE June 21, Toronto
One day match - Netherlands v UAE June 22, Toronto
(above not official ODIs as UAE does not have that status)
ODI 1 - Canada v Netherlands June 23 Toronto
ODI 2 - Canada v Netherlands June 24 Toronto
Intercontinental Cup v Netherlands -4 days- starts June 27
Away matches
Kenya IC match Oct 12-15
Kenya ODIs Oct 18, 20, 21
Namibia IC Oct 25-28
One dayers on Oct 30 & 31
Source - Cricket Europe & E.N.
Intercontinental Cup v UAE - 4 days - starts June 16 at Maple Leaf CC in King City
ODI 1 - Canada v Netherlands June 23 Toronto
ODI 2 - Canada v Netherlands June 24 Toronto
Intercontinental Cup v Netherlands - 4 days - starts June 27.
Source - Cricket Europe