Report from Ottawa -- Posted Saturday, September 30 2006
Greetings for perhaps the penultimate time in cricket season 2006. There were only three matches involving OVCC teams last weekend. The Knockout Cup final which was to have taken place Saturday, 23 September at Rideau Hall 1 was called off as the bowlers’ run-up for the MacKay Street end was like porridge – at least when I squished on it at about 1:00 PM.
The Citizen final on Sunday, 24 September at Rideau Hall 1 was taken by the team from the Limestone City by 18 runs. Kingston posted a defensible if somewhat low total to which New Edinburgh’s reply came up slightly short.
Indeed, when the ninth wicket fell at 93, it seemed as if a much larger win was in the offing, but Burgs’ last pair had other ideas – putting on 30 runs for the tenth wicket.
Kingston – 141 [40 ov] (Yasser Rahim 18 {62 bls}, Sudarshan Manhas 18 {17 bls, 1 six}, Dhaval Patel 50 {63 bls, 4 fours, 2 sixes}, Nakul Nayyar 3 for 29, Suthakar Sundralingam 2 for 33, Pankaj Shrichand 4 for 16 & 2 ct); New Edinburgh – 123 [42.5 ov] (Pankaj Shrichand 21 {33 bls, 2 fours}, Dravya Sharma 17 {38 bls, 2 fours}, Manu Mukerji 25 {33 bls, 2 sixes}, Usama Khalid 2 for 20, Paul Uppal 3 for 26, Dhaval Patel 3 for 14, Hassan Khan 2 ct). Dhaval
Patel was named Man of the Match. This marks the first time in over 45 years that Kingston have carried off OVCC honours – 1959 and 1960 when Kingston were OVCC champs in the first two years of their membership.
Meanwhile, in the deep southwest of our vast province, Canterbury were doing very well in the OCA Club Championship tournament, winning both their preliminary round and semi-final matches.
On Saturday, at Waterworks Park in Brantford, Canterbury had the measure of Crescent C C of Hamilton & District by 50 runs in a much shortened match:
Canterbury – 168 for 6 [20 ov] (Abdul Jaffar 65 {33 bls, six fours, 4 sixes}, Kamran Raza 35 {34 bls, 4 fours}, Ahmed Khan 18* {18 bls, 1 six}, Zeeshan Khurshid 19* {15 bls, 1 four}, Tahir Khan 3 for 43, Verinder Singh 2 ct); Crescent – 118 for 9 [20 ov] (Elyas Karim 49 {40 bls, 3 fours, 3 sixes}, Mezhar Mirza 20 {16 bls, 1 four, 1 six}, Ahmed Khan 3 for 24, Rochak Mehta 4 for 17, Kamran Raza 1 ct, 1 st, Zeeshan Khurshid 2 ct).
The Sunday semi-final at Waterloo Park in Waterloo saw a much closer match, but Canterbury emerged victorious nonetheless over Sunrise Browne C C of Southern Ontario by 17 runs: Canterbury – 139 [37.3 ov] (Vikram Arora 25 {34 bls, 2 fours}, Liaqat Ali 26 {38 bls, 2 sixes}, Akber Hussain 20 {29 bls, 1 six}, Saqib Sheikh 2 for 13 & 2 ct, Jaspal Rana 2 for 24, Bahadur Mangat 2 for 29, Parveen Sharma 2 for 38, Kuldeep Dhaliwal & Neeraj Bhardwaj 2 ct each); Sunrise Browne – 122 [31.1 ov] (Sirus Nabeel 21 {38 bls, 1 six}, Abdullah 23 {21 bls, 1 six}, Jaspal Sharma 21 {51 bls, 1 six}, Joy Tanotra 4 for 20, Vikram Arora 2 for 10, Kamran Raza 3 ct, Vikram Arora 2 ct).
Canterbury now face the winner of the Saturday, 30 September match between the champions of Toronto & District and Etobicoke & District in the OCA Club Championship final on Sunday, 1 October.
On the local front, Cathedral and New Edinburgh will once again try to play their Knockout Cup final on Saturday, 30 September at Rideau Hall 1 starting at 11:00 AM.
The attached stats contain info on Citizen Division only as the Challenge figures are unchanged from last week. The Player of the Month award for August has been determined to be Riad Khan of Cathedral.
Thank you all,
John Lexmond
OVCC Statistician
New Edinburgh - Ctz Vs Kingston - Ctz
1-Innings Match Played At Rideau Hall 1, 24-Sep-2006, Citizen Playoff
Kingston - Ctz Win by 18 runs
Toss won by Kingston - Ctz
Umpires Cecil Marshall; Dennis Fernandez
Scorers John Lexmond; Susie Jenkins
Man of the Match KCC:Patel, Dhaval
Kingston - Ctz 1st Innings 141/10 All Out (Overs 40)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
Yasser Rahim* st Nimeesh Kaushal b Suthakar Sundral. 18 94 62 0 0
Sudarshan Manhas c Pankaj Shrichand b Nakul Nayyar 18 21 17 0 1
Ziyad Rahim c Suthakar Sundral. b Nakul Nayyar 10 36 25 0 0
Jiwan Sharma b Nakul Nayyar 0 2 1 0 0
Dhaval Patel b Pankaj Shrichand 50 72 63 4 2
Zeeshan Qureshi c Manu Mukerji b Suthakar Sundral. 1 25 14 0 0
Paul Uppal c Dravya Sharma b Arun Shrichand 3 17 18 0 0
Peter Cheema lbw b Pankaj Shrichand 11 13 14 0 1
Abdus Samad Mufti+ c& b Pankaj Shrichand 5 23 12 1 0
Usama Khalid lbw b Pankaj Shrichand 1 15 16 0 0
Hassan Khan not out 0 2 0 0 0
extras (b0 lb1 w21 nb2) 24
TOTAL 10 wickets for 141
FOW
1-23(Sudarshan Manhas) 2-47(Ziyad Rahim) 3-48(Jiwan Sharma) 4-69(Yasser Rahim)
5-102(Zeeshan Qureshi) 6-121(Dhaval Patel) 7-121(Paul Uppal) 8-134(Peter Cheema)
9-141(Abdus Samad Mufti) 10-141(Usama Khalid)
Bowler O M R W wd nb
Manu Mukerji 9 2 26 0 6 -
Nakul Nayyar 9 0 29 3 6 -
Ravi Saba 4 0 15 0 1 -
Suthakar Sundral. 6 0 33 2 - 2
Arun Shrichand 7 1 21 1 4 -
Pankaj Shrichand 5 0 16 4 4 -
New Edinburgh - Ctz 1st Innings 123/10 All Out (Overs 42.5)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
Pankaj Shrichand c Jiwan Sharma b Usama Khalid 21 39 33 2 0
Nimeesh Kaushal+ b Dhaval Patel 11 106 72 1 0
Arun Shrichand c Hassan Khan b Paul Uppal 7 27 21 0 0
Suthakar Sundral. c Yasser Rahim b Paul Uppal 0 16 7 0 0
Nakul Nayyar lbw b Paul Uppal 4 15 12 0 0
Dravya Sharma* c Peter Cheema b Dhaval Patel 17 45 38 2 0
Kamal Setia c Hassan Khan b Dhaval Patel 3 15 9 0 0
Raheemuddin Syed c Abdus Samad Mufti b Usama Khalid 4 11 9 0 0
Waji Siddiqui b Peter Cheema 5 29 20 0 0
Manu Mukerji b Sudarshan Manhas 25 34 33 0 2
Ravi Saba not out 6 16 7 0 0
extras (b1 lb1 w14 nb4) 20
TOTAL 10 wickets for 123
FOW
1-31(Pankaj Shrichand) 2-44(Arun Shrichand) 3-52(Suthakar Sundral.)
4-56(Nakul Nayyar) 5-56(Nimeesh Kaushal) 6-72(Kamal Setia) 7-79(Raheemuddin Syed)
8-85(Dravya Sharma) 9-93(Waji Siddiqui) 10-123(Manu Mukerji)
Bowler O M R W wd nb
Sudarshan Manhas 5.5 0 23 1 2 -
Usama Khalid 9 2 20 2 4 4
Hassan Khan 5 0 12 0 4 -
Paul Uppal 9 1 26 3 1 -
Dhaval Patel 9 1 14 3 1 -
Yasser Rahim 3 0 8 0 1 -
Peter Cheema 2 0 18 1 1 -
Sunrise Browne C Vs Canterbury C C
1-Innings Match Played At Waterloo Park, 24-Sep-2006, OCA Club Championship
Canterbury C C Win by 17 runs
Toss won by Canterbury C C
Umpires Austin Foote; Donald Denheart
Scorers Pavanveer Rana; Yogash Shah
Comment Match was reduced to 40 overs per side. The "sub" who caught Parveen Sharma was Tauseef Shahid.
Canterbury C C 1st Innings 139/10 All Out (Overs 37.3)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
Abdul Jabbar c Kuldeep Dhaliwal b Jaspal Rana 6 27 16 0 0
Kamran Raza+ b Jaspal Rana 4 37 41 0 0
Vikram Arora c Neeraj Bhardwaj b Saqib Sheikh 25 74 34 2 0
Liaqat Ali c Saqib Sheikh b Parveen Sharma 26 29 38 0 2
Akber Hussain* b Parveen Sharma 20 25 29 0 1
Rahul Raikwar c Kuldeep Dhaliwal b Bahadur Mangat 5 25 15 0 0
Vishal Gupta c Saqib Sheikh b Bahadur Mangat 14 29 27 0 0
Zeeshan Khurshid c Neeraj Bhardwaj b Kuldeep Dhaliwal 1 2 5 0 0
Rochak Mehta b Saqib Sheikh 4 16 7 0 0
Joy Tanotra run out Harpal Minhas/Sa. 2 11 13 0 0
Sharick Siddiqui not out 0 1 0 0 0
extras (b3 lb3 w26 nb0) 32
TOTAL 10 wickets for 139
FOW
1-19(Abdul Jabbar) 2-29(Kamran Raza) 3-63(Liaqat Ali) 4-104(Vikram Arora)
5-108(Akber Hussain) 6-126(Rahul Raikwar) 7-127(Zeeshan Khurshid)
8-131(Vishal Gupta) 9-139(Joy Tanotra) 10-139(Rochak Mehta)
Bowler O M R W wd nb
Sarabjit Manhas 6 0 19 0 7 -
Saqib Sheikh 6.3 1 13 2 5 -
Jaspal Rana 7 1 24 2 3 -
Bahadur Mangat 7 1 29 2 4 -
Parveen Sharma 8 0 38 2 5 -
Kuldeep Dhaliwal 3 1 10 1 1 -
Sunrise Browne C 1st Innings 122/10 All Out (Overs 31.1)
Sirus Nabeel b Zeeshan Khurshid 21
Parveen Sharma c sub b Joy Tanotra 18
Abdullah lbw b Joy Tanotra 23
Inderjit Dhaliwal c Raza b Gupta 0
Bahadur Mangat b Joy Tanotra 5
Harpal Minhas+ c Raza b Liaqat Ali 21
Jaspal Rana c&b Vikram Arora 3
Neeraj Bhardwaj c Khurshid b Arora 0
Saqib Sheikh* c Arora b Joy Tanotra 0
Kuldeep Dhaliwal c Raza b A Hussain 2
Sarabjit Manhas not out 0
extras (b0 lb5 w20 nb2) 27
TOTAL 10 wickets for 122
FOW
1-35(Sirus Nabeel) 2-75(Parveen Sharma) 3-75(Abdullah) 4-78(Inderjit Dhaliwal)
5-92(Bahadur Mangat) 6-97(Jaspal Rana) 7-101(Neeraj Bhardwaj) 8-101(Saqib Sheikh)
9-106(Kuldeep Dhaliwal) 10-122(Harpal Minhas)
Bowler O M R W wd nb
Akber Hussain 8 1 29 1 9 -
Liaqat Ali 3.1 0 11 1 5 -
Zeesha Khurshid 4 0 25 1 - 1
Rochak Mehta 2 0 11 0 - -
Joy Tanotra 8 2 20 4 3 -
Vishal Gupta 1 0 5 1 - 1
Abdul Jabbar 2 0 6 0 1 -
Vikram Arora 3 0 10 2 2 -
-- Posted Saturday, September 30 2006
Greetings for perhaps the penultimate time in cricket season 2006. There were only three matches involving OVCC teams last weekend. The Knockout Cup final which was to have taken place Saturday, 23 September at Rideau Hall 1 was called off as the bowlers’ run-up for the MacKay Street end was like porridge – at least when I squished on it at about 1:00 PM.
The Citizen final on Sunday, 24 September at Rideau Hall 1 was taken by the team from the Limestone City by 18 runs. Kingston posted a defensible if somewhat low total to which New Edinburgh’s reply came up slightly short
Indeed, when the ninth wicket fell at 93, it seemed as if a much larger win was in the offing, but Burgs’ last pair had other ideas – putting on 30 runs for the tenth wicket
Kingston – 141 [40 ov] (Yasser Rahim 18 {62 bls}, Sudarshan Manhas 18 {17 bls, 1 six}, Dhaval Patel 50 {63 bls, 4 fours, 2 sixes}, Nakul Nayyar 3 for 29, Suthakar Sundralingam 2 for 33, Pankaj Shrichand 4 for 16 & 2 ct); New Edinburgh – 123 [42.5 ov] (Pankaj Shrichand 21 {33 bls, 2 fours}, Dravya Sharma 17 {38 bls, 2 fours}, Manu Mukerji 25 {33 bls, 2 sixes}, Usama Khalid 2 for 20, Paul Uppal 3 for 26, Dhaval Patel 3 for 14, Hassan Khan 2 ct). Dhaval Patel was named Man of the Match.
This marks the first time in over 45 years that Kingston have carried off OVCC honours – 1959 and 1960 when Kingston were OVCC champs in the first two years of their membership.
Meanwhile, in the deep southwest of our vast province, Canterbury were doing very well in the OCA Club Championship tournament, winning both their preliminary round and semi-final matches.
On Saturday, at Waterworks Park in Brantford, Canterbury had the measure of Crescent C C of Hamilton & District by 50 runs in a much shortened match:
Canterbury – 168 for 6 [20 ov] (Abdul Jaffar 65 {33 bls, six fours, 4 sixes}, Kamran Raza 35 {34 bls, 4 fours}, Ahmed Khan 18* {18 bls, 1 six}, Zeeshan Khurshid 19* {15 bls, 1 four}, Tahir Khan 3 for 43, Verinder Singh 2 ct); Crescent – 118 for 9 [20 ov] (Elyas Karim 49 {40 bls, 3 fours, 3 sixes}, Mezhar Mirza 20 {16 bls, 1 four, 1 six}, Ahmed Khan 3 for 24, Rochak Mehta 4 for 17, Kamran Raza 1 ct, 1 st, Zeeshan Khurshid 2 ct).
The Sunday semi-final at Waterloo Park in Waterloo saw a much closer match, but Canterbury emerged victorious nonetheless over Sunrise Browne C C of Southern Ontario by 17 runs:
Canterbury – 139 [37.3 ov] (Vikram Arora 25 {34 bls, 2 fours}, Liaqat Ali 26 {38 bls, 2 sixes}, Akber Hussain 20 {29 bls, 1 six}, Saqib Sheikh 2 for 13 & 2 ct, Jaspal Rana 2 for 24, Bahadur Mangat 2 for 29, Parveen Sharma 2 for 38, Kuldeep Dhaliwal & Neeraj Bhardwaj 2 ct each); Sunrise Browne – 122 [31.1 ov] (Sirus Nabeel 21 {38 bls, 1 six}, Abdullah 23 {21 bls, 1 six}, Jaspal Sharma 21 {51 bls, 1 six}, Joy Tanotra 4 for 20, Vikram Arora 2 for 10, Kamran Raza 3 ct, Vikram Arora 2 ct).
Canterbury now face the winner of the Saturday, 30 September match between the champions of Toronto & District and Etobicoke & District in the OCA Club Championship final on Sunday, 1 October.
On the local front, Cathedral and New Edinburgh will once again try to play their Knockout Cup final on Saturday, 30 September at Rideau Hall 1 starting at 11:00 AM.
The attached stats contain info on Citizen Division only as the Challenge figures are unchanged from last week. The Player of the Month award for August has been determined to be Riad Khan of Cathedral.
Thank you all,
John Lexmond
OVCC Statistician
New Edinburgh - Ctz Vs Kingston - Ctz
1-Innings Match Played At Rideau Hall 1, 24-Sep-2006, Citizen Playoff
Kingston - Ctz Win by 18 runs
Toss won by Kingston - Ctz
Umpires Cecil Marshall; Dennis Fernandez
Scorers John Lexmond; Susie Jenkins
Man of the Match KCC:Patel, Dhaval
Kingston - Ctz 1st Innings 141/10 All Out (Overs 40)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
Yasser Rahim* st Nimeesh Kaushal b Suthakar Sundral. 18 94 62 0 0
Sudarshan Manhas c Pankaj Shrichand b Nakul Nayyar 18 21 17 0 1
Ziyad Rahim c Suthakar Sundral. b Nakul Nayyar 10 36 25 0 0
Jiwan Sharma b Nakul Nayyar 0 2 1 0 0
Dhaval Patel b Pankaj Shrichand 50 72 63 4 2
Zeeshan Qureshi c Manu Mukerji b Suthakar Sundral. 1 25 14 0 0
Paul Uppal c Dravya Sharma b Arun Shrichand 3 17 18 0 0
Peter Cheema lbw b Pankaj Shrichand 11 13 14 0 1
Abdus Samad Mufti+ c& b Pankaj Shrichand 5 23 12 1 0
Usama Khalid lbw b Pankaj Shrichand 1 15 16 0 0
Hassan Khan not out 0 2 0 0 0
extras (b0 lb1 w21 nb2) 24
TOTAL 10 wickets for 141
FOW
1-23(Sudarshan Manhas) 2-47(Ziyad Rahim) 3-48(Jiwan Sharma) 4-69(Yasser Rahim)
5-102(Zeeshan Qureshi) 6-121(Dhaval Patel) 7-121(Paul Uppal) 8-134(Peter Cheema)
9-141(Abdus Samad Mufti) 10-141(Usama Khalid)
Bowler O M R W wd nb
Manu Mukerji 9 2 26 0 6 -
Nakul Nayyar 9 0 29 3 6 -
Ravi Saba 4 0 15 0 1 -
Suthakar Sundral. 6 0 33 2 - 2
Arun Shrichand 7 1 21 1 4 -
Pankaj Shrichand 5 0 16 4 4 -
New Edinburgh - Ctz 1st Innings 123/10 All Out (Overs 42.5)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
Pankaj Shrichand c Jiwan Sharma b Usama Khalid 21 39 33 2 0
Nimeesh Kaushal+ b Dhaval Patel 11 106 72 1 0
Arun Shrichand c Hassan Khan b Paul Uppal 7 27 21 0 0
Suthakar Sundral. c Yasser Rahim b Paul Uppal 0 16 7 0 0
Nakul Nayyar lbw b Paul Uppal 4 15 12 0 0
Dravya Sharma* c Peter Cheema b Dhaval Patel 17 45 38 2 0
Kamal Setia c Hassan Khan b Dhaval Patel 3 15 9 0 0
Raheemuddin Syed c Abdus Samad Mufti b Usama Khalid 4 11 9 0 0
Waji Siddiqui b Peter Cheema 5 29 20 0 0
Manu Mukerji b Sudarshan Manhas 25 34 33 0 2
Ravi Saba not out 6 16 7 0 0
extras (b1 lb1 w14 nb4) 20
TOTAL 10 wickets for 123
FOW
1-31(Pankaj Shrichand) 2-44(Arun Shrichand) 3-52(Suthakar Sundral.)
4-56(Nakul Nayyar) 5-56(Nimeesh Kaushal) 6-72(Kamal Setia) 7-79(Raheemuddin Syed)
8-85(Dravya Sharma) 9-93(Waji Siddiqui) 10-123(Manu Mukerji)
Bowler O M R W wd nb
Sudarshan Manhas 5.5 0 23 1 2 -
Usama Khalid 9 2 20 2 4 4
Hassan Khan 5 0 12 0 4 -
Paul Uppal 9 1 26 3 1 -
Dhaval Patel 9 1 14 3 1 -
Yasser Rahim 3 0 8 0 1 -
Peter Cheema 2 0 18 1 1 -
Sunrise Browne C Vs Canterbury C C
1-Innings Match Played At Waterloo Park, 24-Sep-2006, OCA Club Championship
Canterbury C C Win by 17 runs
Toss won by Canterbury C C
Umpires Austin Foote; Donald Denheart
Scorers Pavanveer Rana; Yogash Shah
Comment Match was reduced to 40 overs per side. The "sub" who caught Parveen Sharma was Tauseef Shahid.
Canterbury C C 1st Innings 139/10 All Out (Overs 37.3)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
Abdul Jabbar c Kuldeep Dhaliwal b Jaspal Rana 6 27 16 0 0
Kamran Raza+ b Jaspal Rana 4 37 41 0 0
Vikram Arora c Neeraj Bhardwaj b Saqib Sheikh 25 74 34 2 0
Liaqat Ali c Saqib Sheikh b Parveen Sharma 26 29 38 0 2
Akber Hussain* b Parveen Sharma 20 25 29 0 1
Rahul Raikwar c Kuldeep Dhaliwal b Bahadur Mangat 5 25 15 0 0
Vishal Gupta c Saqib Sheikh b Bahadur Mangat 14 29 27 0 0
Zeeshan Khurshid c Neeraj Bhardwaj b Kuldeep Dhaliwal 1 2 5 0 0
Rochak Mehta b Saqib Sheikh 4 16 7 0 0
Joy Tanotra run out Harpal Minhas/Sa. 2 11 13 0 0
Sharick Siddiqui not out 0 1 0 0 0
extras (b3 lb3 w26 nb0) 32
TOTAL 10 wickets for 139
FOW
1-19(Abdul Jabbar) 2-29(Kamran Raza) 3-63(Liaqat Ali) 4-104(Vikram Arora)
5-108(Akber Hussain) 6-126(Rahul Raikwar) 7-127(Zeeshan Khurshid)
8-131(Vishal Gupta) 9-139(Joy Tanotra) 10-139(Rochak Mehta)
Bowler O M R W wd nb
Sarabjit Manhas 6 0 19 0 7 -
Saqib Sheikh 6.3 1 13 2 5 -
Jaspal Rana 7 1 24 2 3 -
Bahadur Mangat 7 1 29 2 4 -
Parveen Sharma 8 0 38 2 5 -
Kuldeep Dhaliwal 3 1 10 1 1 -
Sunrise Browne C 1st Innings 122/10 All Out (Overs 31.1)
Batsman Fieldsman Bowler Runs Min Bls 4s 6s
Sirus Nabeel b Zeeshan Khurshid 21 53 38 0 1
Parveen Sharma c sub b Joy Tanotra 18 91 37 1 0
Abdullah lbw b Joy Tanotra 23 38 21 0 1
Inderjit Dhaliwal c Kamran Raza b Vishal Gupta 2 6 3 0 0
Bahadur Mangat c Liaqat Ali b Joy Tanotra 5 27 12 0 0
Harpal Minhas+ c Kamran Raza b Liaqat Ali 21 0 51 0 1
Jaspal Rana c& b Vikram Arora 3 5 3 0 0
Neeraj Bhardwaj c Zeeshan Khurshid b Vikram Arora 0 9 7 0 0
Saqib Sheikh* c Vikram Arora b Joy Tanotra 0 1 3 0 0
Kuldeep Dhaliwal c Kamran Raza b Akber Hussain 2 13 7 0 0
Sarabjit Manhas not out 0 0 7 0 0
extras (b0 lb5 w20 nb2) 27
TOTAL 10 wickets for 122
FOW
1-35(Sirus Nabeel) 2-75(Parveen Sharma) 3-75(Abdullah) 4-78(Inderjit Dhaliwal)
5-92(Bahadur Mangat) 6-97(Jaspal Rana) 7-101(Neeraj Bhardwaj) 8-101(Saqib Sheikh)
9-106(Kuldeep Dhaliwal) 10-122(Harpal Minhas)
Bowler O M R W wd nb
Akber Hussain 8 1 29 1 9 -
Liaqat Ali 3.1 0 11 1 5 -
Zeeshan Khurshid 4 0 25 1 - 1
Rochak Mehta 2 0 11 0 - -
Joy Tanotra 8 2 20 4 3 -
Vishal Gupta 1 0 5 1 - 1
Abdul Jabbar 2 0 6 0 1 -
Vikram Arora 3 0 10 2 2 -
Editors comment:-
Sorry for the mishmash above ... off to King City, Eddie is covering the other match at Centenial Park, Toronto. Match reports tomorow. (JH)
USA claim rain-ravaged U15 Championship -- Posted Saturday, September 30 2006
In an Americas U15 Championship severely hampered by poor weather, including Tropical Storm Ernesto, the United States snatched the regional title on the final day, despite more thunderstorms and drastically shortened games.
With the first two days of this three day event completely lost to Ernesto's presence over Florida, USA, officials from ICC Americas, USACA and local city and county authorities worked tirelessly to at least salvage a knock-out 20-20 tournament between the four participating teams on the final day.
The two semi-finals, although ultimately completed, were interrupted by heavy showers, which meant that the final and third/fourth place play-off were reduced to 15 overs a side in order to fit them in before darkness fell. As it was, the final exciting moments were played out in gathering dark, with a backdrop of thunder and lightning in the distance, as the USA clinched victory off the final ball over Bermuda in the final.
After two frustrating days of no play, matches finally got under way at the Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City, Fort Lauderdale in southern Florida. In the first semi-final defending champions eased past an Americas Development combination (made up of players from the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Canada and the USA) by 7 wickets.
The Americas team batted valiantly against a strong Bermudan bowling line-up to total 91 for 6 on their 20 overs. Makal Young top-scored with 31 not out, while Kamal Leverock added 18. Pick of the Bermudan bowlers were Kevon Fubler with 3 for 8, and Regino Smith with 2 for 12.
In reply Bermuda reached their target in 14,4 overs, reaching 93 for 3 to advance to the final. For Bermuda Sinclair Smith was undefeated on 49, and for the combined team Neil Saini took 1 for 7.
In the other semi-final, the USA team, coached by former West Indies international Clayton Lambert, outplayed Canada to win by 25 runs and set up a final clash with 2004 champions Bermuda.
Batting first, USA totaled 95 for 5 off their 20 overs, and then bundled out the Candians for 70 in 17,3 overs. Opening US bat Balaji Giridharan made a good 30, while Gregory Sewdial added a quick 20, while best bowler for Canada was Trevor Manoosingh with 1 for 9 in 2 overs.
Vaibhan Nayar did the damage with the ball for the USA with figures of 3 for 6 in 4 overs, while Sewdial completed a good all-round performance with 2 for 17. Of the Canadian batsmen, only openers Rahul Srinivasan, with 12, and Hiral Patel, with 13, reached double figures as Canada crashed from 25 without loss to 70 all out. Their innings also included four run outs.
In the bronze medal game between Canada and the Americas Development team, a whirlwind 74 by Hussain Zaidi virtually settled the game as Canada raced to an imposing 169 for 5 in their 15 overs. Zaidi hit 8 towering sixes in his innings. Hiral Patel also contributed a fine 48. Neil Saini again bowled well to finish with 2 for 24.
In reply, the Americas team could only reach 61 for 5 on their allotted 15 overs, thus giving Canada victory, by 108 runs, and thus third place overall. Saini finished a good day with 17 not out, while Rodrae Wilson was undefeated on 18.
The final between hosts USA and defending champions Bermuda was a tense and absorbing tussle culminating in a nail-biting finish. The United States batted first, and battled gamely to reach 80 for the loss of 5 wickets in their 15 overs. Batting hero was Vaibhan Nayar, who made exactly half his teams total by scoring an undefeated 40.
Chasing their target of 81 to retain the Americas U15 crown, Bermuda stayed up with the required run-rate, with opener Terryn Fray making a solid 24. But tight bowling from the USA, especially Nayar with 2 for 10, and Gregory Sewdial, 3 for 18, kept the outcome in the balance right until the final over and the final ball.
At the start of the final over, at 69 for 6, Bermuda still required 12 runs to win. By the time Balaji Giridharan prepared to bowl the last ball, Darrell and Caines had gathered nine runs, and needed a further 3 to win, or 2 to tie. A missed swing and dot ball triggered USA celebrations as Bermuda ended on 78 for 6, and USA had won by 2 runs and thus won the Americas U15 Championship.
Summarised Scores:
Bermuda v Americas Development XI
Americas Development XI - 91 for 6 (20 overs) - M.Young 31no , K.Leverock 18 , K.Fubler 4-1-8-3 , R.Smith 4-1-12-2 ;
Bermuda - 93 for 3 (14,4 overs) - S.Smith 49no , S.Hall 11 , N.Saini 4-0-7-1
Bermuda won by 7 wickets.
USA v Canada
USA - 95 for 5 (20 overs) - B.Giridharan 30 , G.Sewdial 20 , H.Brijcall 13 , T.Manoosingh 2-0-9-1 ;
Canada - 70 all out (17,3 overs) - H.Patel 13 , R.Srinivasan 12 , V.Nayar 4-2-6-3 , G.Sewdial 3,3-0-17-2
USA won by 25 runs.
Canada v Americas Development XI
Canada - 169 for 5 (15 overs) - H.Zaidi 74 , H.Patel 48 ; Americas Development XI - 61 for 5 (15 overs) - N.Saini 17no , R.Wilson 18no , T.Kittur 2-0-5-1 , R.Duvraj 2-0-5-1
Canada won by 108 runs.
USA v Bermuda
USA - 80 for 5 (15 overs) - V.Nayar 40 , V.Varrurl 11 , G.Mabury 3-0-11-1 , K.Fubler 2-0-11-1 ; Bermuda - 78 for 6 (15 overs) - T.Fray 24 , D.Darrel 11no , G.Sewdial 3-0-18-3 , V.Nayar 3-0-10-2
USA won by 2 runs.
Final Placings:
1. United States
2. Bermuda
3. Canada
4. Americas Development XI
Individual Awards:
Man of the Match:
Bermuda v Americas XI - Sinclair Smith (Bermuda)
Canada v USA : - Vaibhan Nayar (USA)
Canada v Ameritas XI: - Hussain Zaidi (Canada)
Bermuda v USA : - Vaibhan Nayar (USA)
Player of the Tournament: - Vaibhan Nayar (USA)
Best Batsman - Hussain Zaidi (Canada)
Best Bowler: - Vaibhan Nayar (USA)
Best Fielder: - Kevon Fugler (Bermuda)
Best Wicket-keeper: - Akash Jagannathan (USA)
The tournament was played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA during September 2006 (JH)
Report sourced from:-
http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-news/content/story/258870.html
Dialectic Cricket - BEYOND A BOUNDARY -- Posted Friday, September 29 2006
In 1963, when C. L. R. James's Beyond a Boundary was first published, spectator sports (unlike blood sports) rarely figured in serious fiction, and they were almost never subjected to searching critical-political-historical analysis. There was good sportswriting, sure, but only within journalism's built-in limitations of space, tone, and occasion; even A. J. Liebling's The Sweet Science--at the time, Beyond a Boundary's only full-length competition this side of Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon--was a collection of New Yorker pieces. And although there were valuable essays or chapters from the likes of Brecht, McLuhan, God help us Norman Podhoretz, and the criminally neglected Reuel Denney, not one professional thinker found the games he loved worthy of an entire book.
Of course, if you define "professional thinker" stringently, that holds true to this day; in athletics as in all other popular culture there's still a dearth of major league books. But at least this new edition, the first look U.S. fans have had at Beyond a Boundary, takes on all comers in a recognizable arena. And where before the book seemed a sport (a mutant, a freak, a caprice of nature: the word's etymology is far from entirely complimentary), now it has the unmistakable lineaments of a champion. With all due respect to Roger Angell and Roger Kahn and Harry Edwards, they don't belong on the same field with C.L.R. James. I'm not even sure they can share the same grounds.
James didn't become a world-class bigdome in academia. Born the son of a Trinidadian schoolteacher in 1901, he was a devotee of town cricket by age six and soon after proved a prodigy in English literature as well--he read Vanity Fair every three months, we are told, for most of his boyhood. But though he was rewarded with a free education at the finest government school on the island, he declined to go on to Oxford or some such after graduating at 18; instead he worked as a schoolteacher, with plenty of writing and plenty of cricket on the side. During the '20s he gradually became politicized, and when he finally set off for England in 1932, he had just composed a pioneering treatise on West Indian independence. His patron was England's first black professional cricketer and an old Trinidadian opponent, Learie Constantine, by then such a hero that James was imported to assist with his autobiography. Constantine eventually financed the printing of The Case for West Indian Self-Government and helped James get a get a job reporting cricket for the Manchester Guardian while he prepared his epochal biography of Toussaint L'Ouverture, The Black Jacobins. By the time he resettled in the U.S., where he was active as a union organizer from 1938 to 1952, James was an associate of Jomo Kenyatta and Leon Trotsky. Many credit him with originating the idea of the third world vanguard.
Most of this information can be gleaned from Beyond a Boundary, which like a lot of sportswriting by intellectuals celebrates the game's role in socializing and humanizing the author. But Beyond a Boundary is much more than a fond memoir. It has to be, because for James this game is much more than a locus of personal growth--although he never quite comes out and says so, he clearly regards cricket as a human achievement on a par with dialectical materialism itself. Aesthetically, it's a "structurally perfect" enactment of a fundamental "dramatic spectacle" that in addition epitomizes the " 'movement'" and "'tactile values'" singled out by Berenson as the prime constituents of significant form in the visual arts. Historically, it preserved essential agrarian values in an era of rampaging industrialization, and continues to do so, though not without the deformities struggle imposes, in the face of a "decline of the West" that James dates to 1929.
Politically, it's been instrumental in bringing down racial barriers throughout what was once the British Empire. And on every level its interactions with its audience have expressed ( the inexorable desire of human beings for genuine democracy.
Even if you adjudge all this rather eccentric (and who wouldn't?), you have to grant it an impressive audacity. It's easy enough for centrists like Angell and Liebling to wax romantic over the symbolic competitions they treasure, because the rules of the game flatter their presumption that competitiveness is both innate and containable.
James, however, almost alone among philosophers of sport, is a leftist, and not only that--he's a left historian. His all-encompassing social vision gives this book an emotional sweep and intellectual reach the centrists can't match. But unlike most left historians, who are rarely utopian-spirited enough to account gracefully for the unruly distractions of aesthetic pleasure (let alone competition or play), James enjoys that sense of connectedness to his own childhood which marks fully functional adults of whatever political persuasion. For him, discovering Marx didn't mean dismissing Thackeray or cricket, it just meant understanding them. Comfortable with such supposedly bourgeois categories as the human condition (though he certainly views it more hopefully than Norman Podhoretz), he has no trouble accepting a world of winners and losers, and he gets a kick out of heroic individuals even when their exploits don't seem to illustrate noble lessons about sacrifice to history and the common good.
Just as he does in his 1936 novel Minty Alley, James takes an almost Dickensian relish in the colorful characters he sketches in Beyond a Boundary--from the blacksmith-batsman Cudjoe, the first and only black on his turn-of-the-century team, to W. G. Grace, whom I'd call the Babe Ruth of cricket if I thought the Babe's rough and rowdy ways likely to please James, who credits the moderately well-fixed Englishman Grace with focusing all the creative democratic and anti-capitalist instincts of the Victorian populace. But although there's a sense in which what he values most about both Cudjoe and Grace is their apparent inutility. It would be misleading to leave it at that. For like the post-Freudian, young-Hegelian Marxians/anarchists of the counterculture generation, James believes that the purpose of revolution is to liberate the realm of the apparently useless--which is also the realm of pleasure, beauty, spirit, the meaning of life. What sets him apart from these much younger theorists, not to mention their intellectual progenitors (and James's slightly younger contemporaries) in the Frankfurt School, isn't merely that he was broad-minded enough to find such virtues in popular culture, in cricket and later calypso. It's that he discovered them there. Thackeray and Trotsky helped, no doubt about it. But it was the enjoyment James took in cricket, and the meaning the game's "mass" audience found there, that inspired him to work with the people as well as write about them, that made his politics more than the obsessive rage for justice into which leftism so often devolves.
The prose of Beyond a Boundary combines the cultivated lyricism of someone like Hazlitt (whose boxing essays James extols) with the excitable quasi-Victorianism of the more hightone English sportswriting, and nothing else I've seen by James equals it stylistically. But the book isn't as perfect as The Black Jacobins, by most accounts James's master-work. In the usual manner of fully functional adults well connected to the lessons of their childhood, he does tend to overpraise the culture that made him what he is, and while in 1962 the description of the racial integration of West Indian cricket that occupies his last 35 pages may have seemed to work structurally, today it clearly suffers from journalism's limitation of occasion. The brief introductory "Note on Cricket" doesn't go far enough toward helping us noncolonials to understand the detailed technical analysis or (much worse) James's passionate philosophical commitment to "back play," whatever exactly that is. Since James is regarded as a prophet in some circles, it's also worth noting that, as far as I can determine, the "young Romantic" James predicted would soon "extend the boundaries of cricket technique with a classical perfection" has not yet made himself manifest. But I still don't know of a greater sports book. And more to the point, I don't know all that many works of cultural theory to match it either.
Book review sourced from:-
http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bkrev/james-84.php
I KNOW a book collector in Singapore who has two copies of each volume he possesses. One copy is wrapped in polythene and sent down to his basement, where it lies in a sanitised and dust-free environment, away from the polluting hand of man. The other copy is placed in his shelves, where it is accessible to him and to such his friends as he can trust.
I have not this fellow's bank balance, nor the space in my own home to follow a practice that seems at once paranoid and practical. I keep a single copy of each book I own, except in one case, where I have kept not two copies but three. Thus I have the first edition, complete, with its original dust jacket. This is placed on the highest shelf in my home, away from the reach of my children. I hardly get to touch it myself. My second copy is the book's first paperback printing, its soft covers concealed in the beautiful leather binding of a master craftsman from Old Delhi. This copy is for me alone; to read, on the average, once a year every year since it first came into my hands during the World Book Fair of 1976.
The third of my copies is a recent paperback, with a lush cover designed to attract the illiterate American to its contents. This is the least valuable of the book's many editions; printed in New York, and with an introduction by a baseball critic. Still, except for the prelim pages, the contents are as in the original. This copy of mine is currently in the keeping of a poet (and fellow Hindu columnist) who lives in a forest clearing somewhere along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. When he returns the book, it shall be passed on to a scholar and cricket writer in Hyderabad, who first asked me for it more than five years ago.
This most prized of my books is C.L.R. James's Beyond a Boundary. It is the kind of work one does not need an excuse to celebrate, but there is one at hand: the fact that this year, 2001, is the centenary of its author's birth.
Born in the Trinidadian village of Tunapuna, James was educated on the pitches of the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain and, more formally, in the Queen's Royal College. After school, he worked as a teacher and critic. In 1930 he travelled to England at the invitation of his friend Learie Constantine, then playing as a professional in the Lancashire Leagues. He was carrying with him the manuscript of his first book, The Case for West Indian Self-Government. The book was published in 1932 by Leonard and Virginia Woolf at the Hogarth Press. The next year appeared Constantine's autobiography, Cricket and I, a work that, if not exactly ghosted, was guided and put into proper shape by James.
At this time, James also worked as a cricket correspondent for the Manchester Guardian. In the winters he studied history and Marxism. These endeavours resulted, in 1938, in the publication of his book The Black Jacobins, a brilliant analysis of a successful slave revolt that took place in Haiti towards the end of the 18th Century. In the same year James went to the United States, where he organised Black workers and catalysed Marxist groups through his speaking and writing. In 1953, at the height of the McCarthyist "Red Scare", he was deported for his views, but appealed against the order. While the case was being heard he was in an internment camp on Ellis Island, working on a book on Hermann Melville.
James lost his case, and returned to England. He began watching and writing about cricket once more, and helped that other great West Indian cricketing pioneer, George Headley, to put together his memoirs. In 1958, James was called back to Trinidad. Here, as the editor of the The Nation newspaper, he played a critical role in the campaign to have Frank Worrell chosen as the first Black captain of the West Indies. The job done, he came back to England, where he was based until his death in 1989.
James had been working on Beyond a Boundary all his life, but it was good that its eventual publication was delayed. For it finally came out in the summer of 1963, and was thus read and discussed in England at the same time as Frank Worrell's team was stylishly outplaying the home side in the Tests of that year. With justifiable pride, the author wrote to the West Indian manager that "as I see the book it is 12th man on your sides".
Beyond a Boundary is a work of history, a magisterial analysis of the role played by sport in the making of the modern world. It is also anthropology, an exploration of the impact of colour and class on the cricket field. It is comparative sociology, locating the West Indian experience in the light of Victorian England and the ancient Greeks. It is autobiography, an account of one man's lifelong engagement with the game of cricket. And it is literature, a piece of writing crafted with care and love, a work that captures with subtly all the moods of the human experience: happiness, humour, triumph, tragedy, and despair.
Like no other work I know, Beyond a Boundary beautifully brings together these different genres of literature and scholarship. I have read, and re-read, the book for its evocative portraits of West Indian cricketers, the immortals such as Headley and Constantine and the now forgotten local heroes such as George John and Wilton St. Hill. I have read it for its account of colonial cricket clubs obsessed with shades of white and black, for its analysis (still unequalled by any British writer) of what W. G. Grace meant to his Age, for its account of the Worrell campaign, and-not least-for its fine technical understanding of the game, its perfectly executed cameos of strokeful innings and hostile bowling spells.
Despite its periodic reprinting in the West, Beyond a Boundary remains a book difficult to get hold of. Not many copies, for good reason, get into the second-hand shops (who, having got one, would ever want to dispose of it?) The reader in search of a copy to own might try his luck on the Net. As for the reader who simply wants to read the book, my third copy is available: except that the first available slot on the waiting list is number 155.
The writer is the editor of
The Picador Book of Cricket.
Book review sourced from:-
http://www.hinduonnet.com/mag/2001/12/09/stories/2001120900290300.htm
The CBC has tapes of the reading of Beyond a Boundary (JH)
-- Posted Friday, September 29 2006
Dialectic Cricket - BEYOND A BOUNDARY
In 1963, when C. L. R. James's Beyond a Boundary was first published, spectator sports (unlike blood sports) rarely figured in serious fiction, and they were almost never subjected to searching critical-political-historical analysis.
There was good sportswriting, sure, but only within journalism's built-in limitations of space, tone, and occasion; even A. J. Liebling's The Sweet Science--at the time, Beyond a Boundary's only full-length competition this side of Hemingway's Death in the Afternoon--was a collection of New Yorker pieces. And although there were valuable essays or chapters from the likes of Brecht, McLuhan, God help us Norman Podhoretz, and the criminally neglected Reuel Denney, not one professional thinker found the games he loved worthy of an entire book.
Of course, if you define "professional thinker" stringently, that holds true to this day; in athletics as in all other popular culture there's still a dearth of major league books. But at least this new edition, the first look U.S. fans have had at Beyond a Boundary, takes on all comers in a recognizable arena. And where before the book seemed a sport (a mutant, a freak, a caprice of nature: the word's etymology is far from entirely complimentary), now it has the unmistakable lineaments of a champion.
With all due respect to Roger Angell and Roger Kahn and Harry Edwards, they don't belong on the same field with C.L.R. James. I'm not even sure they can share the same grounds.
James didn't become a world-class bigdome in academia. Born the son of a Trinidadian schoolteacher in 1901, he was a devotee of town cricket by age six and soon after proved a prodigy in English literature as well--he read Vanity Fair every three months, we are told, for most of his boyhood. But though he was rewarded with a free education at the finest government school on the island, he declined to go on to Oxford or some such after graduating at 18; instead he worked as a schoolteacher, with plenty of writing and plenty of cricket on the side.
During the '20s he gradually became politicized, and when he finally set off for England in 1932, he had just composed a pioneering treatise on West Indian independence. His patron was England's first black professional cricketer and an old Trinidadian opponent, Learie Constantine, by then such a hero that James was imported to assist with his autobiography.
Constantine eventually financed the printing of The Case for West Indian Self-Government and helped James get a get a job reporting cricket for the Manchester Guardian while he prepared his epochal biography of Toussaint L'Ouverture, The Black Jacobins. By the time he resettled in the U.S., where he was active as a union organizer from 1938 to 1952, James was an associate of Jomo Kenyatta and Leon Trotsky. Many credit him with originating the idea of the third world vanguard.
Most of this information can be gleaned from Beyond a Boundary, which like a lot of sportswriting by intellectuals celebrates the game's role in socializing and humanizing the author. But Beyond a Boundary is much more than a fond memoir. It has to be, because for James this game is much more than a locus of personal growth--although he never quite comes out and says so, he clearly regards cricket as a human achievement on a par with dialectical materialism itself.
Aesthetically, it's a "structurally perfect" enactment of a fundamental "dramatic spectacle" that in addition epitomizes the " 'movement'" and "'tactile values'" singled out by Berenson as the prime constituents of significant form in the visual arts. Historically, it preserved essential agrarian values in an era of rampaging industrialization, and continues to do so, though not without the deformities struggle imposes, in the face of a "decline of the West" that James dates to 1929.
Politically, it's been instrumental in bringing down racial barriers throughout what was once the British Empire. And on every level its interactions with its audience have expressed ( the inexorable desire of human beings for genuine democracy.
Even if you adjudge all this rather eccentric (and who wouldn't?), you have to grant it an impressive audacity. It's easy enough for centrists like Angell and Liebling to wax romantic over the symbolic competitions they treasure, because the rules of the game flatter their presumption that competitiveness is both innate and containable.
James, however, almost alone among philosophers of sport, is a leftist, and not only that--he's a left historian. His all-encompassing social vision gives this book an emotional sweep and intellectual reach the centrists can't match. But unlike most left historians, who are rarely utopian-spirited enough to account gracefully for the unruly distractions of aesthetic pleasure (let alone competition or play), James enjoys that sense of connectedness to his own childhood which marks fully functional adults of whatever political persuasion. For him, discovering Marx didn't mean dismissing Thackeray or cricket, it just meant understanding them. Comfortable with such supposedly bourgeois categories as the human condition (though he certainly views it more hopefully than Norman Podhoretz), he has no trouble accepting a world of winners and losers, and he gets a kick out of heroic individuals even when their exploits don't seem to illustrate noble lessons about sacrifice to history and the common good.
Just as he does in his 1936 novel Minty Alley, James takes an almost Dickensian relish in the colorful characters he sketches in Beyond a Boundary--from the blacksmith-batsman Cudjoe, the first and only black on his turn-of-the-century team, to W. G. Grace, whom I'd call the Babe Ruth of cricket if I thought the Babe's rough and rowdy ways likely to please James, who credits the moderately well-fixed Englishman Grace with focusing all the creative democratic and anti-capitalist instincts of the Victorian populace. But although there's a sense in which what he values most about both Cudjoe and Grace is their apparent inutility. It would be misleading to leave it at that. For like the post-Freudian, young-Hegelian Marxians/anarchists of the counterculture generation, James believes that the purpose of revolution is to liberate the realm of the apparently useless--which is also the realm of pleasure, beauty, spirit, the meaning of life. What sets him apart from these much younger theorists, not to mention their intellectual progenitors (and James's slightly younger contemporaries) in the Frankfurt School, isn't merely that he was broad-minded enough to find such virtues in popular culture, in cricket and later calypso. It's that he discovered them there. Thackeray and Trotsky helped, no doubt about it. But it was the enjoyment James took in cricket, and the meaning the game's "mass" audience found there, that inspired him to work with the people as well as write about them, that made his politics more than the obsessive rage for justice into which leftism so often devolves.
The prose of Beyond a Boundary combines the cultivated lyricism of someone like Hazlitt (whose boxing essays James extols) with the excitable quasi-Victorianism of the more hightone English sportswriting, and nothing else I've seen by James equals it stylistically. But the book isn't as perfect as The Black Jacobins, by most accounts James's master-work. In the usual manner of fully functional adults well connected to the lessons of their childhood, he does tend to overpraise the culture that made him what he is, and while in 1962 the description of the racial integration of West Indian cricket that occupies his last 35 pages may have seemed to work structurally, today it clearly suffers from journalism's limitation of occasion. The brief introductory "Note on Cricket" doesn't go far enough toward helping us noncolonials to understand the detailed technical analysis or (much worse) James's passionate philosophical commitment to "back play," whatever exactly that is. Since James is regarded as a prophet in some circles, it's also worth noting that, as far as I can determine, the "young Romantic" James predicted would soon "extend the boundaries of cricket technique with a classical perfection" has not yet made himself manifest. But I still don't know of a greater sports book. And more to the point, I don't know all that many works of cultural theory to match it either.
The CBC has tapes available of the readings of 'Beyond a Boundary (JH)
AN OBJECT LESSON FOR CANADIAN CLUB CRICKETERS -- Posted Friday, September 29 2006
The fourth Test between England and Pakistan was awarded to England after umpires Billy Doctrove and Darrell Hair deemed Pakistan to have forfeited the match.
The umpires made their decision in accordance with Law 21.3* when the Pakistan side failed to emerge from the dressing rooms after the tea interval.
This followed the umpires’ awarding of five penalty runs to England during the second session of the fourth day after alleged interference with the match ball by the fielding side.
Subsequent to the umpires’ decision to award the match to England, a series of meetings took place to try and arrive at a situation that was in the best interests of the match and the game of cricket.
Those meetings involved match referee Mike Procter, the two captains Andrew Strauss of England and Pakistan’s Inzamam-ul-Haq, umpires Doctrove and Hair, England Head Coach Duncan Fletcher and Pakistan Team Manager Zaheer Abbas, the Chairman of the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) David Morgan and Shaharyar Khan, the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and ECB Chief Executive David Collier.
Following these meetings the umpires decided that, having made the decision to award the match to England, to change that decision would not be in keeping with the Laws of Cricket. The ICC backs the decision of the umpires.
The issue of a charge or charges to be laid against Pakistan under the ICC’s Code of Conduct will now be dealt with at the earliest possible opportunity.
Pakistan has been charged under Level two of the Code of Conduct, 2.10, which relates to changing the condition of the match ball.
The ECB has undertaken to provide a 40 per cent refund to all spectators who purchased tickets for the fourth day’s play and a full refund for the 12,000 spectators who pre-purchased tickets for Monday’s scheduled fifth day.
* Law 21.3 reads: “Umpires awarding a match
(a) A match shall be lost by a side which either (i) concedes defeat or (ii) in the opinion of the umpires refuses to play and the umpires shall award the match to the other side.
(b) If an umpire considers that an action by any player or players might constitute a refusal by either side to play then the umpires together shall ascertain the cause of the action. If they then decide together that this action does constitute a refusal to play by one side, they shall so inform the captain of that side. If the captain persists in the action the umpires shall award the match in accordance with (a) (ii) above.”
Editorial comment:-
In a match involving the West Indies C.C. of Toronto a couple of years ago, the batting captain, Traddie Simpson, entered the field of play to dispute the decision of one of the umpires. As I recall Simpson refused to continue the match. (JH)
VICTORIA PARK REIGNS SUPREME IN EDMONTON -- Posted Thursday, September 28 2006
It was déjà vu for the Victoria Park Cricket Club on September 24, 2006, in Edmonton.
About 12 years after a nail biter in a Knockout Final, the club proved its mettle in another nail biter at Victoria Park to win the Edmonton and District Cricket League’s Premier Championship, and the right to face the Calgary champions for provincial bragging rights.
Twelve years ago, Victoria Park faced certain defeat at 80 for 6 chasing 282, but won the game (Ron Beepat 90 not out and Steve Dutchin 134 not out).
On September 24, 2006, it faced the Millwoods Cricket Club in a playoff final to determine League champions. It was the first time in many years since a club other than Gujarat Cricket Club would become the Edmonton champions.
Two evenly poised teams, with a slight edge to Millwoods, faced each other on a lovely warm September afternoon. Tension and expectations of a hard fought game were high.
Millwoods batted first and proceeded to take advantage of some loose bowling and benefited from many extras. Victoria Park newcomer, Satjit Gill, bowled a controlled line while Damien Persaud picked up 3 wickets, but other bowlers did not fare well. Millwoods is known as a team that takes an advantage of its opposition’s weaknesses, and picked up the pace in the final 15 overs by scoring 115 runs to reach an imposing 287 for 7 in 50 overs.
Batting honours went to Babar Sandhu (69), Jagroop Singh (47) and Zaheer Mohammad (44 not out).
Victoria Park adjusted its opening lineup and this proved to be the key to their win. Gill and Zain Ahmed ran well and pounced on loose balls. When Gill departed, bowled by Rakesh Chohan, on 73, the pair had put on 170 in 30 overs.
Victoria Park still required 6 runs an over, and when captain, Steve Dutchin, was bowled by Chohan for a duck, and Ahmed was stumped off Chohan for 85, momentum shifted to Millwoods. Victoria Park stood at 208 for 3 after 40 overs.
Millwoods maintained the pressure and at 253 for 3 at 45 overs, the game belonged to anyone. Lusty hitting by Ron Beepat (35) and aggressive batting by Kerat Kahlon (32) ensured a win by Victoria Park (289 for 7) with one ball to spare.
Victoria Park will play the Calgary champions, Predators, in Calgary on September 30. The winner will represent Alberta in the 2007 Western John Ross Robertson tournament.
SCORECARD
Millwoods: 287 for 7 (Babar Sandhu, 69; Jagroop Singh, 47; Zaheer Mohammad, 44 n.o.; Damien Persaud, 3 / 57)
Victoria Park: 289 for 7 (Zain Ahmed, 85; Satjit Gill, 73; Ron Beepat, 35; Keerat Kahlon 32, Rakesh Chohan, 3 / 45; Salman Choudhary, 3 / 51)
2006 OCA Club Champion of Champions Tournament -- Posted Thursday, September 28 2006
Congratulations to Canterbury CC, representing Ottawa Valley Cricket Council, the first team to qualify for a spot in the finals of the OCA Inaugural Club Champion of Champions Tournament.
The Finals will be played on Sunday October 1st at Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City.
The other spot at the finals will be taken by the winner of the semi-finals match between Young Malton CC 2006 League Champs representing EDCL, and Yorkshire CC 'New' Premier Champs representing T&DCA on Saturday September 30th at the Centennial Park 'A' in Etobicoke - 50 overs 10AM start.
The winning team on October 1st Finals takes the $2,000 purse and the 'Townshend Trophy'.
Pray hard for good weather to avoid any decision by the dreaded 'coin toss'.
Scoresheets for Match #1 Sept 23rd at Waterworks Park in Brantford & Match #2 Sept 24th at Waterloo Park in Waterloo.
Canterbury CC (OVCC) Vs Crescent CC (H&DCL)
Waterworks Park, Brantford, ON
Saturday 23rd September, 2006
Result: Canterbury CC (OVCC) won by 50 runs
Toss: Canterbury CC (Who elected to Bat)
Umpires: Ron Scott (H&DCL) & Ranjit Aponso (OVCC)
Scorer: Zaki Ullah (H&DCL) & Pavanveer Rana (OVCC)
Man of the Match:
Comments: Reduced to 20 overs per side Match
Canterbury CC Innings (maximum 20 overs) R M B 4's 6's
Abdul Jabbar c Singh b Ali 65 61 33 6 4
Kamran Raza+ run out(Singh/+Karim) 35 55 34 4 0
Akber Hussain* c Singh b Khan 8 29 12 0 0
Ejaz Chaudhry c Karim b Khan 1 13 4 0 0
Joy Tanotra b Macih 3 4 5 0 0
Ahmed Khan not out 18 24 18 0 1
Vikram Arora lbw b Khan 0 2 2 0 0
Zeeshan Khurshid not out 19 16 15 1 0
Extra (nb3,w11,b1,lb4) 19
Total (6wickets,20overs) 168 123
Did not bat: Rochak Mehta, Sharick Siddiqui, Rahul Raikwar.
Fall of wickets: 1-106(Raza), 2-117(Jabbar), 3-122(Chaudhry), 4-127 (Tanotra), 5-131(Hussain)
6-131(Arora)
Bowling O M R W Econ Avg
Shoaib Mohammad 4 0 25 0 6.25 0 (w1)
M.H Ali 4 0 33 1 8.25 33 (w4)
Tahir Khan 4 0 43 3 10.75 14.33 (w5,nb3)
Verinder Singh 3 0 29 0 9.67 0 (w1)
Amanul Macih 4 0 19 1 4.75 19
Elyas Karim 1 0 14 0 14 0
Total 20 0 163 5
Crescent CC Innings (target 169 from 20 overs)
R M B 4's 6's
Yaqub Qasim st +Raza b Khan 15 23 18 0 1
M.H Ali* c +Raza b Khan 4 4 2 1 0
Nadeem Mohammed b Khan 1 3 3 0 0
Elyas Karim+ c Khurshid b Siddiqui 49 63 40 3 3
Mezhar Mirza b Mehta 20 25 16 1 1
Shoaib Mohammad lbw b Mehta 1 8 6 0 0
Verinder Singh c Khurshid b Mehta 0 1 1 0 0
Amanul Macih c Siddiqui b Mehta 7 16 12 1 0
Waseem Latif c (sub) Shahid b Jabbar 6 11 10 0 0
Tahir Khan not out 8 10 11 0 0
Iqbal Seta not out 0 3 1 0 0
Extras (w3,b1,lb3) 7
Total (9 wickets,20 overs) 118 120
Fall of wickets:
1-6(Ali), 2-8(Nadeem), 3-22(Qasim), 4-77(Mirza),
5-89 (Shoaib), 6-89(Karim) 7-98(Singh), 8-105(Macih),
9-113(Latif).
Bowling O M R W Eocn Avg
Akber Hussain 4 1 11 0 2.75 0
Ahmed Khan 4 1 24 3 6 6
Zeeshan Khurshid 2 0 25 0 12.5 0 (w2)
Sharick Siddiqui 4 0 30 1 7.5 30
Rochak Mehta 4 1 17 4 4.25 4.25 (w1)
Joy Tanotra 1 0 3 0 3 0
Abdul Jabbar 1 0 4 1 4 4
Total 20 3 114 9
2006 OCA Club Champion of Champions Tournament
Canterbury CC (OVCC) Vs Sunrise Browne CC (SOCA)
Waterloo Park, Waterloo, ON
Sunday 24th September,2006
Result: Canterbury CC (OVCC) won by 17 runs
Toss: Canterbury CC (Elected to Bat)
Umpires: Austin Foote (TCU&SA) & Don Denhart (EDCL)
Scorers: Yogesh Shah (SOCA) & Pavanveer Rana (OVCC)
Man of the Match:
Comments: Reduced to 40 over per side Match
Canterbury CC Innings (maximum 40 overs) R M B 4's 6's
Abdul Jabbar c K Dhaliwal b Rana 6 27 16 0 0
Kamran Raza+ b Rana 4 37 41 0 0
Vikram Arora c Bhardwaj b Sheikh 25 74 34 2 0
Liaqat Ali c Sheikh b Sharma 26 29 38 0 2
Akber Hussain* b Sharma 20 35 29 0 1
Rahul Raikwar c K Dhaliwal b Mangat 5 25 15 0 0
Vishal Gupta c Sheikh b Mangat 14 29 27 0 0
Zeeshan Khurshid c Bhardwaj b K Dhaliwal 1 2 5 0 0
Rochak Mehta b Sheikh 4 16 7 0 0
Joy Tanotra run out (+H Manhas/Sheikh) 2 11 13 0 0
Sharick Siddiqui not out 0 0 0 0 0
Extra (w26,b3,lb3) 32
Total (10 wickets,37.3overs) 139 225
Fall of wickets: 1-19(Jabbar), 2-29(Raza), 3-63(Ali), 4-104(Arora), 5-108(Hussain), 6-126(Raikwar)
7-127(Khurshid), 8-131(Gupta), 9-139(Tanotra), 10-139(Mehta)
Bowling O M R W Econ Avg
Sarabjit Manhas 6 0 19 0 3.17 0 (w7)
Saqib Sheikh 6.3 1 13 2 2.06 6.5 (w5)
Jaspal Rana 7 1 24 2 3.43 12 (w3)
Bahadur Mangat 7 1 29 2 4.14 14.5 (w4)
Parveen Sharma 8 0 38 2 4.75 19 (w5)
Kuldeep Dhaliwal 3 1 10 1 3.33 10 (w1)
Total 37.3 4 133 9
Sunrise Browne CC Innings (target 140 from 40 overs)
R M B 4's 6's
Sirus Nabeel b Khurshid 21 53 38 0 1
Parveen Sharma c (Sub) Shahid b Tanotra 18 91 37 1 0
Abdullah lbw b Tanotra 23 38 21 0 1
Inderjit Dhaliwal c +Raza b Gupta 2 6 3 0 0
Bahadur Mangat c Ali b Tanotra 5 27 12 0 0
Harpal Minhas+ c +Raza b Ali 21 - 51 0 1
Jaspal Rana c & b Arora 3 5 3 0 0
Neeraj Bhardwaj c Khurshid b Arora 0 9 7 0 0
Saqib Sheikh* c Arora b Tanotra 0 1 3 0 0
Kuldeep Dhaliwal c +Raza b Hussain 2 13 7 0 0
Sarabjit Manhas not out 0 - 7 0 0
Extra (nb2,w20,lb5) 27
Total (10wickets,31.1overs) 122 189
Fall of wickets: 1-35(Nabeel), 2-75(Sharma), 3-75(Abullah), 4-78 (Inderjit), 5-92(Mangat)
6-97(Rana), 7-101(Bhardwaj), 8-101(Sheikh), 9-106(Kuldeep), 10-122 (Harpal)
Bowling O M R W Eocn Avg
Akber Hussain 8 1 29 1 3.62 29 (w9)
Liaqat Ali 3.1 0 11 1 3.55 11 (w5)
Zeeshan Khurshid 4 0 25 1 6.25 25 (nb1)
Rochak Mehta 2 0 11 0 5.5 0
Joy Tanotra 8 2 20 4 2.5 5 (w3)
Vishal Gupta 1 0 5 1 5 5 (nb1)
Abdul Jabbar 2 0 6 0 3 0 (w1)
Vikram Arora 3 0 10 2 3.33 5 (w2)
Total 31.1 3 117 10
Letter to the cricketers in Winnipeg -- Posted Thursday, September 28 2006
Hi Ray, I sent the bat to-day per UPS. You should receive it by Wednesday.
I hope that the recipient likes the bat. The bat is made with a piece of Grade 1 English cricket bat willow supplied to me by J.S.Wright and Son, willow merchants of Chelmsford, Essex, U.K. (www.cricketbatwillow.com)
I have made the bat with a low sweet spot and two pounds eleven ounces, to accommodate the style of the player and to their batting order as instructed. It is always a very subjective thing to make a bat without a dialogue with the cricketer.
I have not been making bats for a long time and as I am self taught I realize my limitations, but I still try to make the best bat possible. I think this is a good one and if looked after and knocked in with proper attention by the user should play well.
I would like to take a moment to thank your committee for their interest in my offer to get involved with The Damian Mills Memorial.
In my small way it brings me great pride and pleasure. Indeed it is an honour for me to be involved.
When I first heard the story of Damian, back in the spring, I was moved by the untimely passing of such a young man who must have truly loved this game, playing it with such zeal and passion.
It is with that thought in mind that I take it upon myself to offer my services to his memory, and as I said earlier, consider it an honour to make a bat for the recipient of the award.
I hope that this bat is well recieved and would look forward to your report on it's reception. My reward would be continuing.
Many thanks and kindest regards.
Mark Warburton
"Zoom" cricket bats of Aurora Ontario Canada. www.zoombats.com
ICC Winter trainng camp 2006 -- Posted Wednesday, September 27 2006
Players head for Pretoria - Associates set for training camp
The second annual ICC winter training camp begins in South Africa next week with 24 players from the six top Associate countries coming together for intensive coaching, training and tactical analysis of one-day cricket with some of the leading coaches.
Players from Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and Scotland will arrive at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria on October 2 for a seven-week camp that will aim to boost their form and skills ahead of the World Cup in West Indies next March.
Last year, the camp concentrated on fitness and technical improvements but, according to the Richard Done, the ICC's high performance manager, the emphasis of this year's camp will be slightly different.
"The success of last year's camp has been really encouraging. Several of the players who attended the WTC in 2005 have gone from strength to strength within their own countries. This year though, with the World Cup so close, it is especially important to focus on one-day skills," added Done. "So as well as fitness and technical sessions, we will program a lot of match scenarios to recreate specific situations that players will face during one-day games."
William Porterfield, the 22-year-old Ireland batsman, is excited by the opportunity of the camp: "This is a great opportunity for me to improve my all-round game. I can't wait. I'm looking forward to working with the coaches they have lined up and the programme looks really interesting.
"It is also important that we continue the season. I feel I finished the summer quite strongly so I want to maintain that momentum heading towards the World League and World Cup next year. It is also important to spend some time in the hotter climate and learn to adjust to that."
Dewald Nel, the Scotland pace bowler, knows what to expect after attending last year and says it has come and just the right time. "I think it will be very beneficial to work on specific cricket skills and game scenarios with coaches who, as players, performed at the highest level. Part of this, too, is that I want to keep match fit and match aware.
"The tendency at this time of year is to relax too much and although you might keep fit, you lose a certain sharpness that you only get from playing and pushing yourself on a regular basis."
The coaching staff at the camp will be led by the current Leicestershire and former England Under-19 coach Tim Boon and will be co-ordinated by Mark Lane with specialist input from former international players including Gary Kirsten, Kepler Wessels, Eric Simons and Rod Marsh.
In the final two weeks of the camp the players will (have) a chance to put into practice the skills they have picked up with two matches against Gauteng at the Wanderers, four against Northerns and two against Western Province.
However, the camp is more than just about bat on ball as the players will also undergo comprehensive physiological testing, strength and fitness training, biomechanical testing, psychological/life skills sessions, nutrition advice, and video analysis.
Report sourced from:-
http://contentusa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/260630.html
ICC Winter Training Camp raises the bar for Associate
Members ahead of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
The second annual ICC Winter Training Camp gets under way in South Africa next week with 24 players from the six top Associate countries coming together for intensive coaching, training and tactical analysis of one-day cricket with some of the best coaches around.
On Monday October 2 the players from Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and Scotland will assemble at the hpc (high performance centre) in Pretoria for a seven-week camp that will aim to boost their form and skills ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup in the West Indies next March.
Last year, the camp concentrated on fitness and technical improvements but, according to the ICC’s High Performance Manager Richard Done, the emphasis of this year’s camp will be slightly different.
“The success of last year’s camp has been really encouraging. Several of the players who attended the WTC in 2005 have gone from strength to strength within their own countries,” he added.
“This year though, with the World Cup so close, it is especially important to focus on one-day skills,” said Done. “So as well as fitness and technical sessions, we will program a lot of match scenarios to recreate specific situations that players will face during one-day games,” he said.
“They will also work with quality coaches and some great former players during seven weeks of uninterrupted cricket in what is the off-season for all but one of these six Associate Members.”
The coaching staff at the camp will be led by current Leicestershire and former England Under-19 coach Tim Boon and will be co-ordinated by Mark Lane with specialist input from former international players Gary Kirsten, Kepler Wessels, Eric Simons, Rod Marsh and others.
In the final two weeks of the camp, there is a challenging match schedule that takes in two games against Gauteng province at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, four games against Northerns at the hpc, and two against North West Province at Potchefstroom (including a day-night fixture),.
“These matches will provide a perfect opportunity for these players to put into practice the lessons they’ve learned over the previous five weeks,” said Done.
During the course of the seven-week camp, apart from the important cricket sessions and matches, the players will also undergo comprehensive physiological testing, strength and fitness training, biomechanical testing, psychological/life skills sessions, nutrition advice, and video analysis.
Indications are that the vast majority of the players attending the camp will be selected in the squads to represent their countries at next year’s ICC Cricket World Cup.
“It’s going to be exciting because we have so many players attending the WTC who are near certainties of going to the World Cup. Practicing in first-class conditions and then performing against first-class players will be a real positive as they prepare for the West Indies,” said Done.
ICC Winter Training Camp, high performance centre Pretoria, Monday October 2 to Friday November 17
Players: Kwame Tucker, Irving Romaine, Kevin Hurdle, Stefan Kelly (all Bermuda); Sunil Dhaniram, Kevin Talvinder Sandher, Abdool Mudassar Samad, Ashish Bagai (all Canada); Kevin O’Brien, Kenny Carroll, William Porterfield, John Mooney (allIreland); Amollo Morris Ouma, Tanmay Mishra, Hiren Varaiya, Nehemiah Odhiambo (all Kenya); Daan LS van Bunge, Mark Jonkman, Alexei Kervezee, Muhammad Kashif (all Netherlands); Omer Hussain, Ross Lyons, Johan Dewald Nel, John Blain (all Scotland).
National coaches’ thoughts on the ICC Winter Training Camp
Adrian Birrell (national coach, Ireland)
“The ICC Winter Training Camp is an excellent thing for us. Taking place in our off-season it gives our players a real head start for next year. With the ICC World League coming up at the end of January followed by the World Cup in March, it is vital that our guys stay in shape and in form.
“It is almost like they are having an extra mini-season of their own because they will play eight really competitive matches plus plenty of other cricket in between and then it will be straight into a hugely busy year for all the Associate teams. Last year it really helped the Irish guys who went and I think it has been a great success.”
Roger Harper (national coach, Kenya)
“It will be great for my players to be mixing with players from other countries in an atmosphere like this. If they work hard and make the most of this opportunity, I think it will be hugely beneficial for them.
“Mentally, I think it will make my players more aware of what is required of them at various stages in a one-day game and they will be able to draw on the tremendous experience of the specialist coaches who will be present during the camp.”
Players’ thoughts on the ICC Winter Training Camp
William Porterfield (aged 22, left-handed opening batsman, Ireland)
“This is a great opportunity for me to improve my all-round game. I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to working with the coaches they have lined up and the programme looks really interesting.
“It is also important that we continue the season. I feel I finished the summer quite strongly so I want to maintain that momentum heading towards the World League and World Cup next year. It is also important to spend some time in the hotter climate and learn to adjust to that.”
Dewald Nel (aged 26, right-arm medium-fast bowler, Scotland)
“I was on the camp last year and so I know what to expect in terms of facilities. The hpc is a fantastic place – top teams from all sports from around the world go there to improve their skills and fitness.
“I think it will be very beneficial to work on specific cricket skills and game scenarios with coaches who, as players, performed at the highest level. Part of this, too, is that I want to keep match fit and match aware. The tendency at this time of year is to relax too much and although you might keep fit, you lose a certain sharpness that you only get from playing and pushing yourself on a regular basis.”
Mark Jonkman (aged 20, right-arm seamer, Netherlands)
“What is really important to me is to continue improving my bowling action. I want to build up my strength and stamina for matches in order to increase pace and improve stability when I am bowling. I am really looking forward to working with the bowling coaches in Pretoria in order to do that – it is a good opportunity for me.
“Apart from that I also want to get better with the bat and also improve my standard of fielding, especially in the deep. I have a few things to work on technically but also it will be great just to be there and staying in form during the winter months.”
Irvine Romaine (aged 34, right-hand batsman, right-arm off-spinner, Bermuda)
“One of the big things for me about the Winter Training Camp will be learning about the various aspects of cricket. Of course it is important to keep learning technique with batting, bowling and fielding but there is so much more to this game than that. There are strategies to adopt at various stages of the games, how to deal with pressure situations and how to talk to the media, that kind of thing.
“For me it will be great to be able to learn from people who have played the game at a high level and then bring that knowledge home to pass on to my team-mates in Bermuda.
“During the World Cup we will be playing in stadiums that probably hold more people than our entire island so it will be very strange for us but by learning from other people’s experience we will know what to expect and that will help us deal with that.”
Sunil Dhaniram (aged 36, left-hand bat, left-arm spinner, Canada)
“I want to use this Winter Training Camp as a chance to get more fit and prepare myself physically and mentally for the World Cup. I am excited that Kepler Wessels is going to be one of the coaches because he was an idol of mine when I was growing up so I will be trying to learn as much as I can from him and the others who have played the game at the highest level.
“I think things like this camp are very important for the Associate countries like Canada because normally we only play for three months of the year and this gives us the opportunity to stay fit and in form throughout the winter. It will make a big difference to us as we prepare for the West Indies.”
Material sourced from ICC press release
Editorial comment.
It is noteworthy that Andy Pick, the national coach for Canada, is not mentioned in any of the above.
Could it be related to the fact that Andy's Toronto home phone has been disconnected? Is it possible that he has had enough of the machinations within the CCA ....... conflicted by .......... no business plan ....... no implementation strategy??? .... and denied funds from the Government of Canada.
(Jon Harris).
St. Catherines CC suffer biggest loss of 2006 season -- Posted Tuesday, September 26 2006
St. Catharines Cricket Club suffered their biggest loss of the season in the 2006 championship game last weekend when Crescent Cricket Club tail batsmen, playing at last wicket and till the last over, won the battle of nerves and earned the championship trophy for their team.
The game, which went right down to the wire, witnessed St. Catharines having a strangle hold control over the game with 9 of Crescent batsmen out for 99 runs. Chasing 135 to win, there were 36 runs needed and somehow the last remaining wicket managed to score them with courage, nerves and patience while the two tail end batsmen faced the fierce attack bowling of St. Catharines ball after ball.
St. Catharines won the toss and elected to bat first i.e. to put a good total on the board. However, they lost wickets in regular intervals and were in deep trouble at one time with 64 runs for a loss of 6 wickets. Javed Mian and Ash Jhanji of St. Catharines then formed a desperately needed 7th wicket partnership of 54 rums to bring up the total 104. At the end of allotted time of a delayed start, the scores reached a reasonable total of 134 for 8 in the 36 overs.
Crescent CC, chasing a total of 135 to win, started aggressively and scored 54 runs for a loss of only 2 wickets in the first 9 overs. Adeel Khan was then brought to attack with the ball. Khan took 4 key wickets in the very first 4 overs and the slide fall of wickets started for Crescent CC. When they lost 9 wickets at 99, St. Catharines was sure in the driving seat to win the game and championship trophy match. However couple of drop catches and the nerves of the two tail end batsmen of Crescent changed the tide in favor of Crescent CC. At the end, it was the final over with 2 rums required which Crescent received in wide balls and seal the win and became 2006 H&D League champions.
Crescent CC is scheduled to move forward to play the champion team of Ottawa Valley Cricket League.
Report sourced from:-
http://www.cricket.computan.com/default.asp
2006 Calgary & District Cricket League Awards Banquet -- Posted Tuesday, September 26 2006
Chutney Restaurant, in Calgary's dowtown, hosted the 2006 C&DCL. All of the leagues historic hardware was up for grabs, including several team awards.
Predators were awarded their first ever Nolan Cup, and several of their players will be up for major league awards. Dev Sharma will certainly be in the mix when it comes to choosing the Accutech Engineering League Most Valuable Player Award. Sharma's stiffest competition should come from St. John's all-rounder Sumit Thapliyal who picked up 400 runs and 22 wickets. Thapliyal would be the favorite to also pick up the leagues best all rounder award but a championship season could potentially put Predators Zulfiquar Hussain into the top spot. There were also 11 century makers (5 Premier, and 6 Division 1) this season who picked up individual awards, as well as 30 bowlers who picked up 5 wicket hauls (10 Premier, 20 division 1). Please contact your club representative for ticket information.
Predators Win Nolan Cup
In only their second year in the Premier Division, Predators have picked up their first Nolan Cup Championship. A season that started May 7th with a narrow victory over Cavaliers 'I', got the ball rolling and the team dropped only two games during the entire season. Off season acquisition Dev Sharma injected a sense of enthusiasm never felt before into the young club and led by example producing and MVP caliber season with 29 wickets. He was aptly supported with 22 wickets from Zulfiquar Hussain as Predators were always difficult to pick up runs against. With the bat, 4 young men stepped forward with 200 run seasons. Led by Narinder Sidhu's 262 runs and supported by Hussain (253), Jasdeep Gill (244), and Jagan Dhillon (205), no target was safe. With the core of the team still coming into its own, this could be the first of many times Predators name will be inscribed on the Nolan Cup.
Thrilling End to the Season
St. John's and Cavaliers saved the most exciting match of the year for the years coldest day. After a late start while the ground thawed, Cavaliers captain Mukul Ahuja elected to bat and his club was immediately in jeopardy as Mark Pearce (2-12) and Sumit Thapliyal (2-12) had Cavaliers floundering at 20-4. Unfortunately for St. John's, Anand Padmanabhan had other ideas as to how this match would finish as he dug in for a gritty 67, sharing partnerships with Kishan Gajjar and Abe Moore and showing the only real resistance to carry his team to 142. Needing 143 to win the match and the Nolan Cup, St. John's started off quickly running to 40-1 before Matthew Beale ripped out the heart of the batting with a spectacular 7 over spell of 3-16. With St. John's teetering on the edge, Rathan Moorthy (19) and Shakaib Quereshi (30) tried to pull their team back. Padmanabhan as he did earlier in the day with the bat dug deep and removed Quereshi which set the stage for a dramatic would be final over of the match. Anthony Haddad (23) and Hameed Zaman (7*) had picked up 18 runs off Padmanabhan in the first 5 balls of the over and with St. John's needing a mere 1 run off 13 balls Padmanabhan bowled him, leaving the match tied and St. John's mere percentage points back of Predators for the league title.
Canterbury (Ottawa) into finals of Ontario Club Championships -- Posted Monday, September 25 2006
Canterbury of Ottawa fought their way into the finals of the inaugural Ontario Club Champions tournament with back-to-back on-the-road wins on a rainy southern Ontario weekend.
First Canterbury swept aside Crescent Cricket Club, Hamilton & District champions, by 50- runs in a 20-over quarterfinal slugfest at Waterworks Park in Brantford on Saturday.
Then on Sunday they eked out a 17-run win over Southern Ontario champions Sunrise Browne at Waterloo Park in a tense see-sawing semifinal.
The Ottawa club will journey to King City this Sunday in quest of the $2,000 first prize when they meet the winners of the Yorkshire (Toronto & District Cricket Association) and Young Malton (Etobicoke District Cricket League) showdown at Centennial Park on Saturday. Both matches start at10 a.m.
In Saturday’s quarterfinal Abdul Jabbar and Kamran Raza put Canterbury on the victory path with a 106-run opening blitz. Daring shotmaking under threatening skies from the top order helped pace the visiting team to an eight-run-an-over total of 168-6 in the alloted 20 overs. The Hamilton team lost early wickets and were never really in the hunt.
Final score: Canterbury 168-6 (Abdul Jaffar 65, Kamran Raza 35, Tahir Khan 3-43; Crescent 118-9 (Rochack Mehta 4-17,Ahmad Khan 3-24).
Sunday’s semifinal was switched to Laurel Creek Park and reduced to 40 overs. Winning the toss and enjoyed the better weather conditions, Canterbury managed only 139 and were staring down the barrel of defeat when the home team reached 80-3 at the 20-over mark.
But despite having to bowl a wet ball and field on slippery grass, the Ottawa team stuck to its task. Lofted catches stuck like glue as Sunrise Browne’s middle order, including the dangerous hitter Jaspal Rana, tried to hit a soggy ball out of the park with the inevitable consequences, throwing away a game the home team looked at one stage to have securely in its grasp.
Final score: Canterbury 139 (Liaquat Ali 26. Vickram Arora 26 ), Sunrise Browne 122 (Anabul Sirius 21, Jay Tanotra 4-20).
ONTARIO CRICKET ACADEMY FAST BOWLING CLINIC -- Posted Saturday, September 23 2006
The Ontario Cricket Academy will be holding a FAST BOWLING CLINIC on Saturday, October 7, 2006 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Based on the latest thinking and methods, as commonly used in all International academies, such as MRF.
Included in the seminar will be:-
Video Analysis of each participant
Fast Bowling Seminar (Common Errors, How to Increase Pace)
Physical Conditioning for Pacers
Plus more....
Please confirm your interest in this program by September 30, 2006 to e-mail to info@ontariocricket.com
-Participants should wear training clothes and running shoes.
-Participants should bring a pen and notepad.
-Water and fruits will be provided.
-Cost: $10/ person
Please see http://www.ontariocricket.com
In November 2004 the Ontario Cricket Academy coach Derek Perera attended the first ICC Americas Regional Coaching Seminar. The two components of the seminar included Coach Certification by the West Indies Cricket Board (Ingleton Liburd and Kumar Rampat) and ICC Certification through the ICC Development Officer and Manager, Grant Dugmore and Martin Vieira, respectively.
Members from 15 ICC Associate and Affiliate countries attended the week long seminar held at the Reforma Club in Mexico City, Mexico.
In Canada, Derek has been certifying teachers, club coaches, parents and volunteers in the ICC Introduction to Cricket Course, in order that they can instruct and coach cricket at the grassroots level.
OCA CLUB CHAMPIONS BATTLE THIS WEEKEND -- Posted Friday, September 22 2006
The leaves may be falling but the cricket caravan in Ontario just keep rolling along.
This weekend the inaugural Ontario Club Champions tournament starts with matches in Brantford and Kitchener as the club champions of the Ontario Cricket Association’s five leagues vie for provincial bragging rights and cash prizes.
On Saturday Canterbury of the Ottawa Valley Cricket Council meets Crescent Cricket Club of the Hamilton District Cricket League at Waterworks Park in Brantford. The winner plays Sunrise Browne of the South Ontario Cricket Association in the semifinal round at Laurel Creek Park in Kitchener on Sunday.
Both 50-overs matches start at 10 am.
Next week Saturday (September 30) Yorkshire, the newly crowned champions of the Toronto and District Cricket Association, plays Young Malton of the Etobicoke and District Cricket League in the other semifinal at Centennial Park.
The winner of that encounter plays the winner of the Kitchener semifinal in the finals at King City on Sunday (October 1).
In view of the time of the year and the possibility of rain ruining the tournament, there are last-resort plans to turn matches into 20/20 affairs in the event that the regular 50 overs cannot be played.
The club champions of Ontario will receive a $2000 prize with the runner-up getting $1000.
OCA president Errol Townshend said the tournament is in response to the wishes of the five leagues, and the cash prizes will help clubs defray some of their season’s expenses.
“In a country where there are no professional county or state teams, the amateur club is at the heart of cricket in Canada, and we must do all we can to help and encourage the club cricketer. We hope the OCA’s initiative will encourage other leagues and sponsors to come forward and do the same thing next year when they see the enthusiasm and commitment shown by these club cricketers. It’s very hard to play all season and not get even beer money at the end”, Townshend said.
OVCC addendum -- Posted Friday, September 22 2006
In my rush to get everything out early this morning, I forgot to mention the upcoming weekend’s matches.
They are of course:
Saturday, 23 September Rideau Hall 1 Cathedral vs. New Edinburgh Knockout Cup Final
Sunday, 24 September Rideau Hall 1 New Edinburgh vs. Kingston Citizen Division Final
Also, after many years of having the minimum qualifying number of innings for the batting average title, set by me on my own hook at six innings, it was decided last fall by Council via the Trophies Committee that as the number of games played in the Citizen had increased to 16, the minimum number of innings should be increased to 8 – the Challenge minimum remained at 6 as they played only 12 regular season matches. As the number of Challenge regular season matches increased to 14 this year and the number of Citizen matches decreased – also to 14, I decided that to be consistent with last fall’s decision, the minimum for both divisions should be set at 7 – an increase of one for the Challenge Division and a decrease of one for the Citizen Division.
If my assumptions are felt to be out of line, please let me know.
John Lexmond
OVCC Statistician
Ottawa Valley semi-finals -- Posted Thursday, September 21 2006
Hello Ottawa Cricket Fans,
Season 2006 is winding down now, with only two regularly scheduled competitive matches remaining – namely the Knockout Cup final and the Citizen final. But first, the matches of last weekend – only three in number at this point of the year.
In the Citizen semi-finals on Saturday, 16-September, first placed Canterbury took on fourth placed Kingston whilst second placed Cathedral faced third placed New Edinburgh. In both instances, the team which finished lower during the regular season emerged victorious.
At Rideau Hall 1, New Edinburgh successfully defended a somewhat low total – winning by 33 runs: New Edinburgh – 139 [44.5 ov] (Pankaj Shrichand 38 {94 bls}, Dravya Sharma 38 {59 bls, 1 four, 1 six}, Dave Naylor 4 for 20, Reggie Ranjit 2 for 46, Riad Khan 1 ct, 2 st, 2 RO); Cathedral – 106 [36 ov] (Riad Khan 23 {58 bls, 1 four}, Dave Mendonca 35 {54 bls, 2 fours, 1 six}, Nakul Nayyar 3 for 24, Suthakar Sundralingam 3 for 19, Pankaj Shrichand 2 for 24, Dravya Sharma 3 ct). Pankaj was named Man of the Match.
At Lynda Lane 1, Kingston managed to defend an even lower total – albeit by the very thin margin of 6 runs: Kingston – 124 [41.1 ov] (Chirag Pahwa 18 {110 bls}, Ziyad Rahim 41 {56 bls, 2 fours, 2 sixes}, Akber Hussain 3 for 16, Sharick Siddiqui 2 for 37, Vikram Arora 2 for 20); Canterbury – 118 [39.4 ov] (Akber Hussain 30 {31 bls, 4 fours, 1 six}, Ejaz Chaudhry 19 {34 bls, 1 four, 2 sixes}, Sudarshan Manhas 3 for 31, Paul Uppal 2 for 25, Yasser Rahim 2 for 12, Samad Mufti 3 ct).
Ziyad Rahim was named Man of the Match.
At Rideau Hall 1 on Sunday, 17 September, tight bowling and fielding by Canterbury plus a lack of application by some batsmen caused Cathedral to suffer through a slow collapse which saw them reach 59 all out in 36.2 overs (Riad Khan 9 {44 bls}, Dave Naylor 8 {50 bls}, Zeeshan Khurshid 2 for 11 + 2 ct, Ahmed Khan 2 for 16, Akber Hussain 2 for 10, Rochak Mehta 2 for 2); Canterbury replied with 60 for 2 in 14.3 overs (Kamran Raza 9 {44 bls}, Vikram Arora 30 {32 bls}). Vikram Arora was named Man of the Match. The only boundary of the match was hit by Cathedral number eleven Reggie Ranjit during his four run not out, three ball cameo.
As a result of this victory, Canterbury will represent OVCC next year in the John Ross Robertson Canadian club championship.
In addition, as a result of receiving playoff priority due to their two head to head wins over regular season Challenge Cup co-winners Cathedral, they will be facing the Hamilton and District Cricket League champions at Waterworks Park in Brantford on Saturday, 23 September in the preliminary round of the newly minted Ontario club championship. If successful, they will play the champions of the Southern Ontario Cricket Association on Sunday, 24 September at Laurel Creek Cricket Ground in Kitchener. If they are victorious yet again, they will confront the winner of 30 September’s match between the champions of the Etobicoke and District Cricket League and the Toronto and District Cricket Association on Sunday, 01 October at Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City – making for a potentially very whirlwind two weekends.
As it is getting quite late (early?), I shall sign off for now.
John Lexmond
OVCC Statistician
Shaky Start but a Sound Finish -- Posted Thursday, September 21 2006
Waterloo Sunrise CC demolish Kaituer CC in 2006 SOCA finals
September 16, 2006.
Things are always very antsy whenever these arch rivals meet in an important match. It was a cloudy day over at the Waterloo Park. The Sunrise team was on the field on time but main umpire Mukesh (Peter Jeranie) was missing. Also missing were Kaituer stars Nandu and Zulfi. It did not much take time for the first rumor to come to the surface in the Sunrise camp that Kaituer is seeking Mukesh's help to delay the game, reduce the overs or something of that nature. Overall the umpire community being West Indian, hang around the Kaituer camp, which is staunchly West Indian style cricket. Both clubs are slowly coming to terms and actually have started joking about the subtle tricks that go on. Ultimately cricket is a bonding phenomenon and it shows. These type of antics and excitement have always contributed to the fun, rivalry and controversy making the matchups between Kaituer and Sunrise very exciting and something to look forward to. Conspicously, both Nandu, Zulfi and Mukesh arrived at 12:30 pm. Then as expected the game was reduced to a 45 over match and there was no explanation from Mukesh as to why he was late. However it's all in the family and never a big deal. The toss happened at 12:40 and the game started around 1:00 pm. Kaituer won the toss and put Sunrise in to bat.
It was a poor start for Sunrise. Captain Saqib was run out in the 2nd over. Kaituer's Sunrise Star batsman Ahmed was caught behind while attempting an off drive. Narain Perumal and Daniel Argunen rattled the first 4 wickets cheaply. At one time Sunrise was 17 for 4 in 6 six overs. Bahadur and Inderjit tried to steady the innings but a straight drive from Inderjit was blocked by Kaituer bowler Daniel, which deflected and dislodged the wickets at the bowling end, and Bahadur was declared run out. However, further disaster was halted by all rounder Vineet Jain. Inderjit on the otherside was having a clumsy start where he was struggling between agression and caution. Luckily his agression was paying off. He already had two huges sixes to his account. Slowly with sensible advice from Vineet he was able to stabilize himself and defended more confidently. Vineet was pushing, nudging, and collecting singles and doubles. Inderjit on the otherside was now settled and on top of the bowlers. He punished every bowler he faced. Nandu was brought in as a change bowler to buy Inderjit through his spin bowling, but was dispatched for three consecutive sixes. That was the end of Nandu bowling spell. Inderjit's favorite shot was a power drive over mid on to anything that was slightly over pitched on the off side. He picked 11 towering sixes playing that shot. Vineet had a rush of blood where he picked a four and tried to lift a straight six, his bat rolled and the ball went to deep mid on where Narain held a brilliant one handed catch right on the boundry. Together they had a 64 run partnership. Then entered SOCA's well known pinch hitter Jaspal Rana, but it was not his day. Narain was brought back to the bowling attack, where he clean bowled J. Rana on his first ball. The crowd became silent for a while but Inderjit's onslaught kept everyone clapping. Inderjit made a blistering 130 on his 20th birthday. Celebration was due and well qualified. He enjoyed another eighty run partnership with next batsman Kuldip Dhaliwal. Sunrise ended the innings with 239 for 9.
Kaituer was never allowed to get back in the game. This guy Vineet is quick, accurate along with disturbing bouncers to psyche them out. Openers Kapoor and Arjun Nandu and all of them were begging for mercy. Nandu was clean bowled by Vineet in a dramatic fashion where they had to replace a broken stump. They were bundled out for 109 in just 26 overs. This year, due to Vineet Jain's addition, the bowling punch was unforgiving as well. The opening attack with Saqib and Vineet proved potent all season. Then when their spell ends, Bahadur S. Mangat and spinner Parveen Sharma come into the fray. This combination never has problems feeding off the already pressured batsmen who now have to redeem themselves by increasing the scoring rate but instead go back trading their wickets. This duo also picked their usual due of 2 wickets each.
Since the emergence of Sunrise CC in SOCA in 1998, they have beaten Kaituer three times in the finals, all at Waterloo Park. It is certainly tougher to beat Kaituer on their lovely Laurel Creek home ground. Kaituer CC may have given a poor show this year but they are still a team to be reckoned with and well known for the mental approach to the game. They maintain a very business like approach contrary to Sunrise, who are noticeably more vocal and technically less accomplished. Their biggest strength is team spirit and of course Sunrise has been one of the best fielding sides for a long time.
The most satisfying aspect of this final victory for Sunrise this year has been the emergence of Inderjit Dhaliwal, the youngster who came into manhood on the right occasion and right on his birthday.
Waterloo Sunrise 239/9 (Overs 45)
Ottawa Season winding down -- Posted Thursday, September 21 2006
Hello Ottawa Cricket Fans,
Season 2006 is winding down now, with only two regularly scheduled competitive matches remaining – namely the Knockout Cup final and the Citizen final. But first, the matches of last weekend – only three in number at this point of the year.
In the Citizen semi-finals on Saturday, 16-September, first placed Canterbury took on fourth placed Kingston whilst second placed Cathedral faced third placed New Edinburgh. In both instances, the team which finished lower during the regular season emerged victorious.
At Rideau Hall 1, New Edinburgh successfully defended a somewhat low total – winning by 33 runs: New Edinburgh – 139 [44.5 ov] (Pankaj Shrichand 38 {94 bls}, Dravya Sharma 38 {59 bls, 1 four, 1 six}, Dave Naylor 4 for 20, Reggie Ranjit 2 for 46, Riad Khan 1 ct, 2 st, 2 RO); Cathedral – 106 [36 ov] (Riad Khan 23 {58 bls, 1 four}, Dave Mendonca 35 {54 bls, 2 fours, 1 six}, Nakul Nayyar 3 for 24, Suthakar Sundralingam 3 for 19, Pankaj Shrichand 2 for 24, Dravya Sharma 3 ct). Pankaj was named Man of the Match.
At Lynda Lane 1, Kingston managed to defend an even lower total – albeit by the very thin margin of 6 runs: Kingston – 124 [41.1 ov] (Chirag Pahwa 18 {110 bls}, Ziyad Rahim 41 {56 bls, 2 fours, 2 sixes}, Akber Hussain 3 for 16, Sharick Siddiqui 2 for 37, Vikram Arora 2 for 20); Canterbury – 118 [39.4 ov] (Akber Hussain 30 {31 bls, 4 fours, 1 six}, Ejaz Chaudhry 19 {34 bls, 1 four, 2 sixes}, Sudarshan Manhas 3 for 31, Paul Uppal 2 for 25, Yasser Rahim 2 for 12, Samad Mufti 3 ct). Ziyad Rahim was named Man of the Match.
At Rideau Hall 1 on Sunday, 17 September, tight bowling and fielding by Canterbury plus a lack of application by some batsmen caused Cathedral to suffer through a slow collapse which saw them reach 59 all out in 36.2 overs (Riad Khan 9 {44 bls}, Dave Naylor 8 {50 bls}, Zeeshan Khurshid 2 for 11 + 2 ct, Ahmed Khan 2 for 16, Akber Hussain 2 for 10, Rochak Mehta 2 for 2); Canterbury replied with 60 for 2 in 14.3 overs (Kamran Raza 9 {44 bls}, Vikram Arora 30 {32 bls}). Vikram Arora was named Man of the Match. The only boundary of the match was hit by Cathedral number eleven Reggie Ranjit during his four run not out, three ball cameo.
As a result of this victory, Canterbury will represent OVCC next year in the John Ross Robertson Canadian club championship.
In addition, as a result of receiving playoff priority due to their two head to head wins over regular season Challenge Cup co-winners Cathedral, they will be facing the Hamilton and District Cricket League champions at Waterworks Park in Brantford on Saturday, 23 September in the preliminary round of the newly minted Ontario club championship. If successful, they will play the champions of the Southern Ontario Cricket Association on Sunday, 24 September at Laurel Creek Cricket Ground in Kitchener. If they are victorious yet again, they will confront the winner of 30 September’s match between the champions of the Etobicoke and District Cricket League and the Toronto and District Cricket Association on Sunday, 01 October at Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City – making for a potentially very whirlwind two weekends.
As it is getting quite late (early?), I shall sign off for now.
John Lexmond
OVCC Statistician
MAPLE LEAF GROUND NOW ODI VENUE -- Posted Wednesday, September 20 2006
The Maple Leaf Cricket Club at King City, Ontario, has been certified by the International Cricket Council as an official venue for one-day international matches.
The certification follows inspections by ICC match referees Chris Broad of England in May and Jeff Crowe of New Zealand in August after extensive refurbishing of the facility.
Crowe noted in his report to the ICC that “the umpires/referees room has been completely moved to now being adjacent to the main pavilion area and has become a very attractive part of the setting. Some landscaping around this structure and the pathway that leads to the dining area also adds to the environment.”
He added: "the artificial pitch has been completely dug up, leveled and re-laid. The surface is a brand new strip of Astroturf or the like and will be most unlikely to cause any danger to the fielding side.”
These were the two issues which required rectification following Broad’s earlier report.
Elvin Pompey, president of Maple Leaf, said he was thrilled at the news which had the potential to allow the facility owned by the cricketers of the Toronto & District Cricket Association to earn revenue from renting it out for major international matches.
Pompey noted that the refurbishing had been made possible by funds from the Ontario government channeled through the Ontario Cricket Association.
“I wish to thank the government of Ontario and in particular Mike Colle, minister of citizenship and immigration, without whose support this would have (not) been possible”, said Pompey. “There are also many unsung heroes whose hard work and foresight should not go unrecognized, in particular Ben Sennik (CCA president), Errol Townshend (project manager), Earl Bourne (contractor), Austin Ward (property manager), TDCA Board Members Leroy Grey and Petra Pompey, Maple Leaf staff member Noel Lewis and many volunteers from the cricket community who literally put their shoulder to the wheel over the past five months to ensure that the facility would pass inspection.”
Townshend, who is also the Ontario Cricket Association president, said the challenge now was to convince the various national and international cricket organizations to stage ODI's at King City and to be able to generate revenue from such matches.
He noted that certification was only the beginning of the process and that the challenge to the cricketers of the TDCA, as well as the Maple Leaf Board and the staff at the facility, was to maintain the facility, adding that “lack of attention to proper maintenance in the past, and wear and tear over the years, had left the facility in poor shape when we took stock back in April.”
“Every time we fixed one problem, we found another. This added to the cost of refurbishing”. He told Share that approximately $250,000 had been spent to satisfy all the ICC requirements.
The first major event that was expected to test the facility was the India-West Indies series this September. However this tournament was subsequently shifted to Malaysia after the Canadian Cricket Association advised the Indian and West Indies cricket boards back in July that Canada was unwilling to host the series.
University indoor cricket -- Posted Tuesday, September 19 2006
University of Toronto Indoor Cricket 2006-2007
Coed Cricket
Indoor 7 players on the floor, 5 men and 2 women. Div 1 with 6 teams, 4 IM points max. Games will be played in GYM A/B on Mon. and/or Wed. 9, 10 and 11 am. Team Entry Meeting: Wed. Oct. 4/06 @ 1 pm. Room: 1118B. Season Starts: Wed. Oct. 11th. Performance: Bond $40.00. Contact Program Coordinator- Jack Krist
Men's Cricket
Indoor 6 players on the floor. Div 1 with 10 teams, 4 IM points max. Games will be played in GYM C on Tuesdays at 9, 10 and 11 am. Team Entry Meeting: Tues. Sept. 26/06 @ 1 pm . Room: 1118B. Season Starts: Tues. Oct. 3rd. Performance Bond: $40.00.
Contact Program Coordinator- Jack Krist.
The men in white
The gentleman's sport of cricket, once billed as Canada's national game, is making a comeback, and not just among south Asians, a cohort famously mad for the sport
The game's popularity is primarily the result of enthusiastic immigrants from cricket-loving nations such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka pushing the game in their new home.
Andrew Nobrega, a third-year human biology student at Victoria College at the University of Toronto, started playing during his tenure at Upper Canada College, which has a 100-year-old tradition of cricket. As a secondary student there, he says he faced a difficult choice, cricket ... or Muskoka.
"At one point, I had to decide whether I wanted to go to my summer cottage in Muskoka or practise cricket in the city, and I chose to practise cricket," Nobrega says.
He and a cricketing mate, Andrew Binkley, a fourth-year engineering student, are now pushing the University of Toronto for better gym times -- instead of a 9 p.m. slot on a Saturday night -- and want to set up inter-campus squads.
There has been progress. "Recently, they provided indoor nets, allowing students to play two hours every week for a small $3 fee,'' Binkley says.
Cricket fever sweeps campus
Old sport attracts new players for inaugural, city-wide tournament
The multicultural atmosphere of Toronto has finally brought cricket to the university stage. The Muslim Students Association (MSA) will hold an inter-university cricket match at Unity Cricket and Sports complex in Mississauga.
For those who are still in the dark, cricket is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players. It is played on a large grass oval with a central "pitch." At each end of this pitch are three pieces of wood placed vertically in the ground called the wicket.
The game itself is similar to baseball. The wickets act like a back-catcher and the batters job is to protect these wickets with a bat whilst the bowling side try to hit this target with a ball-again similar to a baseball-or else the batter is out.
Although baseball has traditionally been Canada's stick and ball game, cricket is finally making a stand in this country. It is estimated that there are 12,000 players within the Canadian Cricket Association, playing in 400 teams on 145 grounds. When the MSA first put on a cricket tournament in October, they had a mere 30 people. Now, just a few months later, the association has grown to 100.
"I personally think cricket has always been popular here, especially amongst Canadian immigrants of Pakistani and Indian origin," said Ahmed Badruddin, second-year U of T student and president of the MSA Cricket Board. "There, instead of playing hockey in the streets, kids play cricket."
Many cricket enthusiasts in Canada believe that the sport reached their shores during the mid 1700's 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 sport throughout Toronto during the early 19th century.
In 1892, the Canadian Cricket Association was formed. However, the sport's popularity was on the wane as baseball's grew. In the 70s, cricket's popularity began to grow again when Canada played in the World Cup. Then in 2001, Canada played host to the International Cricket Council Trophy tournament. This past year has seen the Canadian team score their biggest victory yet. The team finished third out of 22 countries, to qualify for the 2003 World Cup, where they beat Bangladesh.
Report sourced from:-
http://www1.utm.utoronto.ca/~w3physed/campusRecIndrCricket.php
Crescent CC win battle of nerves -- Posted Tuesday, September 19 2006
St. Catharines Cricket Club suffered their biggest loss of the season in the 2006 championship game when Crescent Cricket Club tail batsmen, playing at last wicket and till the last over, won the battle of nerves and earned the championship trophy for their team.
The game, which went right down to the wire, witnessed St. Catharines having a strangle hold control over the game with 9 of Crescent batsmen out for 99 runs. Chasing 135 to win, there were 36 runs needed and some how the last remaining wicket managed to score them with courage, nerves and patience while the two tail end batsmen faced the fierce attack bowling of St. Catharines ball after ball.
St. Catharines won the toss and elected to bat first i.e. to put a good total on the board. However, they lost wickets in regular intervals and were in deep trouble at one time with 64 runs for a loss of 6 wickets. Javed Mian and Ash Jhanji of St. Catharines then formed a desperately needed 7th wicket partnership of 54 rums to bring up the total 104. At the end of allotted time of a delayed start, the scores reached a reasonable total of 134 for 8 in the 36 overs.
Crescent CC, chasing a total of 135 to win, started aggressively and scored 54 runs for a loss of only 2 wickets in the first 9 overs. Adeel Khan was then brought to attack with the ball. Khan took 4 key wickets in the very first 4 overs and the slide fall of wickets started for Crescent CC. When they lost 9 wickets at 99, St. Catharines was sure in the driving seat to win the game and championship trophy match. However couple of drop catches and the nerves of the two tail end batsmen of Crescent changed the tide in favor of Crescent CC. At the end, it was final over with 2 rums required which Crescent received in wide balls and seal the win and became 2006 H&D League champions.
Crescent CC is now scheduled to play the champion team of Ottawa Valley Cricket League.
Report sourced from:-
http://www.cricket.computan.com/default.asp
YORKSHIRE WINS PREMIER IN THRILLER -- Posted Monday, September 18 2006
Yorkshire, the Cinderalla team of the Toronto & District Premier Division, pulled off a thrilling four-run victory over highly-fancied Cavaliers to take the Premier Division title with one ball to spare at King City.
Final score:
Yorkshire 187 (Asif Mulla 60, Mohammad Iqbal 50, Fazil Sattaur 4-27, Sunil Dhaniram 3-17)
Cavaliers 183 (Fiaz Nassar 42, Zaheer Hanif 33, Samad Shaikh 2-16, Moshin Mulla 2-30)
Weakened by eight defections to other clubs (two to Cavaliers) in mid-season, Yorkshire rallied to top their conference and clinch their first-ever Premier title. They could boast only two players---Asif Mulla and Ahmed Panchyaya----who have briefly worn the Canadian cap and only one---Mohammad Iqbal---who played first class cricket, in Pakistan 10 years ago.
Cavaliers, on the other hand, fielded nine players who have represented either Canada or Caribbean teams in first clas cricket.
But one would hardly have guessed which was the more taleted and experienced team after Cavaliers skipper Anderson Cummins, the former Barbados and West Indies fast bowler, won the toss and sent Yorkshire into bat.
Mulla (60) and Iqbal (50) launched a savage assault on the Cavaliers new ball trio of Cummins, Calvert Hooper and Rizwan Cheema. Before Cavaliers could blink, a series of audiacious pulls, cuts and drives and aggressive running between the wickets had brought up the century partnership for the second wicket.
But when both Mulla and Iqbal fell in quick succession the rest of the Yorkshire innings subsided to 187, hardly an imposing target on a fast King City outfield for the strongest batting lineup in the Premier Division.
Cavaliers seemed in a hurry to knock off the runs. They ought to have noticed when Rizwan Cheema and Fazil Sattaur fell cheaply to fine catches that the Yorkshire fielders were dropping nothing. To their high quality catching in the deep the Yorkshire fielders added pinpoint accurate throwing, the most breathtaking of which was a return of arrow speed and accuracy from the fine leg boundary by Aarif Talati which shattered the stumps with Abdool Samad short of his grounds.
When topscorer Fiaz Nassar was also run out by another quicksilver return to the wicketkeeper the momentum of the game shifted.
Cummins, Hooper and Aftab Shamshuddin gifted their wickets when they tried to go airborne and although the Cavaliers tail wagged doggedly to the very end the resolute and spirited Yorkshire would not let victory slip through their hands.
Report sourced from OCA press release
In Pursuit of Nolan’s Prize in Calgary -- Posted Monday, September 18 2006
The Premier Division’s annual chase for the Nolan Cup has been narrowed to two new rivals.
After compiling solid seasons, both Predators and St. John’s stand poised to claim Nolan’s prize. Predators, having completed their season with a win Labour Day over CanAsia, will be on the sidelines as St. John's will need victories against Blackhawks (09/09/06) and Cavaliers (09/16/06) to capture their 11th league championship .
Tension in the standings is not exclusive to the top spot as many other positional races highlight the conclusion to the cricket summer of 2006
Long Weekend Review
St. John's stayed in contention for their 2nd title in 3 years with a dramatic victory over United on Sunday. Batting first, St. John’s set a low small pitch total of 165 on the back of a late innings partnership between Rathan Moorthy (44) and Shakaib Quereshi (26). The usually intelligent bowling from Hylton Osborne (4-37) backed by Aziz Chaudhary (2-37) restricted St. John’s batting and put United in the drivers seat at the break.
United’s chase started well as some early hitting by Charanjiv Dhami (34) followed by Akash Brar (29) and Manzoor Chaudhary (19) had St. John’s on their heels. However, as United was unable to form any sustained partnerships, St. John’s bowling behind Anthony Haddad (3-21) and a quick spell by Hameed Zaman (3-22 in 3overs) to remove the lower order left United 17 runs short of the required total.
On Monday, the Labour Day matchup of Canasia and Predators was set to be another crowd pleaser. Predators, after batting first and posting a winning total of 241 highlighted by Zulfikar Hussain (74), looked to be in danger of stumbling, as a gutsy century by Adnan Kirmani (107*) highlighted the CanAsia reply. Unfortunately, CanAsia’s fortunes fell as Kirmani was retired hurt after digging out a yorker with his big toe. Late resistance by Skipper Amjad Shezad and Shezad Rahamatullah was too little at CanAsia fell short by 32 runs. Once again it was Dev Sharma to the rescue as he picked up 5 wickets (5-40) to close out the match as Predators threw down the gauntlet and put the pressure back onto St. John's.
With Predators and St. John's guaranteed to lock up the top 2 spots, the Sept 17th match between United and Canasia will now hold implications for the 2007 ACA Super League. Canasia and United are now deadlocked at 6 wins a piece and the winner will grab the coveted 3rd spot and a place in next years SL competition.
At the bottom of the Premier division, Crown's loss to Canasia on Saturday ensured that they will finish at the bottom of the table and will have to wait to see if Blackhawks will join them there. Blackhawks can avoid relegation with a victory over either St. John's or Cavaliers next weekend, barring that the teams will be tied and a NRR calculation will be done to determine which of the two remain in the Premier division in 2007
The race for the Challenger Cup took an interesting turn on the weekend as Carib came through with an upset of frontrunners Cavaliers II. With the loss, Crescent Star can force a final weekend showdown with Cavaliers II for the Challenger Cup title if they win their match the previous weekend against Star XI and the next day against
In the lower bracket of Divsion I, play continued on the weekend as Colts finished their season with a victory over Glenmore II. Jayanth Narula picked up an impressive 9-40 (8 bowled, 1 caught) to bring his team in contention for the lower bracket title and a spot in the newly realigned Division I in 07. The standings will be become more clear as Islanders and Patriots, also in the running, have two matches remaining.
For the first time, the league moves into its final two weeks with so much on the line.
Building Bridges Thousands of Miles Away
Pakistan/India Friendship Match
The Pakistan Canada Friendship society hosted the 2nd annual India XI v Pakistan XI Friendship Cup at Riley Park over the weekend. Following up on last years thrilling Indian victory, several of the C&DCL's best players donned their countries colours for a worthy cause. Winning the toss and electing to bowl under clear skies, Indian skipper Dev Sharma was certainly backing his bowlers to restrict the Pakistan batsmen to a meagre total. The Pakistani openers however had other ideas as Zulfikar Hussain (40) with a typical blistering knock and some very patient batting from match MVP Farukh Abbas (58*) had Pakistan well placed at 64-1. A spirited spell of bowling from Ranbir Badesha (3-17) then knocked out the potent middle order before skipper Sharma (4-50) and Narrinder Sidhu (3-21) tied up the tail leaving India with a gettable total of 173. The Indian reply was steady but could never really get moving due to some intelligent and sometimes overpowering bowling by the Pakistani's. Skipper Aziz Chaudhary rotated his pacemen led by Amjad Shezhad (2-21) well to restrict any batsmen from getting a start and then introduced himself and Basheer Islam (1-16) to put the final nail in the coffin. An absolutely unplayable Chauhdary (4-18) sniffed out anyhope Indian supporters had for victory never allowing them to garner any momentum as the tide turned Pakistan's way. Jasdeep Gill (38*) offered the only tangible resistance and despite picking up the best batsmen award, his team still fell 20 runs short. For his efforts Chaudhary also picked up the matches best bowler award. An entertaining contest for the second straight year and the hundreds of spectators were treated to a thrilling day of cricket.
Report sourced from:-
http://cricket.ab.ca/calgary/html/2006.html
YORKSHIRE, CAVALIERS IN T&D PREMIER FINAL -- Posted Sunday, September 17 2006
The Toronto & District Premier Division semifinals went by the formbook as the two Conference winners, Yorkshire and Cavaliers, cruised to comfortable victories and will meet in the final at King City on Sunday Sept 17.
The outstanding performance of the day came from a man on the losing side.Opening batsman Brian Rajaduria, the former Sri Lanka "A" team representative, struck a chanceless 117 for West Indians against Cavaliers.
However, his team's total of 220-9 never looked enough as Canadian allrounder Sunil Dhaniram (62 not out) led a strong batting lineup to a comfortable five-wicket win. .
The young West Indians. whose agile fielding swept aside last year's finalist Victoria Park in last Sunday's quarterfinal, were a shadow of themselves, leaking 38 extras and generally looking sloppy and disorganized.
Final score: West Indians 220-9 (Brian Rajadurai 117, Calvert Hooper 4-30, Sunil Dhaniram 2-35), Cavaliers 223-5 (Sunil Dhaniram 62 not out, Henry Osinde 2-58)
In the other semifinal, perennial contenders Vikings faltered once again. After dismissing Yorkshire for a modest 212 on the back of some hostile bowling from young quickie Kevin Murray, Vikings could muster only 155.
Final score: Yorkshire 212 (Harjot Sidhu 46, Samad Shaikh 46, Viishal Arjune 4-54, Kevin Murray 3-19)
Vikings 155 (Jason Patraj 33, Vary Grewal 3-25, Moshin Mulla 2-32)
Report sourced from OCA MEDIA RELEASE
Report on Under 15 tournament in Florida -- Posted Sunday, September 17 2006
In the Americas U15 Championship severely hampered by poor weather, including Tropical Storm Ernesto, the United States snatched the regional title on the final day, despite more thunderstorms and drastically shortened games.
With the first two days of this three day event completely lost to Ernesto's presence over Florida, USA, officials from ICC Americas, USACA and local city and county authorities worked tirelessly to at least salvage a knock-out 20-20 tournament between the four participating teams on the final day.
The two semi-finals, although ultimately completed, were interrupted by heavy showers, which meant that the final and third/fourth place play-off were reduced to 15 overs a side in order to fit them in before darkness fell. As it was, the final exciting moments were played out in gathering dark, with a backdrop of thunder and lightning in the distance, as the USA clinched victory off the final ball over Bermuda in the final.
After two frustrating days of no play, matches finally got under way at the Brian Piccolo Park in Cooper City, Fort Lauderdale in southern Florida. In the first semi-final defending champions eased past an Americas Development combination (made up of players from the Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Canada and the USA) by 7 wickets.
The Americas team batted valiantly against a strong Bermudan bowling line-up to total 91 for 6 on their 20 overs. Makal Young top-scored with 31 not out, while Kamal Leverock added 18. Pick of the Bermudan bowlers were Kevon Fubler with 3 for 8, and Regino Smith with 2 for 12.
In reply Bermuda reached their target in 14,4 overs, reaching 93 for 3 to advance to the final. For Bermuda Sinclair Smith was undefeated on 49, and for the combined team Neil Saini took 1 for 7.
In the other semi-final, the USA team, coached by former West Indies international Clayton Lambert, outplayed Canada to win by 25 runs and set up a final clash with 2004 champions Bermuda.
Batting first, USA totaled 95 for 5 off their 20 overs, and then bundled out the Candians for 70 in 17,3 overs. Opening US bat Balaji Giridharan made a good 30, while Gregory Sewdial added a quick 20, while best bowler for Canada was Trevor Manoosingh with 1 for 9 in 2 overs.
Vaibhan Nayar did the damage with the ball for the USA with figures of 3 for 6 in 4 overs, while Sewdial completed a good all-round performance with 2 for 17. Of the Canadian batsmen, only openers Rahul Srinivasan, with 12, and Hiral Patel, with 13, reached double figures as Canada crashed from 25 without loss to 70 all out. Their innings also included four run outs.
In the bronze medal game between Canada and the Americas Development team, a whirlwind 74 by Hussain Zaidi virtually settled the game as Canada raced to an imposing 169 for 5 in their 15 overs. Zaidi hit 8 towering sixes in his innings. Hiral Patel also contributed a fine 48. Neil Saini again bowled well to finish with 2 for 24.
In reply, the Americas team could only reach 61 for 5 on their allotted 15 overs, thus giving Canada victory, by 108 runs, and thus third place overall. Saini finished a good day with 17 not out, while Rodrae Wilson was undefeated on 18.
The final between hosts USA and defending champions Bermuda was a tense and absorbing tussle culminating in a nail-biting finish. The United States batted first, and battled gamely to reach 80 for the loss of 5 wickets in their 15 overs. Batting hero was Vaibhan Nayar, who made exactly half his teams total by scoring an undefeated 40.
Chasing their target of 81 to retain the Americas U15 crown, Bermuda stayed up with the required run-rate, with opener Terryn Fray making a solid 24. But tight bowling from the USA, especially Nayar with 2 for 10, and Gregory Sewdial, 3 for 18, kept the outcome in the balance right until the final over and the final ball.
At the start of the final over, at 69 for 6, Bermuda still required 12 runs to win. By the time Balaji Giridharan prepared to bowl the last ball, Darrell and Caines had gathered nine runs, and needed a further 3 to win, or 2 to tie. A missed swing and dot ball triggered USA celebrations as Bermuda ended on 78 for 6, and USA had won by 2 runs and thus won the Americas U15 Championship.
Summarised Scores:
Bermuda v Americas Development XI
Americas Development XI - 91 for 6 (20 overs) - M.Young 31no , K.Leverock 18 , K.Fubler 4-1-8-3 , R.Smith 4-1-12-2 ; Bermuda - 93 for 3 (14,4 overs) - S.Smith 49no , S.Hall 11 , N.Saini 4-0-7-1
Bermuda won by 7 wickets.
USA v Canada
USA - 95 for 5 (20 overs) - B.Giridharan 30 , G.Sewdial 20 , H.Brijcall 13 , T.Manoosingh 2-0-9-1 ; Canada - 70 all out (17,3 overs) - H.Patel 13 , R.Srinivasan 12 , V.Nayar 4-2-6-3 , G.Sewdial 3,3-0-17-2
USA won by 25 runs.
Canada v Americas Development XI
Canada - 169 for 5 (15 overs) - H.Zaidi 74 , H.Patel 48 ; Americas Development XI - 61 for 5 (15 overs) - N.Saini 17no , R.Wilson 18no , T.Kittur 2-0-5-1 , R.Duvraj 2-0-5-1
Canada won by 108 runs.
USA v Bermuda
USA - 80 for 5 (15 overs) - V.Nayar 40 , V.Varrurl 11 , G.Mabury 3-0-11-1 , K.Fubler 2-0-11-1 ; Bermuda - 78 for 6 (15 overs) - T.Fray 24 , D.Darrel 11no , G.Sewdial 3-0-18-3 , V.Nayar 3-0-10-2
USA won by 2 runs.
Final Placings:
1. United States
2. Bermuda
3. Canada
4. Americas Development XI
Individual Awards:
Man of the Match:
Bermuda v Americas XI - Sinclair Smith (Bermuda)
Canada v USA : - Vaibhan Nayar (USA)
Canada v Ameritas XI: - Hussain Zaidi (Canada)
Bermuda v USA : - Vaibhan Nayar (USA)
Player of the Tournament: - Vaibhan Nayar (USA)
Best Batsman - Hussain Zaidi (Canada)
Best Bowler: - Vaibhan Nayar (USA)
Best Fielder: - Kevon Fugler (Bermuda)
Best Wicket-keeper: - Akash Jagannathan (USA)
Report sourced from:-
http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc-americas/content/story/258870.html
Cricket Club at York University -- Posted Saturday, September 16 2006
Welcome to Cricket Club at York University. I would like to welcome the new members who signed up during York Fest, and also to welcome back the existing members who are already signed up.
As we have explained to most of you during York Fest, for the year 2006-2007, we have planned a few events.
During the academic year we play cricket inside the Tait McEnzie gym. The timings for Cricket are Thursday 8.30 -11.00 p.m. and Saturdays 6.30 -8.30 p.m.
Also we are trying to arrange the showing of the February 2007 world cup on big screens at York University. On top of all these, we are expecting to join with other cultural / social clubs and host some social events / indoor cricket tournaments.
The membership for the year has been set to $10, which will include all these events. The existing members have to renew their membership for 2006-2007.
Some of you have showen an interest in participating in the York is U cricket challenge. We put the last team in the tournament, as some of you have already shown an interest in participating in that tournament.
If you guys are still interested, email us back, so that we can arrange a practice session and put you guys in the team. York is U, for the cricket challenge charges $5 per player which is not included in the Cricket Club membership fees.
Recent Club Updates:
1. We won the Inter University Cricket Tournament held last month under the auspecies of the Canadian Cricket Association, held at the G Ross Lord Park. In the final game, we beat McMaster University by 86 runs. Batting first we scored 172 runs in 30 overs. The game was reduced due to weather and other unavoidable situations. Then McMaster was bowled out for a mere 86.
The Cricket Club of York University got the Man of the Series and Best all rounder (Chirag Shah) award on top of the championship trophy.
2. We have a team playing in the Etobicoke District Cricket League. Currently in this season we are holding the 2nd position in our conference of Division 3.
You can check the scores at:-
http://www.edcl.net/index.jsp?form=gamesum&r=gamesum&team_id=YORKU&season_id=2006REG
So get back to us as soon as possible, so that we can get some Cricket going.
Hope to see you guys soon.
Mahjuj Jasim Sourav
Growth of cricket in the USA -- Posted Saturday, September 16 2006
One of the fastest-growing games in the United States is, surprisingly, cricket.
The game flourished there for a while in the 19th century, but a combination of war and baseball sent it into decline. That is, until now.
Atlanta, Georgia is not a place you normally associate with cricket. It is famous for a fizzy drink and a baseball team called The Braves. So I was pleasantly surprised, on a recent visit, to hear the distinctive "thock" of leather on willow.
"Shot, Mouse!" shouted the tall, silver-haired West Indian standing next to me, as a batsman lofted a ball over the fence for six.
It was the semi-finals of the Atlanta regional play-offs between Tropical Sports Club and North Atlanta.
It was not a real cricket ground - just a piece of matting laid out in the middle of a schools softball field near the Atlanta airport. But it felt like Sunday in Antigua. Under an awning, a large-hipped lady in a bandana barbecued jerk chicken in an oil drum. Men sat under the trees drinking Red Stripe and reminiscing about home. A copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses lay open on the ground.
The silver-haired man standing next to me was not any old bystander. His name was Desmond Lewis and in his cricketing heyday he had opened the batting for the Windies with Sir Garfield Sobers.
Cricket, he told me, has grown exponentially in America. When Des arrived in 1978, he could not find 11 players to make a team.
Today, Atlanta boasts 23 teams, with 600 players competing in a well-organised league.
Though few people either side of the Atlantic know it, cricket has a long history in the United States.
It was once the national game and the annual fixture against Canada, which was first played in the 1840s. It is the oldest international sporting event in the modern world, predating today's Olympic Games by nearly 50 years.
The earliest account of a cricket match in North America comes from a plantation owner in Westover, Virginia, named William Byrd.
"I rose at six o'clock and read a chapter in Hebrew," he noted in a diary he kept between 1709 and 1712.
"About 10 o'clock Dr Blair, and Major and Captain Harrison came to see us. After I had given them a glass of sack we played cricket. I ate boiled beef for my dinner."
Baseball
The outbreak of the War of Independence in 1776 temporarily queered cricket's pitch. Like tea and taxes, it was associated with Britishness.
But by 1860 an estimated 10,000 Americans were playing the game. Presidents turned out to watch. When Chicago hosted Milwaukee in 1859, Abraham Lincoln was among the spectators.
Three years later, disaster struck. The American Civil War uprooted men from their homes, pitches fell into disrepair, and a new sport adapted from an English girls' game called rounders, took America by storm.
Baseball suited war. It was quick, easy to learn, and required little in the way of equipment or facilities - just four gunnysacks thrown on the ground, a simple bat and an equally simple ball.
Today, thanks to a huge influx of immigrants from India, Pakistan and the West Indies, cricket is bouncing back.
There are 29 leagues nationwide, with an estimated 700 clubs and 50,000 active cricketers. As well as traditional bastions like Philadelphia and New York, where Mayor Bloomberg recently announced a $1.5m investment for a purpose built pitch in Queens, cricket is now being played in such unlikely places as Dallas, Texas, and Wichita, Kansas.
In Los Angeles, a team called Compton Homies & Popz uses cricket to teach "boyz from the hood" old-fashioned virtues like discipline and manners.
'Too complicated'
So can cricket do what soccer has done, and once again become a contender in the US?
A student I met at a charity game in Atlanta was more than a little sceptical. "It's way too complicated for Americans," he said. "And too slow."
But that doesn't stop Des Lewis from dreaming.
"My dream is to get a piece of property," he told me, as the sun began to set over Georgia. "Twenty acres or so. And build a proper cricket field. With a real pavilion."
Article sourced from:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/5321126.stm
Canadian Women report -- Posted Friday, September 15 2006
Bermuda women through to World Cup qualifiers
Cricinfo staff
Bermuda women have made it through to the World Cup prequalifiers after defeating Canada in a three-match series. Bermuda had the advantage before a ball was even bowled - their side has been working together as a unit for six months, Canada's team was hastily assembled just days before the first match.
Nevertheless, the series was keenly contested, with the series all square heading into the final match after Canada knocked off the required 202 runs in the opener and Bermuda made an unassailable 150 in the second. And the final match itself was a nail-biter, with Bermuda squeaking a three-run victory at the last.
Canada have tried to qualify for the World Cup before, but in the meantime the ambitions for the sport in the country extend to building a healthy player base. Victoria are hoping to have at least 30 players registered to play next year. As for Bermuda, they will now hope to emulate the men and make it all the way through to the tournament proper which will be held in Australia in 2009.
Article sourced from:-
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/women/content/story/259595.html
T&D PREMIER FINALS THIS WEEKEND -- Posted Friday, September 15 2006
The Toronto & District Premier Division will have a new king crowned this weekend.
Both defending champions Centurions and 2005 finalists Victoria Park, with a galaxy of Canadian capped players in their lineups, were outplayed in the quarterfinal round at King City last Sunday.
Centurions lost by five wickets to Vikings while Victoria Park went down to West Indians by 23 runs.
West Indians face red-hot Cavaliers while Vikings go up against Yorkshire in Saturday's semifinals at King City. The winners meet in the finals on Sunday at the same venue.
The T&D Premier club champions will then take part in the inaugural Ontario club championship sponsored by the Ontario Cricket Association. They meet the winners of the Etobicoke and District Cricket League at Centennial Park on September 30 in one semifinal.
The final---against the winners of Ottawa/Southern Ontario/Hamilton club playoffs on the weekend of September 23-24---- with $3,000 in cash prizes ( $2,000 for winner, $1000 for loser) will be at King City on October 1.
In last Sunday's T&D quarterfinals West Indians took Victoria Park out of their miserable late- season slump with an impressive display of smart running betwen the wickets and excellent fielding. Put into bat on a greentop the top order set the day's pattern by batting cautiously while picking up any singles on offer. There were only five boundaries in West Indians total.
Lefthander Anish Joshi(45) and the Bastiampillai brothers, Gavin(51) and Trevin(36), played disciplined, skilfull paced knocks. They defied the best efforts of Umar Bhatti, Austin Codrington, Nicholas Ifill, Durand Soraine,George Codrington and Karun Jethi-----all Canadian capped players----- to compile 202, losing their last wicket on the last ball of the innings.
Then, with only paceman Henry Osinde as a national team bowler in their attack, they backed him with superb fielding. Skipper Troy Gobin deployed his limited bowling resources adroitly. With the bowlers concentrating on line and length only Canadian opener Desmond Chumney (44), in his best performance of the summer, prevented the top order from collapse. Four batsmen were caught at point off identical deliveries playing identical attacking shots.
When Chumney departed it was left to Austin Codrington(47) to try to save a lost cause.
He batted superbly and at one point looked like joining last man Umar Bhatti in a match-saving 10-wicket stand.
But on this day the young West Indian team, who not so long ago faced relegation, would not be denied a well-earned place in the semifinals.
Summarized scores in last Sunday's quarterfinals:
Centurions 169 (Pubudu Dassanayake 39, Sanjay Thurasingham 38, Bede Anandappa 21, Suruti Singh 3-19, Kevin Murray 3-33)
Vikings 173-5 (Vishal Arjune 71, Hemnarine Chattergoon 42, Thurasinghsm 1-27, Puvendran Ravishankar 1-34)
West Indians 202 (Gavin Bastiampillai 51,Anish Joshi 45, Trevin Bastiampillai 36, Umar Bhatti 3-26, George Codrington 2-37. Karun Jethi 2-42)
Victoria Park 179 (Austin Codrington 47, Desmond Chumney 44, Henry Osinde 3-39)
Item sourced from O.C.A Press release.
The Ultimate Cricket Weekly -- Posted Thursday, September 14 2006
In response to audience demand, Rogers OMNI.2 has announced the launch of ICC Cricket World – known as “The Ultimate Cricket Weekly” – commencing on Sunday, September 10 th at 1:30 p.m.
The official voice of cricket’s highest authority, the International Cricket Council, ICC Cricket World is the only weekly programme of its kind to comprehensively cover all aspects of world cricket, with unparalleled access to the sport and its participants.
“As much as viewer feedback drives our programming – and we know there are a lot of cricket fans who watch OMNI-TV – as a regional broadcaster, our ability to cover world cricket is limited,” says Malcolm Dunlop , Vice President of Programming and Marketing for Rogers Media Television. “We are therefore very happy to be the exclusive broadcaster in Ontario for ICC Cricket World so that the many cricket fans in our audience can now look forward to a weekly, in-depth look at their favourite sport from its most credible source.”
ICC Cricket World goes beyond results and highlights to deliver comprehensive coverage of the sport as well as detailed background features not found in regular cricket telecasts, including:
Celebration of the traditions and history of the game;
Insights into the players’ on field performances and off-field personalities;
Exclusive footage and interviews only available on ICC Cricket World;
Previews of upcoming international cricket matches and other high profile events;
The series offers consistent, high quality content with a balanced combination of cricket news, features and match coverage designed to appeal to established and emerging cricket fans alike.
In addition to tuning into ICC Cricket World Sunday afternoons on OMNI.2, enthusiasts of the sport can now enjoy a thorough re-cap of events in the cricket world on OMNI News : South Asian Edition , Monday nights during the Sports segment of the programme.
OMNI NEWS: South Asian Edition is a one hour LIVE English language newscast that focuses on local, national and international events of importance to Ontario ’s South Asian community. Satellite feeds from throughout the South Asian Diaspora bring viewers the latest news on the international scene. OMNI NEWS: South Asian Edition airs on OMNI.2, weekdays at 8:00 p.m. ET
News item sourced from:-
http://www.omnitv.ca/ontario/info/press/p_20060905.shtml
Cricket, once as Canadian as maple syrup -- Posted Thursday, September 14 2006
TORONTO (Reuters)—Cricket, once as Canadian as maple syrup, is making an overdue comeback.
“Cricket was the national game of Canada in the past and I predict that it will be again,” said the Canadian
Cricket Association’s (CCA) first vice-president Howard Petrook. “The cricket-playing community in Canada is growing so rapidly that as demographics change. Canada cricket is going to become more and more important,” he said in an interview at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.
“Cricket is the fastest-growing sport in Canadian schools. There are literally scores and scores of schools playing cricket.”
Although this news may surprise ice hockey fans, cricket has a long history in Canada. There are references to matches being played near Montreal more than 200 years ago while the Toronto Cricket Club was established in 1827, and the Canadian Cricket Association was formed in 1892.
The next 12 months could prove the most important period in cricket’s existence in Canada. Canada, as an associate member of the sport’s governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC), has gained the coveted One-Day International (ODI) match status, appointed a new team coach and begun preparations for next year’s World Cup in Caribbean.
Elevation to ODI status will mean Canada plays more international games in an already busy season, explained Petrook, who added that the country had only one ODI-rated ground but was working with the ICC to certify more.
Days Off
Another challenge will be the extra demands made on the amateur team. “If you were playing for Canada last year you would have needed 40 days off work. In the next 12 months, I estimate it will be 60 days.”
One change that is likely to be a big boost is the year-long appointment of England under-19 team head Andy Pick as Canada’s coach. With 11 months until the World Cup, Pick’s sabbatical from his job with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) seems to have come at the right time for Canada.
“I think there is a lot of keen anticipation,” said Petrook about Pick’s appointment. “We were looking for someone who has the knowledge, the expertise and the technical ability.”
Former Nottinghamshire bowler Pick was due to fly to Toronto on Sunday with his wife Jennie and 12-year-old ice-hockey-playing son Greg, to take up the only full-time, salaried role in Canadian cricket.
“I was pleased to get the job and I’m looking forward to the chal- lenge for sure,” said Pick speaking from England in a telephone interview before his departure.
“I’ve got a stack of ideas which I’d like to implement and I’m sure that when I get there I’m going to be told that quite a few of them aren’t feasible, due to the geography of the country, due to finance. I’m going over there with a wish list of things I’d like to do.”
Pick said that over and above guiding Canada through a busy schedule of one-day internationals, he would also be looking to introduce “systems and pathways” for coach education, examining ways to develop teenage players through to the national side and focusing on improving playing surfaces—all things he believes could help to drive Canada to the next World Cup qualification competition in 2009.
Good Time
Pick said he might choose to coach Canada for longer than the initial year’s contract.
“It would come down to the fact that if I was offered a longer-term contract and we were having a good time in Canada then I would have to make a decision to give up my job at the ECB and we’d go from there. As it stands at the moment it (the contract) is a year.”
Pick’s knowledge is likely to prove invaluable for the World Cup as Canada faces England, New Zea-land and Kenya in their group.
Canada hopes to improve on their first visit to the World Cup in 2003, when the team’s highlight was a 60 run victory over Bangladesh in Durban, South Africa.
“The way I’m looking at it at the moment and the impression that I’m getting from the people in Canada is that I think the World Cup is the icing on the cake and I think that realistically we go to the World Cup in the hope of putting on a good performance against England and New Zealand—and hopefully beating Kenya,” said Pick.
Pick said he would not be measuring Canadian success on a victory against England, calling it “not hugely important in the bigger scheme of things.”
“If we were to beat England in the World Cup that would be fantastic but were we then not to qualify for the next World Cup and lose ICC funding, that would have a far more dramatic effect on Canadian cricket,” he said.
Popular around the world, cricket is poised to surpass ice hockey as Canada’s new No. 1 sport.
Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images
Hamilton Cricket Club and McMaster University -- Posted Thursday, September 14 2006
Hamilton Cricket Club offers coaching and playing oppurtunities to Junior cricketers from all sorts of backgrounds and skill levels. At present, HCC holds a seperate weekly practice for juniors aged anywhere from 5 to 18. This year, the club gratefully accepted a grant of $25,000 from The Trillium Foundation for the development of young cricketers. That has helped the club acquire smaller sized equipment and a playing surface in order to accomodate all young cricketers.
Youngsters are coached by experienced existing and former cricketers from the Hamilton and District Cricket League. They get to learn everything from the basic fundamentals of Batting and Bowling to the application of specific techniques in actual matches. HCC is looking to build on this program and provide regular oppurtunities to Juniors in order to promote Cricket to the younger generation.
The Hamilton Cricket Club was formed in May, 1847. By all accounts, HCC is the oldest amateur sports club in Hamilton. HCC joined the Hamilton and District Cricket league in 1921. Many members from the club have been honoured by being chosen to represent various teams at both league and provincial levels.
Article sourced from:=
http://www.hamiltoncricket.com/juniors.php
McMaster University Cricket Team Joins Hamilton
The Hamilton Cricket Team welcomes it's new members from McMaster University. The Hamilton Team executives are currently working on a friendly games schedule. The games will mostly be played on Saturdays and Sundays and will cover the rest of the year. The Team has extended it's practices in order to accommodate all of it's members.
http://www.hamiltoncricket.com/archive.php?date=2006-07-17
The longest international rivalry in cricket -- Posted Wednesday, September 13 2006
The longest international rivalry in cricket, in fact in any sport, is that between Canada and the USA, with the first match (won by Canada) played in 1844.
It has been continually reported, in Canada, that the earliest international athletic contest, of the modern era, was established in 1844 when Canada and the United States played at cricket at the Saint George's Club in Manhattan, New York on Sept. 24-25, 1844 for a wager of $1,000.00.
It should be noted that in The Cricketer's Guide, (1858), it is recorded that 'The Canada match' began in friendly encounters between the Toronto and Saint George's (New York) clubs in 1844.
The Match first assumed its present goodly proportions of Canada vs. the United States in 1853.
As with all matters related to cricket, there are always more than one version of events, but we prefer the American version of the first Canada vs. USA International as described by Deb Das, as in the following: -
The match in 1844 at Bloomingdale in New York, came about because in 1843, a New York team had landed penniless in Toronto and were fully financed and entertained by their magnanimous hosts. In order to honor this Canadian gesture, the New Yorkers invited the Canadians to play in New York. The US team was drawn from several New York clubs, and also included players from the Philadelphia, DC, and Boston (the other centers of US cricket at the time). The Canadians, too, tried to come up with a representative team. All the posters and advertisements of the match from that period, which are available in cricket libraries, refer to a "Canadian vs. USA" match, not a New York vs. Toronto fixture. There were about 20,000 spectators at the match, and bets of around $120,000 (close to $1.5 million in today's currency) were placed on the outcome. By any reckoning, therefore, this has to be recorded as an international fixture and a major one at that, surpassing many sporting events of that time.
SCORECARD: CANADA vs USA
St George Cricket Club Ground, Manhattan, New York
September 24-25, 1844
Result: Canada won by 23 runs
Toss: USA
Umpires: H Russel and Walker
RESULT -
1st innings
Canada - 82
USA - 64
2nd innings
Canada - 63
USA - 58
Canada won by 23 runs. A VERY low-scoring game, considering that around 250 - 350 runs in an innings is normal nowadays.
Canada 1st innings......Runs
D Winckworth..............12
J Wilson................. 0
Birch................... 5
GA Barber............... 1
Sharpe................... 12
GA Phillpotts........... 1
JB Robinson.............. 1
HJ Maddock........ not out 7
Freeling................. 12
French................... 9
Thompson...................5
Extras (b 11, w 6)........17
Total (all out)......... 82
USA 1st innings..............Runs
J Turner................... 7
G Wheathcroft............. 9
J Ticknor................. 0
J Symes.................. 1
H Groom................... 0
R Bage........... not out 1
R Ticknor................ 5
S Wright................. 4
RN Tinson ............... 14
S Dudson................. 4
Wild..................... 10
Extras (b 7, w 2) ....... 9
Total (all out).......... 64
***********************************************************
Canada 2nd innings..........Runs
D Winckworth.............. 14
J Wilson.................... 0
Birch...................... 0
GA Barber.................. 3
Sharpe...................... 5
GA Phillpotts............... 13
JB Robinson................. 4
HJ Maddock.................. 7
Freeling.......... not out 7
French...................... 0
Thompson................... 3
Extras (w 7)............... 7
Total (all out)........... 63
USA 2nd innings..............Runs
J Turner.................... 14
J Ticknor.................... 0
J Symes...................... 11
H Groom....................... 0
R Bage................not out 5
R Ticknor..................... 8
S Wright..................... 3
RN Tinson .................. 0
S Dudson...................... 0
Wild........................ 8
G Wheathcroft*.......absent
Extras (b 3, w 6).......... 9
Total (all out)........ 58
Damian Mills Memorial Match -- Posted Wednesday, September 13 2006
The 3rd Annual Damian Mills Memorial Match brought yet another amazing day of competition, heart, and camaraderie. The match held in the late Damian's honor took place on a beautiful sunny afternoon at the Assiniboine Park Centre pitch.
The Winnipeg Juniors Cricket Club Honorary XI consisted of WJCC players of past and present, most of whom played with Damian. Their opponent was the MCA Senior League XI, consisting of some of best players in the MCA, most of whom played against Damian or with him on provincial teams. MCA XI captain Suresh Jayaraman won the toss and elected to put WJCC in to bat first.
All of the players sported yellow ribbons in memory of Damian as they watched Damian's father, Barry Mills face the opening ball of the match with an eloquent drive off the back foot. On with the match!
As the Mills family and the many spectators watched on, opening batsmen Tommy Jilani and Matt Dalloo took to the wicket to get things started off for WJCC. However, it didn't take long for opening bowler Hitesh Modha (2-38) to strike, quickly bowling down Dalloo (7). After Modha's 2nd wicket, two of this seasons top run scorers in Ihsan Khan and Harinder Warring settled into a grove. With an array of power and finesse shots all around the wicket, Khan made a quick-fire 45. After a fast start, Warring (61) showed excellent discipline and poise en route to an 87 run partnership with WJCC skipper Joe Lovelace. Lovelace and crowd favorite Keith Deonaraine proceeded to put on a clinic on running between the wickets, turning several ones and twos into twos and threes to keep the run-rate elevated. Another big partnership of 88 runs between Lovelace (77) and Deonaraine (38) took the score all the way to 268 before veteran Garvin Budhoo put the WJCC batting attack to a halt. Budhoo, primarily known for his batting, proceeded to take an outstanding 5 of the last 6 wickets before WJCC's allotted 50 overs were up. However, some great batting early on combine with a few lucky breaks gave WJCC a formidable total of 296.
The MCA XI entered their innings with confidence, with a lightning fast outfield and a solid batting lineup right down to the end. Opening batsmen and league teammates Imdad Ali and Kamta Singh got off to a quick start, scoring 43 runs in the first 5 overs. Desparate to slow the attack of these batsmen, Lovelace brought on Anil Kaul who flow in from out of town to take part in this match. Kaul, who had not played in a long time, bowled intelligently by making the batsmen play away from their strengths. The veteran Kaul and the youngster Neil Barrate proceeded to stymie the MCA XI batsmen, with Kaul taking 5 of the first 6 wickets for only 35 runs! That performace combined with excellent fielding dashed the hopes of the MCA XI making a run at the sizeable total. The lone bright spot in the MCA XI innings was a steady 79 from the 2005 MCA best batsman Jayaraman. In the end, the MCA XI could only muster 241 runs from their 50 overs.
The 55 run victory was the 3rd straight for the WJCC Honorary XI since the start of the annual match in 2004.
Many thanks to all of the volunteers who made this day possible!
MCA XI v WJCC Honorary XI
Assiniboine Park Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, CANADA
10 September 2006 (50-over match)
Result: WJCC Honorary XI won by 55 runs
Best Batsman: Suresh Jayaraman
Best Bowler: Garvin Budhoo, Anil Kaul
MVP: Joe Lovelace
Toss: MCA XI
Umpires: John Lovelace, Karran Bayney, David Nathan, Farook Mohammad
WJCC Honorary XI innings (50 overs maximum)
R 4s 6s
Tommy Jilani c Sra b Modha 18 3 0
Matt Dalloo b Modha 3 0 0
Ihsan Khan c Mangat b Ali 45 4 2
Harinder Warring c Budhoo b Mangat 61 7 1
*Joe Lovelace c Mangatb Budhoo 77 4 1
Keith Deonaraine stumped b Toorie 38 3 0
†Sampath Wijewardena
stumped b Budhoo 3 0 0
Neil Barrate lbw b Budhoo 7 0 0
Sri Vijayan not out 11 0 0
David Hakes caught †Haynes b Budhoo 3 0 0
Tyler Camp stumped b Budhoo 0 0 0
Navinder Gill not out 0 0 0
Extras (b 12, lb 3, w 14, nb 1) 30
Total (10 wickets, 50 overs) 296
FoW: 1-7 (Dalloo), 2-53 (Jilani), 3-93 (Khan), 4-180 (Warring), 5-268 (Lovelace), 6-268 (Deonaraine), 7-278 (Wijewardena), 8-279 (Barrate), 9-293 (Hakes), 10-293 (Camp)
Bowling O M R W
S Jayaraman 7 0 42 0 (8w)
H Modha 7 0 38 2 (1nb, 4w)M Sra 6 0 33 0
I Ali 7 0 30 1 (4w)
Q Zaman 8 0 31 0 (1w)
S Mangat 3 0 32 1
G Budhoo 8 0 51 5 (1w)
R Toorie 4 0 26 1
MCA XI innings (target: 297 runs from 50 overs)
R 4s 6s
Imdad Ali c Warring b Kaul 29 4 1
Kamta Singh c Lovelace b Barrate 9 0 0
Theo Haynes c Warring b Kaul 6 0 0
Dinusha Wijesinghe c Barrate b Kaul 24 1 0
Inderjit Sodha c Barrate b Kaul 4 0 0
Manjit Sra c Vijayan b Kaul 2 0 0
Suresh Jayaraman not out 79 8 0
Garvin Budhoo c Hakes b I Khan 9 1 0
Qamar Zaman lbw b Vijayan 4 0 0
Sunny Mangat c Lovelace b Vijayan 16 0 0
Hitesh Modha c Warring b Camp 2 0 0
Richard Toorie not out 25 0 0
Extras (b 5, lb 4, w 22, nb 1) 32
Total (10 wickets, 50 overs) 241
FoW: 1-43 (Ali), 2-56 (Singh), 3-58 (Haynes), 4-77 (Wijesinghe), 5-88 (Sra), 6-99 (Sodha), 7-188 (Budhoo), 8-128 (Zaman), 9-154 (Mangat), 10-171 (Modha)
Bowling O M R W
T Jilani 3 0 26 0 (4w)
N Barrate 10 0 35 1 (4w)
A Kaul 10 0 35 5 (10w)
I Khan 6 0 25 1 (1nb, 2w)S Vijayan 7 0 24 2 (2w)
T Camp 7 0 45 1 (1w)
N Gill 5 0 22 0
K Deonaraine 1 0 10 0
J Lovelace 1 0 9 0 (1w)
Report sourced from:-
http://www.mts.net/~wjcc/results/report_9_10_2006.htm
MCC Tour to Canada and USA in 1872 -- Posted Tuesday, September 12 2006
MCC Tour to Canada 1872
August 17 Quebec City Cricket Club
August 21 Montreal Cricket Club
August 26 Ottawa Cricket Club
September 1 Toronto Cricket Club
September 8 London Cricket Club
September 11 Hamilton Cricket Club
September 13 Visit Niagara Falls
September 18 St. Georges Club, New York
(cricket played in Central Park)
September 21 Germantown Cricket Club, Philadelphia
September 25 Boston Cricket Club, at Harvard University
"The original impetus for the Marylebone Cricket Club tour of 1872 came from Thomas Charles Patteson of Toronto. Paterson, editor of the conservative-minded Toronto 'Mail' and member of the socially elite Toronto Cricket Club (TCC), devised a plan to recruit an English XI from the MCC in England to tour the Dominion of Canada. The TCC intended to use the team to promote the sport of cricket, which had declined during the late 1860's."
The star of the tour was Dr. W.G. Grace
Source:- Journal of Sport History, volume 27
Scotsman to play cricket in La belle province -- Posted Tuesday, September 12 2006
As a 23-year-old Scotsman, I can’t imagine there were many like me who migrated to Quebec at the start of winter with their cricket bat. I'm here because, while working as a gardener in Romania last summer, I met a Quebecoise called Candy, whose parents own a chocolate factory. After securing a one-year work visa at enormous expense, I followed this dangerous woman back to begin a new life in Montreal.
The move has demanded adjustments on all sides. Two weeks ago, I noticed Candy’s mum reading a romance novel called Taming The Scotsman. Meanwhile, I have had to forsake wearing my kilt outside, for fear of losing a limb. In Scotland, I’ve never seen it below minus sixteen. Here, it takes me twenty minutes to dress up like a tartan ninja to check the mailbox in the lobby. I need ski poles to get to the shop – sorry, store. And in Canada I walk down something called a sidewalk, not a pavement. When two inches of snow fall overnight in Britain, the motorways become car parks and the headlines scream, “Country In Crisis!” In Montreal, people can lose their cars and cats until the snow melts in spring. Now that it's beginning to thaw, I find myself sweating at four degrees.
Candy and I have undergone transition in the home, too. Candy recently purchased an apartment on the Plateau. It smelled like old lady and twenty year’s of cigarettes when we moved in. We set about ridding all trace of pink paint and cat hair from the walls, turning the place into something respectable. We then attempted to find a flatmate. After turning down a family of four from Mexico, an illegal immigrant from war-torn Burundi, and being abandoned at the last minute by a German exiled from the US, we settled with Eriko, a student from Japan; female, non-smoker. Always a safe bet.
So, all in all, the transition has been a success, and when Candy gets Taming The Scotsman off her mum, life might settle down a little bit.
“The Club” was a playpen for rich bridge players, ballroom dancers, and spoiled kids. Toronto’s elite were paying upwards of $40,000 a year for membership. I felt fortunate to get away with a kindly $140 temporary student deal. And one didn’t just walk in to The Club. One had to be recommended by an existing member, and pass through an interview with a director. One had other commitments to “The Club”, like a minimum $30 monthly expenditure at the bar and restaurant. (That would get a Coke and some crisps – sorry, potato chips.) An invoice would arrive at the month’s end.
During warm-up laps around the field on my first training session, I suggested we liven up the evening's croquet match with a streak across the pitch. “You’ll have the shortest club membership in history,” warned the coach. How unfair. Seemingly it was permissible for octogenarians to stand in the buff, a foot apart, hands on hips, conversing in the sauna and corridors, but outdoors, even taking a shirt off to sunbathe was punishable by banishment.
On match days, the sun and humidity regularly pushed the temperature into the forties. “Can I borrow some sunscreen?” I’d ask in the dressing room. “God, Scotsman!” said my teammates. “Look at us. We're all black. We don’t wear sunscreen.”
Whenever I’d gone out to bat the previous year in Sydney, I was always lambasted with, “Here we go, it’s the f***in’ Pom. He’s shit, just like all Poms. Take his head off!” along with other unprintable abuse. But every time I approached the middle in Canada, the opposition greeted me with, “Hey, good luck, man! Let me get that for ya. No problem, buddy. Take it easy.” There was something quite unsettling about it all.
“No. Abuse and assault me!” I’d cry in my head. The most vicious sledging I ever got was, “Come on now, Angus. Concentrate.”
Stranger still was that batsmen in Canada gave their condolences when a fielder spilled a catch. “Bad luck, man. Nice try.” These northern colonial cricketers could certainly teach some manners to their southern counterparts.
Three years on, as I'm preparing to embark on my first season of French-Canadian cricket in Montreal, I have again adapted my game-plan. I've substituted traditional appeals of “Howzzat!” for the local “Ca va?” – and brushed up on my Punjabi.
Story sourced from:-
http://www.angusjjbell.com/21101.html?*session*id*key*=*session*id*val*
More Cricket in La Belle Province
If you thought of cricket as a marginal sport here, you're wrong. Every summer, 1,200 cricket players sign on to one of the 50 teams spread over six divisions of competence and take to one of 17 local cricket fields tucked away in places like Jarry Park, the Douglas Hospital grounds and Wagar High. Cricket has been thriving here for over a century, with some teams, like Verdun's, boasting historical figures like former Dominica PM Rosie Douglas.
Players are expected to devote 15 hours a week from spring till fall, as they play two games a week, which last at least seven hours each. Newcomers from all over - particularly South Asians - join in droves, which anybody can do as long as they bring $100 and their equipment. The league is considered semi-pro, with some teams, like the championship squad of local Grenadians, displaying scary skills. League organizer Subrata Mandal, a computer engineer who moved here from South Africa, says he loves cricket almost as much as he loves his adopted city of Montreal.
"Cricket's the father of baseball. You toss the ball to the batter but it has to bounce," he says as a part of a longer, futile attempt to explain the rules. For info on the league, ask at subrata.mandal@sympatico.ca.
Article sourced from:-
http://www.montrealmirror.com/ARCHIVES/2004/041504/sports_leisure1.html
Bermuda win final game in Womens tournament -- Posted Monday, September 11 2006
Canada lost in the final game to Bermuda, who will now go on to represent the Americas in the Women’s World Cup Qualifying tournament in 2007/2008.
Congratulations to the Bermuda team and to Anne Davis and the BC organizing committee for putting together the event in such a short time frame.
Scores:
Bermuda - 127 runs all out in 40 overs
Canada - 124 runs all in 41 overs
The summary below, (again without benefit of the scorebook and I did not have much time after the match to record all the stats) gives the sorry news:
In the final of a 3-game series, with games at 1-1, Bermuda won the toss (they won all tosses) and elected to bat. Wickets tumbled but there was a bit of partnership between Brittney Marshall and the captain, Terry-Lynn Paynter.
However, the bowlers were able to regroup and finally bowled out the Bermudans just before lunch.
Set a paltry score and with arguably the better batting side, Canada lost quick wickets and were 50 runs for 8 wickets when Janet John-Dorie joined Kim Coulter who was playing magnificently and responsibly.
With less than 3 runs an over required, our aim was to stay there, block the good balls, work the wides (of which we bowled 37) and take no chances, Kim was outstanding and Janet provided great support and these two ladies put on a 67 run partnership.
I was told that this was a record partnership for a 9th wicket stand in Women’s Cricket - so may be we Canadians have set a record…eh?
With the score at 117, 11 runs to go for a win, Janet went to a superb catch and the last pair was at bat. Claire Abbott joined Kim and all was going well but alas, with the score on 124, 4 short of victory, Kim suffered a lapse in concentration (she was out there for quite a while!) and she was bowled ..leaving us so close but no bacon!
Well done Janet and Kim for bringing us back into the game!
Generally speaking, this was quite the learning experience for all of us but everyone was still upbeat and even more determined to practice, train and improve skills for the next event as Canada moves forward in the international field of play. I think that the team did well overall and should feel proud of their accomplishments, as this event was unexpected. We were really only put together as a complete team on the evening of Sept. 1, with the first game set for the next day, Sept. 2, some of the BC representatives even had to work during the week! So not a bad showing considering these major factors.
Personally, it was an honor for me to captain these Canadian ladies on the international field of play and can attest to the fact that we have talented cricketers with major potential and with more coaching, 50-over game experience, continuous support from the governing cricketing bodies, women’s cricket will continue to grow in Canada.
Anyone requiring the full scorecard should contact Anne Davis directly.
Thanks to all our friends, family and cricket lovers for the support during this event and the years to come.
Ave Mogan
Sports facilites in Toronto. -- Posted Monday, September 11 2006
Toronto's sporting facilities have been derided as "Third World" and Mayor David Miller is looking to do something about that.
The mayor will meet with the heads of community and regional athletic and sports organization, seeking to identify the key gaps that need to be filled.
"We need to be more precise about the facilities we need and have a discussion on how to get there," Mr. Miller said.
City officials note, for example, that Toronto has only two Olympic-size swimming pools -- one of them, at the University of Toronto, is not open to everyone. There are other regular gripes heard from citizens, including soccer fields so overbooked that children must play very early or late in the day.
Earl Cochrane, spokesman for the Canadian Soccer Association, said his sport struggled to create in Canada the sort of pyramid structure needed to funnel promising players to the top level. This is in part because the facilities are lacking, he said. It's a far cry from Europe, where there are "fields all over the place, manicured and well taken care of."
"If you looked at it on a facility level, we're basically Third World," Mr. Cochrane said, adding that some of the poorest places in the world have better facilities than Canada.
As always, the biggest snag is figuring out who would pay for new facilities. Mr. Miller says the city is "at the table," but added that any funding issues would also have to include the provincial and federal governments.
More funding is definitely needed, said veteran cricket player Rohan Jagasar, who has also served as an umpire and coach.
The situation has improved vastly from the days when national team members paid their own airfare, he said, and the GTA now boasts a half-dozen cricket pitches where international-calibre teams can play. But one of these is at a private club and there isn't a single pitch in the area where the very highest-level competitions can take place.
Mr. Jagasar said that there are also a number of lower-level facilities and plenty of green spaces where amateurs can bash a ball around for fun. Because of that, he argued that instead of adding new pitches, the sport needs reduced user fees for facilities and steady funding to hire experienced team officials.
"There's such a vast influx of immigrants coming in, it's amazing the way the game has grown," the native of Jamaica said. "To help cricket [continue to] grow, we need professionals. You won't get volunteers, you need people who are paid to coach and umpire at that level."
Brenda Librecz, the city's general manager of parks, forestry and recreation, said Toronto ranks lowest in the province on public participation in physical activity.
Complete article can be located at:-
http://www.sportmatters.ca/Groups/Infrastructure%20Media/January06/14-The%20Globe%20and%20Mail%20jan21-Miller%20to%20look%20at%20city's%20need%20for%20increased%20sports%20facilities.htm
A recent report from the Town of Oakville, Ontario, reads in part as follows:-
The views of Oakville officials of the town facilities for cricket.
SPORTS FIELDS
The is a demand for cricket in the Towon - another group could start up if there was a field for them. The cricket pitch should not be a shared use field as the turf would not be suitable for cricket.
At present, there is insufficient demand to sustain a dedicated cricket pitch, therefore, it becomes a matter of proper scheduling and turf management in order to ensure that the shared use field can be utilized for cricket.. Furthermore, monitoring of demand for this and other sports needs to take place (as recommended).
Cricket is suddenly hot in schools
Waves of immigrants from cricket-loving nations have arrived here before. What's provoked the recent demand for the game is an attitude shift in newcomers, says Carl James, a professor of education specializing in youth and sport at York University has stated that. "Playing cricket is a way of reclaiming their identity and culture. For those who came 10 or 20 years ago, there was more pressure to fit in," so parents encouraged their children to play mainstream sports, James said. What's more, teachers today are more sensitive to equity issues and the cultural diversity of their students, James added.
ATN scores big in 2006 world cricket -- Posted Monday, September 11 2006
Asian Television Network International Limited (ATN) (TSX-SAT), Canada's largest South Asian Broadcaster and Canada's largest Distributor of World Class Cricket announces that it has secured the exclusive Canadian Broadcast Rights for the ICC Champions Trophy featuring ten top international teams playing 21 ODIs. The ICC Champions Trophy is cricket's one-day international tournament second in importance only to the Cricket World Cup. It was inaugurated as the ICC Knock Out tournament in 1998 and is played every two years. The tournament changed its name to the Champions Trophy in 2002. This year's tournament will see the top teams from the LG ICC ODI Championship table battle it out in 21 matches at four venues between 7th October and 5th November. The teams include Sri Lanka, the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and England.
ATN has also secured the exclusive Canadian Broadcast Rights for The Malaysia Tri-Series featuring 7 One Day Internationals (ODIs) between Australia, India & West Indies and begins on 12th September and concludes with the final taking place on 24th September. The tri-series would mark the start of India's new international season.
All the games will be shown live, exclusively on CBN, Commonwealth Broadcasting Network, and rebroadcast as well at prime-time. CBN is available everywhere in Canada on Bell ExpressVu Channel 630 and in many areas of Ontario on Rogers channel 640. CBN is available in certain parts of western Canada on Telus TV.
ATN operates 13 channels, including CBN, and has programming alliances with leading International Broadcasters.
To subscribe to CBN or for more details about the cricket schedules and times of live broadcast please visit www.asiantelevision.com or contact your local service provider.
Article sourced from:-
http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/CNW.20060901.C2335/GIStory
Cricket, once as Canadian as maple syrup -- Posted Sunday, September 10 2006
Cricket, once as Canadian as maple syrup, is making an overdue comeback.
“Cricket was the national game of Canada in the past and I predict that it will be again,” said the Canadian
Cricket Association’s (CCA) first vice-president Howard Petrook. “The cricket-playing community in Canada is growing so rapidly that as demographics change. Canada cricket is going to become more and more important,” he said in an interview at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.
“Cricket is the fastest-growing sport in Canadian schools. There are literally scores and scores of schools playing cricket.”
Although this news may surprise ice hockey fans, cricket has a long history in Canada. There are references to matches being played near Montreal more than 200 years ago while the Toronto Cricket Club was established in 1827, and the Canadian Cricket Association was formed in 1892.
The next 12 months could prove the most important period in cricket’s existence in Canada. Canada, as an associate member of the sport’s governing body the International Cricket Council (ICC), has gained the coveted One-Day International (ODI) match status, appointed a new team coach and begun preparations for next year’s World Cup in Caribbean.
Elevation to ODI status will mean Canada plays more international games in an already busy season, explained Petrook, who added that the country had only one ODI-rated ground but was working with the ICC to certify more.
Days Off
Another challenge will be the extra demands made on the amateur team. “If you were playing for Canada last year you would have needed 40 days off work. In the next 12 months, I estimate it will be 60 days.”
One change that is likely to be a big boost is the year long appointment of England under-19 team head Andy Pick as Canada’s coach. With 11 months until the World Cup, Pick’s sabbatical from his job with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) seems to have come at the right time for Canada.
“I think there is a lot of keen anticipation,” said Petrook about Pick’s appointment. “We were looking for someone who has the knowledge, the expertise and the technical ability.”
Former Nottinghamshire bowler Pick was due to fly to Toronto on Sunday with his wife Jennie and 12-year-old ice-hockey-playing son Greg, to take up the only full-time, salaried role in Canadian cricket.
“I was pleased to get the job and I’m looking forward to the chal- lenge for sure,” said Pick speaking from England in a telephone interview before his departure.
I’ve got a stack of ideas which I’d like to implement and I’m sure that when I get there I’m going to be told that quite a few of them aren’t feasible, due to the geography of the country, due to finance. I’m going over there with a wish list of things I’d like to do.”
Pick said that over and above guiding Canada through a busy schedule of one-day internationals, he would also be looking to introduce “systems and pathways” for coach education, examining ways to develop teenage players through to the national side and focusing on improving playing surfaces—all things he believes could help to drive Canada to the next World Cup qualification competition in 2009.
Pick said he might choose to coach Canada for longer than the initial year’s contract. “It would come down to the fact that if I was offered a longer-term contract and we were having a good time in Canada then I would have to make a decision to give up my job at the ECB and we’d go from there. As it stands at the moment it (the contract) is a year.”
Pick’s knowledge is likely to prove invaluable for the World Cup as Canada faces England, New Zea-land and Kenya in their group.
Canada hopes to improve on their first visit to the World Cup in 2003, when the team’s highlight was a 60 run victory over Bangladesh in Durban, South Africa.
“The way I’m looking at it at the moment and the impression that I’m getting from the people in Canada is that I think the World Cup is the icing on the cake and I think that realistically we go to the World Cup in the hope of putting on a good performance against England and New Zealand—and hopefully beating Kenya,” said Pick.
Pick said he would not be measuring Canadian success on a victory against England, calling it “not hugely important in the bigger scheme of things.”
“If we were to beat England in the World Cup that would be fantastic but were we then not to qualify for the next World Cup and lose ICC funding, that would have a far more dramatic effect on Canadian cricket,” he said.
Article sourced from Reuters
Editorial comment:-
The salient point in the above article is that "Pick said ... he would also be looking to introduce “systems and pathways” for coach education." Coach education in Canada - what a concept - especially in cricket terms. I do not believe that Andy dropped the ball on this point. I do believe that the CCA most certainly did and has over the last decade. Now all together, lets sing "When will they ever learn". Jon Harris.
"Popular around the world, cricket is poised to
surpass ice hockey as Canada’s new No. 1 sport".
Alexander Joe/AFP/Getty Images
Crazy about cricket, in both official languages -- Posted Sunday, September 10 2006
In a place as multiethnic as Bordeaux-Cartierville, it isn’t surprising to find diversity in all sorts of places, including sports. Besides soccer, cricket appears to be the passtime of choice for many young people.
Many players who come from India or Pakistan enjoy playing cricket, but there isn’t really anywhere for them to practice locally. They can often be seen in action in parks next to people having picnics, in empty school yards and in deserted parking lots.
Recently, Bordeaux-Cartierville hosted a cricket competition as part of the Jeux de la Rue, an annual inter-borough sporting event. The baseball field at Louisbourg Park was converted into a cricket field where close to 50 avid players took part in the match.
When asked why they like the sport, the players say it has a lot to do with national pride.
“Cricket is our national sport. We play this game almost as soon as we’re born, said Umair Iftikhar, a native of Pakistan and liason officer for the Jeux de la Rue. For the moment, cricket does not appear to have made any inroads among old-stock Quebecers.
Iftikhar wants to change that by starting up a local team made up of novice players. He’s asked around at local community organizations and some interested people have already come forward.
Bilal, a player from Bordeaux-Cartierville, began playing cricket at a young age. He’s such a fan that he searched around for partners to play with as soon as he moved to the borough. He plays with school mates in Louisbourg Park, just in front of his home. “I’d like there to be a genuine playing field here in the borough,‿ said the 14-year-old.
Mikhael Peterson, a community worker at the Bordeaux-Cartierville youth centre, is part of a group of petitioners who requested the set up of a proper cricket field in the borough last year.
He says it is important for the borough to find a safe and appropriate location for the sport to be played locally. “At Mésy Park, for example, young people set up makeshift playing fields, which runs the risk of bothering people in the park, and possibly injuring players in the nearby soccer and basketball fields, he said.
Beginning of cricket
Having begun in England, cricket is played in many countries, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia. Cricket is as popular in the Near East as soccer is in other countries. For the uninitiated, cricket looks a little like American baseball. During games, players don’t wear leg protectors or gloves, and use a tennis ball wrapped in a ribbon. A flat surfaced bat is also used.
Translated by Anna Bratulic
http://www.courrierbc.com/article-29044-crazy-about-cricket.html
Fous du cricket
Par Véronique Leduc
Dans un quartier multiethnique comme Bordeaux-Cartierville il n’est pas surprenant de voir des habitudes différentes et le sport n’y échappe pas. En plus du soccer, le cricket semble être très populaire chez certains jeunes.
Plusieurs joueurs originaires de l’Inde et du Pakistan jouent au cricket dans le quartier, mais n’ont pas de lieu adapté pour le pratiquer.
On peut les voir en action dans des parcs à côté de gens qui pique-niquent, des cours d’école vides et même des stationnements déserts.
Tout récemment, le quartier a été l’hôte d’une compétition de cricket dans le cadre des Jeux de la rue Inter arrondissements. Au parc Louisbourg, où le Courrier Bordeaux-Cartierville a assisté à un match, une cinquantaine d’adeptes se sont exécutés sur un terrain de baseball transformé l’espace d’une journée en terrain de cricket.
Lorsqu’on demande aux joueurs pourquoi ils aiment ce sport, ils abordent la question de l’identité nationale
«Le sport national chez nous, c’est le cricket. Depuis que nous sommes nés, nous jouons à ce sport», indique Umair Iftikhar, originaire du Pakistan et agent de liaison pour la promotion et le recrutement aux Jeux de la rue.
Pour l’instant, l’engouement pour le cricket ne s’est pas propagé au sein de la population québécoise pure laine.
Pour faire connaître davantage ce sport, Umair veut créer une équipe de gens de la communauté qui ne savent pas jouer au cricket. Il a entrepris des démarches auprès d’organismes communautiares. Jusqu’à présent, certains se sont montré intéressés.
Bilal, joueur de Bordeaux-Cartierville, a été initié au cricket dès son plus jeune âge. Il aime tellement ce sport, qu’une fois arrivé dans le quartier il a tout de suite essayé de trouver des partenaires pour continuer à le pratiquer. C’est avec ses amis d’école qu’il pratique son sport préféré en face de chez lui au parc Louisbourg.
«J’aimerais qu’il y ait un vrai terrain dans le quartier», indique le jeune homme de 14 ans.
Mikhael Peterson, intervenant à la Maison des jeunes de Bordeaux-Cartierville, fait partie d’un groupe qui a initié une pétition pour l’installation d’un terrain de cricket dans le quartier en 2005.
Pour lui, il est toujours impératif de trouver un lieu adapté, sécuritaire et exclusif pour la pratique du cricket, car à certains endroits, il est dangereux d’y jouer. «Au parc de Mésy, les jeunes s’improvisent un emplacement et risquent à tout moment de déranger ou de blesser les joueurs des terrains de soccer et de basket-ball déjà existants», spécifie-t-il.
Les joueurs empiètent également sur une allée du parc.
Origines du cricket
Originaire de l’Angleterre, le cricket est pratiqué dans plusieurs pays dont l’Inde, le Pakistan, le Sri Lanka et l’Australie.
Au Proche-Orient, ce sport est aussi populaire que le soccer dans d’autres pays.
Pour les non initiés, le cricket peut être qualifié du petit cousin du baseball.
Lors des joutes, les jeunes joueurs se fabriquent leur propre équipement. Ils ne portent pas de jambières ni de gants et utilisent une balle de tennis recouverte d’un ruban. La batte en bois pour frapper la balle possède une face plate.
Story located at:-
http://www.courrierbc.com/article-29043-Fous-du-cricket.html
http://www.courrierbc.com/article-29043-Fous-du-cricket.html
Damian Mills Memorial match in Winnipeg -- Posted Saturday, September 9 2006
Please join us as we honour Damian Lewis Mills (1979—2003).
Friends, teammates and family of Damian will be hosting this 3rd memorial match in his honour. The WJCC Honorary XI team will comprise of past and present members of the Winnipeg Juniors Cricket Club, Damian’s club. The MCA League XI will comprise of the best of Manitoba Cricketers who have played against Damian over the years.
This memorial match aims to capture the spirit of the game as Damian lived it, to promote healthy competition with superior sportsmanship, to build camaraderie and to honor one of Manitoba’s brightest stars.
Squads:
WJCC Honorary XI: Joe Lovelace (capt), Neil Barrate, Tyler Camp, Matt Dalloo, Keith Deonaraine, Navinder Gill, David Hakes, Tommy Jilani, Ihsan Khan, Zahid Khan, Sri Vijayan, Harinder Warring and Sampath Wijewardena.
Coach/Manager: Ron Dipchand.
MCA League XI: Suresh Jayaraman (capt), Imdad Ali, Garvin Budhoo, Theo Haynes, Azad Hosein, Hitesh Modha, Sunny Mangat, Zaman Qamar, Roy Singh, Inderjit Sodha, Manjit Sra, Richard Toorie and Dinusha Wijesinghe.
For more information please contact Ray Ramrattan at 204-795-8964 or info@damianmillsaward.ca
Full details can also be located at:-
http://www.damianmillsaward.ca/index_files/Page726.htm
Canada Month in Barbados -- Posted Saturday, September 9 2006
June in Barbados is now known as “Canada Month”, with the High Commission organizing a series of events targeting multiple sectors, including those interested in sport, film, and music.
La Grande Seduction, the well acclaimed comedy about a small town's attempt to "seduce" a doctor to live there, was the next event, as the mission hosted Canada Movie Night on Monday, June 26 at the Canadian High Commission. The movie, which is in French with English subtitles, was thoroughly enjoyed in the mock outdoor theatre that was created by mission staff. A second showing of this film is now scheduled for September, at opening night at the University of the West Indies Film Society.
On Friday, June 30, the mission held the Canada Day official reception. The event was enjoyed by some 550 people, who were entertained by the sounds of the Barbados Boy Scouts Marching Band, as they performed both national anthems.
This event was attended by several Canadian "celebrities" including Canadian/Barbadian NHL Hockey goalie Kevin Weekes, Canadian Olympic sprinter Donovan Bailey, and several members of the Edmonton Oilers and the Ottawa Senators. This group was in Barbados participating in the 3rd annual Kevin Weekes Celebrity Golf Tournament, which raises funds for several worthwhile children's charities. Patrons were also entertained by the showing of the aerial adventure Over Canada which was set up on a big screen projector.
Cricket then became the sport of choice, as the Toronto Cricket Academy arrived to compete in the internationally acclaimed Sir Garfield Sobers Cricket Tournament. This tournament attracts top under-19 teams from the UK, Canada and across the Caribbean. The TCA team visited the Canadian High Commission, where they were treated to a hearty breakfast, and then several members of the Canadian mission attended one of their matches. Members of staff met the players, many of whom will move on to Canada's National Cricket Team – one of whom is an 11-year-old boy named Nitish Kumar, who is most definetly a player to watch. With his talent, and natural ability, he may well put Canada's cricket team on the international map! This team is featured in the National Film Board produced Cricket and the Meaning of Life, which was shown on CBC at 10:00 p.m. on August 22 and 26, 2006
Having been inspired by the Toronto Cricket Academy, the Canadian High Commission then opted to challenge the British High Commission to a one-day test match, which was billed as a "pre-game" to the World Cup of Cricket, where Canada will meet England in the first round. There was magnificent attendance at the match for both teams and supporters, and a good day was had by all. At half time, a raffle was held for the Barbados Association of Blind Crickets, which raised CAN$200.
Full story, complete with photographs, can be located at:-
http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/latin-america/barbados/news/whatsnew-en.asp?id=7327&content_type=2
Rideau Hall Cricket Association -- Posted Saturday, September 9 2006
The Ottawa Cricket Club (OCC) is one of the oldest established cricket clubs in the world was founded in 1849. The Ottawa Cricket Club plays on the grounds of the Governor-General of Canada at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.
The Ottawa Cricket Club is a full member of the Ottawa Valley Cricket Council (OVCC) which governs the cricket in Ottawa, as well as the Rideau Hall Cricket Association (RCHA) which is a grouping of four Ottawa cricket clubs which share Rideau Hall as home ground.
The Cricket Pavilion, built at the turn of the century, is a living testament to an almost lost feature of Canadian culture.
Playing cricket on the grounds of Rideau Hall is a tradition that goes back to the time of Lord Monk when the cricket pitch was first laid out in the fall of 1866. The tradition continues today with members of the “Rideau Hall Cricket Association and Ottawa Valley Cricket Council”, of which the Governor General is patron, playing matches here at Rideau Hall during summer weekends.
Jouer au cricket à Rideau Hall est une tradition qui remonte à l’époque de Lord Monk. On y a aménagé le premier terrain de cricket à l’automne 1866. Les membres de la Rideau Hall Cricket Association et de l’Ottawa Valley Cricket Council – dont le gouverneur général est le président d’honneur – poursuivent la tradition et y jouent pendant les fins de semaine estivales.
Hi again folks,
Here is another extremely brief missive with mega attachments – which seems to have become the norm in my lazy old age.
The results of last weekend’s matches are as follows:
Saturday, 02-Sep:
Exodus @ Ottawa – Chg - Exodus by 31 runs;
New Edinburgh @ Defence – Ctz - New Edinburgh by six wickets;
OVCC Juniors @ Canterbury – Ctz - Canterbury by 80 runs; Kingston @ Bel Air – Chg - Bel Air by forfeit.
Sunday, 03-Sep:
Exodus @ New Edinburgh – Chg, Kingston @ Defence – Ctz, Ottawa @ Canterbury – Chg and Cathedral @ Bel Air – Chg were all abandoned without a ball being bowled due to meteorological moisture. Hence each side collected two points.
Monday, 04-Sep:
Canterbury @ Cathedral – Chg - Canterbury by seven wickets;
New Edinburgh @ Exodus – Chg – Exodus won batting second after New Edinburgh had made about 130 runs; I am lacking match summary details to date.
As a result of these matches, the playoff pairings for tomorrow are: New Edinburgh @ Canterbury (LL1) and Bel Air @ Cathedral (RH1).
Sunday’s Knockout Cup semi-finals will feature New Edinburgh vs. Ottawa @ Rideau Hall 1 and Canterbury vs. Cathedral @ Lynda Lane 1.
On a sadder note, the Ottawa cricket community was dismayed by the sudden passing last weekend of well-known local cricket personality Yussuf Ali. Yussuf was a long time member of Christ Church Cathedral C C and previously of New Edinburgh C C. At this time our thoughts and condolences go out to Yacoub, Andy, Shane and the rest of the extended Ali family.
That will be all for now.
John Lexmond
OVCC Statistician
Behaviour on and off the field of play, or the lack thereof -- Posted Friday, September 8 2006
The recent postings on the Forum, with respect to the behaviour on and off the field of play, demonstrate and illustrate that cricket in the Greater Toronto Area is in a critical state.
The thread of the discussion commenced with the following:-
"Bad tamper: cricket's day of disgrace – Under 13 Playoff Final
Today , Sept4 , I watched the Final of U13 T&D Cricket Tournament at Eglinton Flats Ground.
The Match was between Ontario Cricket Academy U13 and Cavalier U13.
Cavalier’s Captain and players’ petulance and the stubborness led cricket down a dark, treacherous path. In refusing to continue the match"
I asked a respected cricket friend to read all the postings and sought his views on what is happening in Toronto cricket specifically. The following is his brief:-
"I've read the articles on the Web site. It would seem that we cannot protect what we are meant to protect--Which is the integrity of the Sport.
Solution:
The T&D (at their expense) should send Umpires to do Play-off Games".
I trust that cricketers across Canada, both past and present, will write to the Toronto and District Cricket Association to express their concerns for the welfare of our game. Funding and sponsorship is a pipe dream without good management, just ask the CCA!!!!
The following is a list of officers and their contact information. Please write to them. Jon Harris.
Austin Ward, President / Parks & Practice
R-416-493-1896
dixie_sports@sympatico.ca
Norman Jackson, Vice-President / OCA / MLCC Rep
R-905 608 9087 Fax-905 608 9615
njacko42@hotmail.com
Petra Pompey (Mrs), Correspondence Secretary
R-905 686 4672 Fax-905 686 7663
egpompey@rogers.com
Kam Chari, Treasurer / OCA Rep
R- 416 242 4912
kam.chari@clarica.com
Kris Sawh, Seeding & Selection / OCA Rep
R-416 293 4256
sawhfuture@hotmail.com
Leroy B. Grey, Statistician / OCA Rep
R-905 276 2897 Fax-905 276 2517
leemerle@rogers.com
Mohammed R. Shaikh, Scheduler/ Webmaster
R-416-238-5155 Fax-905-676-0137
mrshaikh@rogers.com
Thiru Suseenthiran, Registrar
R-416-284-7222
tsuseenthiran@hotmail.com
Sherriff Boodhoo, Junior Co-Ordinator
B-416-213-0734 B-Fax-416 749 1661
info@qasrasports.com
Wijay Senathirajah, Discipline / OCA / MLCC Rep
R- 416 885 2365
wijays@rogers.com
Pandit Basdeo Maharaj, Recording Secretary
R- 416 532 2253
panditbmaharaj@hotmail.com
Rawle Cottle, Special Events / Umpire Liaison
R- 905 889 8324
rawlec@rogers.com
Let's play ball - Inuit style -- Posted Friday, September 8 2006
What would happen if you were to take European cricket, North American baseball and combine them with Inuit customs? The answer is a game called "Anaulataq."
The word Anaulataq means to strike something. While there are similarities with baseball, the rules of the game vary dramatically. In many instances the rules differ from community to community.
Since 1992, both Dr. Michelle Daveluy and Professor Chris Fletcher, have been researching the origins and the cultural significance of this game.
"My hypothesis is that the historical origins of this game came from the English explorers, whalers and the Inuit themselves," says Prof. Fletcher. "Structures were created to form relationships and cricket was used to help create that friendly atmosphere." Over the years the game was transformed to incorporate a number of foreign influences, while maintaining Inuit customs of friendliness and openness.
Foreigners who visit the Inuit are often invited to play the game and there is a sense of belonging and confidence that you will fit in. However, that feeling does not last long, because the complexity of the rules make it almost impossible to follow. As researchers you think you understand a culture, but this game reveals the complexity of cultural issues and habits that as foreigners you think you can grasp. This is not an easy game to understand, says Dr. Daveluy.
"There is no chance that this game will die out," says Prof. Fletcher. Their research has revealed that the origins of the game evolved around the 1820's and that many communities have established their own rules and customs.
It is very hard to describe how to play Anaulataq, says Dr. Daveluy. A person does hit a ball, but the ball can go anywhere, which is very much like cricket. However, there is no limit to the number of players, which incorporates the Inuit custom of openness.
Originally both Dr. Daveluy and Prof. Fletcher went to work in Kangiqsujuq, Nunavik, about 1,700 kilometres north of Montreal, for Hydro Quebec. "I love the North, it's heaven. If you love the space and animals, its everywhere," says Prof. Fletcher. In 1989 Prof. Fletcher spent four months in Nunavik gaining field experience and learning the complex language, while working on his Master's. (he is currently working towards his Phd).
Currently, the professors are trying to create a documentary film that would detail how Anaulataq is played and show the social significance of the game. Children from a very young age learn to play and adapt to the different rules in each community. The professors are working with Kangiqsujuq community members including the director of recreation, the mayor, the mental health co-ordinator and the community council. They are hoping that funds will be available for the film. They are also trying to organize a game of Anaulataq on the Saint Mary's campus, by bringing about six players from the North to the University. The goal is to increase awareness about the uniqueness of the game. (Renee Field).
Material sourced from:-
http://www.stmarys.ca/administration/publicaffairs/thetimes/april1997/inuit.html
Taverners Cricket Club in Winnipeg -- Posted Friday, September 8 2006
Now that our summer season is over maybe it is time to get down to some serious discussion about our intended tour to the West coast in 2007.
The subject was broached at a couple of our post match sessions but apart from securing the promises of the services of a tour manager the discussions were no more than pissing in the wind. Since our last tour to Gloucestershire we have made a couple of attempts to put together another tour but they all came to naught because, I think, our up front activities were lacking & too many members were wishy-washy on whether they would join.
If we are really serious about this tour much of the ground work must be nailed down (like the mat), & player commitments made before the middle of fall.
We need to determine, in no particular order:-
Where we are headed
When & for how long
How many games & what type
How many players will be needed
Fixtures in BC/Washington
Travel arrangements
Accommodations
Costs
Player availability & commitment
These will not take care of themselves or by some sort of osmosis, they only happen after a lot of work. But there will be no point in going through all the work if there is notthe commitment from the club members to make it happen.
So you have almost 12 months to arrange your affairs, to clear the decks, so that you can say with some certainty that you will participate.
I for one would think that if the commitment is not there by years end we should close the book on the idea & just continue with our game in the Park.
Report sourced from:-
http://www.tavernerscc.com/
Cricket: The latest American craze? -- Posted Friday, September 8 2006
One of the fastest-growing games in the United States is, surprisingly, cricket.
The game flourished in America for a while in the 19th century, but a combination of war and baseball sent it into decline. That is, until now.
Atlanta, Georgia is not a place you normally associate with cricket. It is famous for a fizzy drink and a baseball team called The Braves. So I was pleasantly surprised, on a recent visit, to hear the distinctive "thock" of leather on willow.
"Shot, Mouse!" shouted the tall, silver-haired West Indian standing next to me, as a batsman lofted a ball over the fence for six.
It was the semi-finals of the Atlanta regional play-offs between Tropical Sports Club and North Atlanta.
It was not a real cricket ground - just a piece of matting laid out in the middle of a schools softball field near the Atlanta airport.
But it felt like Sunday in Antigua. Under an awning, a large-hipped lady in a bandana barbecued jerk chicken in an oil drum. Men sat under the trees drinking Red Stripe and reminiscing about home. A copy of Ovid's Metamorphoses lay open on the ground.
The silver-haired man standing next to me was not any old bystander. His name was Desmond Lewis and in his cricketing heyday he had opened the batting for the Windies with Sir Garfield Sobers.
Cricket, he told me, has grown exponentially in America. When Des arrived in 1978, he could not find 11 players to make a team.
Today, Atlanta boasts 23 teams, with 600 players competing in a well-organised league.
Though few people either side of the Atlantic know it, cricket has a long history in the United States.
It was once the national game and the annual fixture against Canada, which was first played in the 1840s. It is the oldest international sporting event in the modern world, predating today's Olympic Games by nearly 50 years.
The earliest account of a cricket match in North America comes from a plantation owner in Westover, Virginia, named William Byrd.
"I rose at six o'clock and read a chapter in Hebrew," he noted in a diary he kept between 1709 and 1712.
"About 10 o'clock Dr Blair, and Major and Captain Harrison came to see us. After I had given them a glass of sack we played cricket. I ate boiled beef for my dinner."
Baseball
The outbreak of the War of Independence in 1776 temporarily queered cricket's pitch. Like tea and taxes, it was associated with Britishness.
But by 1860 an estimated 10,000 Americans were playing the game. Presidents turned out to watch. When Chicago hosted Milwaukee in 1859, Abraham Lincoln was among the spectators.
Three years later, disaster struck. The American Civil War uprooted men from their homes, pitches fell into disrepair, and a new sport adapted from an English girls' game called rounders, took America by storm.
Baseball suited war. It was quick, easy to learn, and required little in the way of equipment or facilities - just four gunnysacks thrown on the ground, a simple bat and an equally simple ball.
Today, thanks to a huge influx of immigrants from India, Pakistan and the West Indies, cricket is bouncing back.
There are 29 leagues nationwide, with an estimated 700 clubs and 50,000 active cricketers. As well as traditional bastions like Philadelphia and New York, where Mayor Bloomberg recently announced a $1.5m investment for a purpose built pitch in Queens, cricket is now being played in such unlikely places as Dallas, Texas, and Wichita, Kansas.
In Los Angeles, a team called Compton Homies & Popz uses cricket to teach "boyz from the hood" old-fashioned virtues like discipline and manners.
'Too complicated'
So can cricket do what soccer has done, and once again become a contender in the US?
A student I met at a charity game in Atlanta was more than a little sceptical. "It's way too complicated for Americans," he said. "And too slow."
But that doesn't stop Des Lewis from dreaming.
"My dream is to get a piece of property," he told me, as the sun began to set over Georgia.
"Twenty acres or so. And build a proper cricket field. With a real pavilion."
By Simon Worral
BBC News, Atlanta
This item. from Our Own Correspondent, was broadcast on Thursday, 7 September, 2006 at 1100 BST on BBC Radio 4.
Story sourced from:-:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/5321126.stm
Money, money makes the cricket world go round! -- Posted Thursday, September 7 2006
The leading six countries below Test status at present are Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and Scotland. An intense playing schedule has been drawn up for each nation before next year's World Cup in the Caribbean, in a bid to make them as competitive as possible. "They're going to get a lot of cricket before the World Cup. The other very important thing is that we leave behind a legacy after the World Cup for these countries to continue to develop. The board has agreed that from this World Cup each of these Associates will get US$500,000 as a special grant.
"Longer-term, we've decided for the 2011 World Cup, the top associates will get US$1 million each. This is just to consolidate the growth of cricket in these countries to make sure they become more professional in their approach," said Mani, whose three-year term as president comes to an end next week, when he is succeeded by Percy Sonn of South Africa.
The news was welcomed by Irish Cricket Union chairman Murray Power. He told the BBC: "The qualifiers for the '07 World Cup got half a million dollars, so this is a doubling of that and obviously any such increase would be very, very welcome indeed."
The above is a portion of a longer article sourced from:- http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/251842.html
Quite obviously, with this amount of cash being thrown around there should be a business plan. Does the CCA have such a document and do they have an implementation strategy? Perhaps they should look to the OCA for advice!! As the old song goes, 'I can dream can't I?' (Jon Harris).
West Indian Cricket Club of Toronto -- Posted Thursday, September 7 2006
West Indian Cricket Club Est. 1934
A Historical Perspective
By Neville Nelson & Traddie L. Simpson
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.
Material sourced from:- http://www.cricketstar.net/tdca/index.jsp?page_id=WICC
The Canadian Cricketer’s Guide -- Posted Thursday, September 7 2006
The Canadian Cricketer’s Guide
Cricket was played as early as the 1820s, mainly by garrison soldiers. From Confederation to the end of the 19th century, and even with the rise in popularity of baseball and lacrosse, cricket was the most popular summer sport in Canada and was played in all parts of the country.
T.D. Phillipps, b.1833 and H.J. Campbell
The Canadian Cricketer’s Guide and Review of the Past Season.
Ottawa: Printed for the compilers at the Free Press Office by C.W. Mitchell, 1877. 136 p.
This rare book is available for reading at the Toronto Reference Library. White gloves are provided to protect this volume in a monitored reading room, and the reader must be registered with the TRF. (Jon Harris).
Bermuda win Womens International Match v Canada -- Posted Wednesday, September 6 2006
The second of the 3-game series was won by Bermuda in what turned out to be an entertaining and thrilling match.
Scores:
Bermuda - 159 in 42 overs
Canada = 135 in 46.4 overs
Bermuda won the toss and elected to bat. Canada bouncing back from a dismal fielding display in the first game, soon had the visitors reeling and grabbed six quick wickets.
The score was 47 for six when the Bermuda opening batsman Brittney Marshall, the hardest hitting batter of the squad decided that she had to stay there and became stuck into the Canadians after surviving a chance to cover point.
The Canadians stuck to the task and eventually bowled the Bermudans out for 159 in 42 overs with Claire Abbott once again picking up four wickets and the young Meara Crawford picking up three.
Well, we got off to a cautious start but were on target. Unfortunately, some quick wicket losses put the Canadians on the back foot and the mid- to lower-order batters had to take charge. The game see-sawed back and forth and coming down to the last 5 overs with 25 runs required, when Mona Persaud, who played brilliantly for 34 was adjudged caught out on what looked liked a bump ball.
The lower order partnerships between Mona Persaud and Maree Wilson put the Canadians in striking distance and upon the departurer of Maree Wilson, saw the young Meara Crawford, challenge the fielders with an outstanding performance of running between the wickets and caused confusion among the fielders!
The wicket of Mona Persaud brought to the wicket, the veteran Janet John-Dorie, a former national Guyanase wicket-keeper with a target still within reach. After facing a few balls, unfortunately John-Dorie pulled a muscle and had to call for a runner. As these the Canadians first real exposure to this level of cricket and never played with a runner, there soon was a mix-up in a single called and the Canadians were all out for 135.
With the series now tied at 1-1, it is imperative that the Canadians put it all together both with the bat and the ball to win the right to represent the Americas in the World Cup qualifying tournament.
Both teams will be looking to play their best teams beset with minor injuries but the third match promises to be an exciting game!
Canada bowling:
Mona Persaud - 6-0-27-1
Claire Abbott - 4-0-13-4
Meara Crawford - 9-0-33-3
Maree Wilson - 5-0-26-1
Helene Gaffney - 5-0-21-0
Kim Coulter - 5-0-16-1
Ave Mogan - 8-2-21-0
Canada batting:
Ave Mogan - 14 runs
Kim Coulter - 03
Helene Gaffney - 11
Lenore Davis - 06
Mona Persaud - 34
Yvette Singh - 00
Shelley Fathers - 03
Maree Wilson - 18
Claire Abbott - 01
Meara Crawford - 05
Janet John-Dorie - 00 not out
Report from Ave Mogan
Canadian cricket the subject of a film? -- Posted Wednesday, September 6 2006
"Seducing Doctor Lewis" a review by Alastair Smart
Jean-Francois Pouliot once made a film about an egg striving to remain unhatched; now he has hit on an even less likely movie motif: Canadian cricket.
Seducing Doctor Lewis is the story of a poor Canadian island, St Marie-La-Mauderne, whose inhabitants' hopes of gaining a plastics factory depend on their having a resident doctor. The trouble is they cannot find one who will put up with their weird food, décor and skin-growths -that is, until a cricketloving, Montreal medic appears.
The aptly named Dr Chris Lewis arrives on a month's trial and his hosts do everything to make him feel at
trial and his hosts do everything to make him feel at home - even pretending to be the most cricket-crazy island north of Barbados. In fact, they have never heard of cricket (for them, the World Series calls to mind baseball rather than Kerry Packer), relying on downloaded copies of the rules to bluff their way through the match staged on Lewis's arrival.
Though mildly amusing, this deception of the doctor is also glaringly unrealistic. Cricket's complexities, subtleties and lexicon make it, perhaps more than any sport, an acquired taste, a labour of love and definitely not something of which you can feign knowledge in front of an aficionado. Faux fans are soon exposed.
Not that Lewis knows much more than the islanders. On watching them play he disregards the 20 fielders yet praises the "defence ... protecting the right side". He also claims a batsman hit on the helmet by a bouncer is lbw and reckons South Africa's Makhaya Ntini is Indian. Lewis's cricketing ignorance is either a glaring error on the director's part or a masterstroke, by which the doctor is bluffing that he is cricket-mad when he also does not know his arse from his arm guard. Sadly it is almost certainly the former - which will make it hard for TWC readers to take this film seriously.
But, then, who would take a film about Canadian cricket seriously?
Film directed by Jean-Francois Pouliot , 108 minutes
Article/review sourced from:-
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/wisdencricketer/content/story/239740.html
CANADA’S ONE-DAY AVERAGES (Top 10) -- Posted Tuesday, September 5 2006
The Canadian team has played 9 one-day matches so far this year, winning 2 and losing 7.
Here are the Batting and Bowling Averages.
BATTING (Min 3 innings)
Inn Runs Av HS
S.Jyoti 4 119 59.50 47*
G.Codrington 6 212 53.00 73*
J.Davison 9 234 29.25 58*
A.Samad 3 63 21.00 35
G.Barnett 4 47 18.75 35
A.Bagai 8 96 13.71 26*
S.Dhaniram 4 42 10.50 14
S.Heaney 4 41 10.25 19
Also batted:
I. Billcliff 2 59 59* S.Welsh 2 31 29
BOWLING
O M R W Av Econ
S.Dhaniram 32 2 81 4 20.25 2.53
H.Osinde 27 6 107 5 21.40 3.96
J.Davison 72 8 264 12 22.00 3.66
S.Thurasingham 29.3 2 112 5 22.40 3.82
A.Codrington 41.2 1 165 7 23.57 4.00
K.Sandher 49.4 3 200 7 28.57 4.04
S.Welsh 36 4 150 5 30.00 4.16
A.Samad 21 0 119 3 39.66 5.66
G.Codrington 28 4 107 2 53.50 3.82
U.Bhatti 23 2 106 1 106.00 4.60
CANADA’S FOUR-DAY AVERAGES (Top 10)
Canada has played 2 four-day matches so far this year, winning 2. Here are the Batting and Bowling Averages.
BATTING (Min 3 innings)
Inn Runs Av HS
J.Davison 3 197 65.66 165
Q.Ali 3 130 65.00 91*
G.Barnett 4 190 63.33 136
A. Bagai 3 80 26.66 57
U.Bhatti 3 69 23.00 50
H.Osinde 3 32 16.00 18*
S.Heaney 4 37 9.25 13
P.Ravishankar 3 13 6.50 13
Also batted:
I.Billcliff 2-137-x-126; A.Samad 1-119-x-119
BOWLING
O M R W Av
U.Bhatti 104.2 23 342 20 17.10
D.Maxwell 11 8 22 1 22.00
H.Osinde 91.4 32 241 10 24.10
S.Dhaniram
19 11 37 1 37.00
A.Samad 12 3 39 - 39.00
J.Davison 68 18 193 4 48.25
P.Ravishankar 77 22 198 4 49.50
Money, money makes the cricket world go round! -- Posted Tuesday, September 5 2006
The leading six countries below Test status at present are Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, Netherlands and Scotland. An intense playing schedule has been drawn up for each nation before next year's World Cup in the Caribbean, in a bid to make them as competitive as possible.
"They're going to get a lot of cricket before the World Cup. The other very important thing is that we leave behind a legacy after the World Cup for these countries to continue to develop. The (ICC) board has agreed that from this World Cup each of these Associates will get US$500,000 as a special grant.
"Longer-term, we've decided for the 2011 World Cup, the top associates will get US$1 million each. This is just to consolidate the growth of cricket in these countries to make sure they become more professional in their approach," said Mani, whose three-year term as president comes to an end next week, when he is succeeded by Percy Sonn of South Africa.
The news was welcomed by Irish Cricket Union chairman Murray Power. He told the BBC: "The qualifiers for the '07 World Cup got half a million dollars, so this is a doubling of that and obviously any such increase would be very, very welcome indeed."
The above is a portion of a longer article Item sourced from:-
http://contentusa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/251842.html
Quite obviously, with this amount of cash being thrown around there should be a business plan. Does the CCA have such a document and do they have an implementation strategy? Perhaps they should look to the OCA for advice!!
As the old song goes, 'I can dream can't I?' (Jon Harris).
Quadruple Centurians in Vancouver -- Posted Tuesday, September 5 2006
In a blockbuster weekend for the club, no less than four members of the Meralomas Cricket Club in Vancouver joined, or re-joined the centurians club, by scoring 100+ runs over an August weekend.
Iain Dixon, Dave McGowan, Amartya Lahiri and Dave Baldwin all compiled classy innings to take them past the 100 run mark.
This is a fantastic achievement for the club and one that should be congratulated to no end.
Well done boys!
Story sourced from:-
http://www.vancouvercricket.com/
Tributes to two young cricketers who left this mortal coil -- Posted Monday, September 4 2006
The 2nd annual Damian Mills Memorial cricket match in Winnipeg surely would have made Damian Proud
The 2nd Annual Damian Mills Memorial Match would prove to be one of the best days and certainly the best match of the year thus far in Manitoba as the WJCC Honorary XI took on the MCA XI. As opposed to last year, this Sunday afternoon would be dry, hot and sunny with almost no breeze and not a cloud in the sky. This gorgeous day started off with the opening ceremony and the unveiling of a commemorative park bench in Damian's name.
The MCA XI won the toss and sent WJCC XI to field, at which point Damian's father, Dr. Barry Mills bowled the opening ball. Once the match got underway, MCA XI showed that they wanted to win just as much as WJCC XI, with opening bats Kamta Singh (35) and Indad Ali getting their team off to a torrid start of 85 after the first 15 overs. Singh and Ali were finding all the gaps and continually frustrating skipper Juniors skipper Joe Lovelace and the WJCC bowlers. With the exception of young opening bowler Ihsan Khan (8 overs, 29 runs), WJCC's pace attack was proving ineffective. After a remarkable 91 run opening stand, the prowess of spinner R Singh was due. R Singh managed to get this year's two top batsmen, Suresh Jayaraman and Inderjit Sodha out for only 15 runs total, giving WJCC some life. However, Ali continued to score relentlessly before retiring with a game high 103 runs, including eight 4's and three 6's. Ali's innings helped carry MCA XI to a whopping 248 runs from their allotted 45 overs.
With the daunting task of having to make 249 against many of the league's top bowlers, WJCC XI sent in aggressive openers Tommy Jilani and Harinder Warring. After getting off to a solid start, Warring left temporarily due to injury. Number three batsman Keith Deonaraine picked up right where Warring left off, with Jilani (19) and Deonaraine scoring at a solid pace of just above 4 an over. After Deonaraine (25) was dismissed by Qamar Zaman (3 wickets for 33 runs), Lovelace would come in at the four spot under the advice of Deonaraine. After originally planning at coming in number seven, Lovelace and returnee Warring would carry the score from 69 to 111. After Manjit Sra took his 2nd catch of the game off the bat of Warring (24), Lovelace and new batsman Ihsan Khan (37) immediately started to pressure the fielders with their lightning speed between the wickets. The WJCC bats also managed to hit many enormous 6's (9 in total) led by Lovelace's five effortless boundary clearances. After putting up a 59 run partnership, WJCC XI were now at 170, needing 78 runs off the final 72 balls. With Lovelace now serving as the cornerstone for WJCC XI's innings, he and Justin Holz managed to string together another key 46 run partnership in just 7 overs, bringing the score to 216. With less than 4 overs to go, WJCC XI still needed 26 runs to win. Despite having the maximum number of fielders on the boundary, Lovelace (87 runs, 73 balls) and tail end batsman Abdullah Khan (21 runs, 11 balls) still managed to smash 29 runs in under 3 overs! Abdullah Khan hit the winning boundary in the 44th over, giving WJCC Honorary XI the amazing come from behind victory! Remarkable batting by Lovelace who played a captain's innings but just as impressive batting by the rest of the team who faced 18 of the final 30 overs.
It was an unbelievably exciting match between two great squads that had everyone around the park in a buzz. This gave WJCC Honorary XI their 2nd straight win in the event and surely would've made Damian proud, not just because of the win but because of the competitiveness and sportsmanship with which the game was played.
Reproduced with permission of WJCC's Joe Lovelace.
Scorecard at http://www.mts.net/~wjcc/results/scorecard_9_11_2005.htm
Greg Hobson Memorial Match
The Greg Hobson Memorial Cricket Match took place on Saturday, September 2nd at Connaught Park. Meraloma II will play North Shore I for the coveted Greg Hobson Trophy. A trophy presentation and barbeque will follow.
Remembering Greg
Erin McPhee
A memorial cricket match held Saturday marked the 10-year anniversary of a tragic sports-related accident that occurred on the North Shore.
North Vancouver resident Greg Hobson, 21, died after being hit in the head with a cricket ball while batting June 3, 1995 during game play at Norgate Park.
Greg was known to always wear a helmet; however, on that day, he had removed his helmet, possibly due to heat.
"I remember him as a youth playing at West Van," says Bill Sims, president of the North Shore Cricket Club, of which Greg was a member. "We were always anxious to get the Hobson twins. They were a prize. I was very, very pleased when they came to join (the club)."
Since 1996, the club has been holding an annual match in Greg's memory.
Twin boys Greg and Wayne Hobson were born in South Africa and moved to the North Shore with their parents Wendy and John when they were 15.
"We were very close twins always," says Wayne. "We spent more quality time in 21 years than most people do in their life."
The brothers grew up playing cricket and upon moving to the North Shore joined the adult league as their skill level was so high. Their athletic careers were mirror images of each other's and they played on the same teams throughout their childhood and into their 20s.
"He was just a happy character to be around on the field, always smiling and having fun," says Wayne, now 32. "In such a serious, serious game, he always found a way to make it enjoyable. Once the accident happened, cricket was never the same for me. There was something missing."
The twins shared the field on the day of the accident.
Greg was well mannered, dedicated to the game, a willing learner, a talented athlete and was said to have been able to throw equal to any pro-baseball player, Sims says.
He graduated from West Van secondary and was studying architecture at BCIT at the time of the accident.
"When we lost Greg it was one of the saddest days in the club's history," Sims says. "I admired him greatly."
Wayne remains a member of the club, though he has less time for games due to work commitments and a pending wedding about which his family and friends are extremely excited.
The impact of Greg's death has been felt and honoured both locally and internationally. After the accident, the family received phone calls from Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and South Africa.
"When this happened there were 700 or 800 people at his funeral at West Vancouver United Church," says John. "It shocked the community. It shocked the world. It just didn't stop because it was unheard of that something like that would happen on a cricket ground," John says.
Locally, some increased safety precautions have been adopted by the club. They've established a local book of rules in addition to the official rules of cricket in order to create a safer environment in which to play. For example, all junior players must now wear a helmet.
A Greg Hobson Memorial Cricket Fund has also been established and organized by Greg's parents. The fund has allowed for the purchase of 85 cricket helmets and their distribution to junior players. Each helmet carries the inscription "In memory of Greg Hobson, 1973 - 1995."
The fund is also allowing the family to establish a memorial bench in Greg's memory at Northlands Golf Course. The family is now waiting for final approval from the course.
The fund also recently supported the tsunami aid effort.
Another memorial bench was established by the B.C. Cricket Association and placed in Stanley Park, near the Brockton Point cricket ground clubhouse. Wayne says the family often visits the site, which faces the North Shore mountains, where the family continue to reside.
From 1995 to 2001 a Greg Hobson Memorial Golf Tournament was held at the Seymour Golf and Country Club, and the North Shore Cricket Club continues to make the Greg Hobson memorial match an annual fixture on its calendar.
"The two sides that are playing, they were playing the day that my son was killed," says John. "Both captains were good friends of his. They decided that whenever they have to play, one of those matches are going to be in memory of him."
Saturday's event was a regularly scheduled trophy game between the two premier division teams - Kitsilano's Meraloma Cricket Club and the North Shore Cricket Club.
"The aim of this match is to preserve the memory of Greg and serve as a sobering thought to everyone who plays that even though we play to win and we play for fun, it reminds us of the bigger scope of the game and the bigger scope of life," says Bob Adie, webmaster for the North Shore Cricket Club.
A letter from Vancouver Island -- Posted Monday, September 4 2006
From your account of the visit to Lords at age 10,I reckon to be your senior by about 10 years. It must have been a great experience to watch the Don do his thing.
Unfortunately, I lived in Bucks at the time and, apart from a Middlesex charity game at Burnham with Leslie Compton and Jack Robinson in the side, never saw many pros.
My last trip to England included watching at Lords and Taunton however, so I have the flavour, at least.
The last MCC tour to Canada with Dougie Brown was a real treat for me and I made a video of the Victoria game. Also saw Kent at Stanley Park with Ames as well as another MCC side with M.Deness, I believe. All good memories.
Cricket in Canada started for me almost as soon as I deplaned in 1957. I was dragooned into Umpiring at North Vancouver then whisked from the middle and rushed to West Van where the second team was short and needed a few more runs. Playing in "Jesus sandals" on a matting wicket was slippery and I do not recall any details of that game.
After a stint at Kerrisdale CC, I was the main founder of the Richmond Cricket Club (1966) and played there until the move to Vancouver Island about 30 years ago.
A very unexpected and wonderful last kick at the game came with the formation of the Comox Valley CC, playing in the 4 team mid Island league. My last go with the gloves for them was when I came off the bench for 5 overs (2 run outs and a stumping) which was an exciting finish at 74 years old.
Unfortunately the team did not survive past a successful ten years and is in hiatus now as are Nanaimo and Campbell River who both sputter to life occasionally.
A strong reinforcement to the game here is the Malaspina College at Nanaimo which fields a very useful young side of overseas students.
Qualicum Beach has the Arrowsmith side which is still functioning but lacks local opponents. It's a pity as they have installed a first class artificial wicket in a lovely setting with full cooperation from the village and are very well organised.
Nearly all of the problems relate to shortage of players. Just the opposite of other areas of Canada it seems.
-- Posted Monday, September 4 2006
From your account of the visit to Lords at age 10,I reckon to be your senior by about 10 years. It must have been a great experience to watch the Don do his thing.
Unfortunately, I lived in Bucks at the time and, apart from a Middlesex charity game at Burnham with Leslie Compton and Jack Robinson in the side, never saw many pros. My last trip to England included watching at Lords and Taunton however, so I have the flavour, at least.
The last MCC tour to Canada with Dougie Brown was a real treat for me and I made a video of the Victoria game. Also saw Kent at Stanley Park with Ames as well as another MCC side with M.Deness, I believe. All good memories.
Cricket in Canada started for me almost as soon as I deplaned in 1957. I was dragooned into Umpiring at North Vancouver then whisked from the middle and rushed to West Van where the second team was short and needed a few more runs. Playing in "Jesus sandals" on a matting wicket was slippery and I do not recall any details of that game.
After a stint at Kerrisdale CC, I was the main founder of the Richmond Cricket Club (1966) and played there until the move to Vancouver Island about 30 years ago.
A very unexpected and wonderful last kick at the game came with the formation of the Comox Valley CC, playing in the 4 team mid Island league. My last go with the gloves for them was when I came off the bench for 5 overs (2 run outs and a stumping) which was an exciting finish at 74 years old.
Unfortunately the team did not survive past a successful ten years and is in hiatus now as are Nanaimo and Campbell River who both sputter to life occasionally.
A strong reinforcement to the game here is the Malaspina College at Nanaimo which fields a very useful young side of overseas students. Qualicum Beach has the Arrowsmith side which is still functioning but lacks local opponents.
It's a pity as they have installed a first class artificial wicket in a lovely setting with full cooperation from the village and are very well organised.
Nearly all of the problems relate to shortage of players. Just the opposite of other areas of Canada it seems.
Canadian Women victors over Bermuda Women -- Posted Sunday, September 3 2006
Game 1 of the 3-games series against the Bermuda Women, played on Sept. 2/06 at the Beacon Hill Cricket Ground.
Scores - Bermuda 201 all out in 44.1 overs
Canada 201 for 5 in 46.1 overs
Below is a brief summary and note that the actual score book is not accessible. Therefore some stats are approximations.
Bermuda won the toss and elected to bat. Canada's bowling and fielding were poor, dropping approximately 7 catches.
The Bermuda team had some hard hitting batters and was able to capitalize with some fours and sixes to all parts of the ground.
However, the Canadians persevered and finally bowled the opposition out, thus securing the full 50 overs in which to make the target.
Canada, in their turn at the wicket, had a good start with Ave Mogan and Kim Coulter having a partnership of over 70 runs. The second and third wicket partnerships continued to build on this foundation. Lenore Davis, Helene Gaffney, Mona Persaud and Yvette Singh all stuck to the task and brought the game home surprising the Bermudans who thought that this had this one in the bag!!
Briefly,here are the Canada bowling stats:
Mona Persaud - 7-0-29-0
Claire Abbott - 6-1-32-4
Meara Crawford - 3-0-8-0
Maree Wilson - 5.1-0-13-2
Ave Mogan - 7-0-41-1
Kim Coulter - 6-0-31-0
Lenore Davis - 2-0-8-0
Helene Gaffney - 8-0-37-3
Many, many wides!!
Batting:
Ave Mogan - 27
Kim Coulter - 21
Helene Gaffney - 27
Lenore Davis - 21
Mona Persaud - 18 not out
Yvette Singh - 19
Shelley Fathers - 01 not out
MANY, MANY wides!!
Game 2 is tomorrow, Sept. 4, where we hope to beat Bermuda more convincingly as many of the Canadian players have overcome their nerves at playing their first ever international women's cricket match.
A good game was had by all, the weather was excellent, the umpiring was good and the supporters were all rooting for the ladies especially those sporting the Maple Leaf!
I do have pictures which I will forward separately.
Am off to practice shortly...Coach Frank wants me to work on batting and bowling style, which I could only describe as 'lampy pampy or mediocre'.
Ave Mogan.
Ball by ball record of match
From Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, Canada.
Bermuda vs Canada
50-over match
Bermuda won the toss and elected to bat.
Mona Persaud to open the bowling from the City end.
Britney facing the first ball, Antoinette at the other end.
0.1 Outside the off stump, Britney pulls away and it’s through to the keeper.
0.2 Cross-batted to long on, coming back for the second Anty is forced to dive but makes her ground easily.
0.3 Wide down the leg side. Bit of swing early.
0.4 Good ball, bit quicker, has Britney fishing as it passes through
0.5 Bit wider outside the off, watched carefully but left alone
0.6 Shorter ball pushed down between first and second slip, one run.
0.7 Antoinette’s first ball faced is pushed straight back down the wicket. No run.
1 over gone, four runs from it.
Claire Abbott to continue for the nursery end.
Britney with the strike
1.1 first ball is wide and misread by the keeper, batsmen hustle through for a bye.
1.1 Slower ball drops right at Anty’s feet, appeal for lbw turned down by umpire Patel
1.2 Good ball from Claire pushed to short mid-off. No run.
1.3 Another slower one, popped up straight to Shelly Fathers at silly mid-on. Anty doesn’t want to go, but is left no option from the umpire.
Terry Painter the new batsman.
1.4 Good length from Claire, but picked up off the body and belted over the mid-wicket boundary. Six runs
1.5 Lovely ball on a length, pushed forward off the back foot. No run.
1.6 Swatted to mid on for one.
2 overs, 1 wicket for 13.
2.1 Watched outside the off stump, Terry lokoing for the iwde call but it’s not fforthcoming.
2.2 Ooh, that one is wide.
2.2 Better ball, defended away from the legs to mid-wicket.
2.3 Poked to a short gully, chance goes down and the batsmen take a single.
2.4 Straighter ball pushed down, no run.
2.5 Britney looks to cut a short one, but edges over the slips and almost to the fence, two runs.
2.6 Full toss, cover driven for four. Lovely shot.
3 overs gone, 1 for
3.1 appeal for leg before turned down.
3.2 Shorter ball pulled behind square for four by Terry.
3.3 Lazy shot, just dropped the bat on a ball on the off stump. Gets away with it, no run.
3.4 Picked up off the toes and swept for one.
3.5 Watched through to the keeper.
3.6 OUT! Britney tries to chage her shot to get inside a ball that cut back, over compensates and edges to Maree Wilson at first slip.
2 for 28, with four overs gone.
Linda Meinzer the new batsman, with both openers gone early.
4.1 Shorter ball outside off stump, left well alone by Terry.
4.2 Slips down the leg side, again left alone.
4.3 Slower ball, attempted cut is missed completely.
4.4 Yorker, just over pitched and driven back past the bowler, but straight to Crawford at long off. No run.
4.5 Cover driven beautifully, but straight tto the fielder. No run.
4.6 Down on one knee and flicked away behind square. There’s a fielder there, but she won’t get it. Four runs. That looked premeditated, but well played.
Four from the over, 2 for 32.
5.1 Well defended by Linda. Very composed.
5.2 Defending again, this one bounces a bit but kept down.
5.3 Another bouncing delivery, backed away from and through to the keeper.
5.4 on the legs, Linda tries at a glance but pulls out.
5.5 Defending a ball outside the off stump and playing away from the body. Down to gully, no run.
5.6 OUT. Big shout from the bowler and behind the stump, and Linda’s given out, leg before.
Wicket maiden to Abbott, 3 ffor 32 from 5 overs.
Reuna Richardson comes to the crease.
6.1 short ball hooked away by Terry, only one run from it as Yvette fires in the return.
6.2 On drive, through the field and they come back for two, but the umpire signals one short run.
6.3 Flashing at one down the leg side, no contact, no run.
6.4 Cover drive edged over the slips. Very wristy, they make it back for the second.
6.5 sweep missed, and appeal for leg before given no heed by umpire Archer.
6.6 Another sweep attempt missed. No run.
Six overs, 3 for 36 the total.
7.1 Full, slow ball dispatched to the leg side boundary by Terry.
7.2 Watched through ouytside the off. Wide signalled.
7.2 Big swing, but too early, just edged around to bacward square leg. One run.
7.3 Another big swing, looking for the pavilion but missed entirely.
7.4 No ball, that one slipped out off the hand and flew over the batsman’s head.
7.4 And that one’s wide, Reuna has a swing anyway.
7.4 Better ball, pushed back down the wicket.
7.5 Looping full toss swung on and missed.
7.6 Clobbered to long on and not picked up cleanly as they make an easy single.
Seven overs, 3 for 44.
Change of bowling, Ave Mogan taking over from Persaud at the City end.
8.1 Flighted and spun, skied in the vicinity of square leg, but falls safe and they scamper through.
8.2 Taken on the body, no run.
8.3 Terry swings for the car park from one knee but get under it, Ramdai flicks the bails off but she’s safe in her ground.
8.4 Played forward, watchful now.
8.5 Just turned around behind square, but beautifully timed and off to the fence. Four runs.
8.6 Driven through mid-wicket for four more. Lovely stroke.
Eight overs, 3 for 54 on the board.
Terry takes some water after a couple of well-hit boundaries.
Another change, with Kim Coulter coming on at the nursery end..
9.1 First ball appeal for leg before turned down. Good start.
9.2 Too early and lofted to cover but short of the fielder.
9.3 Driven straight for one.
9.4 SIX. Short ball belted over square leg, a confidence builder for Teyy as sge’s seeing them well now.
9.5 Fuller ball played to mid-wicket, no run. Run out opportunity at the non-striker’s end but missed – a direct hit would have been interesting.
9.6 Attempting to pull but it’s too full and dribbles back to the bowler.
3 for 61 after nine.
10.1 Ruena on the cover drive, well timed and away to fence. Four runs.
10.2 A little wider, this one’s watched through.
10.3 Driven off the toes, no run.
10.4 too full and driven again, through mid-wicket for one.
10.5 Terry on strike, steps backward and almost on to her stumps, forced away to point.
10.6 Turned away off the body to backward square for one.
3 for 67 from ten.
11.1 Stepping out and driving, through the covers for two.
11.2 Flayed forward of square but straight to the fielder on the fence. One run.
11.3 Cross-bat push to deep extra cover from Reuna for one.
11.4 Sweep hoik from Terry but a little early, falls between the field as they take two runs.
11.5 Cut away for one, the rruns coming more freely now.
11.6 Up on the back foot and improvising a drive to the on side, they’ll take one more.
11 overs, 3 for 76.
12.1 Turned around the legs and chased down by Maree from first slip. One run.
12.2. Driving and missing, and Janet Ramdai very quick with the gloves behind. No run.
12.3 Shorter ball, slapped away to long on and put down. A hard chance, and one run taken.
12.4 OUT! Deceived in flight, and Janet whips the bails off as Terry steps out, she’s stumped.
Captain on her way out, Charlene Thompson on her way in, left-hander.
12.5 Ave fails to adjust to the left-hander and throws a wide down the legs side.
12.5 Again on the leg side but close enough. No run.
12.6 Lovely ball, lofted and turning, played carefully down by the new batsman.
4 now for 79, from 12 overs.
13.1 Kim Coulter starts her over with a wide.
13.1 Much better ball, brief shout for leg before but it was well high.
13.2 Watched outside and high, no run.
13.3 Stepped across and hit hard to deep mid-off, no run.
13.4 Fuller ball, played back to short mid-on.
13.5 Pulled off the hips forward of square, one run.
13.6 Slower ball, but wide and called as such.
13.6 Slower again, this one Yorker length and defended well.
Four for 83.
Ave Mogan again.
14.1 First ball of the fourteenth defended back to the bowler.
14.2 turned around the legs, but no run.
14.3 Attempted pull beaten by a bit of bounce, no run.
14.4 Straight driven for four, just over Ave’s head.
14.5 Watched through to the keeper.
14.6 Pushed back, past the bowler to deep mid-on, for one.
Four for 89 now.
Coulter to continue.
15.1 Good ball, left alone.
15.2 Flicked off the legs, one run.
15.3 Slower and well concealed, popped up but safe.
15.4 Pulled through the short leg-side field for two.
15.5 Wide ball.
15.5 Kim varying her pace now, flips one up to the feet and played down for no run.
15.6 This one driven fairly straight, one run.
One more before drinks, Ave Mogan continuing.
16.1 Stepped into and pulled around the body, but no run as it’s straight to Kim.
16.2 Another pull, this one better placed as they take one.
16.3 Well timed stroke through square leg, an easy two.
16.4 Cramped for room, Reuna lifts a high ball to ldeep mid-on but it’s put down. These chances are adding up.
16.5 Lovely pull off the body almost to the fence for two.
16.6 Slower and beat the bat, no run.
And that’s drinks. 98 runs on theboard and four wickets down.
Slight interruption there as we try for an email, but wireless conecctions are beyond us at the moment.
Back for the start of the 23rd, with Mona back on to bowl.
114 on the board, still four wickets down. Charlene on stricke.
24.1 Good ball, watched through at shoulder height.
24.2 Wide ball out side off stump.
24.2 Yorker outside the off, chopped down on and squirted away to point.
24.3 Bouncing over the hip, no shot.
24.4 Tossed up, slower, shot goes high just over the head of short mid-off. One run.
24.5 Reuna faces a fuller ball, played away to cover point.
24.6 Good length, played forward and edged down to gully. No run.
Four for 116 after 24.
Helene Gaffney from Nursery end.
25.1 Charlene cross-bats a bouncing delivery for one.
25.2 Flicked around off the hips for another single.
25.3 Straight bat to one on the legs, quick single.
25.4 lovely ball, played straight antd back to the bowler.
25.5 Reuna plays and misses, Charlene calls for a quick one and they’re through safely.
25.6 Played and missed down the leg side, they call through for another single. One Bye, well run.
Four for 120 now.
Another bowling change, with Lenore Davis taking over at the City end. Two slow right-armers operating now.
26.1 Spinning away from the left-hander, that one is wide.
26.1 Looping ball, played with a cross bat to long on by Charlene, one rune.
Field adjustments, taking some time with the right-left combination.
26.2 Played back down the wicket. No run.
26.3 Stepped inside but mishit straight down.
26.4 Again, stepping inside and playing a very controlled shot to fine leg for one.
26.5 Lazy defensive bat pops a ball up, but the keeper can’t get there.
26.6 Played away to mid-wicket. No run.
Four for 124.
27.1 Reuna takes one off the hip, behind square for one.
27.1 Keeper lost that one as it came behind the batsman’s legs, they take a bye.
27.2 Played carefully down to fine leg, one more for Reuna. She has 36 so far.
27.3 Four. Cracked away with a short pull, past the fielder at square leg for four.
27.4 Two more with a similar shot, played further forward.
27.5 Played forward, no run.
27.6 one run on a shot to long off.
Four for 134.
28.1 One run from a short ball turned off the hip.
28.2 Driven forward through cover, one to Reuna.
28.3 Batsman watching a ball outside off, looking for the wide call is almost stumped by an alert keeper.
28.4 Late cut, gutsy shot with gully, point and silly mid-off in place. Mistimed down to the ground for no run.
28.5 Driven off the legs for one.
28.6 Pulled very fine, down to the soft ground by the sight screen for two.
Four for 139, with a quick water break for the batsmen.
29.1 OUT! Charlene is bowled, playing all around a ball up at her toes.
Five for 139. Thompson finishes with 25. Laurie makes her way out there.
29.2 OUT! Swung early and the ball ricochets off her body on to the off stump.
Six for 139. Lisa Richardson comes to the crease to join her sister.
29.3 Again, swinging early but safe.
29.4 OUT! Turning on a ball on middle stump, struck on the pads and no hesitation from the umpire. Helene has three wickets from four balls.
Seven for 139. Maria Peterkin goes in. Reuna still at the non-striker’s end, on 39.
29.5 Maria watches one outside the off.
29.6 Another watched ball.
Change of bowling, Meara Crawford from the city end.
30.1 Good ball, good pace with the first. Through to the keeper.
30.2 Played straight back. No run.
30.3 Just short of a Yorker, driven straight by Reuna for one.
30.4 Swung and missed, good ball.
30.5 Forward defensive to a ball on middle.
30.6 Bit shorter, swung underneath. No run.
Seven for 141 from 30 overs.
31.1 Reuna pulls along the ground, one run.
31.2 Defending, pulling the bat away from one outside off stump.
31.3 Hoik swing across the line, lucky to miss, probably.
31.4 Wide, slipping well down the leg side.
31.4 Another big swing, but no contact.
31.5 Swatted off the back foot to mid-on for one run.
31.6 Lovely shot, well-timed by Reuna makes the fielder chase all the way to the mid-wicket fence.
Seven for 148.
32.1 straight ball, appeal for lbw turned down.
32.2 watched through to the keeper. Wide called.
32.2. looping slower ball, swung over by Maria and through to the keeper.
32.3 Wide ball. 150 up.
32.3 driven, edged, over the slips for two.
32.4 Full toss, driven straight to short mid-wicket.
32.5 Another full toss, clear over the stumps.
32.6 Fuller ball, played straight.
Seven for 152 from 31.
31.1 pulled behind square, just one run.
31.2 swatted straight by Maria for one.
31.3 Batsman looks for a wide, but it’s ruled fair.
31.4 Clipped fine around the legs for one.
31.5 Very slow ball, patiently played away for one.
31.6 Wide ball, watched outside off.
31.6 Late cut missed, and that’s the over.
Seven for 157.
Meara to Maria.
32.1 Stright driven back to the bowler.
32.2 high chance, put down by Ave as they make it through for one.
32.3 Another high ball just short of Ave, no run.
32.4 Just slipping down leg side, Reuna pulls out of her shot.
32.5 Glancing fine off the legs, Reuna takes two to get to 49.
32.6 Straight drive missed and she’ll have to wait for her half-century.
Seven for 160.
Helene to Maria.
33.1 Blocked dead at her feet.
33.2 Loft drive back over the bowler, but charged down by Mona to keep it to one.
33.3 Forward defensive, no run.
33.4 Forward again, very watchful.
33.5 Pushed down to mid-on, just one but that’s reuna’s fifty up.
33.6 Maria pushes one just off the pitch to see out the over.
Seven for 162, as drinks come out again.
Another bowling change, Maree Wilson to continue from the City end.
34.1 Reuna plays straight, no run.
34.2 Blocked, no run.
34.3 Pulled away, picked up just short of the square leg fence sa they go through for two.
34.4 looking to push, but pulling away and the keeper takes it. Wide called
34.4 Pushed down off the hips to the leg side.
34.5 Forward defensive.
34.6 Driven into the ground
Seven for 165
35.1 no shot offered as the ball goes around the legs.
35.2 Lovely shot from Maria, driven to the midwicket boundary for four.
35.3 Swing and a miss.
35.4 Stretching well forward to defend a shorter ball.
35.5 Defending again as Helene finds her length.
35.6 Looping ball forces Maria to wait, pulls to deep forward square leg for two.
Seven for 171
36.1 Reuna defends Maree’s fuller ball away.
36.2 Pulled with no power, straight to the fielder. No run.
36.3 On driven for one, brings Maria on strike.
36.4 Forward and pushing airily back down the wicket.
36.5 Push and run, for one.
36.6 Pulled down to square leg for one more.
Seven for 174.
Claire Abbott back into the attack, from the nursery end.
37.1 Wide down the leg, and the batsmen go through for another.
37.1 Short pull by Maria, one run to mid-wicket.
37.2 Pushed back down the wicket.
37.3 Full ball, just down the leg side.
37.4 Full toss, pulled off the hips for a single.
37.5 cleverly turned around the leg and three fielders converge as the batsmen take one.
37.6 Good ball has Reuna fishing.
Seven for 179
38.1 Maree sends a ball down the legs for a wide.
38.1 Better ball just clears the stumps as Maria swing around it.
38.2 Pushed down and picked up at point.
38.3 Blocked for no run.
38.4 No shot to a ball outside the off.
38.5 Defending a bouncing ball, no run.
38.6 Defended again to see out the over.
Seven for 180
39.1 Sweep shot edged over the keeper, one run.
39.2 Forward defensive to a fuller ball.
39.3 OUT! Full toss, through the gate and clatters into middle and off.
Eight for 181, Maria gone for 16, Rhoda Jones joins Reuna at the wicket.
39.4 Just slipping down leg side, no run.
39.5 Full toss at the body, no Ball called.
39.5 Claire overcompensates, pull down too hard and fires one wide.
39.5 Good length, but wide of the off stump again. Wide called.
39.5 Full toss again. No run.
Eight for 18?
40.1 played down off the body for no run.
40.2 Cut early and through cover for two to Reuna
40.3 That’s pulled hard, but straight to the fielder on the square leg fence, just one.
40.4 Rhoda defending a ball on the legs, no run.
40.5 Watching a ball outside off.
40.6 flicked away forward for one.
Eight for 188
Ave mogan back on to bowl.
41.1 Short ball pulled by Rhoda for four.
41.2 Defended well, ball pitched up.
41.3 Wristy flick off the legs for one as square leg charges in.
41.4 Shorter ball pushed to short cover, no run.
41.5 Off drive, to the fielder, no run.
41.6 Turned around the legs for one more to Reuna.
Eight for 194
Maree to Reuna.
42.1 Leg glance fairly square, one run.
42.2 Shot withdrawn outside off stump.
42.3 Big swing over the ball, almost a stumping opportunity.
42.4 OUT! Defending backward, but missed the bat and hit on the thigh, down on one knee and plumb in front.
Nine for 195. Wendy Wodley to the crease.
42.5 Big swing at a bouncing ball, over the bowler and into the gap for one.
42.6 Swinging down the legs, no run.
Nine for 196.
Ave Mogan to continue.
43.1 Lovely ball, pitching up and turning away. No shot.
43.2 Too short and pulled away to the mid-wicket fence for four.
43.3 Full pitched and dug out, no run.
43.4 Another good ball, right on the spot.
43.5 Followed by another short ball, played between mid-on and mid-wicket for one.
43.6 Turned around leg, but no run.
Nine for 201
Maree to Wendy.
44.1 OUT! Bowled through the gate, leg stump knocked askew and that’s it for Bermuda.
BERMUDA 201 all out (41.1 overs) 27w, 2nb, 5leg bye, 2bye
Reuna Richardson 61 not out, Terry Painter 47.
Claire Abbott 4 for 32 (6 overs), Helene Gaffney 3 for 37 (8 overs)So Canada chasing 202 to win. Terry Painting to open with the ball around the wicket from the city end, to Ave Mogan, with Kim Coulter at the other end.
0.1 First ball is watched past to off stump.
0.2 Second ball slides past the legs, Ave has a swing, but her heart wasn’t in it.
0.3 Good ball, up into the body. Blocked down.
0.4 Full toss, played confidently past the close fielder, but no run.
0.5 Turned off the hips but no run.
0.6 Again off the body and the first over passes without incident.
Reuna Richardson from the nursery end.
1.1 Short ball, drpopped down by Kim.
1.2 Good length outside the off, watched.
1.3 Played just off the pitch for no run.
1.4 Identical ball, payed identically.
1.5 This one just a bit closer to the body, again played down.
1.6 Pitched up, defended well and we’re off to a cautious start.
Two overs, 0 for 0.
2.1 Good ball, coming back in to the right hander, dug out at the feet.
2.2 Another good delivery, played forward.
2.3 Short of a length and pulled, but popped up backward of square, short of the fielder. One run and we’re off the mark.
Terry comes over the wicket to Kim.
2.4 Glanced off the hips for one.
2.5 Ave shoulders arms to a ball outside the off.
2.6 Overpitched Yorker, chopped down for no run.
3.1 Kim check her pull shot and is nearly caught behind.
3.2 Four. Pulled away freely behind square.
3.3 Forward defensive, late cries for leg before.
3.4 Batsmen looks to the umpire after a ball down the leg side, but nothing coming.
3.5 Good ball, up at the toes, pushed back straight.
3.6 Another good ball to finish the over.
Four overs gone, 0 for 6.
4.1 Ave comes forward and is hit on the pads, big shout dies out half-heartedly.
4.2 Ball chopped down and squeezes through first and second slip. Two runs.
4.3 Watched through at chest height.
4.4 Wide down the legs.
4.4 Half-shot, almost a cut. Could have been left alone, very wide ball.
4.5 Full ball pitches just outside the feet. No shot.
4.6 Lightly cut behind point for two, quite a nice shot.
5.1 Kim drives at a ball pitched a little short, but misses completely.
5.2 Good length ball pushed to point.
5.3 Another very good delivery, pushed to a short cover.
5.4 This one slips by the legs, no run.
5.5 That continues further outside the legs and is called Wide.
5.5 Defended straight back down pitch.
5.6 Driven through the covers for one.
Six overs, none for 14.
Terry continues, to Kim.
6.1 Backward defensive, no run.
6.2 Wide ball, Kim shaping as if to cut.
6.2 Down the leg side, the batsmen scurry for a quick bye. Well run.
6.3 Wide down the legs of the left-handed Ave, and a bye as the ball runs down to fine leg.
6.3 Better ball, just down the legs, but fair.
6.4 Late cut between the slips and gully, two runs.
6.5 Wide outside the off.
6.5 Played fine off the legs, one run.
6.6 Slightly wild swing to finish this over.
None for 22.
7.1 A full-pitched slower ball, well defended, no run.
7.2 A very defensive half-drive, no run.
7.3 Pushed uppishly wide of short cover, no run.
7.4 Pulled very fine almost to the fence by Kim, two runs.
7.5 Somewhere between a cover drive and cut, but through the ffield and good for two runs.
7.6 Stretching forward to a slower ball, and defending down the wicket.
Eight overs, still no wicket for 26 runs.
8.1 Terry has a big shout for an imagined edge, the rest of the field isn’t convinced.
8.2 Tossed up and clobbered behind square for four runs.
8.3 Watched outside the off.
8.4 Cover drive has the fielder chasing all the way to the point fence, but over it goes for four more.
8.5 A similar shot, but straight to gully, no run.
8.6 Short and on the body, pulled down to mid-wicket for no run.
None for 34 after nine.
9.1 Full toss flicked off the hips and down the hill, cut off after only two runs.
9.2 Wide down the leg side, Kim flashing dangerously at it.
9.2 Lovely cut shot behind gully, two runs.
9.3 Wide, starting outside the off and moving away.
9.3 Pulled confidently and beats two fieldsmen on its way to the ropes.
9.4 Cheeky single as the ball is just dropped in front of the batsman.
Fielding adjustments for the left-hander.
9.5 and a good ball, well defended.
9.6 One more good ball to finish the over, as Canada are looking more confident.
Ten overs gone, none for 45.
Bowling change, left-arm Lisa Richardson coming on for Terry.
10.1 Slingy ball down the legs and Kim is looking a little surprised.
10.2 Better ball, good length. Played down for no run.
10.3 Full pitched and chopped out.
10.4 Wide ball behind the batsman.
10.4 Reaching out to a pull shot, well hit but only one as the field looks well placed.
10.5 Defended forward, down the wicket.
10.6 Chancy late cut just gets past Brittney at wide first slip, they take one.
Forty-eight without loss, from eleven overs.
Bowlers changing in pairs, as Brittney comes on for Reuna.
11.1 Lovely loosener, just over pitched but spinning.
11.2 Wide called, probably should have been a no ball as it sailed high past the batsman.
11.2 Missed cut shot, and Wendy takes the bails off. Ave hasn’t gone anywhere though.
11.3 Outside the off and left alone.
11.4 Cut away to a deep gully for one.
11.5 Kim steps out and pulls a ball from middle stump around to the backward square boundary. Four runs. Slight delay as the ball goes missing in the bark beyond the ropes.
11.6 Another little pull shot for one more.
12.1 Pushed back down the wicket. No run.
12.2 Wide ball, down the leg side.
12.2 This one outside the off stump. Wide ball.
12.2 On a line, but pulled by Kim for one.
12.3 Swung and missed.
12.4 Ave shoulders arms, as Lisa comes over the wicket, leftie to leftie.
12.5 Watched down the leg side. No run.
12.6 Wide, moving away down the legs, and the batsmen come through for n addition run.
12.6 Wide, as Lisa struggles with the right-left batting combination.
12.6 glanced off the hip for one.
None for 62 from 13.
13.1 No shot to a ball outside off.
13.2 Watched with bat on shoulder past the off.
13.3 Pushed straight back down the wicket. No run.
13.4 Pull shot hit high on the bat, trickles very fine down to fine leg. Two runs.
13.5 Played down off the body, no run.
13.6 Bouncing and spinning back into the body, chopped down and out to point. No run.
None for 65 from 14.
14.1 Brief shout for lbw, turned down quickly by Umpire Patel.
14.2 Cut away off the stumps to point, no run.
14.3 Wild, one-handed swing at a ball going wide down the leg side. Wide called.
14.3 OUT! Kim calls for the single to a ball cut behind point, is turned back and well short of her crease as the throw comes back. Reuna throws to Lisa at the bowler’s end, she takes the bails and celebrates immediately.
One for 66, Kim out for 31, as Helene Gaffney heads into the middle.
14.4 Similar cut shot to the last, but Helene calls no.
14.5 Ball outside off left alone.
14.6 Late cut through the slips and gully, one run.
One for 67, 15 overs gone.
15.1 Pulled to the fence behind square leg. Four runs.
15.2 Ave steps across to a ball outside off, called Wide
15.2 Wide again.
15.2 And again, Brittney missing her line.
15.2 Identical ball. You have to admire her consistency, if nothing else. Wide again.
15.2 On the stumps this time, swept , top-edged but safe. One run.
15.3 Good ball, pushed down for no run.
15.4 Cut early to the fielder at cover, no run.
15.5 flicked, rather than pulled, forward of square on the leg side and just beating the field. Four runs.
15.6 Genuine pull shot ,but finding the fielder. One run.
16.1 Helene swings all around a looping full toss from Lisa, but the ball beats the keeper and she gets away with leaving her crease.
16.2 Full pitched ball pushed back down the wicket.
16.3 Pulled fine, one run.
16.4 Dropped off the pitch, no run.
16.5 Cut and run, with a slight misfield at point.
16.6 Driven and inside-edged, missing the stumps. No run.
Bowling change, Linda Meinzer coming on at the nursery end
17.1 Pushed back to the off side. No run.
17.2 Ave swings impatiently at a ball looping in to her body, but misses.
17.3 Another impatient attempt, this one a cut. No rune.
17.4 turned off the stumps behind the legs for one.
17.5 Helene gets into position for a pull, but mistimes and takes one off the back of the bat.
17.6 Beaten by the flight, Ave swings over the top.
Drinks come on to the field.
Another change,
18.1 driven throught the covers for two.
18.2 Stepping out and swinging ov er the top, no run.
18.3 Reaching for a cut shot to deep cover point, one run.
18.4 Ave flicks a ball off her legs fine, for one.
18.5 Stepping out to a pull shot, hit hard and misfielded. Two runs.
18.6 Blocked, a fuller pitched ball.
One for 91 from 19.
19.1 Ball just blocked, but the field is back and the batsmen come through for one.
19.2 Swing and edged down into the pitch, no run.
19.3 No shot to a ball outside off. Wide called.
19.3 Tickled around the body for one.
19.4 Missed cut, a lazy swing, taken by the keeper.
19.5 OUT! Ave steps out for another cut attempt, mistimes and Wendy whips the bails off.
After 20 overs, 2 for 94. Ave Mogan finishes with 27, and Lenore Davis goes in.
19.6 Backward defensive shot, down into the pitch.
20.1 helene chops a ball past cover for one.
20.2 Watchful, a bit nervy, shuffling across and watching one outside off.
20.3 yorker length, looping in and dug out.
20.4 Defending again. Fielders closing in
20.5 Slashed pull shot, very quick bat but not middled. One run.
20.6 Another reaching cut shot to deep cover for one.
21 gone, two for
21.1 Helene walks down and across, then cover drives for a single.
21.2 Wide called down the leg side.
21.2 Pulled for an easy single. 100 up.
21.3 Turning and pulling, another easy single.
21.4 Cover driven for one, then another as the return gets past the keeper.
21.5 Defended down the wicket.
21.6 Wide ball, and high, down the legs.
21.6 Watched outside the off, no run.
Two for 103 from 22 overs.
22.1 Left alone just outside the off.
22.2 Pulled hard 45deg behind square for four.
22.3 Cut, uppish but safe between point and cover point, for one.
22.4 Pulled again, perfectly square for two.
Umpires are conversing mid-pitch, no signal as to what it might be about as we wait.
22.5 Lofted ball, beautifully flighted has Helene reaching down the pitch and scrambling her back foot into safe ground as she misses her shot.
22.6 Cut across to point for a quick single, that ball well picked up by Terry Painter.
Two for 111.
23.1 Wide ball, not carrying to the keeper on the second bounce.
23.1 Wide again, this one on the leg side.
23.1 Pulled fine and hurrying back for the second, throw is close but Wendy has to reach for it and Helene makes her ground.
23.2 Stepped into and pulled, one more the result.
23.3 Pulled hard before square, well stopped by the fielder and Helene is turned back after one.
23.4 Lofted over the lone slip, one run.
23.5 Pulled to square leg for a single.
23.6 That’s driven hard through the covers and they take a single from the missed pickup.
Two for 120, from 24.
24.1 Wide ball, outside off stump.
24.1 Glanced fine for a single.
24.2 Wide ball, again outside the off stump.
24.2 Missed pull shot there, no run. Lenore using her feet almost too much.
24.3 Lovely ball, played backward defensive.
24.4 Cover driven, through the field and cut off just short of the fence. Two runs.
24.5 Cheeky single, the ball just chopped down to the off.
24.6 Defended away to the off side.
Two for 127.
Bowling change,
25.1 Good start, full pitched and pushed away on the off.
25.2 Cleverly flicked down through the vacant gully region for two runs.
25.3 Another well-run short single, this one on the leg side.
25.4 Wide called outside the off. Bowler is not convinced.
25.4 Played hard, straight back to the bowler and well picked up.
25.5 Beaten, but outside the off stump.
25.6 Defended with a step down the pitch, no run.
Two for 131, 26 overs gone. Canada on target and looking comfortable.
Another change in pairs, as Reuna comes back on at the City end.
26.1 Turned behind square for one.
26.2 Up on the toes and played down on the off side, no run.
26.3 Pulled hard and just beats the fielder at backward square leg. Four runs.
26.4 Rapped on the pads, but well down the leg side.
26.5 Cover drive from a fuller ball, well stopped. No run.
26.6 Missed pull shot goes over the stumps, with Helene stepping across.
Two wickets for 137
27.1 Appeal from the bowler for leg before, not backed up by her field and turned down.
27.2 Pull shot popped up and drops right at the 30yard circle, well short of the fielder. One run.
27.3 Another appeal for a ball going down leg.
27.4 Played jumpily forward, no run.
27.5 Back foot drive to the fielder at cover, no run.
27.6 Played down with a straight bat to end the over.
Two for 137
28.1 Watched out side the off stump.
28.2 Forward and defending, edged up to point but safe.
28.3 Pulled fine-ish for two.
28.4 Pushed through the covers for a single. Canada finding the gaps.
28.5 Backward defensive stroke back down the pitch. Good ball, just a fraction short.
28.6 Another good ball, played back down the pitch.
Two for 140 from 29, as drinks come out to the players.
29.1 Defended away, no run.
29.2 OUT! Yorked and bowled, the off stump knocked aside. Excellent delivery.
Three down for 140, Lenore 21 as Mona Persaud heads into the middle.
29.3 Pushed away on the leg side.
29.4 Pushed down again on the off side, the ball coming up to the body.
29.5 Forward to a fuller ball, defending.
29.6 Hook attempt, good looking swing but no contact.
Three for 140, 30 overs gone.
30.1 OUT! Helene gets under a sweep-pull and lofts straight to Rhoda at backward square leg.
Four for 140. Helene 26. Janet Ramdai in to bat.
30.2 Defended well away.
30.3 Knokced down, bouncing up at the chest.
30.4 Watched past the off stump. Good ball.
30.5 Short ball, bouncing at the body and Janet ducks under it.
30.6 Lame appeal for caught behind, buit ther was no touch as the ball passed behin d the body.
Four for 141.
Peterkin bowling to Ramdai
31.1 Swinging at a ball down the leg side, it’s missed by the keeper and the batsman take a bye.
31.2 Driven to a shortish mid off. No run.
31.3 Poked at, bobbling up but short of all fielders.
31.4 Wide thrown well down leg side.
31.4 Cut away past cover point, racing away to the fence. Too short and well dealt with. Four runs.
31.5 Some confusion as nobody calls a shot played to point. No run.
31.6 Would have been wide if it hadn’t been pulled very fine, but the batsmen take a run all the same.
Four for 148, 32 overs gone.
32.1 Good ball, right up at the feet. Dug out, no run.
32.2 Very short and slow, but watched carefully on to the bat and defended away.
32.3 Big hoik swing, but not hit. Good ball.
32.4 Defending, and eventually leaving, another good ball.
32.5 No Ball. Watched down the leg side. Just overstepping there
32.5 Played down, no run.
32.6 Another good ball to finish the over, defended down the pitch.
Four for 149.
33.1 Wide ball, outside the off stump.
33.2 More confusion, the ball pulled fine, but no talk and no run.
33.3 Wide ball, again missing outside the off stump.
33.3 Wide, this time flying down the leg side.
33.3 Wide, outside the off. Maria allowing her rhythm to be thrown off .
33.3 Pushed off the pitch, no run.
33.4 On drive, lovely stroke. Slow to take off, but they make it though for two. These two batsmen are not communicating at all.
33.5 Watched over ths stumps, good eye.
33.6 full toss, hooked away by Mona to the bacward square leg fence. Four runs.
Four for 159 from 34.
34.1 Wide ball, probably a run there too as it beats the keeper, but not taken.
34.1 Forward, defending, charged down by cover and no run.
34.2 No ball. Short ball, hit hard straight back to the bowler and the chance dropped.
34.2 No Ball, that one slipped out and flew over the batsmen.
34.2 Glanced around the legs and quick single taken.
34.3 Better ball, good length and played back up the pitch.
34.4 Pulled for a single.
34.5 Forward defensive again. Good ball
34.6 Identical delivery. Good bowling.
Four for 164.
35.1 Cover driven straight to the field and a chancy run taken. Would have been out, but keeper couldn’t glove the return cleanly.
35.2 Calmly played back to the bowler. Well bowled.
35.3 Wide ball, slashed at by Janet but missed.
35.3 Appeal for lbw, but clearly down leg side.
35.4 Bye, taken as the keeper looks for the wide call.
35.5 Better ball, dug out off the toes.
35.6 Good bowling to finish the over, defended well.
Four for 167 from 36. Drinks are taken out to the fielders.
Lisa Richardson back on to bowl.
36.1 Defended behind square.
36.2 Pushed back down the wicket.
36.3 Another one pushed back straight, good bowling here.
36.4 pulled to the fielder but Mona is off-balance and unable to take the run.
36.5 Wide called on a ball sliding away down the leg side.
36.5 Another wide. Extras have been a huge contributor in this game.
36.5 Played and missed and that might have even grazed the off stump.
36.6 Wide ball, just missing the legs.
36.6 Good ball to finish, straight and up into the body.
Four for 171.
37.1 Bouncing delivery, played down one-handed by Janet.
37.2 Watched outside the off stump.
37.3 Yvette reaches forward to defend but the ball glides away and is taken well.
37.4 Watching another delivery just outside the off stump. Good bowling, and they need it.
37.5 Defending with a lovely straight bat. Good cricket.
37.6 Another good straight ball, well kept down.
Four for 171.
38.1 Cover drive, there was a run there for sure, but not taken.
38.2 Pushed away, no run.
38.3 Loose ball outside the off stump, driven but straight to the field. No run.
38.4 Cut well, but again straight to the field.
38.5 Driven past the cover fielders, two runs.
38.6 Wide, down leg side.
38.6 Back foot drive, well stopped by the bowler.
Four for 174, 39 overs gone.
39.1 Full toss, straight batted back to the bowler.
39.2 Good ball, cutting back in and chopped down on.
39.3 outside the off stump, nearly fished at but left alone.
39.4 Pushed to the off side, no run.
39.5 Spooned but short of cover, dropping safe as they take a single.
39.6 Straight drive, well hit, well fielded. No run.
Four for 175, with ten overs remaining.
40.1 Forward to a shorter, slower ball. Pops up of the bat, but forward of the bat.
40.2 Wide outside the off.
40.2 Just short of a length, dropped down off the dead bat.
40.3 Blocked again, the batsmen look content to let the bowlers give up the runs in extras.
40.4 On drive, to the deep fielder, single taken.
40.5 Defended to the off side.
40.6 Wide down the leg side.
40.6 Cover drive, well hit and through the fielder’s legs, two runs there.
Four for 180.
41.1 Forward defensive.
41.2 Short ball, pulled but there are still two fielders down there and it’s just one run.
41.3 Another short one, jagging off the seam and knocked down.
41.4 Watched outside the off stump, batsman looking for the wide.
41.5 Backffoot shot, but going nowhere.
41.6 More miscommunication nearly leads to a run out at the non-striker’s end. Ball played to cover, the run denied by Mona.
Four for 181.
42.1 Big swing and a miss, lucky to keep her back foot grounded.
42.2 On drive with a very high backlift, but into the ground and dribbling to the mid-wicket fielder, no run.
42.3 Pushed off the pitch, no run.
42.4 One-handed pull shot to a ball sliding well down leg side, away for four.
42.5 Wide ball on the off side.
42.5 Played down on the leg side.
42.6 Pulled to the deep midwicket fielder, only one run as they took a slow start.
Four wickets for 187, seven overs remaining.
?? to Yvette.
43.1 Lofted pull from a short ball, behind square for one.
43.2 Pulled again, along the ground this time, for one more.
43.3 Belted straight drive, but the ball hits the soft ground and won’t go to the fence. The batsman are fooled and end up with only one run.
43.4 Wide behind the legs.
43.4 Cut forward of square, picked up at cover, no run.
43.5 Cut forward again, no run.
43.6 Wide down the leg side.
43.6 Driven to the cover fielder again and no run.
Four for 192. Ten runs to win, 36 balls remaining.
44.1 Slower ball, turned behind the legs, but no run.
44.2 Pulled over the square leg umpire, one run.
44.3 Cut through cover point, no run.
44.4 Pull swing misses and Mona is struck on the back. Laughable appeal for lbw.
44.5 Pushed to cover, standing deep enough to allow a run.
44.6 Lofted straight drive, but again the ball pulls up short as it hits the ground and only one run results.
Four for 196. Six runs to win.
45.1 OUT! Yvette reaches for a ball and pops it right off the toe of the bat high back to Linda.
Five for 196. Yvette 19, Shelly Fathers to the crease.
45.2 Outside the off stump, looking and leaving.
45.3 Again missing off stump, left alone.
45.4 this one on the wicket, and pushed away.
45.5 Wide called outside the off.
45.5 Wide, that one almost off the pitch outside off.
45.5 Wide, looping behind leg.
45.5 Tucked away behind the legs for one.
45.6 Pulled forward off square for one more to draw level.
Five for 201.
46.1 Pulled fine, they’ll come back for the academic second and it’s all over.
CANADA 203 for 5 (46.1 overs) WIN BY FIVE WICKETS.
Kim Coulter 31, Ave Mogan 27, Helene Gaffney 27.
Linda Meinger 2/29. (50w, 4nb, 4bye)
Cricket friendly bridges gap -- Posted Sunday, September 3 2006
Cricket friendly bridges gap - Fosters relationship between Indian, Pakistani communities
By BILL LAYE, CALGARY SUN
Members of Calgary's Indian and Pakistani communities are hoping their example of fellowship on the playing field will help further peace efforts in their former homelands.
For the second year, the local Pakistan Canada Friendship Society hosted a cricket match in Riley Park in honour of the two countries' August independence days.
And plans are already in the works for next year, PCFS president Ansa Kanwar said today as the festivities got underway. "We are trying to make a bridge between two communities ... we want to be good Canadian citizens and good friends to each other," said Kanwar, 49, who's been in Canada four years.
"We want to show that the people don't have bad feelings for each other - it's just the politics."
And the game of cricket - where a batter scores points by hitting a ball and running between two sets of wickets - is one of the best ways to seal that friendship, said Romesh Anand, vice-president of the Indo-Canadian Council.
"In India and Pakistan cricket is just like hockey is in Canada," said Anand, a 67-year-old retired businessman who's been in Canada more than 35 years.
"We are showing our two countries we know how to work together, play together and have fun together, so it might be a good way of starting a friendship between the two countries."
And while numerous conflicts have marred India-Pakistan relations in the past, last October's earthquake in the Kashmir region - currently claimed by both nations - has actually helped ease tension and start the reconciliation process, Anand added.
"It took this bad tragedy to bring us together ... but I wish we could come together always," Anand said.
Article sourced from:-
http://calsun.canoe.ca/News/Alberta/2006/08/26/1778196.html
Hamilton Cricket Club -- Posted Saturday, September 2 2006
Hamilton Cricket Club offers coaching and playing oppurtunities to Junior cricketers from all sorts of backgrounds and skill levels. At present, HCC holds a seperate weekly practice for juniors aged anywhere from 5 to 18. This year, the club gratefully accepted a grant of $25,000 from The Trillium Foundation for the development of young cricketers. That has helped the club acquire smaller sized equipment and a playing surface in order to accomodate all young cricketers.
Youngsters are coached by experienced existing and former cricketers from the Hamilton and District Cricket League. They get to learn everything from the basic fundamentals of Batting and Bowling to the application of specific techniques in actual matches. HCC is looking to build on this program and provide regular oppurtunities to Juniors in order to promote Cricket to the younger generation.
Article sourced from http://www.hamiltoncricket.com/juniors.php
Greenfield Cricket Club -- Posted Saturday, September 2 2006
Greenfield Cricket Club was established in 1990 by a small group of Sri-Lankans, who had a passion for the game of cricket. Within this short time our club has grown to be one of the best clubs in Edmonton, Alberta.
We have contributed in numerous ways to the development of cricket in Edmonton and vastly responsible for promoting youth cricket. The club is focused on developing young players and making them the future leaders of the club. We like to ensure that young players have a great future in this club and all of it's activities. Greenfield is one of the youngest teams in the league and its executive provides opportunity and encouragement to any and all up and coming cricketers.
Greenfield Cricket Club is a family oriented club where members and their families and friends have the opportunity to get involved in various activities and outings. The club has the lowest membership fees in the province (if not in Canada).
We are appreciative of your interest in Greenfield Cricket Club 'Online' and once again we extend our hearty welcome. If you wish to contact us, please e-mail us at greenfieldcc@hotmail.com and we would be delighted to hear from you or answer any questions you may have.
Article sourced from:-
http://www.greenfieldcricket.com/aboutus.htm
The game of glorious uncertainty -- Posted Saturday, September 2 2006
To its legion of passionate supporters, it is “the game of glorious uncertainty.” Cricket’s detractors — usually those who have never played it — call it watching grass grow.
It’s a game more strategic than baseball, as cerebral as chess, but those who don’t follow it consider cricket’s eccentricities and archaic terms relics of a bygone era. All the same, for thousands of Canadians — especially newcomers from places like Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and the West Indies, cricket isn’t so much a game as it is a passion.
The local cricket scene is booming. Games sprout each Saturday and Sunday on pitches across the GTA. Next year, this country will send a team to the World Cup in the West Indies.
Former professional cricketer Anderson Cummins came here 10 years ago from Barbados. Part of the reason why cricket hasn’t caught on here before now is the long, cold Canadian winter, he says. Another drawback is that cricket doesn’t have the immediacy sports viewers in North America demand.
“Cricket is a game that is played over a long period of time. If you tell people that a one-day game is the shortest game in cricket, they just laugh, because for TV they really need that short, compact product you can sell to people,” explains Cummins, an IT professional from Oshawa. There are now shorter, 20-over games. (In baseball terms, an over is comprised of six pitches). Each side bowls only 120 balls. The game itself is much livelier and more aggressive than it once was, and some leagues have forsaken the traditional whites in favour of coloured uniforms.
Cummins, 40, who played in five Test Matches for the West Indies and county cricket in England, is captain of the Cavaliers, a local team in the premier league from which the Canadian team will be selected to play in next year’s World Cup. (World Cup cricket is a series of international one-day games. Test Matches, by contrast, are five-day matches — and the players always wear white.)
Cummins says it’s important to grow the sport to build a base of homegrown players. Many newcomers from cricket-playing countries have become successful in business and are a potential source of sponsorship revenue.
“It’s important to market it appropriately so it doesn’t remain something that is played primarily by the immigrant population,” he said.
One rare homegrown cricketer is Zubin Surkari. His father came here in the ‘70s from India and Surkari, 26, got involved with the game through programs at the Toronto Cricket Club at an early age. He’s been on the senior national team since he was 19.
“It’s hard to get homegrown players to play at a level that is good enough, when there are people coming in from other countries where they play cricket all the time,” he said. He scoffs at the notion that cricket is a slow or boring game.
“Cricket has a long history and it’s an influential game in a lot of countries now. It is played with a lot of honour and rules, but in terms of it being a slow game or something that people wouldn’t appreciate, that is wrong,” he said. “The old colonial mentality is gone now.”.
He’d like to see the game organized at the school level and a development officer brought in to identify young local talent.
Cricket is one of the few games where you can never tell who is winning. A team may be said to have the advantage, but games change direction within minutes. Even the weather can dictate the outcome — with one team moving from a fast pitch to a sticky wicket overnight.
Sunil Dhaniram, 37, came here from Guyana in 1992. By day he’s a forklift operator from Ajax. But on weekends he’s a proud member of Canada’s national team, and has played for them since 2003.
Many of his co-workers are from the West Indies and understand cricket. Even his Canadian-born bosses, who may be baffled by the finer points of a googlie vs. a Yorker, are nevertheless still fiercely proud to have an international cricket star working for them.
The national team gets no financial support from any levels of government, and while some costs are paid for by the International Cricket Council, the governing body of cricket, Dhaniram still loses money in the time he takes off work to play for Canada. He points out that cricket has a long history in this country. It was once the national sport, and the first international game was played here in 1844, when Canada beat the U.S.
With no financial aid, players of modest means are hard-pressed when they represent their country at the international level. “I think the government should get involved and help the players, because it’s very tough,” he said.
He’d like to see programs expanded into the schools, so that it catches on with young people.
“You have to love the sport and want it to grow it in Canada,” he said.
Cavaliers’ president Shameer Ali grew up playing cricket in his native Guyana. Since coming to Canada, he’s helped get the game started in schools. Where other sports encourage physical means of dealing with disputes, cricket’s strong ethical code, its etiquette and manners all help foster respect, making it the perfect game to help get young people on the right track, he says. Cricket’s rules are called “laws.” There are no head butts — and no broken teeth.
“Even if you are upset out there, you have to try and control yourself and try and calm other players instead of getting into an argument or fight, which you see happening in other sports,” he said.
“It is a gentleman’s sport. The thing about being involved in cricket is that it teaches respect. It teaches you good etiquette, good manners.”
Ali, who has a trucking firm, has long been an ardent supporter of the local cricket scene. He started a cricket program in his sons’ Etobicoke school and still volunteers each year. The players all lament the lack of facilities in the GTA. The wickets they play on are matting and canvas or artificial turf. Cricket at the international level is played on grass, and they need to practice on that to prepare for the World Cup. On their wish list also is a cricket stadium for the GTA.
Most of all, the players suggest you take in a game. Non-cricket playing spectators are encouraged and there are always experts on hand to explain the game.
Article sourced from:-
http://torsun.canoe.ca/News/Columnists/Blizzard_Christina/2006/08/06/1722435.html
The ICC's expansionist dream - with a reference to Canada -- Posted Friday, September 1 2006
Leave Americans to baseball
Not much remains to be said about the proposed misadventure in USA between India and the West Indies, and even the more outlandish Afro-Asia Cup. By now, we should be inured to the priorities of our cricket boards and the reality of one-day cricket. The ICC has once again bestowed these games with the sanctity of official recognition. To be fair, what choice did it have? The ICC is demonized as if it had a will outside the purview of its members, and we pretty much know who rules world cricket. So the show will roll on. Grin it and bear it, or simply switch off your TV sets.
Of course, these tournaments will give credence to the stories of deal-making that took place during the World Cup bidding process. West Indies, not the most sought after cricket team in the world at the moment, would no doubt be chuffed at the prospect of some extra cash coming their way, as would Zimbabwe and Kenya who will participate in the apparition called the Afro-Asia Cup, a concept so artificial that the last edition was played on a cricket ground which had barren patches painted green to create the illusion of grass. The idea ought to have been abandoned after the spectacular failure of the ICC Super Series which was a stinging reminder that international cricket had little appeal, to both spectators and players, outside the bilateral arena. But why let such considerations come in the way when sponsors are willing?
But while I am resigned to the financial and political considerations, what riles me is the attempt to cloak these matches with legitimacy. Both the ICC and the West Indies Cricket Board have made pious-sounding statements about matches in the USA and Canada helping the spread of the game, and it is simply a false promise.
A few years ago, when Jagmohan Dalmiya was taking cricket far and wide, I had felt a genuine surge of excitement. It was novel watching cricket matches in Singapore, Hong Kong and Canada. Some grounds were oddly shaped, the matches were thinly attended, and there were hardly any locals. But I supported the expansionist zeal, and hoped that cricket would catch on. I was naïve, and wrong.
Chastened and wiser, I can now see the futility of the ambitions, genuine or otherwise, to grow cricket outside its natural habitat and I am prepared to venture that cricket will never catch on. It is just not that kind of a game. Instead of pointlessly envying and aspiring to emulate the growth of football, cricket must spend all its energies trying to preserve and strengthen what exists.
Cricket is not an easy game to start liking. It is a complex and baffling game. It demands utter devotion, infinite patience, certain intellectual engagement, and that utterly scarce commodity: time, lots of it. Also, the cricket lover, particularly those attracted to the alluring charms of Test cricket, must be prepared to enjoy the journey for the sake of it, without obsessing about the destination. Try convincing your American friend that a drawn Test is not a waste of five days.
It's a pity if we cannot learn from our experiences. Cricket was a regular fixture in the UAE for more than a decade, yet how many indigenous cricketers has the country produced? Does the USA have a single player outside the expatriate communities? Has the game taken roots in Singapore? Cricinfo Magazine carried a detailed feature about the attempt to grow the game in China in its May issue, but why do I think that the Chinese will find much harder to embrace cricket than capitalism?
Cricket does not need to be anxious or apologetic about its insularity, or elitism, if you must call it that. It has survived and prospered in the countries where it found root in colonial times, and to try to grow it beyond the Commonwealth might require a distortion of form. More worrying is the state of the game in Zimbabwe, where it has been ravaged by politics, in West Indies, where it suffers from administrative lapses, and in Kenya, which has fallen off the map due to sheer neglect.
Let's leave Americans to baseball.
Sambit Bal
Article sourced from:-
http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/247695.html
From my perspective there is only one reality within the ICC, and that is avarice. Regretfully the administration of our game in Canada appears to have been caught in the web. (Jon Harris).
17thCENTURY GAME OF CRICKET: A RECONSTRUCTION OF THE GAME -- Posted Friday, September 1 2006
The novelty of this paper is that, for the first time, cricket has been analysed in the context of its early seventeenth century geographical locations. Furthermore, connections have been established between cricket and the sixteenth and seventeenth century trade routes in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The language of cricket in the seventeenth century has been reconstructed, throwing light upon how the game was played at that time and advancing our knowledge of the game. The idea of the Flemish being involved with cricket gained credence recently when, first, John Eddows pointed out that John Derrick, had a Flemish surname and gave evidence in a court case at Guildford that he had played cricket there about 1550; and, second, Heiner Gillmeister put forward a theory that the Flemish name for hockey was probably contracted to krik-ket.(1)
The seventeenth century game of cricket was firmly rooted in the (U.K) counties of Kent, Surrey and Sussex, but similar bat and ball games were played in other parts of the country. These included Cat and Dog in lowland Scotland, Bandy Wicket in East Anglia, Stool Ball and Bat and Trap throughout England, (2) Tut in Cornwall and Devon (3) and Stow-Ball and Stob-Ball in the counties of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, north Somerset and parts of Dorset.(4) All of these games appear to have been originally single wicket or double-base games with the scoring of points.
Stow and stob are dialect names for a stump, being the lower part of a tree or its remaining stump, (5) so we can guess that this was the original wicket. A stow was also a frame used in mining to support `crawling tunnels', perhaps used in the north Somerset lead mines. For the seventeenth century we know as much about stow-ball as we do of cricket. John Aubrey, (The Sports Historian, No. 20, 1 (May, 2000), pp. 33-43), recounts his knowledge of stow-ball in north Wiltshire in the period 1648-1686. The withy or willow staves were carefully shaped by their owners, or the local stave maker, and each son when he reached the age of eight was given two staves by his father. The ball was four inches in diameter with a sole leather case stuffed hard with boiled quills. The farm labourers used to hurry home from the fields to gather for a game in the evening, showing us that a cricket-like game was more compulsive than it is today.(6) A game of stow-ball was played on Bullingdon Green, Oxford in 1667 on an area of three acres.(7) This is much the same size as today's cricket ground.
Many stow-ball games were played on chalk, particularly in Wiltshire, Dorset and north Somerset, and chalk was the preferred sub-soil. It drains well, and, being used predominately for grazing sheep, the grass is kept short. Flat chalkland is an excellent surface as it is usually drier than other surfaces, which is important when balls are absorbent and thus become wet and heavy. The ball on chalk can be hit some distance and can produce a lively game as the ball bounces across the grass.
The bat itself did not have to be heavy like those 4 pound weapons of the late eighteenth century. They were light in weight and shaped somewhat like a hockey stick.(8) An Englishman visiting Ireland in 1673 refers to the common people as playing bandy (hurling) with balls and crooked sticks much after our play at stow-ball. (9) In fact we can get an idea of these bats by looking at some examples. Around 1700 they are like hockey-sticks, shaped with flat surfaces, and the batsman is usually called a striker. He stood with knees bent and used a downward sweep to hit the ball. The objective was to loft the ball over the heads of the fielders, known as catchers and seekers. Balls were hit to either side of the bowler, (10) further emphasising that a hockey-type stick was used. This picture gives us a glimpse of the `play of the game' with strategically placed catchers and seekers who appear as long stops. The toss of a coin determined which team would choose the pitch, and or, the team to bat first. (11) It was honorable in got-up games for the captains or best players to pick teams of equal strength from those available.(12)
In the late seventeenth century, the ball was trundled, not bowled as we know today, in overs of four balls. Does the number four represent the number of stumps used in a game? The lucky number three would have been a more logical choice as it was used in a number of other sports. It is doubtful if the ball was ever rolled along the ground as the contemporary word `trundle' describes, but tossed low aiming at one of the two stumps as the ground was seldom level. It was likely that bowlers both trundled the ball, as would children be taught, and skimmed it above the ground when they became more skilled. Some early bats appear to be shaped to block the grass-cutting bowler.(13) The ball itself came in various sizes and colours around 17001(4) and was waterproofed with grease to avoid picking up moisture.(15) There was the ritual of choosing the ball at important matches (16) and we can probably look at the limits of the ball being between three and four inches in diameter. (17)
The heavy modern-type ball with wound core and thick leather cover did not come into use much before 1760 when Richard Duke of Penshurst, Kent was making first class balls between 1748 and 1762. (18) He is credited with inventing the modern ball. There is mention of a crimson ball in 1753 and this may be a reference to one of Duke's balls.19 Certainly in 1727 the covers were flying off balls during play.20 These balls were probably of blackthorne wood and covered in leather. We hear of Thomas Ken playing a bat and ball game at Winchester College around the middle of the seventeenth century `with the bats ringing' from the impact of the ball, and again balls ringing in a game at the end of the century. (21) Flat-faced bats are more likely to produce a ringing sound than circular cross-section bats and with the combination of a leather covered wooden ball would give rise to ringing or vibrating of bats and the stinging of the hands.
The term `bat' is comparatively rare before 1720. The older terms are `staff', `stave', or `stick', which tended to be used regionally: for example, `stave' was used in the Gloucester area, and `bat' in the south-east, while `staff' and especally `stick' were more widely used. `Bat' is derived from the French battledore, shaped like a table tennis bat, which were used by washer women to beat their washing with. (22) The use of the `bat' in cricket is peculiar to Kent and Sussex and their coastal smugglers were known as batmen, because of the cudgels they carried. We first hear of the `flat-faced' bat in 1622. (23)
Prior to the late 1770s the wicket comprised of two stumps with a bail, with the height of the stumps being high and the width between them being narrow.24 Earlier eighteenth century pictures show a wicket that was wider than it was higher, perhaps two feet wide by one foot high which was the case in America in 1720. The ends of the stumps were forked to support the light bail, and there were criteria for the firmness of pitching the stumps into the ground and for the delicate placing of the bail so that it would easily topple when the stump was hit.
Bowlers were reported to deliver very fast and accurate with the light ball they used, but the batsman had the problem of defending two stumps, about two feet apart. Hence the shape and size of bat could be important. A 1742 wood-cut shows a home-made bat designed more in the shape of an ice-hockey stick, for better defence of the wicket. (25) There has been a lot of conjecture about the origin of the wicket, but suffice to say that the seventeenth century outline shape is more akin to the profile of a church stool, which is low and long. (26)
The term `umpire' is first noted in 1680. (27) They were grey-haired veterans who were rich in cricket lore. (28) The function of the umpire's bat was for the batsman to touch with his own to record a run. (29) As far as we know there were three methods of getting a batsman out: by bowling him out, catching him out, and hitting the wicket with the ball before he had touched the umpire's bat. (30) The double wicket game was controlled by two umpires, one from each team, who would position their bats, before allowing the bowler to bowl. Each team was usually responsible for providing one umpire and presumably both umpires had to agree on the decisions taken. (31) The holding of a bat represents the staff of office which certainly goes back to the fifteenth century in some sports. (32) In cudgeling, the umpire was called a `stickler', and his stick was used to separate the cudgelers, as also in wrestling. (33) The word `stickler' does have the connotation of law and order and may have been the name used in cricket in the early seventeenth century.
Around 1700 there were two trustworthy scorers, seated on the grass or upon stools. The scorers knotched the score on a stick, with a deeper knick at 20, which of course represented a score. (34) This method of counting was much used by shepherds when counting sheep, hence the connection between cricket being played on sheep-shorn hills and the method of scoring for cricket. From the fifteenth century into the seventeenth, the term `point' or `prick' appears to be popular as a means of keeping a tally, this terminology being derived from scoring with a point or prick of the pen upon paper or wood. (35)
In the early seventeenth century the known areas of play can be broadly described as the area of Sevenoaks and Maidstone in Kent, the Guildford area in Surrey, and Chichester in Sussex. (36) These areas are located around the perimeter of the Weald. They also represent seventeenth century trade routes. The game can be traced along the road from London to Rye in Kent with a spur to Maidstone, the Guildford to Chichester road, and along the river Wey from Farnham to Weybridge. There are several hills named `cricket hill' along the route of the river Wey. The one at Weybridge is recorded in the late sixteenth century in local manorial court records, while others are in the parishes of Bramley, Send, and Seale, all places where early cricket was played. (37) While the word `cricket' can be interpreted as `crooked hill', it is unusual to find a cluster of four hills so named in such a small area.
The Flemings were active in the cloth trade in all the areas where cricket was played during the seventeenth century. It is interesting to find that one John Derrick, a Flemish name, in 1598, claimed to have played the game of `creckett' in Guildford about 1550. (38) This clue connects the Flemings with cricket. Some Flemings had been in Kent from as early as 1328, but we know they were well established in the south east by the end of the fifteenth century, where they largely controlled the cloth trade. The religious disturbances in western Europe saw some 5,000 Flemish and French Protestant refugees land at Sandwich and make their way to Canterbury in 1566, and as many again in other years entered Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. These immigrants were eventually absorbed into the hinterland, and many probably joined their countrymen in the clothing trade, brewing or glassmaking. (39)
With the Flemish came their language and perhaps their sport. No evidence has been found of playing a game of cricket in Flanders, but they did play a hockey game which appears to have been known as `met de krik ketsen', meaning `with the stick chase', which gives rise to Gillmeister's theiry that the `krik ketsen' were foreshortened to `cricket'. (40) Interestingly, the church stool was known by the Flemish name of `cricket' in 1656 in Sussex and 1623 outside the south-east. (41) The profile of the stool is very similar to that of the wicket used in the seventeenth century. Some of the earlier eighteenth century pictures suggest a wicket of about one foot high by two feet wide. Furthermore, the legs of the stool were called stumps, which adds further credence to the idea that the earliest wicket was a stool. (42) Did the Flemish adapt stoolball and call it cricket? In the games of stow-ball, stob-ball and stool-ball, the name of the game is derived from the target at which the ball is bowled. So why not the same derivation for the game of cricket? The alternative is that `cricket' derived from the hitting implement, that is the Anglo-Saxon name `crick' with the French-Norman diminutive `et' Another anomaly is the use of the plural `creckets' or `crickets' for the game. In the early seventeenth century, both single and double wicket games were popular, and the plural form of cricket identified the double wicket game. At later periods it was the single wicket game that needed identification. The introduction of the double wicket games supposes that number playing was larger than normal.
There is another view that the word `wicket', which was first recorded in cricket in 1680, (43) comes from playing the game against a small wicket gate, but wicket gates are associated with property: this relegates such a game to one played by children outside their houses, not by adults as a folk game played on the village green or in a field. There is a stob-ball field mentioned in Oxfordshire as early as 1525, (44) which demonstrates that bat and ball games were played in a designated field. The word `wicket' has a counterpart in Flanders called `wechet'. (45) Interestingly, the south-east English dialect would have called a wicket a `wecket' and cricket `crecket'.
By 1629 the game had attracted the attention of the lesser gentry. At Rucking in Kent, the curate was found playing Cricketts after evening prayer: in his defence, he said he was not playing with mean and base persons but with persons of repute and of fashion. (46) There are social reasons why cricket would have expanded in the second half of the sixteenth century. It was a time when parishioners began to pay poor rates instead of holding church ales to raise money. Church ales were largely activities within each parish. With the demise of church ales, the rise of inter-village sport came about, and we hear of competitions, one village against another, from the 1590 period, at football, dancing. cudgeling and wrestling. (47) About 1610, in the Kent parish of Chevening, there was a Cricketting between the Weald and Upland, which suggests that the best players of two localities met in a grand match. (48)
The Puritans had been pleased to see the decline the church ales and the rowdiness they provoked. By the 1620s the new puritanical laws began to hinder the traditional Sunday sport which depressed the game's development. There is evidence of suppression at Maidstone before 1635. Between 1643 and 1660 the law forbade sport on Sundays, (49) but this did not always stop cricket being played, as we hear of a game in Eltham in 1654 50 and one of stow-ball in Westminster in 1658. (51) Cricket was now expanding outside its traditional area.
To conclude, the cloth-working fringe area of the Weald area was poorly populated in the fifteenth century, with villages being small. Flemish migration appears to have increased, particularly in the middle years of the sixteenth century. The Flemish probably molded the traditional game of stoolball into something we recognise as cricket. Population growth in the area in the sixteenth century would have soon demanded a double-wicket game with the deployment of a greater number of players. However, there is much we need to know about Flemish bat and ball games in the sixteenth century before we can reach a conclusion on their involvement in cricket.
Children, perhaps mostly Flemish, were the prominent players of the game during the sixteenth century. From the 1580s, circumstances were ripe for the game to be played by adults, and there are hints to the frequency of cricket being mentioned. Only by about 1610 is it clear the game was in full-swing in three distinct areas, Maidstone-Sevenoaks, Guildford, and Chichester. By 1629 people of quality played the game, and by 1646 gamblers had been attracted to it. (52) The pressure of the Puritans probably inhibited the game, because after 1660 its popularity increased alongside that of other sports. This, some historians have argued, was connected to the migration of nobility and gentry into cricket areas around the Weald, and bringing the game to London and other parts of England. The name `cricket' is hardly found outside the three south-eastern counties until the final quarter of the seventeenth century.
The game I have attempted to describe is `the play of the game of cricket', during the second half of the seventeenth century. It was then evolutionary, but many elements of the game were in place before 1700. Its terminology had changed, it had ceased to be a folk game, and emerged as a national sport in the eighteenth century.
David Terry.
Published in the Journal of Sports History