Eddie Norfolk muses on the 2011 World Cup for Canada Cricket Online
The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup warm-up begins on Saturday with Canada set to face Bangladesh, one of the three hosting countries, in Chittagong, before meeting England in Dhaka. Then Canada moves on to meet Sri Lanka in Group A of the competition proper on Sunday February 20. The competition then meanders along with the absurdity of days with just one game (local weather conditions permitting) or two games.
Much though I wish the participating players of all teams, umpires and support folks who keep the game going, I have no time for some of those who purport to run the game. Some may be aware than when the decision was made to reduce the number of teams for this 2011 CWC, the leading lights had not worked out the mechanics and logistics of the competition. But came up with a theory to reduce and shorten the timeframe, compared with 2007. This may be a revelation to some, but I do have on file a response from someone at the ICC about the original decision and certain missing specifics.
The previous ICC CEO was around when the wonders of “mission statements”from the great world of major business and academic thinking were brought in. However, you need to develop details and do something to really broaden crickets spheres of influence.
A few people may recall a one-day seminar at the University of Toronto soon after the 2007 tournament. It was an interesting example of how management has become a missing art. The fascinating part, in one way, being how some of the leaders manage to tell you they lack management awareness. Management in some companies and organizations seems more like some assembly line: some one turns a screw or two, next person tags on the next piece, and at some stage the product is completed.
I will leave aside the presentation on the contractual structure behind the last CWC. One speaker said how it did not matter how a comma was missing on one of his slides, before realizing that in his professional life, one could spend quite a bit of time debating the specific meaning. And, yes, the missing comma might matter. Especially for those footing the related legal bills. (And the attendance, opinions and costs of the ’necessary’ experts!)
One of the presentations still featured the ‘artistic impressions’ of various of the stadia, not the actually completed, sometimes with revised plan versions. The problems with the growth of grass at a couple of places, one relating to the pitches, were explained as being due to a ‘lack of time’ and at one site, the contractor’s put their building materials in the middle.
Now, I have had a lot of experience dealing with all kinds of senior and executive management of various companies, as well as at various conferences, where you realize the lights might be a bit dim, or are shining actively in the wrong direction (except in the opinion of the particular person). Readers may recall that money and workers from the People’s Republic of China, and from Taiwan/Chinese Taipei were doing a lot of the work on different islands. Surely even a local committee leader with moderate candles flickering might have given some advice to leave the main square free for the grass to grow and bind. (Paint, I gather, was an interim solution for sparse grass at one of the grounds where the outfield had not quite grown enough)
Linking time and space, I was at the Recreation Ground, Antigua , to see a spirited game between Bangladesh and Canada, which the Bangladeshi’s won by 13 runs. But Canada let the game get away during the closing overs of the Bangladesh innings as a range of wristy shots bolstered the score. Shakhib lead with 134, captain Habibul Bashir made 57 and Mohammad Ashraful skipped to 60. Two wickets had been down with just 4 on the board, a catch was missed and 30 for 3 ended at 278 for 5.
Canada’s 265 for 7 included 93 from Ian Billcliff, 77 from Geoff Barnett and 44 not out from Asif Mulla. Billcliff, I seem to recall, had some leg troubles, which possibly lead to him not making a century. It was pretty hot and warm-up games allow time to adjust before the main event. Billcliff and Barnett joined in Canada’s first ODI partnership beyond the 150 run mark.
The grass looked good at a certain ground near the Antiguan airport, but the grass is no longer so green for at least one of the major players in the local financial scene. I thought the Rec Ground provided the best wickets for grounds I saw during my 2007 CWC travels, but don’t tell anyone I said that.
Hopefully the 2011 tournament will be played in a good spirit and will give cricket a boost. Sport – and culture, such as music and singing – has the potential to bring people together in a spirit of respect. Theory and practice can be different, especially if fierce nationalism – or financial opulence- with scant interest in the actual game takes over. Education and learning to appreciate the similarities between people of difference backgrounds, races, colours and religions.
How many of the current world struggles seem similar to the early 1800’s in Europe, or the fallout between stubborn forces in the privileged/elite and the others around 1848. During the last year or so, I have ventured into some of the different places of worship in the Toronto area. A trio of cantors (singers) at one Eastern Orthodox Church by dress and singing style seemed similar to what can be heard in a Jewish synagogue. Some of the singing was of psalms common to both Jews and Christians.
A few hours before the explosion at a Coptic Church at a New Year’s Day service in Egypt, I was at a Coptic Church in Toronto. The chanting style was similar to the early morning Moslem call to prayers from about 100 meters from my hotel window in Mombasa, Kenya. Back in London, a group of Hare Krishna people used to go up and down Oxford Street each night.
Cell phones go off with similar abandon, despite signs and pleadings, at various temples, churches, etc. Attempts to break through to some people fail, based on my experience, in business, religion and music. “My idea is what society is thinking”, “everybody thinks the same, don’t they” no longer rests on mere deadwood with polished Oxbridge accents. Some of the new elites are even worse!
One person was moved to say, during one evening presentation aimed at raising awareness of the underlying basics of the Christian religion, that ‘the Holy Spirit (other faiths might interpret it as the spirit of the creator/God) was obviously alive and well in Kenya. But it was not here.”
An almost rhetorical answer, met with a silent pause, that one is supposed to believe and not just mouth whatever words of wisdom drive your faith. Or, apparent lack of it.
I had living confirmation at the last CWC that the pen is mightier than the sword, Pens were being confiscated on day 1 where a warm-up game was taking place. The camera was ok on day 1, but not day 2, although it was ok at the security gate. Then it was discovered that I was accredited for the media (which cost money and a deposit) but time meant I merely paid at the gate as a short-term move. I ended up missing the good start Canada made against Pakistan, but by the time a range of folks failed to decide on anything, I re-emerged in time for one the sightscreens (windsails) to blow down, which produced a gap of an hour or so. (Oddly enough various Pakistani players happily signed autographs for fans who had pens. And I knew, from inside security activities that the badges for a couple of the late replacement players had not arrived.)
Yes, just leave it to the self-professed experts and simplicity becomes complex.
Still, by the third game,. I had media accreditation, the cheap and cheerful plan A tickets for merely going as a spectator (there had seemingly been no option to pick up locally, so these ended up in Toronto when I was in Antigua, prior to moving on to Trinidad & Tobago).
Still, Canada beat Afghanistan in the qualifier in Tshwane/Pretoria for this CWC, which helped tilt the balance on qualifying. I might have made more of a contribution to the Abu Dhabi newsprint world a couple of days later. But it was only by going around to see from a different angle that I realized a pile of noise from some truck was an exercise in trying to sort out a flagpole. The UAE revival began from one perspective with a Canadian being run out. But, the alternative story was the UAE flag was now flying.
A further angle could have been the “diamonds and gold in them there hills”. The landscape included additional whitish ‘slag heaps’from the core rock, not the black of coal mining slagheaps.
I was baked to the bone on that first day, for me, in Pretoria, but noticed the pavilion had been upgraded and included showers. And certain pulled muscles in my right leg came back to haunt. Especially on the springy turf at the Centurion stadium.
I wonder how many Canadian cricket fans know I did a radio piece from the ground that Sunday? But the FAN590 might have been a bit too mainstream, although CBC provided some recent T20 coverage. But that was a possibility on the plate for some time given potential cutbacks on funding and battles over fees for big events and major league sports.
The ‘divine right society’, who think there is an incumbent right on the part of others to do the work while some of them lead in similar style to the ‘glorious’ charge of the Light Brigade, might be surprised to know I funded my activities personally. Venture capital? Loss leadership?
But you learn to go against the flow, and try to provide humour and enjoy the experiences. Although some of the situations revolving around scores not adding up correctly were not impressive, to use diplomatic tones.
Best wishes to the Canadian players and support group. Best wishes to all teams, umpires, scorers and match referees for a good tournament. And to the fans, especially the ones who are there for the love of the game. May those with one or less eyes be enlightened about the true joys of the game.
But that can be a progression as one matures through life.
Footnote: It is, personally, sad to see that former Essex captain (as well as Club Secretary) and England Trevor Bailey has died, tragically in a fire at his home in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. A home not far from Chalkwell Park where I once saw Mike Procter take a hat-trick of LBWs, bowling round the wicket for Gloucestershire against Essex. . (More recently I saw Umar Bhatti’s LBW hat-trick at Leicester against Ireland in an ICC Intercontinental Cup match.) . .
An Ashes test was in progress during that county game, and Bailey in his Test Match special role was talking about moving feet, or taking stance in front of the crease against faster bowling as it is hard to get an LBW decision for a right-armer bowling round the wicket.
I hope some improvements from some in the media in this world cup. One person, who shall be nameless, seemed to know more about Bob Woolmer’s death a couple of hours after it happened, than did police or doctors in Jamaica. This particular person seemed to be in St Lucia. He seemed to struggle with identifying players for the likes of Canada and Kenya, despite use of TV and a bit of help. The reaction of certain media folks was interesting when a few days later, just after John Davison’s bright knock had given Canada a bright start against New Zealand, I said something like: “Now if Ashish Bagai gets going and we have a decent tropical storm…….Canada can win on D/L”….with an implied….and we can all go home early.
But it’s all part of the fun. The odd bit of dead wood and new growth can lead to better things. But it takes resources, planning and effort. On and off the field. Or should I say cow pastures, to adopt a more realistic Canadian domestic perspective? There’s more than one meaning to expressions like ‘leave no stone unturned.’ Enjoy your cricket.
Especially when someone says…..but we need you! You’ll have to work out the context for that yourselves.
I had a quiet chat with Bob Woolmer at the St Augustine ground after that Pakistan-South African game. It left an impression on me. I realized how some of the Canadian players and some officials felt when the minute’s silence was held before the Canada-New Zealand game in St. Lucia.