Eddie Norfolk
It seems that outdoor schools cricket continues within the framework of the Toronto District Schools Board, but sadly, it is not possible to provide a belated summary of the outcome of this year’s program, which was scheduled to end on June 3rd . Woburn CI, who topped the standings in Division 1, and Lester B. Pearson CI, leaders of Division 2, qualified for the final in the East Region Varsity event. But there is no score for the final.
 
Lester B. Pearson (88) beat Cedarbrae (87) in one semi-final, and Woburn (34) beat Division 3 leaders West Hill CI (28) in the other semi-final. Sixteen schools, one fielding two teams, participated in three regular season divisions in this event.
 
Sad to say, the West Region Senior Boys lacks any scores for this season’s tournament, which had eight scheduled teams.
 
Somebody might have put something out to a local newspaper on who won, but it is a pity that the efforts of those playing, umpiring and organizing the school teams are not able to be properly recognized. Canadian cricket needs to become something beyond a “do-it-yourself” sport, or, worse, “find-out-for yourself” sport if it is ever to grow and develop the kind of facilities needed for players and the sport to gain better funding and facilities. A few twigs do not form a glorious maple tree, or even a beautiful, but lonesome, pine.
 
And the answer is not, why didn’t I turn up and fill the gap. Along the way a fair selection of miscellaneous trees and shrubs seem to have begun to flourish in my back garden in recent years when trotting around the cricket scene, amongst other activities. Time was needed to do some pruning and clean-up. And the grass needed, and still needs, work.
 
But local experience and conditions means there is not much point in putting down grass seed until some time late in August. So I might get to see a few games, including hopefully some of the visit of Afghanistan in early August. The arrival of the Afghan Under-19’s seem a couple of years ago seem to frighten off a visiting member of the ICC Corporate’s staff. He certainly was not missed as far as a number of people were concerned. Especially some of those who were given one official tournament shirt which was to be worn each day they were involved in a match, as a scorer or whatever.
 
Potential executive management and public relations (PR) consultants could have learned a thing or two about how not to make post-game announcements and presentations from some of the cast that someone had found from somewhere. One person had the good sense to take responsibility and show how one might do things better in the later days of that Under-19 event. What part of the concept of the presenter of an award standing so the background sponsorship board will feature in a man-of-the-match presentation is so difficult?
 
But it proved difficult for some. (Dare I suggest some aspects of the local selection process and/or training process might have been ineffective?) Which helps explain why the game might not be getting – or retaining – the kind of sponsorship it needs at league, provincial or national levels.
 
I wonder how much Canadian cricket gained from the Federal Government economic stimulus program?
 
Eddie Norfolk