Bill Lees:
EDMONTON – The bowler ran up to the wicket and sent a ball flying toward a batsman, who swung and missed the ball.
“Howzat,” yelled the fielders.
The umpire raised his index finger, indicating the batsman was to be dismissed because his leg had prevented the ball hitting the wicket.
“It may be cold and snowing outside, but cricket is alive and well year-round in Edmonton,” says Christie Marathalingam, head coach of the Alberta Schools Cricket Association or ASCA.
It was Thursday night at the Saville Sports Centre Cricket Academy and 20 teenage boys — all but one of Indian or Pakistani descent — were enjoying a game of cricket after spending an hour going through catching and throwing drills.
“ ‘Howzat’ is short form for ‘How is that’?’” says Marathalingam. “It’s an appeal to dismiss a batsman that is heard in every country in the world where cricket is played.
“The game, which dates back to the 13th century, is no longer only played in places where the Union Jack has flown. Countries from Bhutan to Bulgaria and from China to Cuba now play cricket.”
Marathalingam, who played first-class cricket and was a bantamweight boxing champion in his native Sri Lanka, arrived in Canada to launch a janitorial company in 1985
“Cricket develops athleticism, a sense of fair play and team spirit,” he says. “I have always been passionate about the game.”
In 1992, Marathalingam travelled to England to gain certification as a National Cricket Board Association of England coach and then returned for several years to take more senior courses.
He managed and coached Edmonton and provincial age-group teams and founded and served as president of the Greenfields Cricket Club. But he always had one thing in mind. “If the game was to develop in Alberta, I knew it had to be enjoyed in schools,” he says.
In 1995, he was instrumental in founding the Alberta Schools Cricket Association, which today has introduced more than 25,000 grade-school students to the game. And quite a few teachers.
“Christie’s dedication has been impressive,” says Sir Francis Price, a stalwart at the Edmonton Cricket Club for many years.
“He has taught and trained thousands of children cricketing skills. The skill levels range from young people learning to catch a ball to helping players on provincial and national teams.”
To spread his cricket ministries, Marathalingam relies on kanga ball, in which bats and a ball made of plastic are used rather than a willow bat and a hard, leather cased ball.
Immigrants increase cricket popularity
In recent years, interest in cricket has reached a new level with the influx of immigrants from such passionate cricket-playing countries as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, says Marathalingam.
More immigrants are also coming from such cricket hot spots as England, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand.
If you need proof of how many cricket fans there are around the world, it’s worth noting last year the World Cricket Cup semifinal between Indian and Pakistan is reported to have been watched by about one billion people.
“We are definitely seeing more interest in the game here,” says Marathalingam.
“There was hardly any interest in the game when I first arrived. Today, six high schools have cricket teams and the U of A will soon have a cricket team.”
After graduating, many students have gone on to play in one of the 25 teams fielded by Edmonton’s 13 clubs, says the coach, who teaches as many as six classes and day and whose salary is funded by the ASCA.
The sports store United Cycle is now bringing in top-notch equipment for players making use of two fields at Victoria Park, where in 2011, turf took over from concrete.
“The improved surfaces are expected to attract national and international tournaments to the site,” says Marathalingam.
An artificial pitch was also laid at Coronation Park last year and two batting cages are going in this year.
Castle Downs’ cricket pitch will also be ready for the new season.
“We are also improving facilities at the Saville Centre to allow two games to be played at once and we’re creating space for spectators,”says Marathalingam,” who now heads a coaching staff of four.
Some national aspirations
Indian-born Miraj Patel, who has been playing cricket since he was five, has been selected for Canada’s Under-15 team. “My dream is to play cricket for Canada a the senior level,” he says. “But there are many players from Asian countries playing here. The standard is high.”
Adnan Pervez, 17, born here of Pakistani parents, says his doctor father played cricket in Karachi and encouraged him to play.
“When our country is competing with another big cricket power, we stay up and watch games on television on weekends to often 3 a.m.,” he says. “Seven hours can fly by.”
Karachi-born Hassan Syed, 17, has played for Canada’s Under-15 team and will probably study engineering at the U of A next year.
“Cricket is my passion, but it’s hard to make a career out of it here,” he says.
“There are some decent players. I’d be happy playing for a club.”
St. Albert-born Mathew Ormandy, 16, saw a cricket game on TV and wanted to play. “I’m not worried about playing for Canada,” he says. “I just enjoy the game.”
Kapil Kirkire, 15, born in Gujarat, India, began watching cricket when he was three years old and hopes to make Canada’s youth team. “I feel my chances of being on the national squad are good,” he says. “If I don’t make it, I’d like to become a computer scientist.”