How leading Associate nations are addressing the void between club and international cricket

The top level of Associate cricket has evolved in the past decade. Aspirations have been created to do more than put in a respectable performance once every World Cup. Though the International Cricket Council has not outlined a clear plan for the 2nd tier, it has made available new competitions, training and funds to its members. Ireland’s success in ODIs against the Test nations coupled with some T20 upsets by the likes of the Netherlands has encouraged a goal of eventually reaching the highest level of the game.

With a focus on elite international cricket, several of the ICC High Performance nations have started new inter-regional domestic tournaments. The evidence is clear that athletes are best developed by playing against the strongest opposition available on a regular basis. Other benefits include providing a platform and proving ground for cricketers as well as the chance for selectors to scrutinize the player pool.

With the second edition of Canada’s National Cricket League about to commence, we compare it to other Associate attempts at bridging the gap between club and international cricket.

Ireland
Competition: RSA Interprovincial Championship
Inaugurated: 2013
Teams: (3) Leinster Lightning, Northern Knights, North West Warriors
Formats: 6x[3-Day](4 per team), 6x[50 over](4 per team), T20 tournament

Ireland is considered by many to be the next nation to achieve Test status. To this end Cricket Ireland has laid out an ambitious plan to satisfy ICC requirements. This year has seen a re-launch of the Inter-provincial competition including a series of 3-day contests they hope will form the basis of a First Class competition. As important will be the preparation afforded to players for international cricket. Selectors will be able to view the progression of the athletes over a season (up to 17 days of cricket for each participant) in the three formats of the game. The three traditional bases of cricket on the Emerald Isle are represented but it is hoped that a fourth, Munster, can be added for T20 in short order.

The creation of this series has had to overcome some hurdles. For one, it represents a major financial undertaking with players receiving match fees for their participation. Ireland were able to use a grant from the ICC Targeted Assistance and Performance Program (TAPP) in support of the competition. The interprovincials are currently viable as long as the ICC money keeps flowing but face the challenge of attracting fans and corporate sponsorship into the future. Another issue is the imbalance in the strength of the sides with Leinster fielding the lion’s share of the national team members within its ranks. Nonetheless, by moving forward with the series, Ireland sees itself as on the road to Test status.

Scotland
Competition: LiveSport.co.uk Pro Series
Inaugurated: 2013
Teams: (2) Highlanders, Reivers
Formats: 2x[3-Day], 5x[50 over], 3x[T20]

This year Scotland will introduce a new multi-format competition involving 14 of their centrally contracted players. With only two sides facing each other, opportunities offered to new players will be limited. Of course, Scotland has benefited from its inclusion in the England & Wales Cricket Board’s 40 over league for a few seasons. However, with this avenue closing after 2013, Cricket Scotland sees the need to create its own structure to develop talent.

With TAPP backing also available to the Scots, the modest beginning to the Pro Series will be expected to lead to additional teams and matches in the years to come with professionalism being a desired outcome.

Netherlands
Competition: Pro Series (Durant Sports North-South in 2012)
Inaugurated: 2011
Teams: (2) North Holland Hurricanes(Amsterdam, Haarlem and Utrecht), South Holland Seafarers (Den Haag, Rotterdam and Schiedam)
Formats: 2x[40 over], 3x[T20]

Beginning in 2011, the Netherlands have held a few North versus South contests featuring national team members, the best of Dutch youth cricketers and others on the edge of representing the “Oranje”. Holland’s involvement in ECB competition and the funding issue has likely restricted growth of the series. However, as with Scotland, the dropping of the Dutch from the ECB domestic structure will require a replacement if the Netherlands hope to better their international performance. With monies available from the ICC and corporate sponsors, building upon the Pro Series is certainly a strong possibility.

Kenya & Uganda
Competition: East Africa Premier League (T20) and East Africa Cup (OD)
Inaugurated: 2011
Teams: (6) Kenya: Kanbis Tigers(2012), Kongonis, Rift Valley Rhinos, Coast Pekee Uganda: Rwenzori Warriors, Nile Knights
Formats: 30x[50 over](10 per team), 30x[T20](10 per team)

The genesis of the venture came in the wake of Kenya’s dismal performance at the 2011 Cricket World Cup. The recognition that better playing standards were needed to fuel international performance was behind the set-up. Neighboring Uganda was included and its two entries have more than held their own against Kenya’s regional representatives.

Heading into a 3rd season, East Africa’s League and Cup competitions are in an enviable position compared to other Associates. The new structure boasts six professional franchises playing a 10-week season, backed by corporate sponsorship and a television contract. It is largely independent of ICC funding.

Noteworthy points:

• The players include Kenya’s 12 centrally contracted cricketers, assigned to the four Kenyan franchises
• Travel can be arduous as bussing can take most of a day for some away matches
• Prize money for the victors is modest by professional standards ($23K US)

Canada
Competition: National Cricket League
Inaugurated: 2012
Teams: (5) Pacific Edge, Western Stallions, Prairie Fire, Central Shield, Eastern Fury
Formats: 10x[50 over](4 per team), 10x[T20](4 per team)

The National Cricket League is a revamping of the old inter-provincial tournament that had reached the limit of its usefulness. The latter was played biennially with representation from some member provinces but not others, two representatives from Ontario on occasion and a large majority of national team players turning out for that province. From a development perspective, there was no obligation on provincial selectors to include youth. The NCL remedies some of these oversights while maintaining the rivalry between regions.

Several improvements on the old inter-provincials were implemented. The NCL consists of five regional teams picked from available local talent augmented by assigned national team members to address the imbalance. There are now requirements to include up-and-coming players and for mandatory participation for those wishing to represent Canada. From team logos to live internet streaming of matches, there was clearly an attempt to make the tournaments more marketable.

On the other hand, aspects of the event remain problematic. The matches are scheduled over a 9 day period in the relatively remote venue of King City, Ontario. Consequently, they are played in the absence of spectators. Without fans, sponsors have not come forward to support the NCL, leaving only the ICC’s investment (stated to be three years) to keep the project afloat.

In organizing this undertaking, Cricket Canada faces a challenge in the very size of the country. The expense and logistics of bringing the regions’ best together necessarily means an event of short duration. Players must adapt quickly while selectors have limited opportunities to observe. Demonstrating progress over time is not possible.

Associate inter-regional leagues compared

Faced with similar needs to improve domestic cricket under differing circumstances, several of the High Performance Associates are emphasizing inter-regional competition as a vital tier between the club and the national side. The ability to test players at a high standard comes at a price for which the ICC start-up and operating support has been essential. Other commonalities between the Associates are the difficulties in attracting fans and the need to eventually wean themselves off external funding. The notable exceptions to this dependence are the East African tournaments.

For the leagues to make a difference they will have to offer more players with a chance to play over a season. Generally, the various examples are starting small but exhibit potential for future growth in number of teams and length of schedule. In this respect Canada’s NCL is the exception, there being no obvious way to extend the tournament over a season. The NCL is a means of talent identification that also permits elite players to test themselves against their counterparts. However, a few days of cricket is insufficient to provide the learning opportunities and the basis for national team selection the other leading Associates will derive. Canada must find other means to fully realize the benefits of best-on-best competition.

Update: CIBC has been brought aboard as the NCL’s main sponsor for 2013. Team sponsorship is also new this season. Another new wrinkle is the inclusion of an overseas player (from Trinidad and Tobago) for each team.

More details on the leagues

http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/all-systems-go-for-interpros
http://www.cricketscotland.com/news/article/cricket-scotland-pro-series-2013/
http://www.kncb.nl/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=2554:pro-series-dinsdag-7-mei-van-start&Itemid=421
http://www.ugandacricket.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=603:value-the-east-african-cricket-elite-leagues&catid=77:national-league&Itemid=92
http://gocricketgocanada.com/news/article/cricket-canada-announces-2013-ncl-dates

Ramon Lachmansingh