Eddie Norfolk
A non-scientific survey of available English-language ethnic newspaper cricket content from a reconnaissance mission into the Dundas Street/Hurontario intersection in Mississauga drew a general blank on previews and coverage of the current ICC World Cup Qualifier. Canadian cricket content included an advertisement for the Australasia Cricket Academy in Asian Connections (Jan 17) plus two stories from Ron Fanfair in Share (Jan 16). One of the articles in Share mentions the presence of two Under-19 players in the World Cup Qualifier senior Canadian squad.
A feature about Parvez Rasool’s efforts for Jammu and Kashmir in India’s Ranji Trophy in Can-India News brought (Jan 17) some parallels about limited cricketing infrastructure and preparation time with some of Canada’s international cricketing exploits. It gains pride of place as a performing tail-ender in this review.
Four newspapers that often provide Canadian cricket coverage had no cricket coverage in editions plucked during this incursion from Etobicoke into Mississauga; South Asian Focus (Jan 16), South Asian Observer (Jan 17); The Weekly Voice (Jan 18) and South Asian Generation Next. Those living on certain Etobicoke streets have objected in the past to too many Mississauga Transit buses going along their roads.
But I noticed Toronto City councillor Doug Ford, brother of the Toronto Mayor and a councillor for an Etobicoke Electoral Ward, spoke to the players in the Mississauga teams at last summer’s CIMA Schools Greater Toronto Area cricket finals at Sunnybrook Park. There was mention that perhaps more cricketing facilities might be needed to aid the hopes of Etobicoke School cricketers in a welcoming speech.
Ron Fanfair’s cricketing articles in Share (Jan 16) featured Monali Patel’s efforts for Canadian women’s cricket and Ingleton Liburd’s “high expectations” for the Canadian Under-19 team in February’s ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the UAE.
Monali Patel is on the verge of completing a Cricket Australia Level 3 coaching course and she was to begin an academy for female cricketers starting on Saturday January 18 at Qasra Sports, Etobicoke.
Ingleton Liburd was looking to Nitish Kumar and Nikhil Dutta to provide leadership for the Under-19 squad. Both are in the current senior Canadian squad in New Zealand for the men’s ICC World Cup Qualifier. Canada opens the Under-19 tournament with a game against Zimbabwe on February 14 followed by matches against South Africa (Feb 16) and West Indies (Feb 18).
The Weekly Times of India (Jan 17) carried news of New Zealand’s squad for the current five match ODI series with India as well as Aussie hopes of causing more trouble for England in the ODI series after the test blitzkrieg.
Toronto Caribbean (Jan 15) had some thoughts from Tino Best about the West Indies tour of New Zealand but hoped for the return of some injured “big hitters” in time for the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.
The Caribbean Camera (Jan. 16) considered squads the upcoming West Indies Nagico Super50 tournament
The Caribbean Times International (Jan 16) reported how Shiv Chanderpaul was still available in all formats of the game for the West Indies, and on the Windies losing the T20 series in New Zealand . It also brought news of the Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago squads for the Nagico Super50
Shannon Crawford’s unopposed re-election as President of the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association in Guyana provided the week’s cricket story in Equality News (Jan 16, Toronto-Ontario, Florida & New York)
CanAsian Times (Jan 18) brought news of former Australian captain Ian Chappell’s opinion that India is currently producing “by far the best” young batsmen and cricketers, plus M.S. Dhoni’s remarks that India would not take New Zealand lightly in two tests and five one-dayers.
India Journal (Jan 17) also carried M.S. Dhoni’s thoughts about the India-New Zealand games, and reported on New Zealand’s T20 success against the West Indies.
The Asian Connections (Jan 17) indicates the Sydney Thunder wanted Sachin Tendulkar for the Big Bash League but talks broke off last year while Virat Kohli reportedly hopes Yuvraj Singh will be captured by Royal Challengers Bangalore in upcoming IPL auctions. M.S. Dhoni’s pre-tour comments about not taking New Zealand lightly were also featured.
On the domestic cricket front, the Australasia Cricket Academy had an advert in “Asian Connections” seeking youngsters to “Learn, Play & Grow” cricket on a year-round basis indoors and outdoors, depending on the season.
The Sports page in The Contact (Jan 14) carried M.S. Dhoni’s thoughts about the series in New Zealand, Ian Chappell’s thoughts about Indian having by far the best youg batsmen and news that Daniel Vettori would not be considered by New Zealand for the one-day series against India due to back troubles.
South Asian Mid Week (Jan 14) had a broader series of thoughts from M.S. Dhoni about Indian having players who can do well anywhere. Reports of Misbah-ul Haq leading Pakistan’s resistance to carry a test with Sri Lanka into the fifth day and about how Michael Clarke’s handling of Australia’s bowlers “outwitted” Alastair Cook’s use of the England attack. The Board of Control of Cricket in India decided to grant a “Lifetime Achievement Award” to all-rounder Kapil Dev, while the Pakistan-Australia Test Series was to be down-sized from three tests to two.
Indo-Caribbean World (Jan 8) featured Australia’s 5-0 Ashes clean sweep against England, New Zealand going 2-1 up on West Indies in a five match ODI series and separately featured Corey Anderson’s 36-ball ODI century that took one ball less than Shahid Afridi’s 37-ball century against Sri Lanka in Nairobi in October 1996.
Jacques Kallis’ last test for South Africa where he scored 115 to help setup a series win against India gained double coverage in Indo-Caribbean World as a separate report featured Dale Steyn’s bowling that left South Africa needing only 58 to win. The drawn opening test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dubai was also featured.
Asian News (Jan. 15-31, Montreal & Toronto) reported on Pakistan’s Second Test loss to Sri Lanka.
Can-India News (Jan 17) featured Jammu and Kashmir captain Parvez Rasool’s 27 wickets and 663 runs in the Ranji Trophy, but his team lost to Punjab in the Quarter-finals. Rasool hoped his efforts might gain attention from the Indian selectors. He was picked for the squad against Zimbabwe in 2013 but did not play a game.
Rasool hoped better cricketing infrastructure would be set up in Jammu and Kashmir. He wondered why the local Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association could not have emulated Madhya Pradesh and sent an under-25 squad on a tour to South Africa. He felt the mere one month preparations for the Ranji Trophy was insufficient but refrained from further comment on why cricketing affairs as are so dismal in Jammu and Kashmir!
Parvez Rasool was quoted as saying: “The biggest problem faced by our boys is the lack of exposure and infrastructure. We don’t have even 10 per cent of the facilities for our budding cricketers as compared to Mumbai and other states of the country.”
Meanwhile, Can-India News carried brief mention that the Bengal Engineering and Science University was to confer an honorary Doctor of Letters degree on former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly. Those involved in engineering and science need to be able to communicate as well as having mathematical and scientific skills, so why not an “arts” degree from a University with a focus on Engineering and Science.
There are a lot of other stories of interest in these newspapers, some of which bring a wide vision of what is going on in the world, and other stories might seem – to some – slightly unusual.
One should tread carefully on legal stories such as the woman in the UK who is suing her lawyers. The lawyers succeeded in her bid for a divorce but had not indicated success in that action would end her marriage.
Somewhere along the way there is always time for the odd googly, or even a straight ball in the bowling mix, not just a stock delivery.
Eddie Norfolk