Ontario Under-17 Reds crowned Canada Cup Champion

Ontario U17 Reds 243/8 (50 ov) beat Manitoba, Quebec & Saskatchewan 73 (44.1 ov) by 170 runs (Match played on the West ground, Centennial Park, Etobicoke, July 4, 2014)

Alberta U17 135 (46.4 ov) beat British Columbia U17 131/9 (50 ov) by 4 runs. (Match played on the West ground, Centennial Park, Etobicoke, July 4, 2014)

Ontario Under-17 Reds won the 2014 Under-17 Canada Cup championship on Friday at Centennial Park, Etobicoke after completing a fourth win from four games. Ontario Reds hit 243/8 from fifty overs with the top six in the batting order each scoring between 22 and 50 runs. The combined provinces team representing Manitoba, Quebec and Saskatchewan then struggled to 73 all out but resisted for 44.1 overs. A defeat that left Ontario Reds with a closing day of the tournament game win by 170 runs and the tournament crown as the championship team.

Alberta pulled of a four run win in a game that where the team batting second, British Columbia, batted fifty overs but was unable to overtake a target of 136 to win.

The combined provinces team battled away and used up most the potential 50 overs against Ontario Reds, and gained recognition for some stubborn and useful efforts during the closing presentations.

Beyond the boundaries of the actual game, the combined province team’s composition in this game largely reflected the original “Manitoba/Saskatchewan” label as the Quebec contingent had to leave early and were not present for the post-tournament speeches and presentations. Some other sets of players from the comibined provinces team were booked on Friday night flights to meet domestic weekend cricketing needs – as were some other groups from the visiting teams. But some of the other visitors were not due for a return flight until Saturday.

However, the performance of the combined provinces included battling away in a re-scheduled opening game to a near win, and having to pick an arguably “weakened” team compared to the “best eleven” for the closing game against the tournament’s leading team.

Although, you should also ask, was there time to work out that most likely “best eleven” if no transportation issue had existed within what became the combined provinced three day window of playing before the Friday game? Players had to adjust, or possibly struggled to adjust, to factors such as the heat, the humidity and the local breezes between the trees that will have helped bring a bit of extra movement of the ball at times [more so on the east pitch that is in the open line of the hydro wires, so a local micro-weather system emerges] and the overall adjustment to the local artificial wicket. No time existed to find out, from my perspective, if all in the combined provinces camp had managed to sleep, eat, meet the other teams players and recover well from each day’s demands.

I have no real idea how other visiting teams coped, but personally would not have wanted to fly anywhere if I had been playing on the Friday when it got quite hot in the open bowl of the two grounds at Centennial Park, Etoibicoke. One of the participating players suggested the grounds might have a domed cover; a sentiment that brings some sympathy but would cost several arms and legs, well beyond the tangible. But perhaps the provision of some kind of pavilion near th nets could, in future, provide sources of electric power and water for showers.

But the show went on in true style, the show must go on, and some of the supporting aspects that depended upon electrical power had some glitches and outages that did not impact the outcome of any game. But they did impact the availability of one of the opening day’s two scorecards and the supporting historic records of the game that could have been more complete if not for the lack of a permanent power supply. But we have more detailed knowledge than for several recent domestic tournaments at different levels, especially disclosure of junior national “events”, so an improvement with the prospect of further improvement next time.

Friday’s other closing round game saw Alberta U17’s score 135 all out from 46.4 overs, then restrict British Columbia to 131 for nine wickets in 50 overs. A tight finish to a game that almost used up the complete 100 overs.
The coaches, managers and selectors memories may have to suffice about performances and standards in the short-term as records of the tournament. But a the post-game messages of value about the playing aspects of the game were for players to keep striving, and love the game. Don’t forget that everyone can have a poor day and a disappointing tournament, so get back into the grove and move on. Some of the specific comments will emerge on ATN (Asian Television Network).

More detailed recollections from notes and photos made during the presentations may or may not emerge in words and pictures.

A photo of a trio of Ontario players around one of the sponsored kit bags of both Ontario squads could almost be a natural pose, although it was aimed at including the sponsors names and logos. The sponsors funding to the Ontario squad helped allow the tournament to be played, so it extended beyond a single cause, but so, in reality, did the sponsorships noted on the visiting teams shirts.

In the big picture of tournament coverage, time will tell what does or does not emerge. The ATN footage will be reviewed, edited and will compete against other news, events and stories. The highlights may, hopefully, “bat long” but, as in various local Toronto leagues, the cry of “bat long” can often be ringing out as the new batsman does a quick round trip innings of just a couple of balls.

The “hat-trick” of Ontario players in a photo of thanks to the sponsors was nearly a foursome. But a quick check of sponsors names showed the sponsor named on the back of the shirts was the same as on the left shirt sleeve. So there seemed no need for a fourth player with their back facing the camera to be included. The four player version might have looked a bit strange.

Action photos out and about show the name of the sponsor on the back of the Ontario players shirs. Other teams had sponsors that can similarly be disclosed if enough photos get published somewhere in individual action photos, portrait photos of players and from team photos, or even through publication of Monday’s “Smartigo” scoreboard. Game scoring information written on a whiteboard that was captured as a photo with the back of the coach’s shirt included.

It emerged during the closing speeches that the next step for Canada at the Under-17 level is for a team to be selected and play in Bermuda later this month. A senior national cricket league is still in the works for this season, based on a question outside of the speeches. So there will be more about the Bermuda preparations and the trip to Bermuda in the near future. Former Canadian international player Errol Barrow is to be the volunteer coach of the Canadian juniors preparations and trip to Bermuda.

Errol Barrow was a member of the 1994 Canadian squad that played in the ICC Trophy in Kenya. A tournament sponsored by Dutch bank ABN-AMRO.

A summary of Friday’s scoring highlights, and possibly a summary of the results from all games in this tournament will follow in due course. Likely by sometime on Sunday. Information from a photo of the handwritten list of man-of-the-match awards from each game in the tournament will get typed and should get posted on a website or too in the near future.

Other matters need to be addressed, including the need to restore bodily balance after the week’s heat and humidity with food. It seems to be freezing at home this morning. Freezing at plus 21C! It was not so hot on the first outside venture of the day. But the sun is shining, indeed beyond the shade of the walnut tree in the back yard the sun is getting stronger in the east. Likely useful weather for local cricketers in the Greater Toronto Area, but on the Atlantic coast there are warnings about the approach of a tropical storm or worse.

Thanks to all the players, parents who supported the players, coaches, managers, umpires, scorers, Cricket Council of Ontario officials and volunteers who kept the tournament logistics and operations running throughout the week. Thanks to the sponsors, those who supplied the food and water. Congratulations to all the teams and best wishes for the future in cricket and in life.

It’s amazing to consider how much electricity will have been carried over the east ground during the course of the week’s cricket tournament, but ipod and camera batteries could not be re-charged at the ground. Life can be an old Curiosity Shop, if not “The Old Curiosity Shop”. Too toasted to recall what that book was about or to look up a summary – reliable or otherwise – on any web site.

The heading in the latest media release from the West Indies Cricket Board is about the latest selected West Indies squad, and it indicates the playing numbers are included. Individual player portrait photos should end up somewhere, including a copy with Cricket Canada on some USB device in the next few days….as long as the sun is not belting out too much heat and there is no sudden ice or snow storm.
　
Eddie Norfolk