Time for Change and Improvement -- Posted Thursday, December 27 2007
Canadian Cricket Christmas 2007 - Time for Change and Improvement
Christmas is just ending in western Canada. A day when the toast was to 'absent friends', and for those, like me, living away from their home country and relatives, 'absent relatives'. But the day cannot close without one personal cricketing message going out in public.
The core need for Canadian cricket's leadership in the Greater Toronto heartland - the 'Mecca', as I once previously described it - of Canadian cricket is for significant improvement, including some significant changes. And it must start at the top with either the resignation of the current CCA President or corrective action by the CCA Board to remove him.
The hearland needs to improve and then help the remainder of the country. Although there is clear evidence some parts of the country pull together much better than some aspects of the heartland.
And if that does not happen, then a more significant change to the Canadian cricketing landscape is needed.
What did they do for Canadian cricket?
It should not come as a surprise to the incumbent CCA President that I think, really it is 'known', he must go if he has any true interest in a healthy future for Canadian cricket. He received a private ”nasty email” (as the now deposed former CCA 2nd Vice-President described it during the recent CCA AGM weekend, November 24 and 25) that called on him and the 2nd Vice-President to resign. I issued it following the resignation of the CCA's 1st Vice-President, encouraging the other two to follow suit.
The initial part of the email invited explanation of their lack of performance on a couple of key items, and, in fairness, also invited to phone or email their views on what each had achieved, if anything, for Canadian cricket during their terms of CCA office.
I received no response, which is pretty much par for the course in various aspects of Canadian cricket. I did phone the CCA President on the eve of the AGM, but had to settle for email. I reiterated my call and pointed out the CCA had not advertised the specific location of the AGM.
The CCA leadership is currently too much based on life being a one-way street and everything costing nothing and being done for nothing. Even though the 'out dated' Bylaws and Constitution provide for properly appointed officers and Executive Council members, particularly the General Secretary, to be paid an agreed amonut subject to Board approval.
The senior national team players and several of the people who really keep cricket going in the Greater Toronto Area were conspicuous by their absence. None of them had done anything to warrant a special mention from the CCA President in his remarks delivered on the Sunday morning.(A version of these remarks is on the CCA website.)
He did not among other things, compliment Qaiser Ali on setting a new Canadian first-class record score of 174 against the Netherlands in South Africa in December 2006.
It was not worthwhile to commend Ashish Bagai on being named Player of the Tournament at the World Cricket League. Nor did he congratulate the Canadian women on winning the Americas Regional Championship.
Earlier in the WCL tournament, I initiated, to use one of the CCA President's favourite terms, with an ICC official a question about the accuracy of the copy of one of the scorebook's used in the Canada-Scotland match. This copy had only become available around 9.30pm. The game had ended just over three hours earlier. Around that time, one of the Scots had questioned one aspect of the version he saw of a scorebook.
I recall making a comment of ”Penalty runs?” and making notes on what I made the sub-totals for extras. I have never looked to see if the post-game report I subsequently sent out on the match was published by anyone. I returned the copy of the scorebook to one of the volunteer team officials, who, not surprisingly was in bed.
What had the two CCA Executives who attended this match done to lead or support any Canadian protest or question over the scoring in this match is a key question? One, basically included in my ”nasty email”.
I know the Vice-President attending the preceding Tri-Series in Mombasa had done nothing over various scoring issues came up.
Astute readers might realize my ”nasty email” invited a response along the lines 'what did either of them do about the Canada-Scotland WCL match'. I gave no clues. The 2nd Vice-President included umpiring and scoring in his official CCA portfolio.
If, as I suspect, they did nothing, the question arises over who paid for the pair of them to be in Kenya? What was the value of them being there?
My brief time with the CCA
In what proved my final meeting with the CCA President in June 2006, I was asked 'what was the value of talking with them?” (by which he meant a TV Producer, a Sports Program Presenter and a Cricket Analyst) who had attended a cricket photographic and memorabilia exhibition at a Toronto Gallery a couple of weeks earlier. This trio were involved in a weekday sports program that featured the likes of soccer, rugby and cricket. It had been a promising set of discussions and opened the door to a public sports media outlet.
(This will be recalled as the historic meeting where he asked if 'Cricinfo' was the 'Jon Harris website' and where I had three attempts to explain the value of regular submissions to the Canadian Press.)
It transpired that neither the CCA President nor the then 1st Vice-President had heard of “The Score”, which seems to be on basic cable TV without extra charge. There is a funny side to my time with the CCA, if you have a macabre sense of humour. But realistically it is a disgrace, as is much of the treatment of the players, the support staff (all 2 to 4 of them, usually excluding a scorer) and other stalwarts who keep Canadian cricket alive.
For the record, up to now, I have absorbed my own costs of covering Canadian cricket (and various other Associates and even a Full Members match to a global audience). But the potential for producing a book or two exists. Possibly even a multi-volume analysis of “My Ten Minutes in Canadian Cricket” that might attract various aspects of interest in academic spheres..
Broader Pastures
A recent snowstorm saw me branch directly into radio. Week 1 set some of the background scene for Canadian cricket. Week 2 came closer to the bone with comments on the need for education, leadership/management and proper infrastructure both on and off the field in Canadian cricket and the need to properly produce presentations or complete forms and documents when making funding requests to Government or Major Corporations. I also mentioned a range of ministries with funding programs that cricket might explore at provincial levels.
There was despairing laughter over some of the latest requests and not even half-baked requests on the official CCA website, before we ran out of time. The shambles behind the scenes in Canadian cricket mirrored the West Indies situation, discussed before I joined the panel.
(At the CCA AGM,, our CCA President noted the West Indies Cricket Board's constitution and bylaws as being one source that would be used in the review and update of the CCA's Bylaws and Guidelines. The AGM was not the time and place to bring up the October 2007 report on the inadequacies of governance in West Indies cricket. But it would have been, if there had been one or more TV cameras at the AGM.
So the CCA President must go. He's neither use nor ornament to Canadian cricket, to use some plain speaking, as Geoff Boycott might say. And, in one way sadly - as it reflects a ton of wasted time and opportunities for Canadian cricket - it is not only me who knows his departure could, and should, be a critical success factor for the sport in this country.
There is a need for change and/or significant education for some of his friends and opponents if these people want to properly help Canadian cricket develop.
This is equally applicable to some who thought they were tight with the President but seemingly failed to get elected, based on them coming to me to squeal and squawk after the AGM - no voting information was disclosed. So much for the claimed myth of open and transparent governance, as echoed in a challenge over the basic non-appearance of a Finance Report on the Sunday. The President responded ”we” discussed that yesterday. But the Saturday cast was behind closed doors and a different ”we”.
Cricket for the Cricket Lovers, not the grandstanders!
The real cricket lovers and players want some reality and proper support. There's a ton of potential interest in the game that needs to be embraced now, as it is too late to embrace it two to ten years ago.
In the major leagues of auditing and financial scandals, the simple things often bring down those who have failed to lead due to inadequacy, inaction or misdeeds. People's own words or writings sometimes bring them down.
One now former CCA Vice-President greeted me at the Canada/St Lucia gala dinner (October 2006) with the remark “You were too fast for us, Eddie.” That encapsulates a key part of the problem with the CCA's current thinking, not remedied by the recent changes.
There were what some would find as unbelievable moments at Pearson Airport when the team was gathering to fly off to Kenya and Namibia. At times I think the current CCA President means well, but for the most part there is a much deeper problem.
He showed almost visible shock and consternation about me not going - ”You ought to be going” - and he was buzzing all around Abdool Samad who also ought to be going and playing.
Finance played a part in both absences. As might the lack of consultation with leading players in setting up international match schedules. And don't rule out frustration with the status quo.
On the junior development side of the game, there seems to be a lack of realization at the helm of the CCA that a high proportion of Canada's residents with Caribbean and South Asian roots are from poor families. A much broader development program is needed, not just talk, but real action.
The lack of credit being given to sponsors is a clear issue, allied to a need to be realistic in assessments of how many or few people might attend or participate in a particular event. This reflects a lack of overall thinking and, at a deeper level, respect for the sponsors.
You might get money once, but the sponsor may go elsewhere the next time.
People in Canadian cricket also have to learn that for media attention to increase at domestic or international club matches, the games need to start on time. Vastly improved relations are needed with any attending media. Canadian cricket is not close to being on a par with some minor league sports efforts in this direction.
CCA Website and Relations
I'll briefly address some recent updates on the CCA website.
A number of scorecards for past international matches have been added in recent months. I know the various matches in the 2001 ICC Trophy have ended, so why not state that Canada beat the UAE (all-run four, thanks to some fielding errors won the game. Umpires checked with the scorers to confirm the game was over before the players left the field) or that Ireland beat Canada? Presently various teams are 'leading' in all kinds of matches long since completed.
The A-Z of Canadian Players on the CCA website not including the captain (Sunil Dhaniram), the vice-captain (Qaiser Ali) and five other members of the October 2007 touring side. I even mentioned this omission to the new CEO at the AGM as he sat waiting for the closed meetings to end. It just underlines the me-first attitudes and the lack of respect that have been systemic in some of the thinking off the field.
The unnamed “cricket analyst” from “The Score” I met in May 2006 was enthusiatically greeted by the CCA President at a CIMA reception before this year's CIMA Mayor's Trophy over an excellent article in “The Toronto Star. I just gave up and actually sat down after hearing ”I knew Bob Woolmer wasn't murdered.”
An appropriate time to end? It links to a need for the ICC to do more. But there is an old fashioned concept of putting your own house in order before going after other people.
The CCA President was was keen to be in the CEO team picture on the Thursday night reception but failed to make it onto the field on the Saturday. Another disaster in the respect and various public relations areas. The CEO's team was lead by the CEO and Publisher of ”The Globe and Mail.”
My one TV appearance in my couple of months with the CCA came via ATN (Asian Televison Network) at the public forum ”Cricket: Reality, Respect, Reward”. The CCA was represented on the panel by its hard-working General Secretary and two Englishmen. Former West Indies Captain and batsman Richie Richardson hit the nail on the head, speaking of the need for ”hard work behind the scenes” to help bring about a re-birth of cricket in the West Indies and to help it grow in Canada.
It was complete folly over whether the CCA President was happy or unhappy with my TV appearances, and other efforts to give Canadian cricket a higher profile.
We now hear how it has taken him 4 years to start to get going on running the CCA. Did I last 10 weeks?
And how long has the average Canadian national coach lasted? Months? So how can long term development occur.
How much time went into various dream stadium plans for Maple Leaf Cricket Club that are contrary to existing Oak Ridges Moraine Protection legislation? Information available in a $5 Ontario Government guideline document.
Financial disclosure is limited but I saw a reference to a $20,000 sponsorship for CWC 2007. I was told to go and look for $250,000. It wasn't appreciated by the CCA President that I found the base presentation to be weak.
And he did not want to address the issue that the CCA might not have a good name with some organizations. Basic reputational risk. Address the issues, not the messenger.
There is a romance to the cricket, but to obtain solid funding, there has to be a hard-nosed business evaluation. Funds are not endless, they do not come for absolutely nothing. Cricket has to compete alongside demands for affordable housing and food for the poor and disadvantaged.
Tortoise or ostrich reactions get cricket nowhere. Sort out the real issues and target continuous improvement.
The faithful few keep the game alive
“The usual suspects” propped up the Canadian home international program at men's, Under-19 and women's level in 2007. We need more of those type of people, but we need to reward them,which can be done if ”we” our act together.
My core conclusion around July 2006 was that 'Canadian cricket is not run' . It manges by some miracle to run itself to a remarkably successful level thanks to the players and a select few in the GTA core....the situation seems much better in some of the Western Provinces, but they could do with proper support and more financing.
I believe the headline was ”Storm clouds gathering over Canadian Cricket ” in another summer piece in “The Toronto Star”. A snowstorm brought a call from the other Cricket Correspondent who appeared on “The Score” and a radio appearance by me. Week two was accompanied by driving rain.
It's preferably, time to help lead the charge in turning cricket leadership around in ths country. It's been frustrating looking at poor efforts by incumbent officers and others to translate various ideas I outlined into reality. I knew well before the Ontario Auditor General that various areas of cricketing administration around the Greater Toronto core lack project management skills.
I certainly have not been short of cries for help, usually offering the chance to do even more things for nothing. Which is possibly fine as long as proper credit is given. Another key failing, as highlighted by CCA claims regarding Canada's ICC Development Award successes in 2006.
So I might help lead the charge, or it might be time to jump ship.
--------------------------------------------
Some concluding bullet points:
Proper Tone at the Top can foster success.
Education. Leadership. Management. Infrastructure. Strategies. Planning. Implementation. Post-implementation reviews.
Focus. Funding. Time.
Reality, Respect, Reward. Recognition.
It applies in cricket, business and life.
“It's easier to lose a cricketing culture than to create one.” (Hilary Beckles, April 2007) We need to re-generate a cricketing culture in Canada.
The same applies to good governance.
Eddie Norfolk
Swing and seam - the basic grip -- Posted Thursday, December 27 2007
To get the best possible chance of any sort of movement in the air or off the pitch, a fast bowler should grip the ball "seam up".
Learning this basic grip will get your wrist behind the ball, an essential starting point for any bowler.
With the seam vertical, the ball is held in the fingers, resting on the third finger and thumb, with the middle and index fingers either side of the seam.
Try to land the seam as straight as possible on the pitch.
This will give you a much greater chance of any sort of movement, especially with a brand new cherry in your hand.
You'll find some days the ball will swing and seam almost every delivery, while on others it will do almost nothing.
This is because movement relies on four key factors:
The bowler: Some bowlers have bowling actions which naturally help the ball to swing in the air. A good side-on action will help a bowler to swing the ball away from the bat.
The pitch: Green tops favour bowlers because there's usually moisture under the pitch, which helps the ball to swing, especially if the sun is out.
Bowlers can get movement off the wicket if the pitch is cracked. You may have seen cricket commentators showing cracks on Test pitches on TV. Aiming for the cracks can help the ball move quite considerably.
The weather: A cloudy, overcast day is perfect for swing bowlers. The moisture in the air will help the ball swing more.
The condition of the ball: A brand new ball will swing more because of the shiny lacquer coating and a hard seam.
As the ball gets older, it gets softer and loses its shine, but polishing one side of the ball will help keep the ball moving in the air.
Article sourced from:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/skills/4174422.stm
Victoria International Six a Side -- Posted Thursday, December 27 2007
Victoria, the capital city of British Columbia on Canada's Pacific coast, is situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island and is proud of its title as the "City of Gardens" and its reputation for amateur sports in Canada.
The Victoria International Six-A-Side Cricket Festival is scheduled for Victoria for August 2008. The festival, known as VISAS, is held every second year and welcomes teams from around the world to compete in a shortened, fast-paced version of cricket. Traditional cricket is played by teams of 11 players and a match can take anywhere from a few hours to five days to complete. Six-a-side cricket is a modified version of the game (similar perhaps to three-on-three basketball of seven-a-side rugby) which uses fewer players, takes less time and produces a lot of spectacular action.
Over the past 20 years VISAS has had the pleasure of hosting a wide variety of teams from around the world. The festival has welcomed teams from Australia, New Zealand, England, Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, the West Indies, Isle of Man, Bangladesh and the Bahamas. In addition, teams from New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Houston and Dallas have visited from the USA, while Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver have come from across Canada.
Last year the VISAS welcomed teams from Australia (Dapto CC), New Zealand, Italy, the USA (Dallas and Los Angeles) and Vancouver.
The Victoria cricket community celebrated the 20th anniversary of VISAS in grand style with fabulous cricket and is now looking forward to another fine exhibition August, 2008.
Last year the VISAS welcomed teams from Australia (Dapto CC), New Zealand, Italy, the USA (Dallas and Los Angeles) and Vancouver.
The Victoria cricket community celebrated the 20th anniversary of VISAS in grand style with fabulous cricket and is now looking forward to another fine exhibition in August, 2008.
A letter from the CCA CEO -- Posted Tuesday, December 25 2007
Fellow Cricketers,
Thanks for the best wishes and where applicable 'sharing the love' as I saw in some emails!!
On a more serious and solemn note, jointly we can make 2008 a pivotal year of change in the history of the 'game we love', in this country.
The CCA is a punching bag for many in our esteemed Cricketing fraternity...this comes from those who rightfully expect many things and see limited movement. Critics are our best friends...we take solace in the fact that there many people out there that passionately feel for this game. However, as most of you know it is tempting and easy to sit on the fence and point fingers...lets get off that fence and get our 'hands dirty' together...or else be viewed as a source of negative energy...
2008 is a crucial year for Canadian Cricket because, (among others and in no particular order):
1) T 20 World Cup qualifier in Aug 2008
2) Preparation for 2009, 50-over CWC qualifier
3) Womens T 20 World Cup in 2009
4) The need to set up a Pro League (yes it is a need)
5) We need to involve the Corporates..to create brand recognition and funding for the game
6) National Cricket Academy - we need this to create a structure for identification and development of young talent
7) Womens League: We need this set up nationwide to ensure we develop on this front to be a global force to reckon with.
8) Schools program and grassroots development...
9) National Championships
As you can see we have our hands full...and I have yet to list our I-Cup and One-day commitments...
We are heartened to see the passion expressed by many of you in every meeting we have had. This is your opportunity to become a catalytic positive force, to change the pace and efficiency at which the CCA has been able to operate.
I invite each of you to get in touch with me directly, (preferably not by hitting 'reply all' !!) and lets jointly draw up plans to go achieve some of the above goals for 2008.
Yours in hope...
Warm regards,
Atul Ahuja
Chief Executive Officer
Canadian Cricket Association
cricketceo@gmail.com
2007 Review - Canada -- Posted Monday, December 24 2007
Fighting against the odds
Will Luke
December 23, 2007
It was a mixed year for Canada both on and off the pitch. They struggled in one-day cricket with four wins out of 16 matches while in the ICC Intercontinental Cup they lost four out of five. And as they move into 2008, the lack of money continues to blight their progress.
Their performance at the World Cup was predictably dire, only ever showing glimpses of potential and competitiveness. After losing to Kenya, they took on England and made a decent stab at chasing 280 with Ashif Mulla cracking a quickfire 58. In their final match against New Zealand, John Davison - Canada's bristling opener and only batsman with the gumption and class to take on the best - smashed 52 from 31 balls in his farewell ODI.
Things didn't improve in four-day cricket either when they were humiliated by Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup final at Leicester carried over from the previous season. Their preparation was poor, blighted by lost baggage and missed flights, and lost a horribly one-sided contest inside five sessions. They struggled in subsequent matches from patchy availability and a lack of preparation as players, already struggling to take time off, often found themselves underprepared on unfamiliar surfaces.
The coach, Andy Pick, left in May and urged Canada's board to appoint his replacement quickly, to aid their path to qualifying for the next World Cup. Pubudu Dassanayake was finally chosen five months later, and he has a battle on his hands to squeeze what little money he can from a ring-fenced set-up.
New man on the block
A familiar name in Canada's youth squads, Trevin Bastiampillai is one of the next generation and in 2007 put together some useful scores. He made 71 in Canada's innings victory over UAE, adding 141 with Mulla.
Fading star
John Davison, Canada's standout batsman, played his last match in the Intercontinental Cup final rout, and two months earlier he bowed out of ODIs at the World Cup with a typically audacious 52 from 31 balls. He might yet return but, at 37, and with Canada's selectors looking to the future, it appears unlikely. They, and Canada's fans, will sorely miss him.
High point
Ashish Bagai shone in the World Cricket League in Nairobi. He scored 137 not out - his first hundred in senior cricket - against Scotland and added a second ton against Ireland four days later. His 345 runs at 86.25 meant he ended the tournament as the leading run scorer and was named Player of the Tournament. He was later shortlisted for the ICC Associate Player of the Year.
Low point
Canada's loss to Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup final summed up their year. Dismissed for 92 and 145, the only crumb of comfort they gained was the performance of Umar Bhatti who took a hat-trick (and very nearly four in four) as Ireland's first innings fell away. The news that Bagai had taken up a work position in London and was likely to largely unavailable in 2008 was another blow.
What the future holds
With the appointment of Atul Ahuja as Canada's first chief executive, hopes of the government funding Canadian cricket have increased. Like other Associates, they receive a payout from the ICC but, as Pick found out, access to the funds is limited - and this is one area that Ahuja might be able to help in his first year as chief executive. Similarly, Pubudu Dassanayake, Pick's replacement, has a tough task on his hands to improve consistency.
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/canada/content/story/327074.html
BRYAN MAURICETTE - Giving Back to Cricket -- Posted Sunday, December 23 2007
Bryan Mauricette joined the O.C.A. Board of Control as Senior Selector for the 1995 season in January. Despite the disappointment of losing to Quebec in this year's Atholstan Game and the problems faced in putting the Ontario team together, Bryan is positive about the future of Ontario and Canadain cricket. He believes strongly that clubs must cooperate by releasing players to play in respresentative games which included the Ontario U23 team, otherwise these games become meaningless.
Bryan is not a new face on the Ontario scene. He has been involved as both player and coach since 1974. He was the coach to the Canadian team at the last I.C.C. Competition in Kenya. When asked about what lessons there were to be learned from that experience, he was very clear. To compete at that level, you must have a four year programme leading up to the tournament - to begin preparation six months before is not sufficient. He also believed that the type of 50 overs game that is played in Canada does not create players who can compete at the top level and that two day cricket where one team can bat for up to 100 overs should be tried. This would give batsmen an opportunity to build big innings which would help them develop as top class players. He also believed that is would force players to become fitter if they had to play longer games. He was disappointed that many of the recommendations that were made when the team returned from Kenya don't seem to have been acted upon.
Bryan has also commited himself to bring on the Ontario juniors. He has recently become a fully certified Level 2 coach and an active member of the Ontario Coaches Association. He believes that for many of the junior players, it is vital to get a solid foundation of good techniques both in batting, wicketkeeping and bowling. Once again he expressed his concern over the type of 25 overs bash that juniors have to play. He said categorically that this instills bad habits from an early age and gives younger players bad habits the idea that to bat for 30 minutes and score 20 runs constitutes a major innings.
Bryan has rubbed shoulders with some of the greats and mentioned that he played against a young Viv Richards. Before coming to Canada, he represented the Combined Windward Islands against Trinidad in 1967 and New Zealand in 1972. He was a member of Canada's most successful team which was placed 2nd to Sri Lanka in the I.C.C. Tournament and qualified for the World Cup against England and Pakistan.
Although Bryan can still be found behind the stumps, his future is as a selector and coach as Canada strives to gain recognition on the world stage.
Article written by University of Toronto Professor David Cooper and sourced from 'The Ontario Cricket Pitch', volume 5 Number 1, October 1995.
CCA PR PLAN -- Posted Saturday, December 22 2007
CRICKET IN CANADA TO BENEFIT FROM PUBLIC RELATIONS PLAN............
Cricket in Canada is growing in interest and gaining new teams and players with more and more exciting competitions, matches and touring teams. To maintain this momentum the Canadian Cricket Association has created an Executive Committee which will work as a group under Chairman John Cole.
This new committee has now decided to take the modern step of appointing a public relations officer for the CCA. As a volunteer of the committee, the PR man will attend meetings of the executive committee and off suggestions and recommendations on how to obtain not only as much publicity for cricket as possible, but how to communicate bettwer with the various clubs and leagues across Canada, government, sports organization and the general public.
As public realtions people say: PR stands for "p" for performance and "r" for recognition. The CCA and cricket is performing now with lots of activity. It will be up tp the PRO to obtain the recognition for cricket that it deserves.
William B. Prentice, CCA Public Relations Officer.
Article sourced from The Canadian Cricketer, Vol.1 No.1 March 1972 pp:16
King's College Record -- Posted Saturday, December 22 2007
June 1879
That Room-Mate of Mine
...[In his fondness for] cricket. Joe never misses an opportunity for practice, and I might almost say further, never comes in from the field unscarred. Whatever pranks the ball may play, Joseph seems to be the victim of, as his sprained fingers, bruised shins, &c. can attest; and seldom during the season is he seen without one or more of his fingers painted with iodine. These accidents, however do not dampen his ardour, or in any way lessen his interest in the noble game.
Excerpt from:
King's College Record - Vol 1
King's College, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Library
- King's College Archive
Article sourced from:-
http://www.birthplaceofhockey.com/birthplace/kings/kings-record/record-sports/record-rmmt-cricket-june79.html
WORLD CUP '79 - CANADA'S DEBUT -- Posted Friday, December 21 2007
Individuals will remember the innings they played. It would be unjust to mention some of the innings and have to exclude others. Individuals will remember the wickets they took. John Valentine will surely never forget the scalps of Majid Khan, Brearley and Darling. Individuals will remember the run-outs, catches, and good fielding. Chris Chappell, Martin Stead and Cornelius Henry in particular will remember important run-outs which turner various games our way.
Individual achievements were both numerous and significant. They are detailed elsewhere. Far more important, however, is the sum of all these individual performances. Far more important were victories in the I.C.C. Trophy against Bermuda, Bangladesh, Malaysia in the I.C.C. Trophy against Bermuda, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Figi, creditable performances in the World Cup against Pakistan and Australia (which meant that although we were beaten we were not totally outclassed) and some good performances in "friendlies" against clubs and representative teams. The tour concluded with a tremendous match in the I.C.C. Trophy Final when Canada lost to Sri Lanka by 60 runs.
Far more important was the good which the whole tour did for Canadian cricket. It is almost impossible to understand the good it did, unless you were fortunate enough to be in England. The team achieved more than simple totals of press lineage (of which there was an incredible amount, almost all of it favourable), It was more than lineage in the cricket magazines. It was more than the fact that Canadian games were shown on BBC television (the whole of the Canada/England game with Garnet Brisbane, injured, provinding colour commentary). It was more than the fact that Canada's games were covered on radio, in England, Pakistan and Australia. It was more than the interviews conducted on BBC television with Merv Savage, the Manager, and Brian Mauricette, the Acting Captain.
Canadian cricket and Canadian cricketers earned a new respect among all the Associate Member countries, those we played and beat (or lost narrowly to in the case of Denmark) and those who didn't come up against us. All of the teams in the competion respected our ability. But they also respected us as people, both on and off the field. Three members of the party were fortunate enough to stumble upon an end-of-competition formal dinner organized by the Argentinian and Fijian teams (with a liberal sprinkling of individual players from other countries). The dinner took place the night of our semi-final victory over Bermuda. Toast after toast was proposed, and drank to the Canadiain team, even though only three representatives were present. Just why everybody was so happy that we had qualified was difficult to imagine! We must have done something rigt, somewhere, sometime!
The reaction of the major cricketing nations to our arrival in the World Cup was interesting. We were in a group that contained England, Pakistan, and Australia. None of the three took any chances when playing Canada. Regardless of what they thought of Canadian cricket before the event, when they came to the game there was no element of relaxation, no question of fielding a weaker team (resting senior of semi-fit players), no question of using "occasional" bowlers. There is no escaping the fact that we were soundly beaten in all three games, but certainly against Pakistan and Australia we stood up quite well under pressure. In fact, our first session in "the major leagues" saw us 96 for 2 at lunch against Pakistan with Glenroy Sealy having played an excellent innings of 45 and Franklyn Dennis having two memorable shots for four in one over off Imran Khan. The session after lunch was not nearly so profitable for us, but we had made a point - Canada could "exist" at that level.
In the England game we did suffer, but then any opposition would have struggled against the full England attack used relentlessly by Brearley on a wicket and in climatic conditions which suited them perfectly. And, remember that same attack had Pakistan 36 for 6 two days later! Against Australia, a promising opening stand between Sealy and Chappell and an attractive innings from John Vaughan showed again that the Test match playing countries could not take us too lightly.
Once more, though, it was points other than the mere figures which showed how much good the team did for Canadian cricket. I watched the first ball ever played by Canada in the World Cup (by Imran Khan to Sealy) flicked for 4 to square-leg and I remember the instant reaction of a crowd which, even at 11.00 a.m., was not small. I also remember how that crowd grew after lunch when the score became known around the Leeds area. The comments of the Yorkshire staff were uniform praiseworthy to Canada. I talked to Javed Burki, the Pakistan Manager, after the game. He had a couple of valid professional criticisms, but apart from that he stated categorically that Canada had put up a good performance and had nothing to be ashamed of. The comments were not solicited, nor were they patronizing in tone.
I am sure one of the enduring memories for all the players in the party was the hundreds upon hundreds of autographs they begged to sign wherever they played. You can't measure what does for the good of Canadian cricket. You do get the feeling that the continous willingness of the players to sign autographs, to talk to the scores of youngsters on the grounds was a tremendous public relations effort on behalf of Canadian cricket. Canada made a real impression on the cricketing public in England, one that will remain for quite a few years.
We should not forget the benefits that could and should accrue to the game of cricket back here in Canada. I know personally of many cricketers in Toronto who listened to Canada's game against England on short-wave radio and tuned in regularly for the scores of our other games. Those persons are the lifeblood of the game in Canada. They must have been proud of the team's performance and, perhaps rightly, taken some personal glory out of it as well. They must now have a renewed belief in the standard that Canadian cricket can aspire to, if the players and administrators are willing to work to achieve it.
The press coverage of cricket in Canada during May and June was better than usual. It was still only a fraction of that in England, but whatever coverage we did get brought home to a large public that is aware of cricket and of Canadian cricket (but for one reason or another has nothing to do with playing the game) that Canada was actually winning something and was even playing against England, Australia, Pakistan. That increased awareness is valuable for the game in general. It may be transitory, but it all helps.
The temporary nature of the benefits brings me to the last points. What about the future? Ho do we follow 1979?? The Associate Members World Cup (the I.C.C. Trophy Competition) was so much of a success with participating countries, the public and the administrative bodies of the International Cricket Conference that it will be repeated. The next session will probably be in 1982 and the two finalists will return in 1983 to take part in the third "Prudential" World Cup. Now that we know that, now that we have something tangible to aim at and prepare for, we can start to develop our planning. All cricketers who aspire to a place on the National team can start now to think about 1982 and the chances of making that team.
Let nobody be under any misunderstanding. There will be 14 of so Associate Member countries who will be look forward to playingand beating Canada - and so be able to claim that they could have made it into the Prudential back in 1979. Some countries will be keener than others, but they will all want a shot at us.
Canada can currently claim a position behind Sri Lanka, but at the head of the I.C.C. Associate Member countries. It will be hard to maintain that position in 1982.
Article written by Steve Firley
Published in THE CANADIAN CRICKETER vol.7 No.4 December 1979
Canada's international matches in 2008 -- Posted Tuesday, December 18 2007
The two most solid features of the Canadian men's international cricket schedule for 2008 are three ICC Intercontinental Cup matches against Bermuda (home, July 4-7), Scotland (home, July 16-19) and Ireland (away, August 6-9) and the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifying Tournament (Belfast, Northern Ireland, August 2-4).
There will be ODI matches against Bermuda (home, June 28, 29 and July 1) and Ireland (August 11) but projected matches against Scotland (home, July 20) and the Netherlands (away, August 11 & 12) do not appear on the schedule issued by the ICC following a recent series of discussions and some shuffling of dates for other games. These matches do show on the Canadian Cricket Association site but even that notes the early August Twenty20 event that pushes the ODI with Ireland back by about one week. So it seems the ODIs with the Dutch may not be taking place.
Similarly a date change for the Intercontinental Cup match at home to Scotland seems to result in an ODI against the Scots dropping off the schedule. Scottish and Bermudian cricket fans may be interested in the Intercontental Cup match between those sides on Canadian soil from July 10 to 13th.
The ICC Intercontinental Cup final is now due in Dubai from November 12-16, 2008, but Canada would be hard pressed to qualify for this final following three outright losses in matches in 2007. Three Canadian wins in 2008 might give a ray of hope to reach the final for what would be the third time in four editiions of this tournament.
The ICC World Twenty20 Qualifying tournament involves the leading six ICC Associate High Performance countries: Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland. The top two qualify for the actual championships in England in 2009 and gain a $250,000 US participation fee from the ICC.
Americas Regional Event and other possible matches
ICC Americas is due to host a Regional Tournament in Florida between May 22 and May 30 involving the leading Associate countries in the region.
There have been plans since 2006 to meet the West Indies in Canada in 2008. A Triangular tournament is shown on the Canadian Cricket Association website involving Canada, Bermuda and the West Indies in Toronto between August 20 and 28, but this is not confirmed on the recent ICC media release of the schedule. Time will tell if this particular tournament comes to fruition.
There is also a projected ODI series of three matches in three days with Bermuda in Florida on the CCA version of the schedule. Such a concentration of play does not make sense from a playing perspective, there being little or no time to re-group between matches (unless the weather intervenes). The recent ICC release does not show this series.
Domestic Scene
On the domestic scene, an Inter-Provincial Tournament (IPT) is noted between June 26 and June 30 at an undisclosed venue. It had been projected to have such a tournament in 2007 but it was postponed. However, the Manitoba Cricket Association picked up some of the slack and staged an invitational tournament that was won by Meraloma CC (playing as the British Columbia entry) ahead of teams from Alberta, Quebec, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
The IPT will clash with Canada's ODI series against Bermuda, and if the John Ross Robertson Trophy Final (East and West) are played on Canada Day (July 1), as per the existing Bylaws, there may be a three-way clash between the ODIs, the IPT and the JRR. Typically, the semi-finals of the JRR are staged one day before the Final!
Some kind of scheduling clash for what some observers might believe to be important matches is not unknown. In 2007 a Canada match clashed with JRR East and West deciding matches, and the country's leading league - the Toronto and District Cricket Association staged a 20/20 event. The visiting Dutch team manager even helped umpire one of the early matches in the T&DCA 20/20.
At some point, we can expect news of plans for Junior and Women's cricket for 2008, as these are key areas of interest under the ICC's current development strategy.
Home Venues to be confirmed
Home ODIs must be played at an ICC approved venue, which presently means either the Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club or Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City. The Intercontinental Cup matches must be played on grass wickets. One source suggests Maple Leaf CC is the likely site. Another source suggests early season grass growth will be monitored before the final decision on home grounds is confirmed.
Improvements to the presentation of the sport?
Hopefully, somebody will wake up and buy some netting to restore a couple of mobile net frames to life that are sitting doing nothing at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club.
And some divider netting and posts to allow for safer practices at both grounds by participating clubs might be acquired.
Who knows if an add-on scoreboard to allow proper innings totals for two-innings per side Intercontinental Cup matches will be in place? All it would take are a few pieces of wood, some black paint and some numbers.
TV and Crowds?
TV coverage? Well, a chance to have at least one international game on the Rogers Community Cable channel was turned aside in 2007.
Yet in 2006, one home match venue had to be changed when a CCA official was talking in terms of up to “10,000 spectators a day” attending the Intercontinental Cup match against Kenya. So the ground authority had to decline staging the match for practical reasons.
The 10,000 figure not met by around 9,700 per day in what proved an exciting game that Canada won in the final hour by 25 runs. (I believe the previously reported expectation was "about 5,000 spectators per day". I did my own research at the time, but was constrained by being part of the CCA for a short time. I have reasons for believing the 10,000 figure was uttered.)
Crowds for the inaugural Canadian home ODIs with Kenya in 2006 didn't even stretch to 1,000 per day. And lacked TV coverage, save for a couple of news camera that visited the ground. Nobody even seemed to take a picture of the squads for what in the annals of Canadian cricket were historic matches.
Still, crowds dwindled for home games in 2007, peaking at about 100 for the one ODI with the Netherlands that did go ahead.
Spokesmen for the ground authorities at both venues used in 2007 were almost gushring with self-praise on the hosting of matches. The wickets and outfields were mostly in decent shape. Some of the play was good. But you have to wonder if some of the local powers that be have ever been to a real cricket match or sporting event. Even one of the home selectors was left wondering about who was one of the home team.
Perhaps this summer a radical move will be made to indicate the starting time for home matches on the official Canadian Cricket website. Surely that's not asking too much?
But it might be. Some of the Canadian powers that be are seeking external parties to come and run home games. A re-invite has just appeared on the official website. If it is difficult for those in authority to arrange a 4-day match against Bermuda, it begs some questions about how the same leaders might be able to bring a professional league to fruition. Unless, of course, other people do it for them.
The Canadian players, the coaches, the team officials and the groundstaff deserve much better than the status quo. As do people who provide practice facilities.
And at some stage, plans need to be in place to prepare for the vital World Cup Qualifying Tournament in the UAE in April 2009. Canada's High Performance ranking and the related ICC funding would be on the line at this tournament. And almost all the Canadian players will be playing out of season.
At present, those who are available are taking part in practices and training sessions, some in the early morning hours.
Canadian International Cricket Schedule 2008 (as currently defined)
ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-2008 (First class, 2 innings per side)
July 4-7 Canada v Bermuda (Canada)
July 16-19 Canada v Scotland (Canada)
August 6-9 Ireland v Canada (Ireland)
also July 10-13 Scotland v Bermuda (Canada)
Final Nov 12-16 Dubai (top two from the round-robin stage)
ODI Matches
June 28, 29 and July 1 Canada v Bermuda (Canada)
August 11 Ireland v Canada (Ireland)
June 1-3 (to be confirmed) Canada v Bermuda (Florida, USA)
August 20-28 (to be confirmed) Tri-Nations: Canada, Bermuda, West Indies (Toronto)
ICC Americas Regional One-day game Championships
May 22-30 in Florida
ICC World Twenty20 Qualifying Tournament
August 2-4 Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands, Scotland (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Top two qualify for the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 in England.
Eddie Norfolk
Irish cricket suffers cash crisis -- Posted Saturday, December 15 2007
Irish cricket is virtually broke despite the country's sensational performances in this year's World Cup.
It has emerged that the Irish Cricket Union (ICU) needed a grant of almost £250,000 from the Irish Sports Council to keep its head above water.
The ICU was also bailed out by a recent grant of almost £50,000 from the International Cricket Council.
The ICU made a loss from the World Cup despite the team's achievements.
Ireland reached the second phase of the tournament after they beat Pakistan and drew with Zimbabwe in what was their first World Cup appearance.
Exact figures won't be made public until the ICU's AGM in February but officials acknowledge that the Irish governing body suffered a financial hit as a result of the country's longer-than-expected stay in the Caribbean.
There have been a series of problems since the team returned from the World Cup in April.
These range from unpaid match fees to a delay in the players getting their World Cup money. Small crowds for the one-day matches against South Africa and India in Belfast last summer have done little to boost finances.
Ireland played nine Friends Provident Trophy and five international games after the World Cup.
The players did not receive match fees (around £100 per player per game) for any of those games.
The Ireland squad refused to talk to the media after their win over the Netherlands in June in protest at the delay in getting their World Cup money.
They eventually got their World Cup fees but the affair was a public relations embarrassment for the ICU.
Over-priced tickets and having club fixtures clash with the international matches have been acknowledged as big mistakes.
Another massive blow was Bank of Ireland's decision in early October to end their sponsorship deal with Irish cricket.
That contract was understood to be worth around £50,000 per annum and the ICU is still looking for another sponsor.
ICU chief executive Warren Deutrom acknowledged that 2007 has been "an exceptionally difficult year for Irish cricket".
"Are we broke? We'll break even at the end of this year. If we have to bring over a loss into 2008, we may have to do that," added the ICU chief.
Deutrom added that the ICU had been grateful for the "terrific" support financial from the Irish Sports Council and the ICC.
"The Irish Sports Council helped us both in tangible and intangible ways in 2007. The ICC have also heard our arguments."
Ireland captain Trent Johnston told the BBC that "it's a tough time for Irish cricket".
"Coming back after the World Cup, we unfortunately sort of missed the boat in terms of getting the commercial interests."
The skipper added that he was "worried" by Irish cricket's financial problems.
"The squad is so professional but unfortunately off the field, it's difficult for the administrators to take it to that professional level as well.
"They are trying all they can but without the money coming in, it's very tough."
Deutrom acknowledged that the ICU's financial difficulties means that there is "no prospect" of professional contracts being offered to Ireland players in 2008.
Ireland are scheduled to have 33 games next year, including Friends Provident Cup fixtures.
Article sourced from:-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/counties/ireland/7143026.stm
Editorial comment:-
Where are the funds for Canada's international cricket obligations.(JH)
28 Jun – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
29 Jun – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
1 Jul – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
4-7 Jul – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
16-19 Jul – Canada v Scotland, Canada (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
6-9 Aug – Ireland v Canada, Ireland (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
11 Aug – Ireland v Canada, Ireland (ODI)
A busy year in store for the Associates -- Posted Saturday, December 15 2007
ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier to be held in Ireland
The inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, which will take place in Belfast at the start of August, is the highlight of the Associates schedule for 2008 which was announced by the ICC today.
The three-day Qualifier will feature the six leading Associates - Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland - with the winners going through to the ICC World Twenty20 in England in 2009. The two successful teams will also stand to gain US$250,000 each for qualifying.
"The inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa was a great success with two Associate teams - Kenya and Scotland - qualifying through the ICC World Cricket League Division 1," Matthew Kennedy, the ICC global development manager, said. "This event gives the top six Associates the opportunity to qualify for the 2009 World Twenty20 ... [and] will also give cricket fans in Ireland a great opportunity to see some thrilling cricket in this, the shortest and newest form of the international game."
"The Irish board is excited at the prospect of hosting this inaugural Associate World Twenty20 on home soil in Stormont," Warren Deutrom, the CEO of the board, said. "Three games a day for three days in this highly popular form of the game will surely attract the interest of the Irish public."
All leading Associates have busy schedules with high-profile matches against Full Member countries the cherry on the cake. "This schedule of matches for the top Associates has been developed and refined over the past six months," Richard Done, the ICC's high performance manager, said. "It provides a challenging programme for each of the teams as they seek to improve their overall standing in world cricket and to continue the process of making themselves consistently competitive when facing the next tier.
"Having been through an extensive consultation process this schedule has the full support and agreement of each of the participating countries."
The calendar will be closely examined by players from the Associates. An increasing number have been voicing concern about the increasing demands on their time and some have withdrawn from matches or even retired because they have been unable to balance work with playing for their countries.
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/325356.html
ICC World Twenty20 -- Posted Friday, December 14 2007
Ireland to host inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast
ICC announces full schedule of top Associate international action for 2008
The International Cricket Council today announced the 2008 Associate schedule of international cricket.
One of the highlights of this year’s schedule will be the staging of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier which will take place in Belfast at the start of August between the six ODI Associate teams, Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland.
The finalists from that event will join the 10 Full Members at the next ICC World Twenty20 which will be hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2009. Apart from the enormous attention that competing in such a high-profile event like that will bring, the two successful teams will also stand to gain US$250,000 each for qualifying.
The three-day event will be staged at the Stormont ground in Belfast and will be a fiesta of cricket with three matches played each day.
“The inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa was a great success with two Associate teams – Kenya and Scotland – qualifying through the ICC World Cricket League Division 1,” said ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy.
“This event gives the top six Associates the opportunity to qualify for the 2009 World Twenty20 in that format of the game. It will also give cricket fans in Ireland a great opportunity to see some thrilling cricket in this, the shortest and newest form of the international game,” he said.
Chief Executive of the Irish Cricket Union (ICU) Warren Deutrom has welcomed the announcement. “The ICU is excited at the prospect of hosting this inaugural Associate World Twenty20 on home soil in Stormont,” he said. “Three games a day for three days in this highly popular form of the game will surely attract the interest of the Irish public.”
But before all that, the 2008 schedule for the top Associates gets underway on 15 January when Kenya travels to Sharjah to take on the United Arab Emirates in the ICC Intercontinental Cup.
After that there will be plenty more Intercontinental Cup action, giving the eight top Associates the opportunity to hone their skills in the four-day version of the game. Defending champion Ireland will be out to make sure it doesn’t lose its grip on the title and will be hoping to make the final, which takes place in Dubai next November.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of ODIs for all the top sides, with series in Kenya, Namibia, UAE, Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands with some matches involving Full Members such as New Zealand and England.
“This schedule of matches for the top Associates has been developed and refined over the past six months,” said Richard Done, ICC’s High Performance Manager.
“It provides a challenging programme for each of the teams as they seek to improve their overall standing in world cricket and to continue the process of making themselves consistently competitive when facing the next tier.
“Having been through an extensive consultation process this schedule has the full support and agreement of each of the participating countries,” he said.
Top Associates’ international schedule 2008
15-18 Jan – UAE v Kenya, Sharjah (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
20 Jan – UAE v Kenya, Sharjah (Other International Match)
23-26 Jan – UAE v Namibia, Sharjah
(ICC Intercontinental Cup)
30 Jan-2 Feb – Namibia v Kenya, Kenya
(ICC Intercontinental Cup)
Mar/Apr (TBC) – UAE v Ireland, UAE (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
27-30 Mar – Namibia v Netherlands, Windhoek (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
3-6 Apr – UAE v Netherlands, UAE (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
4-7 Apr – Namibia v Scotland, Namibia (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
28 Jun – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
29 Jun – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
1 Jul – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
1 Jul – Scotland v New Zealand, Scotland (ODI)
2 Jul – Scotland v Ireland, Scotland (ODI)
3 Jul – Ireland v New Zealand, Scotland
4-7 Jul – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
9-12 Jul – Netherlands v Ireland, Netherlands (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
10-13 Jul – Scotland v Bermuda, Canada (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
16-19 Jul – Canada v Scotland, Canada (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
28 Jul – Ireland v Netherlands, Dublin (ODI)
29 Jul – Scotland v Netherlands, Dublin (ODI)
31 Jul – Ireland v Scotland, Dublin (ODI)
2-4 Aug – ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier (Associate ODI teams), Belfast
6-9 Aug – Ireland v Canada, Ireland (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
7-10 Aug – Scotland v Kenya, Scotland (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
11 Aug – Ireland v Canada, Ireland (ODI)
12 Aug – Scotland v Kenya, Scotland (ODI)
13 Aug – Scotland v Kenya, Scotland (ODI)
16-19 Aug – Netherlands v Kenya, Netherlands (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
18 Aug – Scotland v England, Scotland (ODI)
21 Aug –Netherlands v Kenya, Amsterdam (ODI)
24 Aug – Ireland v Kenya, Belfast (ODI)
25 Aug – Ireland v Kenya, Belfast (ODI)
27 Aug – Ireland v Kenya, Belfast (ODI)
3-6 Sep* – Namibia v Bermuda, Windhoek (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
5-8 Oct*– Namibia v Ireland, Windhoek (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
12-15 Oct* – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
18 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
19 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
21 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
23 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
25 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
12-16 Nov – ICC Intercontinental Cup Final, Dubai
Information sourced from ICC press release (JH)
2008 Associate schedule of international cricket. -- Posted Thursday, December 13 2007
ICC announces full schedule of top Associate international action for 2008
The International Cricket Council today announced the 2008 Associate schedule of international cricket.
One of the highlights of this year’s schedule will be the staging of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier which will take place in Belfast at the start of August between the six ODI Associate teams, Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland.
The finalists from that event will join the 10 Full Members at the next ICC World Twenty20 which will be hosted by the England and Wales Cricket Board in 2009. Apart from the enormous attention that competing in such a high-profile event like that will bring, the two successful teams will also stand to gain US$250,000 each for qualifying.
The three-day event will be staged at the Stormont ground in Belfast and will be a fiesta of cricket with three matches played each day.
“The inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in South Africa was a great success with two Associate teams – Kenya and Scotland – qualifying through the ICC World Cricket League Division 1,” said ICC Global Development Manager Matthew Kennedy.
“This event gives the top six Associates the opportunity to qualify for the 2009 World Twenty20 in that format of the game. It will also give cricket fans in Ireland a great opportunity to see some thrilling cricket in this, the shortest and newest form of the international game,” he said.
Chief Executive of the Irish Cricket Union (ICU) Warren Deutrom has welcomed the announcement.
“The ICU is excited at the prospect of hosting this inaugural Associate World Twenty20 on home soil in Stormont,” he said. “Three games a day for three days in this highly popular form of the game will surely attract the interest of the Irish public.”
But before all that, the 2008 schedule for the top Associates gets underway on 15 January when Kenya travels to Sharjah to take on the United Arab Emirates in the ICC Intercontinental Cup.
After that there will be plenty more Intercontinental Cup action, giving the eight top Associates the opportunity to hone their skills in the four-day version of the game. Defending champion Ireland will be out to make sure it doesn’t lose its grip on the title and will be hoping to make the final, which takes place in Dubai next November.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of ODIs for all the top sides, with series in Kenya, Namibia, UAE, Scotland, Ireland and the Netherlands with some matches involving Full Members such as New Zealand and England.
“This schedule of matches for the top Associates has been developed and refined over the past six months,” said Richard Done, ICC’s High Performance Manager.
“It provides a challenging programme for each of the teams as they seek to improve their overall standing in world cricket and to continue the process of making themselves consistently competitive when facing the next tier.
“Having been through an extensive consultation process this schedule has the full support and agreement of each of the participating countries,” he said.
Top Associates’ international schedule 2008
15-18 Jan – UAE v Kenya, Sharjah (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
20 Jan – UAE v Kenya, Sharjah (Other International Match)
23-26 Jan – UAE v Namibia, Sharjah (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
30 Jan-2 Feb – Namibia v Kenya, Kenya (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
Mar/Apr (TBC) – UAE v Ireland, UAE (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
27-30 Mar – Namibia v Netherlands, Windhoek (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
3-6 Apr – UAE v Netherlands, UAE (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
4-7 Apr – Namibia v Scotland, Namibia (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
28 Jun – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
29 Jun – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
1 Jul – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ODI)
1 Jul – Scotland v New Zealand, Scotland (ODI)
2 Jul – Scotland v Ireland, Scotland (ODI)
3 Jul – Ireland v New Zealand, Scotland
4-7 Jul – Canada v Bermuda, Canada (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
9-12 Jul – Netherlands v Ireland, Netherlands (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
10-13 Jul – Scotland v Bermuda, Canada (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
16-19 Jul – Canada v Scotland, Canada (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
28 Jul – Ireland v Netherlands, Dublin (ODI)
29 Jul – Scotland v Netherlands, Dublin (ODI)
31 Jul – Ireland v Scotland, Dublin (ODI)
2-4 Aug – ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier (Associate ODI teams), Belfast
6-9 Aug – Ireland v Canada, Ireland (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
7-10 Aug – Scotland v Kenya, Scotland (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
11 Aug – Ireland v Canada, Ireland (ODI)
12 Aug – Scotland v Kenya, Scotland (ODI)
13 Aug – Scotland v Kenya, Scotland (ODI)
16-19 Aug – Netherlands v Kenya, Netherlands (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
18 Aug – Scotland v England, Scotland (ODI)
21 Aug –Netherlands v Kenya, Amsterdam (ODI)
24 Aug – Ireland v Kenya, Belfast (ODI)
25 Aug – Ireland v Kenya, Belfast (ODI)
27 Aug – Ireland v Kenya, Belfast (ODI)
3-6 Sep* – Namibia v Bermuda, Windhoek (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
5-8 Oct*– Namibia v Ireland, Windhoek (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
12-15 Oct* – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ICC Intercontinental Cup)
18 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
19 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
21 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
23 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
25 Oct – Kenya v Ireland, Kenya (ODI)
12-16 Nov – ICC Intercontinental Cup Final, Dubai
Information sourced from ICC Press release.(JH)
TRENT UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES -- Posted Tuesday, December 11 2007
Is there a cricketer in Peterbough, Ontario, who would report on any, and all, of the following?:-
Fonds Level Description
Peterborough Cricket Club
77-034
TITLE
Peterborough Cricket Club fonds. -- 1874-1965. -- 7 cm of textual records. -- 27 photographs.
BIOGRAPHY / HISTORY
In 1859 the Junior Cricket Club was formed as a younger member of the Peterborough Cricket Club. The Peterborough Cricket Club produced amateur minstrel shows in the 1890's at Victoria Hall in the Bradburn Opera House. (Taken from: Jones, Elwood and Bruce Dyer. "Peterborough The Electric City." Burlington: Windsor Publications (Canada) Ltd., 1987.)
CUSTODIAL HISTORY
Unknown
SCOPE AND CONTENT
The fonds of the Peterborough Cricket Club consists of scorebooks of the club (G. Whitaker Company Cricket Club) 1937-1954; 1965, as well as photographs of players and matches. Also included are newspaper clippings and rule books. Amongst the cricketeers is Richard B. Rogers.
NOTES
Title based on the contents of the fonds.
The fonds was donated by Archie Hamilton of Peterborough, Ontario.
Restrictions: N
Finding aids: Y
Outsized materials located in Large Materials Cabinet - Drawer 47.
Associated material located at the Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives.
FINDING AID
Box 1
Scorebooks
/1 G. Whitaker Co. Cricket Club 1937-38
/2 as above1938-41
/3 Peterborough Cricket Club 1939-41
/4 G. Whitaker Co. Cricket Club 1941-43
/5 Peterborough-Whitaker's 1944-48
/6 Peterborough-Whitaker's Sept 1948-May 1950
/7 Peterborough-Whitaker Cricket Club "B" Team 1951-52
/8 Peterborough Cricket Club (PWCC) "A" Team 1953
/9 Peterborough-Whitaker Cricket Club "B" Team 1953
/10 Peterborough Cricket Club 1954
/11 Peterborough Cricket Club 1965
Box 2
Photographs
Folder 1
1. unidentified cricketers nd
2. unidentified cricketers nd (H. Green photo)
3. " "
4. " " Located in Large Materails Cabinet - Drawer 47
5. Dominion Woollens and Worsteds XI nd (individuals identified)
6. The oval, Peterborough, nd
7. The oval, Peterborough, nd
8. The oval, nd
9. Cricket at the oval, nd
Folder 2
10. Peterborough and Lindsay Cricket club 1874
11. Trinity College School Cricket Club 1882 (individuals identified) - Located in Large Materials Cabinet - Drawer 47
12. Peterborough Cricket Club 1891 or 1898 (individuals identified) - Located in Large Materails Cabinet - Drawer 47
13. Peterborough Cricket XI 1890
14. cricketers (four identified) 1913
15. Peterborough Cricket Club 1924 1st XI - Located in Large Materails Cabinet - Drawer 47
16. as for number 15
17. PCC 1926
l to r: Walter Stokes, G. Hamilton, R.M. Stuart, G. Monkman, F. Dyer(Capt.), Garbutt, C. Thrope, E. Massey-Cooke
centre: G. Coutts, C. Elliot
front: P. Manning, R. Dyer, G. Langley, Ryland, J. Dunkerly
18. G. Whitaker Co. Cricket Club 1934
19. Peterborough-Whitaker Cricket Club 1948
20. as for number 19
Folder 3
21. Winner of Ontario Counties Championship 1948
22. Cricket at Nicholls Oval 1950/60's
23. Bermuda vs. Peterborough - batsman and wicketkeeper 1957
24. Bermuda vs. Peterborough - batsman and fielders 1957
25. Bermuda vs. Peterborough - Mayor Swanson bowling 1957
26. At the oval - Peterborough-Whitaker Cricket Club 1962
27. T. & DCC - winners of Paris Division F. and DCC 1964
Folder 4
The Canadian Cricketer's Guide and Review of the Past Season - inscribed "Edwin R. Rogers June 21st 1876
Cricket by Edmund Routledge, inscribed "Edwin R. rogers, Ashburmham, Peterborough, Ont. Sept. 1879"
Folder 5
newspaper clippings, April - Nov 1881, 1894, 1899, 1915
Cricket and the International Olympic Committee -- Posted Tuesday, December 11 2007
ICC statement following its acceptance as a federation recognised by the International Olympic Committee
The International Cricket Council has welcomed the decision by the International Olympic Committee’s Executive Board to return cricket into the Olympic Movement after a gap of more than 100 years.
The IOC’s decision to recognise the ICC and cricket for the first time since the sport featured in the 1900 Paris Olympiad will lead to closer collaboration between the ICC and IOC for the good of sport. It is also expected to enhance cricket’s profile in territories where it is a developing sport.
“This is great news for cricket,” said ICC President Ray Mali. “The Olympic Movement is instantly recognisable around the world and for cricket to be a part of that again has to be a good thing.
“The ICC and IOC share similar values, such as a spirit of fair play in a competitive but ultimately friendly environment. Cricket – like all sports – should be played hard but fair and I think the special atmosphere that surrounds the Olympic Games demonstrates all that is good about sport,” said Mr Mali.
Mr Mali who, along with ICC Directors David Morgan and HRH Tunku Imran, met with IOC President Jacques Rogge in Lausanne in October this year added that IOC recognition had been part of the ICC’s current Strategic Plan.
He said: “Our goal has been to become an international federation that is recognised by the IOC and we are pleased to have achieved this target. We want to play an active role in the Olympic Movement and we will be looking at ways in which we can work with the IOC for the benefit of cricket, sport and society in general.
“Cricket last featured in the Olympic Games in 1900. Maybe one day it will be right for cricket to return to the Olympic programme,” he added.
As well as approving the ICC’s application for IOC recognition at its meeting in Lausanne, the IOC Executive Board will also receive a presentation from Lord Condon, the Chairman of the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit, on issues relating to betting in sport.
Information sourced from an ICC Press Release.
Early Cricket Game -- Posted Monday, December 10 2007
Go to:-
http://www.pinet.on.ca/peeldiglib/Page.asp?PageID=8372
A MAN'S GAME -- Posted Monday, December 10 2007
The delights of cricket and woes of Mike Colle.
What is so wrong with Mike Colle topping up a grant from a requested $150,000 to $1 million?
Critics may not agree with how the political decision was made to hand over an inflated grant to the Ontario Cricket Association, a group that requested a mere $150,000 from the provincial Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship, but surely they would agree that the game of cricket deserves every penny.
Ah Cricket! The game where the field positions have names such as Third Man, Point, Gully, Square Leg, Backward Short Leg, Deep Backward Square Leg, Long on and Long off, Fine Leg, Silly Mid-on and Silly Mid-off.
Over the years I have had to explain this wonderful game to Canadians who have looked more and more puzzled as I have elaborated on the beauty and rigour of cricket. The sheer speed of pace bowlers, the power and reflexes of the great batsmen, the guile and control of the slow and spin bowlers. And, of course, the names of fielding positions.
It's a man's sport. Fielders catch the ball with bare hands, not like that other effete transatlantic game with ball and bat in which they wear outsize gloves when fielding.
Trust me, cricket is a fascinating game. It is worth much more than the mere million dollars that the provincial Liberals have given it.
Cricket brings Bangladeshis, Australians, Jamaicans, Indians, Bermudians, Sri Lankans, Netherlanders, Kenyans, South Africans, New Zealanders, Irish, Englishmen, Zimbabweans, Kenyans, Guyanese together on the sporting field.
The game was first recorded in 1785 in Canada but had to compete against the juggernaut of hockey, Canadian-style football and baseball. Now it is played everywhere in Canada's cities.
I was visiting New Brunswick years ago and ran into a cricket match. It seemed that some West Indians who lived in Saint John had taught the game to young residents of the city. I was impressed with the play, especially when I saw a young batsman hook a rising fast ball between fine leg and backward square leg for four runs.
Traces of the game lurk in unexpected places in Canada. Cricket was played in Cape Breton. The West Indian population had immigrated mainly from Barbados and Jamaica to work in the coal mines and steel plant beginning in the early 1900s. They brought cricket with them.
An elderly woman in Whitney Pier, a residential area in Sydney, told me these immigrants, West Indian Canadians, would dress up in cricket whites every summer Sunday to play teams from New Waterford, Glace Bay and Sydney. For four hours they could feel they were back in Jamaica, Trinidad, Grenada or Barbados.
The Black Historical Centre outside of Dartmouth has cricket bats, stumps and balls on display, collected from the families of these men who once played the game.
Cricket is being revitalized in Cuba. West Indians went to Cuba in droves in the 1930s. They went to work in the cane industry. The early immigrants brought their cricket balls and bats with them. With the Cuban government's emphasis on baseball, basketball and track, cricket, already not an indigenous sport, suffered a slow demise, just as it did in Cape Breton. Now Cubans, with help from a few West Indians, are trying to revive the sport.
In Ontario, many offspring of Commonwealth immigrants play cricket. This is no longer a foreign game. From the quality of the games I have seen, the numbers of young men who play, and the passion with which they play, this has become a Canadian sport. Canada sent a national team to the World Cup of Cricket this year, not that the general public noticed.
I am sure Mike Colle will be pleasantly surprised to learn of this history and resurgence of cricket regardless of the fact that Cuban cricketers, players from Commonwealth countries and cricketers in B.C., Halifax, Quebec and Manitoba cannot vote in the upcoming Ontario provincial election.
It's good public relations to let the international cricketing world know that although cricket is not a big deal in Ontario now, soon it will be, thanks to the foresight and largesse paid to the game by our provincial government.
One day in the not too distant future, when a Canadian team liberally sprinkled with homegrown Ontario players goes to the World Cup of Cricket and manages to win a game, Mike Colle's name will be remembered, not for being excessively generous with the funds from the Ministry of Immigration and Citizenship, but for sterling services to the game.
Article written by Roger McTair, who teaches media writing at Seneca College, Toronto.
Article sourced from:-
http://www.thestar.com/article/241838
DID YOU KNOW? -- Posted Sunday, December 9 2007
W.R. Gilbert, a once famous English cricketer in the latter part of the nineteenth century was a first cousin of the redoubtable W.G. Grace and had played as a member of the United South of England XI under the captaincy of W.G.
This team ceased to exist after 1882 and Gilbert, finding it difficult to live as a "pure" amateur (an indication of the fees by the "amateur" Graces with the U.S.E. XI), turned professional at the start of 1886 cricket season. He played a few matches early in the season and was even featured in a special article in the magazine "Cricket". After that there is no mention of him and all references disappear from the records.
It appears he had been caught red-handed, stealing from his fellow players in the team dressing room. In order not to besmirch the name of the "Graces", he was shipped to Canada where he died in 1924. While in Canada, however, he again resumed the game and made many fine scores.
Item transcribed from The Canadian Cricketer, March 1980, vol.8. No. 1. written by K.V. Smith.
Understanding the no-ball law -- Posted Saturday, December 8 2007
A no-ball is a delivery which does not count as one of the bowler's six legitimate balls in one over.
The fielding team are penalised one run every time a no-ball is bowled, which is added to the extras tally of the batting team.
The extra run will also be added to the bowler's overall figures.
The umpire will call a no ball by raising an arm at shoulder height and the fielding team must bowl another legitimate delivery.
If the batsman scores off a no ball, the runs will be added to their individual score. There are a couple of anomolies, though.
In domestic 40-over cricket, a no-ball concedes two runs.
In Twenty20 cricket, a no-ball is followed by a 'free-hit', a delivery from which the batsman can not be bowled or caught out, but can still be run out.
They cannot be dismissed off a no ball - only except if the batsman is run-out.
The umpire will call a no ball if:
The heel of the bowler's front foot lands on or in front of the popping crease (the front line of the batting crease).
However the front foot can be raised over the line as long as the heel does not go beyond the popping crease
The bowler's back foot is touching or outside the return crease.
A full toss - a ball which does not bounce - from a seam bowler reaches the batsman at waist height.
However, a waist-high full toss is permissable from a slower bowler, as long as it doesn't go above the batsman's shoulder. If it does, then the umpire will call a no-ball.
The bowler does not notify the umpire of a change in their mode of delivery. So if a player says they are a right-arm bowler to the umpire and then bowls left-arm, the umpire will call a no ball.
The umpire believes the bowler is throwing the ball
The bowler bowls the ball before entering their delivery stride
If the ball bounces more than twice before it reaches the batsman
If the ball rolls all along the ground
The ball stops in front of the batsman without having touched the bat
If the wicket-keeper encroaches beyond the stumps before the ball has been struck by the batsman or has passed the stumps
More than two fielders are positioned on the leg side behind square
The umpire deems the bowler to be bowling dangerously and unfairly
Information item from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/cricket/rules_and_equipment/4172990.stm
The Spirit of Cricket -- Posted Friday, December 7 2007
The ICC's vision of success is that cricket will capture and inspire people of every age, gender, bachround and ability while building bridges between continents, countries and communities.
Central to this ambition is promoting the Spiit of Cricket, an ethos on how the game should be played and viewed both on and off the field.
The Spirit of Cricket, enshrined through the Laws of the Game, was defined as part of the ICC's Strategic Plan 2006-10. This definition states:
Cricket enjoys a unique mix of attributes an international sport. It is underpinned by rich traditions and high values; it is played under a guiding principle if respect; it evokes passion, commitment and excitement; it is truly multi-cultural, it stands proudly on the world's sporting stage; it is a sociable game that forges deep long-lasting friendships; it is a team sport that combines skill, strategy, endeavour and athleticism; above all it is a games that means many different things to many different people and provides endless joy to those that it touches.
Ahead of the start of the ICC Champions Trophy 2006, the ICC announced that a number of leading players and coaches had committed to act as Spirit of Cricket Ambassadors.
The Ambassadors included Brett Lee (Australia), Habibul Brashar and Dav Whatmore (Bangladesh), Andrew Strauss (England), Rahal Dravid and Virender Sehwag (India), Shane
Bond (New Zealand), Kamran Akmal (Pakistan), Shaun Pollock (South Africa), Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Brian Lara (West Indies) and Prosper Utseya and Kevin Curran (Zimbabwe).
These Ambassadors endorsed the ICC's decision to dedicate the ICC Champions Trophy to the Spirit of Cricket. The event was played in a very good spirit with only one recorded breach of the ICC Code of Conduct. At the ICC CWC there were only three breaches of the ICC Code of Cunduct.
The above was transcribed from the ICC Annual Report 2006/7 pp 32 (JH)
CANADA vs U.S.A. 61st International Match -- Posted Thursday, December 6 2007
Canada scored a comfortable 136 run victory over the United States in the 61st International between the two countries st St. Louis, Missouri during the Labour Day weekend.
Star of the match was Canadian right-hand batsman Tatoo Seebalack who scored 33 and 72 not out. Deelaback who made his debut against the United Stes in 1979 currently has a batting average of 58.00 in the International Series.
Canadian all rounder Delisle Jones began his inernational caree on a high note by scoring 53 in the second innings and recording bowling figures of 4 for 37 and 2 for 17.
Oumadat Dipchand, another newcomer to the Canadian national team, launched his senior International career with a stylish 52 in the Canadian second innings.
Star performer for the United Sates was medium pace bowler John Mercurius of New York who had Canada in all kinds of trouble in the first innings and finished with 6 for 37 off 16.2 overs.
Canada batted first and apart from Tatoo Seebalack the only batsman to get going was World Cup star Franklyn Dennis who made 45 and the side was quickly dismissed for 121.
Sawar and Jonh Slocombe opened well for the United States and carried the score to 44 before Ahmed waas trapped in front by De;isle Jones for 25.
Davis Small (20) and United States captain Karam (30), who had a good match, pushed the score along late in the innings and the United States finished with 153.
Leg-spinner Rawle Manoosingh, who was also making his debut for Canada, took the bowling honours with impressive figures of 5 for 15 off 11.4 overs.
Oumadat Dipchand and wicket keeper Malcolm McKenzie began the Canadian second innings in an aggressive manner and put on 77 runs before McKenzie waas caught by Keith Michell off Clive Adler for 37.
Jones and Seebalack kept the runs flowing and Canadian captain John Vaughan was able to declare at 8 for 273 shortly before 6.00 p.m.on the second day leaving the United States to score 242 runs for victory.
The only American bowler to enjoy any success was off-spinner Keith Mitchell who finished with 3 for 79.
Canada struck early in the U.S. second innings when John Vaughan had Sawar Ahmed caught by Rawle Manoosingh for 2, but Frank Bent prevented an early collapse by scoring a fighting 45 whcih included two powerful sixes.With the departure of Bent any hopes of victory by the United States disappeared. Chris Chappel and John Vaughan quickly dismissed the remaining batsman and America was all out for 105.
Canada 121 and 273 for 8 declared had defeated the United States 153 and 105.
Report written by Kevin Boller, published in The Canadian Cricketer (vol.8 No.3 September 1980) - article transcribed by JH.
CANADA TOUR OF IRELAND JUNE 1981 -- Posted Wednesday, December 5 2007
The rain in Ireland falls mainly on the cricketers
Canada squelched its way across Ireland during a ten day cricket tour in early June which was marred to a large degree by rain. Three matches had to be abandoned without a ball being bowled including an international fixture at Downpatrick and four additional fixture games were curtailed because of inclement weather.
In the opening match against North Leinster at Malahide right-arm leg-spinner Rawl Manoosingh of Manitoba bowled competently to capture 5 for 39 and helped dismiss the home team for 135. Top scorer for Norther Leinster was John Prior with 37.
Canada commenced well with Rohan Weatherspoon and Oumadat Dipchand putting on 30 runs for the first wicket. The score mounted slowly and when Franklyn Dennis was dismissed for 19 the total stood at 88 for 4 with Canada in a good position for victory. However, the remainder of the batting line-up ran ito difficulty against Irish international off-break bowler Michael Halliday and the side was all out for 113 giving North Leinster a well deserved 22 run win.
A similar fate awaited the tourist in the second match against Leinster Cricket Union President's XI also played at Malahide.
The home side compiled 148 due mainly to a solid innings of 46 by Marlon Tucker. Best of the Canadian bowlers was medium-pacer Stevenson Deare of British Columbia who captured 3 for 27 including the wicket of the determined Tucker.
Once again Canada got off to a good start with Dipchand and Weatherspoon putting on 40 runs for the first wicket, but with the score at 73 for 4 pace bowler Dessie Kane quickly dismissed Chris Chappell, Clem Neblett, Stevenson Dear and John Corbin and Canada crashed to 107 all out with 5 for 25.
The match against South Leinster was abandoned without a ball being bowled and unfortunately this was to occur in the following fixtures against Ireland at Downpatrick and the Northern Cricket Union.
Canada put up a fine showing in the match against North West Cricket Union at Eglinton. Led by skipper Clem Neblett who made 64, the side scored 165. Stylish opening batsman Oumadat Dipchand from Winnipeg scored a useful 28.
Rain interrupted play with the NWCU on 128 for 3 and Colin Jeffrey batting well for 44 not out. The game was decided on the run rate system and Canada lost by the narrowest of margins. Off 60 overs Canada recorded 2.75 runs and NWCU registered 2.78 runs off 46 overs.
The match against the North West Cricket Council Chairman's XI at Limavady ended in a similar manner, but on this occasion Canada emerged victorious.
Canada batted first and made 172 with good innings coming from Oumadat Dipchand 49 and Stevenson Deare 36. Dipchand has been one of the rising stars in Canadian cricket in the past two seasons and local officials predict a bright future for him.
Fast bowler Alasdair Hayes struck early for Canada removing openers Bill Miller and Colin Jeffrey for 14, but Evertom Mattis 46 and Ian Rankin 35 stopped the rot for the Chairman's XI. However, the ever consistant rain came and ended the innings at 127 for 7 off 49 overs. On the run rate system Canada won comfortably.
The international fixture at Downpatrick had to be cancelled. This was a big disappointment to every one concerned. It was the first international to be played in Northern Ireland in well over a decade and the first international for Canada on Irish soil since 1887.
The following day at Belfast the second international managed to get underway despite threatening weather conditions. Ireland batted first and made 161. Leading run-getter on 37 was Ivan Anderson who is no stranger to Canadian cricket. During an international at Toronto in 1973 he scored 198 not out to record the highest innings for Ireland in international play. This innings is also the highest ever recorded against Canada.
Newcomer to the Irish side Stephen Warke made 33 and fellow opener Jack Shortt of Leinster compiled 26 before being clean bowled by Alasdair Hayes.
Best of the Canadian bowlers was Stevenson Deare who collected 3 for 44. Skipper Neblett bowled economically to record one for 23 off 12 overs. In fact, all the Canadian bowlers turned in good performances.
In reply Canada had reached 53 for the loss of two wickets when the dreaded rain appeared to end the match. World Cup batsman Franklyn Dennis had batted well to score 41 which included 7 fours.
The match against the North West Union at Lisburn had to be abandoned and the tourists headed for Dublin with umbrellas in hand to play the final game.
In the concluding match against the Leprechauns XI at Trinity College Park Canadian openers Chris Chappell and Oumadat Dipchand turned in a sparkling performance to put on 149 for the first wicket before Chappell retired on 100, made in 96 minutes. Dipchand carried on the good work and when the rains came shortly before 4:00 p.m. he was 54 not out and the Canadian total stood at 180 for 2 wickets.
Tour manager Mr. Keith Gouveia stated that despite the frequent interruptions by the weather the tour was a great success and a very useful build up to Canadian preparations for the 1982 ICC Trophy to be held in England.
Article written by Kevin Boller, and published in THE CANADIAN CRICKETER (vol.9: no.2) February 1982 and transcribed by JH.
BRITISH COLUMBIA C.A. TOUR OF AUSTRALIA 1976 -- Posted Tuesday, December 4 2007
BRITISH COLUMBIA C.A. TOUR OF AUSTRALIA 1976
On January 26, 1976, the BCCA representative side left Vancouver via CP Air on its first overseas tour of Australia. The touring party of nineteen keenly looked forward to playing matches in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adleaide against various district and representative sides selected by the Australian Old Collegians.
The first stop was Sydney where A.O.C. President David de Carvalho welcomed the party and immediately organized accommodation and transportation. He had arranged a busy schedule with fixtures in Gosford, Camden and Sydney, plus entertainment in the evening by our hosts. The highlights of this protion of the tour was a vist to the 4th Test at Sydney Cricket Ground where we met many famous cricketers including Lyndsey Hasset, Richie Benaud, Frank Tyson not to mention renewing acquaintances with Australian Test players Lillee, Thonson & Co. who toured Canada in 1975.
George Luk, AOC Melbourne was on hand for our arrival there and we received the same overwhelming hospitality as Sydney. A visit to the museum at Melbourne Cricket Ground followed by luncheon was a delightful exprerience. All games were played in Melbourne on well prepared wickets and in good weather; the final match at Richmond was followed by an informal evening at the wll known Kooyon Tennis club.
Adelaide brought us a tast of real hot weather and a great welcome fom AOC organizer Dave "Doc" Oaten. A tout of the Borrassa Valley Wineries on our first day set the pace for a continuation of the same warm hospitality. Again both fixtures were played in the city on well prepared wickets and excellent facilities.
The BCCA team performed very creditably against strong opposition, in all cases they included 'A' grade, State and some Test players such as Jenner, Woodcock, Jarman, Law, Becket just to name a few. In many instances the "Overs" type matches definitely had an adverse effect, several BCCA batsmen were thrust into pressure situations which did not suit their style. Discipline on and off the field was excellent and the whole team received numerous compliments in the particular regard from everyone.
A pleasant visit in Hawaii on the way home with our amiable host Baboo Wickramaratne of the Honolulu Cricket Club brought to an end a most successful tour. Our gratefull thanks to all concerned espececially Daved de Carvalho and his AOC organization for their hospitality and generosity and our team manager Ron Mercer for his competent work.
It was an honour and a pleasure to be Captain of this 1976 tour.
Article written by Clifford Cox, transcibed from the Canadian Cricketer - June 1976.
Scotland captain unhappy at ICC scheduling -- Posted Monday, December 3 2007
The simmering debate over the increasing commitment required by players from the leading Associate countries rumbles on, with Ryan Watson, the Scotland captain, the latest to have his say.
The six main Associates, of which Scotland are one, are, with the exception of Kenya, all amateur or semi professional. A few years ago they played relatively little international cricket, but now that they have ODI status and play in the Intercontinental Cup, World Cricket League as well as European and domestic competitions, the demands are growing all the time.
In 2008 Scotland will be involved in 38 days of matches and that makes no allowance for travel and practice. Many players find it increasingly hard to take the necessary time off work and several have either quit or decided to miss some events in recent months. The patience of some employers is being stretched to breaking point.
"I don't know why the ICC are giving us such a big programme when we're still amateurs," Watson told The Scotsman. "It's not like we can turn it down, because we need the exposure to progress. But either the ICC has to come up with the money for us to be professional, or be more realistic.
"I definitely can't see myself being available for every game ... 2007 was a one off. But any negotiation needs to be taken out of the hands of the players, and left to Cricket Scotland. The Twenty20 is great, and I would love for us to qualify for the 2009 event in England, but if you add in an extra four to five fixtures now for that, it makes it even harder for us."
The paper reported that Cricket Scotland was preparing to send an A team rather than the full squad for Intercontinental Cup matches in Canada next summer.
"My biggest worry as captain is that we end up putting out under-strength teams week in, week out, which I hate, because it takes away from representing your country," Watson told the paper. "And you still get judged on that. You can't blame Cricket Scotland. It's the ICC's fault."
Last month Bermuda's Lionel Cann highlighted the issues facing players. "It's really tough for the guys that have families," he wrote in his column for the Bermuda Sun. "We are away but the bills keep coming. The board covers our main job, but those of us that work second jobs or hustles on the side to get extra money for our families, don't have that covered. There's no performance bonuses or anything, basically we're playing for pride, for our country. There's no support in place for wives and girlfriends to take care of things for them, to make sure the grass gets cut - that kind of thing.
"We've been away on and off for three years now and it's tough on our families. There is no sign of it stopping. There are a lot of sacrifices being made by the senior players."
Article sourced from:-
http://content-www.cricinfo.com/scotland/content/story/323489.html
Editorial comment:-
Given that cricketers in Bermuda and Scotland have serious reservations about the demand on amateur players, CanadaCricket must consider the situation affecting Canadian cricketers. (JH).
Leading cricketers show support for World Aids Day -- Posted Saturday, December 1 2007
Many of the world’s leading cricketers will show their support for people living with HIV when they wear red ribbons in international matches taking place on 1st and 2nd December.
Players taking part in the India-Pakistan, Sri Lanka-England, South Africa-New Zealand and Zimbabwe-West Indies games, as well as those players taking part in the ICC World Cricket League Division 2, will wear the ribbons to raise awareness and reduce stigma about the disease.
South African captain Graeme Smith said: “World AIDS Day is an opportunity for everybody to show their support for people living with HIV/AIDS. As a South African in a high profile position, I feel that it is important to support the International Cricket Council’s partnership with UNAIDS and UNICEF and use the reach and popularity of cricket to deliver important messages that hopefully will play a role in reducing AIDS not just in my own country but across the world as well.”
The ICC has been working closely with UNAIDS to address the issue of HIV/AIDS in cricket playing countries and has undertaken a wide range of activities since 2003 to raise awareness and reduce stigma around people living with HIV/AIDS.
This partnership was joined by UNICEF in 2006 to back the ‘Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS’ campaign and is also supported by the Global Media AIDS initiative.
India captain Anil Kumble said: “India-Pakistan is one of the most exciting and important matches in world cricket. If we can use this high profile game to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS, then hopefully we can make a difference in reducing the prevalence of the disease across the globe.”
And England captain Michael Vaughan added: “International sportsmen are lucky to be in a position where we can deliver important messages on social causes such as HIV/AIDS to millions of people. By wearing red ribbons on World AIDS Day in our match against Sri Lanka , we hope to play an important role in showing support for people living with HIV/AIDS.”
Activities will also be delivered by the ICC Development Program, including a series of coaching and awareness activities at the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in Namibia , a HIV/AIDS awareness cricket match in Gambia and a joint AIDS awareness promotion in a match between the Uganda and Rwanda women’s teams.
The support for the World Aids Day is the latest in a series of initiatives aimed at using the popularity of cricket to deliver messages on HIV/AIDS.
During the ICC World Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 2007, players from competing teams visited local community projects to illustrate the cricketing world’s support for people living with HIV and recorded Public Service Announcements that were shown by broadcasters around the world.
Article sourced from ICC Media Release (dated November 29, 2007)