Beyond the Test World
'Changing rooms littered by used syringes' - Bermuda domestic cricket
Changing rooms littered by used syringes; poor behaviour from players and a lack of respect
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Changing rooms littered by used syringes; poor behaviour from players and a lack of respect. Those are just three of the criticisms that umpires have reported during Bermuda's domestic season this year. The Royal Gazette reports on all the grizzly details:
Umpires have also reported continued poor time-keeping when it comes to the toss, meaning games often start and finish late, and there has also been a failure by many clubs to provide replacement balls.
The situation has got so bad that the BCB are now considering what sanctions they can take against the worst offenders.
"We will be writing to the clubs to remind them of the standards of behaviour that we expect in the game," said vice president Allen Richardson.
Full postThe poor sons of cricket
A fascinating report in The National highlights that while the IPL might bring massive rewards, most international players, especially those outside the top flight, live a more modest existence.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
A fascinating report in The National highlights that while the IPL might bring massive rewards, most international players, especially those outside the top flight, live a more modest existence.
UAE allrounder Khurram Khan reckons that it costs him money to play as he has to take unpaid leave from his job with Emirates airline.
"He might play a match, then be flying out on the night of the game to Melbourne on a 20-hour flight. Just imagine how hard that is. If he plays a four-day match, he would almost certainly then have a four-day job with his work to Melbourne, or Tokyo, or Jakarta.”
Scotland fume as TV turns back on England match
Roddy Smith, the chief executive of Cricket Scotland, has expressed his disappointment at the fact there is likely to be no television coverage of this summer's ODI fixture between Scotland and England.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Roddy Smith, the chief executive of Cricket Scotland, has expressed his disappointment at the fact there is likely to be no television coverage of this summer's ODI fixture between Scotland and England.
Full postUganda's Kamyuka heads to Canada
Uganda allrounder Kenneth Kamyuka has been signed by the Toronto District Cricket Association champions Brampton Masters
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Uganda allrounder Kenneth Kamyuka has been signed by the Toronto District Cricket Association champions Brampton Masters. Kamyuka, 26, left for Canada last week.
“I last played professional cricket a couple of years ago and this is definitely going to be a whole new challenge for me. I’m enjoying good form and I’m ready for the challenge as a professional."
Click here for more from Uganda's Monitor newspaper.
Full postJudd injects passion into Scotland
Neil Drysdale reports on the unexpected return of the Australian, Tony Judd, to his coaching role with Scotland.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Neil Drysdale reports on the unexpected return of the Australian, Tony Judd, to his coaching role with Scotland.
These words embody Judd's optimistic personality and one need only talk to Saltires stalwart, Paul Hoffman, to discover why he was held in such lofty regard during his earlier tenure. "Tony wears his heart on his sleeve, he doesn't pull any punches, and he is ultra-competitive, but above all, he never blames a player if they are doing their best and aiming to be adventurous," said Hoffmann, who retired at the end of 2007, but may be poised to participate in the Twenty20 event in Ireland. "I think Pete and Tony will make a terrific combination, and the more good coaches we have in Scotland, the better. But the one thing about Tony is that he won't tolerate complacency or laziness, and he is a demanding guy. Sentiment doesn't come into it, and I think we all share the opinion that it is high time we followed Ireland's example and beat one of cricket's big guns."
Click here to read the full report.
Full postNo Associate status for Vanuatu
The ICC has confirmed that Vanuatu's application for Associate membership will not be put forward at the annual conference in late June
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The ICC has confirmed that Vanuatu's application for Associate membership will not be put forward at the annual conference in late June. Although they met almost all the criteria, they had not beaten three other Associate sides, as required. It was expected that they would achieve this during the ICC World Cricket League Division Five competition in Jersey last month, but they failed to win a game.
Full postICC expands World Cricket League
The ICC has confirmed that the World Cricket League will be expanded from five to eight divisions after the 2009 World Cup Qualifiers.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The ICC has confirmed that the World Cricket League will be expanded from five to eight divisions after the 2009 World Cup Qualifiers.
The WCL was launched in 2007 with the dual aims of providing more meaningful cricket to more Associates and Affiliates, and also giving a direct path which enabled any country to achieve the ultimate goal of playing in the World Cup.
The addition of three more divisions has been made possible by the substantial increase in funding available once the ICC’s new media deal kicks in next year. It is believed that Division Six and Seven will run in 2008 and Division Eight in 2009.
The extra leagues, which should be approved by the ICC when it meets for its annual meeting in Dubai at the end of the month, will be drawn up based on results in regional competitions.
Full postIreland to host inaugural World Twenty20 qualifiers
Ireland will host the inaugural World Twenty20 Qualifiers between August 2 and 4, with the top six Associates vying for the two places available to them in next year's ICC World Twenty20 in England.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Ireland will host the inaugural World Twenty20 Qualifiers between August 2 and 4, with the top six Associates vying for the two places available to them in next year's ICC World Twenty20 in England.
Full postConference demands 'remorse' from suspended six
The saga of the Midwest Cricket Conference’s suspension of six players rumbles on with an announcement that it required the players to email the “management” expressing “unequivocal remorse” and giving an assurance that they will “not in future,
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The saga of the Midwest Cricket Conference’s suspension of six players rumbles on with an announcement that it required the players to email the “management” expressing “unequivocal remorse” and giving an assurance that they will “not in future, violate any of the Rules and Regulations of the MCC”.
The six have been accused of playing for a rival Chicago league in a regional competition in May.
They were allowed to play in last weekend’s matches “in the spirit of getting on with game” but critics of the board’s action have been quick to point out that the regulations that were allegedly breached were only published on the eve of the competition.
Referring to the case of 15-year-old Abhijit Joshi, who last month represented the USA at the Clico International Under-15 event in the Caribbean, one local cricketer told Cricinfo that it was “preposterous and arrogant” to expect someone so young to give the statement expected by the MCC.
Full postKenya's three-day become a two-day
Cricket Kenya has had to reschedule its planned three-day league because of the lack of availability of players.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Kenya has had to reschedule its planned three-day league because of the lack of availability of players.
Due to start last Friday, the event will now run on the next three weekends with game restricted to two days. Tom Tikolo, the board's chief executive, explained that this move had been forced on them by the "unavailability of many players who are students and/or working". He added that it was expected that at least 100 overs would be bowled on each day and that the matches would still be two-innings affairs.
The move will be a bitter blow to Cricket Kenya who had been looking to the competition to highlight any emerging talent outside the tried-and-known national squad.
The tournament had initially be scheduled for January and had been intended to coincide with holidays, making the availability for schoolboys much easier. But the violence which followed the disputed presidential elections put paid to that.
Full post