Beyond the Test World
A time for 'openness and democracy'
Martin Williamson chats with Ram Varadarajan, a man who has emerged from the shadows to offer a credible challenge to Gladstone Dainty in the race to become the new president of the USA Cricket Association.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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Until last month, little was known about Varadarajan, but his announcement that he was ready to take on Dainty was supported by a PR offensive as slick as Dainty's was non existent.
"I had a sense of disappointment that there were not many ideas coming from USACA and I realised something had to be done to bring some energy and liveliness to the organisation."
One thing that Varadarajan's group is aware of is the perception that USACA is run in one corner of the country and is "irrelevant to the leagues and stakeholders". As a result, the candidates allied to him are from across the country and, crucially, people picked for their strengths and not because they are friends of his. "I wanted people with skills from across the USA.
Full postWaters quits as Kenya's chief selector
David Waters, one of the most respected administrators in the country, has resigned as the head of Kenya’s selectors as well relinquishing his place in the Cricket Kenya executive.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
David Waters, one of the most respected administrators in the country, has resigned as the head of Kenya’s selectors as well relinquishing his place in the Cricket Kenya executive.
Waters stepped down as secretary of the fractious Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association in November after growing weary of the infighting within the executive and also the way in which his name was being used to give credibility to erroneous statements.
Samir Inamdar, CK’s chairman, praised Water for more than 23 years of service. “I am well aware of your own personal contribution and commitment to developing the game in Nairobi which is clearly visible in the sizeable number of youngsters now playing representative cricket for Kenya,” he said.
Full postTwo tournaments for Zambia
Zambia have been appointed two host two international tournaments later this year according to the Sunday Post
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Zambia have been appointed two host two international tournaments later this year according to the Sunday Post. The country is set to hold the 2008 central and southern African eight nations' Under-17 cricket tournament and the Africa Cricket Cup.
Saidi Malama, the Zambia cricket development manager, said they will be searching for talent ahead of the U-17 event. "We have a provisional team in place but we will also go out in schools across the country to recruit Under-17 players who will play in this tournament."
Full postThree candidates vie for USACA presidency
There are three candidates seeking to become the new USACA president in elections set to take place on March 29.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
There are three candidates seeking to become the new USACA president in elections set to take place on March 29.
A list of all candidates for the various executive posts, including secretary, treasurer, and vice presidents, was announced by USACA after the vetting processes required under the new constitution were completed.
As expected, Gladstone Dainty will be seeking re-election as president, and he faces a strong challenge from Ram Varadarajan. A third candidate, Kamran Khan, is also standing.
The main battles for the other posts are between existing USACA officials and those who have lined up on Varadarajan's ticket.
Full postIrish venues announced for European Championship
ICC Europe has announced the schedule and venues for the ICC European Division 1 Championship to be held in Ireland from the July 25 to 31, 2008.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
ICC Europe has announced the schedule and venues for the ICC European Division 1 Championship to be held in Ireland from the July 25 to 31, 2008.
The 50-over round-robin tournament will see Europe's top six Associate and Affiliate countries - Denmark, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Scotland - fight it out for Europe's top spot. Six cricket grounds will be used to host a total of 15 matches that will see each country come face to face over five days.
Full postAll square going into the final round
Kenya's Elite One-Day League was thrown wide open as both teams that lost last week won in the second round of the competition
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Kenya's Elite One-Day League was thrown wide open as both teams that lost last week won in the second round of the competition. That leaves all sides level on four points with all of them in with a chance of the title in next weekend's final round of matches.
Full postReview of Mexican cricket, February 2008
February is the busiest month of the year for the Mexico Cricket Association and 2008 has been no different with the four MCA teams in the middle of a hotly contested 2008 League Championship while preparations are also underway for the year’s
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
February is the busiest month of the year for the Mexico Cricket Association and 2008 has been no different with the four MCA teams in the middle of a hotly contested 2008 League Championship while preparations are also underway for the year’s biggest fund-raising event, the Spring Ball, on March 8.
The Ball, which usually attracts around 200 members and guests to the Reforma Athletic Club, is a black tie dinner held in conjunction with a tour match between the MCA and the Houston Memorial Cricket Club. The proceeds of ticket sales and raffles contribute the lion’s share of the MCA’s income during the year and this year’s event already appears to be a financial success with strong ticket sales and solid support from the business community led by British Airways, who are offering a free return ticket to London for one of the club’s raffles.
The matches between the MCA first and second teams and the Houston Club – with a social round of golf as prelude – promise to be enormously competitive as Houston will be keen to reclaim the trophy wrested from their grasp when a MCA team toured last November. This was only the second time in 29 years the team from Mexico was successful in beating Houston on the American club’s home turf.
February has also been notable for the competitive nature of the 2008 League Championship, which has been thrown wide open by recent matches. Michael Farrant’s MCCC team got away to a strong start in the competition with two wins from two matches but suffered its first defeat at the hands of Taundeep Singh’s Corinthians. The MCCC was coming off a strong win against Umesh Matta’s Aztecs, the winners of the Brian Gay Trophy competition during the first half of the season, but had their hopes of a third win dashed by a strong performance by Corinthians who secured their first points of the League Championship.
Full postPanama youngsters defy the rain
Rain interrupted play in Panama’s league during the month but it did not stop the juniors who used the time to get some valuable practice in to improve their skills
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Rain interrupted play in Panama’s league during the month but it did not stop the juniors who used the time to get some valuable practice in to improve their skills. Panama hosted six teams from the USA with the much travelled Houston Cricket Club (also visiting Mexico) being the eventual winners of the tournament.
In local competition a new club – Alianza Cricket Club – has shown surprising strength winning their first three games. The club’s success was due to good bowling performances by Ibrajim Boda, Tariq Daya and Irfan Tarajia. Their major success was a victory over last year’s champion Dada Bhai Cricket Club.
Selection has begun for Panama’s national team to ICC Americas Division 2 tournament in Suriname next month.
Full postIllingworth stars in Costa Rica league
Costa Rica league saw a key match between CCCCR and Corsair
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Costa Rica league saw a key match between CCCCR and Corsair. Corsairs needed to win in order to be tied with CCCCR at the top of the table. CCCCR batted first and were about 20 for 6 when Richard Illingworth and Shane Catford came together and put on 100. If it had not been for the local rule that you must retire on reaching 50, Richard might well have gone on to score his age. In spite of another 50 from Ben Smith, this stand proved decisive and CCCCR won by 30 runs. It was a distinguished effort by Richard Illingworth but Shane Catford was Man of the Match with his 50 and bowling of 4 for 3.
The other two games took place at Turrialba in the grounds of CATIE. It is a delightful place about 2 hours out of San Jose on the old road to Limon. Corsairs played two limited over games against Raleigh in conditions that started cloudy and turned to drizzle at the end.
Corsairs had no difficulty winning the first game. They were looking forward to a win in the second game but Raleigh captain, Julian Oliver, had other ideas. While the Corsairs relaxed, he had his team out there practicing and discussing tactics. Clearly Julian and John Cecil-Wright had things sorted and Raleigh won by 16 runs with the aid of some excellent wicket keeping from Julian and remarkable figures of 5 for 1 run from John.
Visit to Nicaragua
Next month we will be concentrating on the trip to Granada, Nicaragua to play against the home team and El Salvador.
Full postReview of Brazil in ICC Americas Division 3 Championship
Brazil’s performance at the Americas Division 3 Championship in Buenos Aires certainly had its share of ups and downs
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Brazil’s performance at the Americas Division 3 Championship in Buenos Aires certainly had its share of ups and downs. In the first match they let Belize score 186 after having them 88 for 7 at one point, and were then skittled out for 55. In the second Brazil did slightly better with the bat, managing 157, but the eventual tournament winners, Turks & Caicos, knocked that off with five wickets and 27 overs to spare.
In the third game, however, the team finally woke up, turning in its highest score in international play in decades – 359 for 6 against old rivals Chile, which included a knock of 152 (in 109 balls) from veteran captain Matt Featherstone. Chile gave it a valiant chase though, before finally falling 37 runs short. In the fourth and final match, Brazil reverted to its earlier ways, managing just 73 chasing 136 against Peru.
Despite the team’s uneven performance, Ravi Chanchlani picked up the Best Bowler award, thanks to his 12 wickets, while keeper Deepak Karunakar led the fielders with six catches and a stumping.
Overall, the tournament was a great experience for the team and gave its younger players the chance to see what big league cricket is all about. In fact, one member – Rudy Hartmann, is staying on in Buenos Aires for a month to play in the domestic league, as part of an exchange program between the two countries.
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