Beyond the Test World
MCC head to Argentina
The MCC are undertaking a two-week tour of Argentina during which they will play seven games including three one-day games and a two-day game against the Argentine national side, plus matches against an Argentina Colts XI and an Argentina Presidents
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The MCC are undertaking a two-week tour of Argentina during which they will play seven games including three one-day games and a two-day game against the Argentine national side, plus matches against an Argentina Colts XI and an Argentina Presidents Cricket XI.
"I am delighted to have been asked to captain this tour, which once again sees MCC face the Argentine national side." Somerset's PeterTrego, who will lead the side, said. "This will be a fantastic opportunity for me to get good match experience in different conditions ahead of a busy county season.
"We take with us two promising players from the MCC University Centres of Cricketing excellence, Loughborough's Richard King and Oxford's Will Mottram, who are combining their cricketing and academic ambitions with the help of MCC's funding of the UCCEs."
MCC squad P D Trego (capt), G S Brooksbank, G Bulpitt, W M George, S Gibson, R King, M Laidler, W J Mottram, M G O'Reilly, R E Walker, B R Wigley, R F Wycherley, R J Woods. P Bedford (Manager).
Full postWeeraratna in line for Scotland comeback
Pete Steindl, the new Scotland coach, could hand Sean Weeraratna his comeback in Namibia next month, reports The Scotsman .
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Pete Steindl, the new Scotland coach, could hand Sean Weeraratna his comeback in Namibia next month, reports The Scotsman.
Full postTwenty20 win gives Afghan cricket a boost
Afghanistan cricket has been boosted by their success in last November’s ACC Twenty20 Cup where they finished joint winners
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Afghanistan cricket has been boosted by their success in last November’s ACC Twenty20 Cup where they finished joint winners. More than US$23,000 was donated by the president and local businesses and in addition US$40,000 was given by Afghans in Kuwait, where the tournament was played. The government also promised to give land to each member of the victorious squad. More significantly, the education minister has pledged to build a ground in Kabul for school cricket.
Taj Malik, the Afghanistan Cricket Federations's secretary general, said: "There are so many other awards, medals, cash prizes, gifts , free mobile phones, watches, certificates, it was very useful for Afghan cricket. Now cricket is flying high in Afghanistan."
Full postScotland and Germany big winners
The ICC Development Program has announced the regional winners of the 2007 Annual Awards
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
The ICC Development Program has announced the regional winners of the 2007 Annual Awards. Scotland and Germany were the biggest winners in the Europe region, picking up two awards each.
Scotland received the awards for the best overall cricket development program and best cricket promotion and marketing. Cricket Scotland had a particularly successful 2007 as its grassroots programme grew significantly.
Germany was awarded the best women’s initiative award for an Under-17 women’s tournament held in Oldenburg in February and the best junior initiative award for its “Cricket to German Schools” project which has helped double the number of school children participating in cricket across Germany.
John Wright of Ireland was awarded the Lifetime Service Award. John is set to retire from his duties as Honorary Secretary of the Irish Cricket Union this weekend after years of service to cricket in both Ireland and Europe.
Full postBermudans facing drugs ban
Three of Bermuda's squad who should have appeared in their side's Stanford 20/20 campaign are facing lengthy bans after failing a drugs test.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Three of Bermuda's squad who should have appeared in their side's Stanford 20/20 campaign are facing lengthy bans after failing a drugs test.
"If any athlete has tested positive with us we then send a portion of the specimen to the government lab for confirmation," Cathy Belvedere, a spokesman for the Bermuda Council for Drug Free Sports, told The Royal Gazette newspaper. "And if it is confirmed positive they then get a one year infraction.
"They can apply for the domestic application whereas they won't be able to represent Bermuda during that year but can go back to playing gymnastics, football, cricket or whatever sport they are involved in," Belvedere added. "They would also have to agree to some counselling, but that's only if there's a positive find."
Although the identity of the players is not yet known, it was confirmed that two of the trio represented Somerset - one of Bermuda's domestic teams - while the other is "a prominent member" of St George's, the domestic champions.
Full postMcLaren Smith called up to Bermuda Under-19 squad
McLaren Smith, the Bermuda allrounder, has been drafted in as Lamar Richardson's replacement for next month's Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
McLaren Smith, the Bermuda allrounder, has been drafted in as Lamar Richardson's replacement for next month's Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia.
Smith's late call-up means he will represent Bermuda at both the Under-19 World Cup as well as the Stanford 20/20 tournament in Antigua with the senior squad.
"McLaren will be coming from the Twenty20 tournament, where he will be on national team duty, so he won't be going to India with us," Andre Manders, the Bermuda Under-19 coach, said. "He's a tall medium-fast bowler and batsman. He was already in the [Stanford 20/20] squad and we didn't want to take him out. I guess he's quite lucky as he will be going on both trips, but we know he's up to the task."
Richardson was ruled out of the World Cup last week after breaking his wrist in training, joining Stefan Kelly on the sidelines, though Kelly's omission is due to his school commitments.
Full postMelbourne to tour Uganda
Kampala will host a number of "star" Melbourne players when the club tours Uganda next month, New Vision Online reports.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Kampala will host a number of "star" Melbourne players when the club tours Uganda next month, New Vision Online reports.
Players from the famous Lords Cricket oval in Australia, are due in Kampala February 13 to play matches against the national cricket team (Feb. 14), U-19 side (Feb. 16-17), select XI (Feb. 18) and also against a Kenyan U-19 side (Feb. 22-23).
“Initially, they were supposed to spend a week in Uganda and two weeks in Kenya but the situation in Kenya forced them to change the programme. They will now spend all the three weeks here,” said local cricket association secretary Ansasira Badu.
Full postCuba invited for eight-match Caribbean tour
Cuba have been invited to visit St Vincent and the Grenadines for a series of matches in May in what St Vincent's prime minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves described as a historic visit.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cuba have been invited to visit St Vincent and the Grenadines for a series of matches in May in what St Vincent's prime minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves described as a historic visit.
Gonsalves made clear his disappointment that the Cuban team, coached b Vincentian Dennis Byum, was unable to take part in the Stanford 20/20 as a result of a block being placed on them by the USA.
"They may not be able to play in the 20/20 competition but no one can stop a sovereign nation from exercising its independence to invite any team from Cuba to come and play cricket," Gonsalves said. "It is profoundly an exercise of our sovereignty and independence."
Byum said that Cuba would be competitive in what is planned to be an eight-match tour involving games against premier division teams, culminating in a match against the national side.
Full postNetherlands appoint Drinnen as coach
Netherlands have appointed Peter Drinnen as their coach, replacing Peter Cantrell, who stepped down following last year's World Cup.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Netherlands have appointed Peter Drinnen as their coach, replacing Peter Cantrell, who stepped down following last year's World Cup.
Drinnen, the former Scotland coach who resigned in July, has signed a contract until April 2009 subject to meeting the requirements of Dutch immigration law.
"This is an important step towards the professionalisation of the Dutch national side," Marc Asselbergs, the KNCB chairman, told Cricket Europe. "We won't be letting a single day go unused on our way to the qualifying tournament in spring 2009."
Drinnen, whose time at Scotland ended in controversy, is looking forward to the new challenge. "I'm a positive man who is able to motivate himself and who is keen both to set goals and to achieve them," he said. "There is an energy and optimism within the team and board about the future and I am excited to be joining the KNCB at this time.
Full postKenya close in on new coach
Cricket Kenya is closing in on its hunt to find a replacement for Roger Harper, who stood down as coach after the ICC World Twenty20 in September.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Kenya is closing in on its hunt to find a replacement for Roger Harper, who stood down as coach after the ICC World Twenty20 in September.
More than 30 applications from around the world were received for the vacancy and Cricinfo understands that a South African-based applicant, believed to be Andy Kirsten, is among the front runners. He was in the frame the last time the position was open in 2005 but was committed to existing work in South Africa and eventually the board chose Harper.
Kirsten worked with the Kenyan side during their successful 2003 World Cup campaign when Sandeep Patil was the national coach. As a result, he is known to many of the senior players and is believed to have a good relationship with them.
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