Beyond the Test World
Lack of cash could lead to Scottish decline
Scotland's World Cup cricket captain, Craig Wright, has voiced his fear that the sport has hit a "glass ceiling" in his homeland and that, barring some significant new investment for the leading players, he could foresee the Scots starting to slip
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Scotland's World Cup cricket captain, Craig Wright, has voiced his fear that the sport has hit a "glass ceiling" in his homeland and that, barring some significant new investment for the leading players, he could foresee the Scots starting to slip back down the international ladder, a scenario which Wright described as a "disaster".
n the past five years, Scotland have climbed to 12th in the ICC rankings, while winning the Intercontinental Cup and the ICC Trophy, and coming second in the inaugural World Cricket League in Kenya four months ago. However, Cricket Scotland chief executive, Roddy Smith, admitted yesterday there was no immediate prospect of his organisation being able to fund professional or even semi-professional contracts - "there simply isn't enough money to support it" - which left the normally buoyant Wright issuing a gloomy prognosis for Scottish cricket.
"I don't believe we can realistically expect to go any higher in the rankings without extra funding and, if anything, the situation is growing more critical, because we have an ever-expanding fixture schedule - which is good in one sense - which means that the guys simply can't get time off work," said Wright. "One of the potential outcomes of this is that the top guys may have to pick and choose their games, meaning that we will struggle to keep up with the likes of Bangladesh and Kenya [both of whom have or are sorting out pro contracts), and it becomes a vicious circle, with us not being as competitive, from where fans don't come to watch, and sponsors get turned off.
"There is no longer any point in ducking the issue, but we seem to be banging our heads off a brick wall at the moment, which is terrifically frustrating, considering how hard we have all worked. It's almost the case we have succeeded in spite of, not because of, the system, so what is going to happen next when we have hit the glass ceiling? Logically, you have to accept there is the threat of going backwards, which would be devastating."
Full postJohnston rallies his troops
Trent Johnston, Ireland's captain, has challenged his young squad to produce the goods against the might of India who they face in a one-dayer on Saturday at Stormont, Belfast
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Trent Johnston, Ireland's captain, has challenged his young squad to produce the goods against the might of India who they face in a one-dayer on Saturday at Stormont, Belfast.
Only seven members of the squad which beat Pakistan to reach the Super Eights of the World Cup remain, but Johnston insists that - in spite of being in a phase of regeneration, not to mention beset by injuries - they can still challenge India.
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Full postUSA looks to the next generation
More than 200 cricketers from all across North America, ranging in age from 10 to 15, are converging on Cupertino in the Bay Area for the largest cricket tournament to be staged on North American soil
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
More than 200 cricketers from all across North America, ranging in age from 10 to 15, are converging on Cupertino in the Bay Area for the largest cricket tournament to be staged on North American soil. There will be teams from Florida, the Atlantic Coast, Canada, the Bay Area and Los Angeles, each selected by "expert committees" applying standards that had to be fully documented and approved by the tournament committee before the tournament rosters would be finalised.
Full postMCC head to Belgium
MCC start a tour of Belgium - where cricket was first played in 1815, between British Army officers before the Battle of Waterloo - on Friday (June 22).
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
MCC start a tour of Belgium - where cricket was first played in 1815, between British Army officers before the Battle of Waterloo - on Friday (June 22).
The 15-strong squad will be led by Chinmay Gupte and includes Stuart Ransley (an MCC Young Cricketer) and Gareth James (a student at one of the six MCC Universities - Cambridge).
The week-long tour will include coaching sessions and four fixtures - starting on Saturday (with a match against a Cricket Vlaanderen XI in Gent) and culminating, next Thursday, in a game against the Belgian National Select XI (at the Royal Brussels Cricket Club).
Belgium is the fifth of eight countries that will be toured this year by MCC which, with an annual programme of over 500 matches, is the world's most active cricket-playing club.
Full postKashif withdraws from Netherlands squad
Offspinner Muhammad Kashif has withdrawn from the Netherlands side for the tour to Canada because of a family bereavement
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Offspinner Muhammad Kashif has withdrawn from the Netherlands side for the tour to Canada because of a family bereavement. 33-year-old legspinner Mangesh Panchal has been drafted into the squad.
Full post Irish game on a sticky wicket
In The Daily Telegraph Tony Francis travels to Ireland to see if the World Cup was a flash in the pan or something more significant
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
In The Daily Telegraph Tony Francis travels to Ireland to see if the World Cup was a flash in the pan or something more significant. The findings are not that encouraging, but he does flag an interesting point when he talks to some players from Derry. They believe that:-
“The authorities should encourage indigenous cricketers and scale down their dependency on Australians, South Africans and Asians who migrated to Dublin when the economy took off in the Nineties. Unless they can block the drain of talent to England by contracting Ireland's young elite such as Boyd Rankin, Niall O'Brien and Eoin Morgan, who all play county cricket, they'll need more Johnstons and Bothas if they're to have any chance of building on their international success.”
The issue will continue to dominate as a number of players refuse to play for Ireland because of their count commitments.
“The Irish Cricket Union would rather avoid a repeat of the Ed Joyce scenario. While understanding his career decision and wishing him well at Middlesex, most followers were hurt to see an Irishman representing England in the World Cup. It was like watching Roy Keane sing God Save the Queen.”
Kenya awards players central contracts
Cricket Kenya is on the verge of offering its leading players one-year contracts.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Kenya is on the verge of offering its leading players one-year contracts.
The board has agreed terms with the players, Roger Harper, the coach, has given his views and the national selectors are now drawing up a final list of between 18 and 20 names who will be invited to sign the contracts. The selectors also need to divide the players into three categories, based on seniority and ability, which will determine how much they get paid.
"They will be offered one-year deals," Samir Inamdar, the board's chairman, told Cricinfo. "This has been made possible by the money we received from winning the World Cricket League and also from the Nimbus TV deal.
"Those chosen will receive a regular monthly salary as well as appearance fees for ODIs. For four-day Intercontinental Cup games they will get the equivalent fee for three ODIs."
Full postKenya to host India and Twenty20s
Cricket Kenya has confirmed that India A will tour Kenya in late July or early August to play two four-day matches as well as taking part in a one-day series which will involve at least one other country's A team.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Kenya has confirmed that India A will tour Kenya in late July or early August to play two four-day matches as well as taking part in a one-day series which will involve at least one other country's A team.
The deal was brokered by Samir Inamdar, CK's chairman, while he was in India attending the Afro-Asia Cup. Indian board officials told him that they were keen to attract another side to ensure there was a high level of competition, and Sri Lanka A are also believed to be interested and an offer has been made to West Indies.
Cricket Kenya is hoping to stage some international Twenty20 matches in Nairobi in early September in the build-up to the Twenty20 World Championships in South Africa. Pakistan and Bangladesh have expressed interest.
Full postPeter Gillespie retires
Peter Gillespie has retired from international cricket after 124 appearances for Ireland.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Peter Gillespie has retired from international cricket after 124 appearances for Ireland.
"I was going to retire after the World Cup but my family persuaded me to stay on,” he told cricketeurope. “I’m glad they did because I wanted to finish on the pitch. I knew the team would be weaker because of retirements, injuries and the three County players in England, so I'm glad I stayed on to give a bit of experience to the new caps."
Full postIreland announce depleted ODI squad
Ireland have announced a severely depleted 13-man squad for their one-dayers against India and South Africa due to get under way on June 23
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Ireland have announced a severely depleted 13-man squad for their one-dayers against India and South Africa due to get under way on June 23.
Though it is a wonderful opportunity to showcase Ireland's talent, several of their star players are missing through injury. Andre Botha, Dave Langford-Smith and, most disappointingly of all, Boyd Rankin have all failed to recover from their respective injuries in time, though it is expected they will be fit in time for the quadrangular series in July.
Full post