Beyond the Test World
Schoolchildren to teach the Chinese
A group of schoolchildren are off to China to teach them cricket, according to a report at the BBC
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
A group of schoolchildren are off to China to teach them cricket, according to a report at the BBC. Nine boys and two girls, aged 13 and 14, from King Edward VII School in King's Lynn will visit the country and also help translate the rules into Mandarin.
The 10-day visit in July is part of the school's twinning scheme with Tsinghua High School in Chongqing.
The school's director of sport, Paul Tebay, said: "I believe we're the first school to do this and we aim to show that young people can teach and learn from each other.
"If the Chinese take cricket seriously and treat it as a priority, I think they will do very well."
Full postStranded roller sinks Danish grass debut
Cricket Europe reports that Saturday's (May 19) match between Svanholm and KB was supposed to be the première of playing on grass in the Danish Elitedivision
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Europe reports that Saturday's (May 19) match between Svanholm and KB was supposed to be the première of playing on grass in the Danish Elitedivision. However, the day before the game, the club's groundsman was preparing the pitch using the motor roller when he heaved the gear lever so hard that it came off. The end result was that the roller was stuck fast on the pitch and there it will remain until parts are found to repair it.
Full postSmiling Irish eye cup prize
The best things in life are free, or so they say
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
The best things in life are free, or so they say. The Intercontinental Cup final may not be the best thing ever - particularly where Derbyshire and Northamptonshire are concerned, as they won't release their Irish players - but there is no charge for entry for what promises to be a quality contest.
In an era where the cost of sports tickets is ever-spiralling, the opportunity to see two of the best Associates, who are World Cup qualifiers to boot, is not to be sniffed at. You may have to make it to Leicester for the privilege (the game was originally scheduled for Chelmsford in Essex) but Grace Road is an intimate ground which could reward the spectators who come to see if Ireland can retain their title against Canada.
All the signs are that they can. Even without Boyd Rankin, Niall O'Brien and an injured Andre Botha, and even after losing five one-day Friends Provident Trophy matches on the trot, the Irish are the out-and-out favourites. They picked up many new fans in the wake of their spirited World Cup victories against Bangladesh and Pakistan, and hope to convert more this week.
Their new coach, Phil Simmons, has had years of experience at Leicester, his former home ground, so his input will help. Ireland are well established in the four-day game and, despite their recent defeats, at least they have been getting adjusted to the spring conditions of the UK, which is their home turf anyway.
Full postFree entry for Cup final
If you are in Leicester this week, then head down to Grace Road to catch the Intercontinental Cup final – for free
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
If you are in Leicester this week, then head down to Grace Road to catch the Intercontinental Cup final – for free. That’s right. It’s your chance to see Canada (including John Davison) take on the reigning champions and World Cup heroes Ireland. The four-day match kicks off on Tuesday 22.
Full postNew York recognises cricket as varsity sport
While the row over who runs US cricket rumbles on, some good news from New York where the New York Times reports that the city will become the first school district in the country to recognise cricket as an official varsity sport.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
While the row over who runs US cricket rumbles on, some good news from New York where the New York Times reports that the city will become the first school district in the country to recognise cricket as an official varsity sport.
As many as seven schools in Brooklyn and Queens have expressed interest in fielding teams when the Public Schools Athletic League launches the season in the spring, education officials said, and recent weekend clinics have drawn scores of students.
"When I saw the ad on the wall I said, 'Damn, I've got to be dreaming,' " said Avinash Sookhwa, a junior at John Adams High School in Queens who emigrated from Guyana in 2004. "It was a feeling like being down to the last point and the game is in your hands. All I wanted to do was play."
Full postInaugural European Twenty20 tournament cancelled
The inaugural ICC European Twenty20 Challenge competition has been cancelled because three of the countries due to take part have announced they are playing ODIs in Belfast at the same time.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The inaugural ICC European Twenty20 Challenge competition has been cancelled because three of the countries due to take part have announced they are playing ODIs in Belfast at the same time.
Europe's four ICC Associate Member High-Performance countries - Scotland, Ireland, Netherlands and Denmark - were set to compete in the championship, which was a new addition to the European tournament program for 2007. But Scotland, Ireland and Netherlands have taken on other commitments and that made the tournament impractical.
Richard Holdsworth, the ICC's regional development manager for Europe, said: "The recent announcement of an ODI series between India and South Africa in Belfast is fantastic news for the further promotion of the game in Ireland. It will provide additional world class cricket for the many followers in Ireland, but most importantly both of these ICC Full Members have agreed to play against Ireland.
"With additional ODIs soon to be announced for Scotland, Ireland and Netherlands against some Full Members, this exposure and experience is more important at this stage than Twenty20 cricket."
Full postUS no closer to being readmitted to the fold
Nearly three months after the ICC charged West Indies with the responsibility of helping to resolve the bitter infighting which led to the USA Cricket Association being suspended from world cricket, Cricinfo can reveal that no progress has been made.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Nearly three months after the ICC charged West Indies with the responsibility of helping to resolve the bitter infighting which led to the USA Cricket Association being suspended from world cricket, Cricinfo can reveal that no progress has been made.
With the ICC's AGM due at the end of June, a mere six weeks offers scant time in which to make any headway into resolving the situation, leaving USA facing an indefinite period in international isolation.
Full postNigeria to meet Morocco
Nigeria will meet Morocco in the semi-finals of the North-West Africa tournament held in Gambia on Wednesday
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Nigeria will meet Morocco in the semi-finals of the North-West Africa tournament held in Gambia on Wednesday.
"We must not take chances. This encounter was an eye opener and we cannot afford to fail at this stage of the competition," coach Ewa Henshaw told his players after the match against Ghana.
A full report is available via Xinhua at the People's Daily Online newspaper
Full postFiji adjust to longer one-dayers
The Fiji Times reports that the national side have been preparing for their World Cricket League Division Three matches in Australia with games against the army over the last three weeks.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Fiji Times reports that the national side have been preparing for their World Cricket League Division Three matches in Australia with games against the army over the last three weeks.
In Fiji, one-day matches in the island’s league are played over 30 overs. This is due to the lack of suitable playing surfaces.
"We have been strengthening our batting during the training sessions," Seci Sekinini, the team manager, said. "It’s a different game. We will have to bat longer. Our players are prone to rush things. Sometimes the teams don't even last the full duration of the club games. And that's 30 overs. So we have a lot to work on.
“The bowlers are also working on their techniques. They are bowling more dot balls at practice. I don't believe our fielding will be a problem. All the players will need to put in their best effort."
Full postJersey to host World Cricket League tournament
Jersey will host the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 (WCL Div
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Jersey will host the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 (WCL Div. 5) tournament in 2008, the ICC confirmed on Tuesday.
The decision follows a recent visit to the island by an ICC Development team to inspect the country's suitability for promotion to Associate membership, which will be voted on at the ICC Annual Conference at Lord's in June.
Full post