Beyond the Test World
Mooney explains his withdrawal
John Mooney, the Ireland allrounder, has explained his recent withdrawal from the international scene
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
John Mooney, the Ireland allrounder, has explained his recent withdrawal from the international scene. Mooney's just 25, but he's keen to get his electrical apprenticeship sorted.
He has played 38 times for Ireland, including World Cup appearances against Australia and West Indies in the Caribbean.
"I've been working for Stuart Costello of Stuart Costello Electrical for the past four years. His support for me during that time has been nothing short of exceptional, and has enabled me to play a part in Ireland's great success during that period.
"I've decided now that it's time for me to get my career sorted, and finish my electrical apprenticeship. If I don't do it now, I've a feeling it will drift and never get completed. I'd like to stress that this is my personal decision, and that Stuart would have been happy for me to continue my involvement with the international team.
Full postKenya send representative side to Tanzania
Fast bowler Peter Ongondo headed a Nairobi Province Cricket Association NPCA) Select side which arrived in Dar es Salaam for a four one-dayers against the Tanzanian national side.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Fast bowler Peter Ongondo headed a Nairobi Province Cricket Association NPCA) Select side which arrived in Dar es Salaam for a four one-dayers against the Tanzanian national side.
"Most of our players are under-19 and they need an experienced person like Ongondo to motivate them," David Asiji, one of the team’s coaches, said.
Zully Rehemtulla, the Tanzania Cricket Association chairman, explained the matches were preparation for the World Division III Cricket League in Australia which starts at the end of the month.
NPCA squad Peter Ongondo, Nelson Odhiambo, Moses Otieno, Lawrence Okoth, Dominic Wesonga, Francis Otieno, Shashanka Maheshwari, Peter Kituku, David Maina, Ken Migai, Abdul Wajmi, Benjamin Oluga, Pritesh Limbachia, Keval Patel, Shem Ng’oche, Ritin Limbani.
Full postBermuda's ODI status under threat
Bermuda could lose its ODI status if it can't get their main ground up to international standard
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Bermuda could lose its ODI status if it can't get their main ground up to international standard. Richard Done, the ICC's head of development, has been on the island this week and says he's seen very little improvement since his last visit.
Full postNortherns denied battling victory
Kenya Select 342 (Obanda 76, Suji 76) and 196 for 9 (Suji 48, C Obuya 47*, D Obuya 32; S
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Kenya Select 342 (Obanda 76, Suji 76) and 196 for 9 (Suji 48, C Obuya 47*, D Obuya 32; S. Mwakayeni 5-42) drew with Northerns 234 (Chigumbura 69, Mufambisi 60, Raza Butt 34; Varaiya 4-49, Odhiambo 3-56, Luseno 2-61) and 303 for 9 (Chigumbura 79, Masvaure 50*, Varaiya 4-73)
The tie between Kenya Select and Northerns finished in a thrilling draw after bad light ended play six overs early with the Kenyans needing one wicket and Northerns two runs shy of chasing down a target of 305. Click here for a full report.
Full postCanada prepare to leave for England
Canada will head to England on Tuesday to prepare for the ICC Intercontinental Cup Final against Ireland, at Grace Road, Leicester
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Canada will head to England on Tuesday to prepare for the ICC Intercontinental Cup Final against Ireland, at Grace Road, Leicester. The four-day match starts on May 22. The Canadians, many of whom have not played for nearly two months since their last World Cup match on March 22, will have a warm-up against an England select XI at Loughborough Town. That two-day game takes place on Thursday and Friday this week.
In Canada itself, the domestic cricket season started on May 12 for two of the leagues in Greater Toronto. Premier Divisions of both the Etobicoke and District League, and the Canadian Commonwealth Cricket Association of Toronto had their first matches, but the largest league kicks off this Saturday.
The Toronto and District Cricket Association gets underway this week, while players in the Scarborough Cricket Association will have to wait for their first matches on May 26.
- The City of Toronto's exhibition "A view from the Pavilion: South Asian Contributions to the World of Cricket" is at Toronto City Hall this week. Later it will move to Etobicoke Civic Centre (June 4-6), North York Civic Centre (June 11-13) and finally Scarborough Civic Centre (June 18-22).
Full postIreland risk Friends Provident knockout
Ireland are prepared to risk being thrown out of next season's Friends Provident Trophy by playing ODIs against India and South Africa in June.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Ireland are prepared to risk being thrown out of next season's Friends Provident Trophy by playing ODIs against India and South Africa in June.
The two matches come before the India-South Africa series, which is part of the BCCI's offshore deal with Zee TV, but the games are for the ICU to sell, allowing them a first major inroad into the lucrative TV market.
Full postFiji announce World Cricket League squad
Four players who missed the Vanuatu-Fiji series in March have been picked for Fiji's squad in their World Cricket League Division Three campaign to be held in Darwin, Australia, later this month.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Four players who missed the Vanuatu-Fiji series in March have been picked for Fiji's squad in their World Cricket League Division Three campaign to be held in Darwin, Australia, later this month.
The four players - Iliesa Waqaituinayau, Filimoni Vuli, Sakaraia Lomani and Rajeev Patel - are part of a squad, captained by Seci Tuiwai, who will play two warm-ups against an Indigenous XI and the Northern Territory State XI.
The World Cricket League is split into five divisions and is the ICC's method to determine countries' eligibilty to the qualifiers for 2011's World Cup. The other teams in Fiji's division are Hong Kong, Uganda, Tanzania, Cayman Islands, Argentina, Italy and Papua New Guinea.
Fiji's squad
Seci Tuiwai (capt), Iniasi Cakacaka (vice-capt), Josefa Rika, Colin Rika, Iliesa Navatu, Taione Batina, Sekove Ravoka, Inoke Lesuma, Dr Rajeev Patel, Samu Draunivudi, Sakaraia Lomani, Vueta Vuiyasawa, Iliesa Waqatuinayau, Filimoni Vuli
Full postBillcliff withdraws from final
Ian Billcliff has become the second Canada player to withdraw from the Intercontinental Cup final against Ireland
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
Ian Billcliff has become the second Canada player to withdraw from the Intercontinental Cup final against Ireland. He was unable to obtain leave from his job, and will be replaced by Sundeep Jyoti for the tie at Grace Road, Leicesteshire, which starts on May 22.
His absence is a blow – he scored a century in the the group matches. Ashish Patel also had to withdraw through work commitments and was replaced by Henry Osinde.
Full postTanzanians and Ugandans in Africa team
Some good news for the spread of cricket to regions where the sport hasn’t gained much popularity comes in the way of the selection of two players from Tanzania and two from Uganda in the Africa team for the Afro-Asia tournament in India this June
Nishi Narayanan
25-Feb-2013
Some good news for the spread of cricket to regions where the sport hasn’t gained much popularity comes in the way of the selection of two players from Tanzania and two from Uganda in the Africa team for the Afro-Asia tournament in India this June. What makes this news even more heart-warming is that the four players will represent Africa Women in a Twenty20 game against Asia Women.
Tanzanians Saida Ramadhani and Mwanaiddi Shakim and Ugandans Christine Aryemo and Frankline Najjumba will travel along with their team-mates from Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe to play a Twenty20 match in Bangalore on June 5. The match is expected to bring some deserved attention to the women’s game for it will be played before a men’s Twenty20 on the same day at the same venue.
It is significant to note that there are no representatives from either country in the men’s side. That these women have succeeded in finding a place in an international side of some reckoning is a good sign for cricket in the two countries but the absence of Tanzanian and Ugandan men means there is a lot more work still to be done.
Though Uganda and Tanzania didn’t make it through to the second round of World Cup qualifiers in Pakistan – Zimbabwe and South Africa have qualified from Africa – the trip to India for these players can only help in pushing the game forward back home.
Full postCameroon cricket on the up
It's perhaps unlikely to imagine cricket making much of an impact in a football-crazed country such as Cameroon
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
It's perhaps unlikely to imagine cricket making much of an impact in a football-crazed country such as Cameroon. But, after recognition from the state, the sport is beginning to grow at quite a rate, as reported by allafrica.com:
The establishment of the game in Cameroon has been thanks to support from the British government through its embassy in Yaounde which has always provided logistic support to the federation. The British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Syd Madicott, was on the field of play in the match against Cameroon, just to drum-up support for the Game which like football, originated from his country.
The establishment of the game in Cameroon has been thanks to support from the British government through its embassy in Yaounde which has always provided logistic support to the federation. The British High Commissioner to Cameroon, Syd Madicott, was on the field of play in the match against Cameroon, just to drum-up support for the Game which like football, originated from his country.
Full post