Beyond the Test World
Enter the dragon
No pitches, no cricketers, no infrastructure, but the game is still finding a way in China, as this month's article in Cricinfo magazine by Ranajit Sankar Dam and Wei Jie highlights:
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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Liu Pingping is not quite John Buchanan, at least not yet. The 47-year-old schoolteacher from Shanghai has never played cricket in his life, and is yet to even watch a match on TV. A baseball player while in college, Liu is one of the 30 former athletes from other ballgames such as baseball, and from track and field, handpicked to undergo cricket training by the Chinese Cricket Association (CCA). Liu was teaching softball to teenagers in Shanghai's No. 3 Girls Middle School when the CCA approached him.
Kwesi Sagoe appointed president of Nigeria Cricket
Kwesi Sagoe has been appointed president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation:
Will
25-Feb-2013
Kwesi Sagoe has been appointed president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation:
In an acceptance speech, Sagoe said in spite of the power tussle that had engulfed the federation in the last 12 months, the body was still able to run its programme without hindrance.
“This shows that members of the board of the federation can manage successfully their differences even in crisis”, he said.
The cricket body was left without a leader after a stalemated election between Sagoe and former president Dr John Abebe.
Full postCanada aim for Test status within a decade
As Canada prepare to face Bermuda and Zimbabwe in the ICC's tri-nation tournament in Trinidad, the president of the Canadian Cricket Association has admitted to being rather jealous of the cash-rich Bermudans
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
As Canada prepare to face Bermuda and Zimbabwe in the ICC's tri-nation tournament in Trinidad, the president of the Canadian Cricket Association has admitted to being rather jealous of the cash-rich Bermudans. And Ben Sennik has set out his vision for Canada being a Test-playing nation within a decade.
To do that, he accepts that players will need to go professional:
"We are looking at the (pro) possibility as soon as a financial base has been established. We have to get salaried players. To get to the objectives we want we have to have professional players. The first thing we have to do is set up a strong financial base."
MCC gives two Afghans their chance
MCC is recruiting two young cricketers from Afghanistan
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
MCC is recruiting two young cricketers from Afghanistan. Their talent was spotted when they played key roles in steering their country to its 171-run victory over the Club in the historic MCC v Afghanistan match, played in late March, in Mumbai.
Mohammed Nabi hit an undefeated century – 116 not out – against the MCC attack, while Hamid Hassan impressed MCC’s batsmen (who included Mike Gatting) with the skill, aggression and pace of his bowling. Mohammed and Hamid will join MCC in mid-season and then play for the Club in another landmark match – the first-ever MCC v. Europe match – in the Netherlands in June.
They will subsequently join the ranks of the MCC Young Cricketers at Lord’s and receive expert guidance from the Club’s coaching staff, which is headed by Clive Radley
Full postFun in the sun
Rod Gilmour looks back at the inugural Bermuda World Classic 20-20 , which was, he says, a great success.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Rod Gilmour looks back at the inugural Bermuda World Classic 20-20, which was, he says, a great success.
As Ian Healy told him:
"The camaraderie between the players has been unbelievable all week - a chance to catch up with everyone. The tournament was a success before it even started I think. There has been so much effort on the players to be here and it is probably something we should be doing more of - I think that is the reason why we are all here really."
Click here for a report on the final in which South Africa thumped the hosts.
Full postPraise for national stadium
Lord MacLaurin, the former chairman of the England cricket board, has told the Royal Gazette that the facilities at the national Sports Centre are as good as those found on any county ground .
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Lord MacLaurin, the former chairman of the England cricket board, has told the Royal Gazette that the facilities at the national Sports Centre are as good as those found on any county ground.
Full postBermuda through to 20-20 final
Bermuda sent a sizable crowd into raptures with a five-run win over England that sent the hosts into the final of the 20-20 World Cricket Classic after they had seemed to be on course for defeat.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Bermuda sent a sizable crowd into raptures with a five-run win over England that sent the hosts into the final of the 20-20 World Cricket Classic after they had seemed to be on course for defeat.
And West Indies did all they could to throw away a place in the final after seemingly choking within sight of victory, but in the end they stumbled over the finishing line.
Click here for Cricinfo reports.
Full postUganda name 22-man squad for Kenya series
The Uganda Cricket Association has named a 22-man squad for the tour by Kenya at the end of May, recalling Charles Lwanga and Richard Okia and bringing in Henry Sebulime, Davis Arinaitwe and Ronald Semanda.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Uganda Cricket Association has named a 22-man squad for the tour by Kenya at the end of May, recalling Charles Lwanga and Richard Okia and bringing in Henry Sebulime, Davis Arinaitwe and Ronald Semanda.
“We have tried to give every one a chance to prove himself before the final squad is named and I am confident all the boys have gained the exposure in the past that could give the neighbours a perfect run for their money,” Robert Kisubi, the national team manager, explained.
Uganda squad H. Sebulime, C. Lwanga, J. Olweny, N. Bibodi, B.
Musoke, F. Nsubuga, K. Kamyuka, K. Legesi, J. Kwebiiha, N. Kishore, R. Otim, E. Issaneez, H. Saleh, P. Ochan, L. Sematimba, C. Waiswa, A. Kyobe, J.
Okello, R. Ssemanda, D. Ruyange, R. Okia, D. Arinaitwe.
Full postScorecards from Twenty20 World Classic
Scorecards and reports from the initial games of the 20-20 World Cricket Classic tournament in Bermuda can be found at the Royal Gazette .
Will
25-Feb-2013
Scorecards and reports from the initial games of the 20-20 World Cricket Classic tournament in Bermuda can be found at the Royal Gazette.
- Bill Athey and David Capel saw England home against India
Uganda receive increase in grant
The Uganda Cricket Association has received an extra $22,000 from the ICC for the forthcoming 2006/07 season.
Will
25-Feb-2013
The Uganda Cricket Association has received an extra $22,000 from the ICC for the forthcoming 2006/07 season.
UCA that was initially getting $54,000 has now received $76,000 (sh136m) from the ICC as administration grant. The grant is from funds raised for the ICC affiliate and associate member countries during the John Walker Super Series played last October in Melbourne, Australia.
UCA administrative secretary Martin Muyomba revealed that the local body has already received the money that would help in the administration of the game, uplifting facilities at various grounds and financing many underlined projects for the season.
“It is a big boost for us (UCA) and definitely the money will go a long way in boosting many of the projects we have undertaken to assist in the growth of the game to greater heights,” Muyomba revealed.
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