Beyond the Test World
Equipment drive for East Asia-Pacific
The ICC, Melbourne Cricket Club and Cricket Victoria have joined forces to establish an equipment drive event for the ICC’s East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Region at the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa
Will
25-Feb-2013
The ICC, Melbourne Cricket Club and Cricket Victoria have joined forces to establish an equipment drive event for the ICC’s East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Region at the Boxing Day Test between Australia and South Africa. Pads, bats - and in particular, balls - are sometimes scarcely available (or too expensive) and with the game's increasing popularity in the region, organisers hope the public will donate their old equipment to a worthy cause:
The initiative calls on all Victorians to donate their unwanted cricket gear by bringing it with them to the MCG. A collection point will be set up outside Gate 6 on days one, two and three of the Boxing Day Test. The equipment will be distributed to countries such as Fiji, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Surviving the Taliban
Cricket was the sport of refugees and survived war and the rule of the Taliban
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket was the sport of refugees and survived war and the rule of the Taliban. Azam Khan tells Peter Frawley of Afghan cricket's bright future. But the problems they faced were considerable:
One day in August 2001, during an inter-provincial tournament in Kabul, the Taliban's vice and virtue police turned up at a game in their 4x4 pick-up vehicles and some other cars surrounded the ground. We had forgotten to go to prayer. All the players and spectators were dispersed. Some people were arrested, including two players. They were imprisoned for about a week and missed the rest of the matches.
On another occasion, the then president of the Afghanistan Olympic Committee, Maulawi Qalamuddin, told us that the Taliban Grand Council wanted to ban cricket, which they considered to be an American game. We managed to convince the Taliban that cricket was not American and that it was in fact very similar to thope danda.
Full postMCC visit Bahrain
The MCC have arrived in Bahrain for a tour to help promote the game
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The MCC have arrived in Bahrain for a tour to help promote the game. Under the captaincy of John Emburey, the highlight of the trip will be a match to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Awali Cricket Club.
Full postUSA scores another own goal
So low is the USA Cricket Association's standing in world cricket - this was the organisation barred from the last ICC AGM in London - that you woukd think they would do all they could to show that they are now on the ball
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
So low is the USA Cricket Association's standing in world cricket - this was the organisation barred from the last ICC AGM in London - that you woukd think they would do all they could to show that they are now on the ball. Not so. At the weekend they held a meeting in Dallas which should have shown that all disputes are a thing of the past. The problem is ... nobody turned up.
The attendance was so poor that there were not enough people present to constitute a forum, and furthermore, only six of the 12 USACA directors turned up, so it was not even possible to hold a board meeting.
Ireland to go semi pro?
Ireland are considering offering key players semi-professional contracts as they gear up for a key 15 months which culminates in the 2007 World Cup
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Ireland are considering offering key players semi-professional contracts as they gear up for a key 15 months which culminates in the 2007 World Cup. As Adrian Birrell, the South African-born coach, explained:
Full postWe'll never be able to afford to contract 15 players but we might be able compensate players in some way for their time and their commitment and that's going to be massive in the next few years.
ICC boost the next rung
The ICC's Winter Training Camp has been about more than simply improving players from the six Associate countries to have qualified for the 2007 World Cup, and the rewards are there for all to see
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The ICC's Winter Training Camp has been about more than simply improving players from the six Associate countries to have qualified for the 2007 World Cup, and the rewards are there for all to see. As Richard Done, the high-performance manager, explained:
The future continued development of Associate and Affiliate countries depends not just on the improvement of playing standards but also on the continued improvement of all parts of the cricket support network. Coaching is a key element of this process.
There is real evidence that the players from Bermuda, Canada, Holland Ireland, Kenya and Scotland will benefit from their participation.
Full postGetting shirty
You know that you've hit the big time when you start selling replica shirts , as is the case in Bermuda.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
You know that you've hit the big time when you start selling replica shirts, as is the case in Bermuda.
Replica shirt sales have never been truly big business in Bermuda in terms of national strips, with the majority of owners of such merchandise – in both football and cricket – those who have represented their country at one level or another. The trend first began when Premier Alex Scott started wearing both replica shirts and caps at various cricket-related Press conferences and ceremonies.
One can think of other national leaders who boards would pay not to wear their replica shirts for fear of causing a nationwide slump in sales ...
Full postBermuda finally act on cup fracas
The Bermuda Cricket Board have finally acted over the disgraceful scenes which marred this year’s Somerset-St George’s cup match .
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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The two players involved have been fined and put on probation, but the real loser is St George's captain, Herbie Bascome, who was fired as the country's Under-19 coach.
The BCB has hardly helped the situation by taking an age to investigate and produce its finding, but at least the matter now appears to be at an end.
Full postTrophy madness
Never mind a new trophy cabinet, the winners of the Under-14 Dolphin Cup to be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium might need to build a new clubhouse.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Never mind a new trophy cabinet, the winners of the Under-14 Dolphin Cup to be held at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium might need to build a new clubhouse.
"The trophy will be 13 feet tall and weigh 200 kilograms. It will break the existing record of 11 feet and three inches for the tallest trophy," explained Sanjay Ahuja, the event spokesman. It is also likely to crush anyone foolish enough to attempt to lift it.
The best batsman, best bowler and player of the tournament will be presented with a scooter. So ... the winners get a trophy they cannot move, and the leading players a vehicle they cannot legally drive.
Full postSpreading the Stanford gospel
Cricket in the Caribbean was given a tremendous boost in October with the announcement of the Stanford 2020 challenge
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket in the Caribbean was given a tremendous boost in October with the announcement of the Stanford 2020 challenge. And now the competition's representatives, almost all former West Indies internationals, are spreading the word across the region's less high-profile outposts. One has been assigned to each of the participants.
Visits have been made to Antigua, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, St Kitts and the Virgin Islands, and in many places Stanford's investment has been matched by local governments.
Full post