Beyond the Test World
Ireland begin title defence against Kenya
Ireland will begin the defence of their World Cricket League Division 1 title against Kenya when the 10-day tournament begins in Netherlands on July 1.
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Ireland will begin the defence of their World Cricket League Division 1 title against Kenya when the 10-day tournament begins in Netherlands on July 1.
The hosts start off against Scotland while Afghanistan, who recently qualified for the World Twenty20 in West Indies, open against Canada in the six-team event. For Ireland, Canada, Kenya and Netherlands the competition will allow them to continue planning for the 2011 World Cup after the four teams qualified through the previous WCL Division 1 event, in South Africa, last year.
It was at that tournament that Afghanistan narrowly missed out on reach the World Cup when then finished fifth, but made up for that disappointment with their Twenty20 success last month.
A total of 18 matches will be played in this year's tournament which will be staged in a single-league format with the top two sides qualifying for the final and the other four teams squaring-off in the play-off matches on the last day of the tournament.
Full postTime for Uganda to seize the day
Colin Macbeth
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Colin Macbeth
The thrashing of Warriors by Premier in Uganda's Luswata Cup last weekend provides the perfect ammunition for the introduction of a testing, high-level three or four-day provincial competition in East Africa.
Arthur Kyobe and Lawrence Ssematimba, both making easy centuries, greatly enjoyed themselves and it was a wonderful warm-up 'net' for them at the beginning of the season; but they should not be allowed to have such free licence on a regular basis, instead they must be able to play their cricket at a higher level - as must quick bowlers Asadu and Tabby, who both bagged easy wickets for few runs.
Cup competitions always provide mismatches; and there is nothing wrong with that, as long as it is not a regular occurrence. Uganda are in the world's top 20 and the games their international players take part in need to reflect that.
Full postNorth West African Championships no more
Tony Munro
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
At least four African countries are set to lose their annual international competition following the apparent demise of the North-West African Championships (NWAC).
Nigerian Cricket Federation President, Kwesi Sagoe, has advised CricInfo the event is "highly unlikely" to be held in 2010 due to issues obtaining sponsorship as a result of the state of his country's economy. It will be the second year in a row it has not been held.
There is a possibility Nigeria and/or Ghana will be included in one of the lower divisions of the global World Cricket League, however that option is not open to Sierra Leone, Gambia, Mali and Morocco.
Full postCrossing boundaries in Uganda
Colin Macbeth
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Colin Macbeth
A tremendous six into the pavilion from veteran Richard Davies summed up the success of Cricket Without Boundaries' dynamic coaching tour of Uganda earlier this month.
The tour took in landslide-struck Mbale, and Mbarara, Kasese and Fort Portal in the west - from where raw talent is reported - before gravitating to the capital, Kampala, where the Uganda Cricket Association chairman's boys - and girls - took on the tourists and their local assistants in a lively 25-over exhibition match.
Eventually Davies' six did it, and a graceful couple of singles sealed the visitors' victory.
Full postAsian board clamps down on expats
The Asian Cricket Council has announced that in its tournaments it will be mandatory to include three members in the playing side who are passport holders of the country they represent, and no team will be permitted to field more than two players in
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Asian Cricket Council has announced that in its tournaments it will be mandatory to include three members in the playing side who are passport holders of the country they represent, and no team will be permitted to field more than two players in the under-four-year-residency category.
This ruling will initially apply to Under-16 sides but the aim is to roll it out across all age groups and eventually senior sides.
The number of qualified players used to boost sides, as opposed to home-grown talent, has been a concern for a long time and continues to be so. The USA side at the recent ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers was almost entirely made up of players from the Caribbean and the subcontinent, while some other Associates and Affiliates have at times had as few as one player who could not be considered an expat.
"If cricket is to put down roots and grow and break out of the relatively small cradle in which it currently is placed in many countries, it has to be played by, taken up by, as significant and substantial a part of the population as possible,” a statement on the ACC website said. "Cricket is increasingly an Asian game yet at the same time, it cannot be a game for the people connected to just a few Asian countries."
Full postDutch look abroad to plug gaps
While the debate over eligibility of players rumbles on, the Netherlands have gone abroad to boost their chances in the coming year and recruited two players with Dutch passports and first-class experience in Australia and New Zealand.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
While the debate over eligibility of players rumbles on, the Netherlands have gone abroad to boost their chances in the coming year and recruited two players with Dutch passports and first-class experience in Australia and New Zealand.
Tom Cooper, a 23-year-old batsman who played for Australia at Under-19 level, and 24-year-old Otago wicketkeeper-batsman Derek de Boorder will both play for the country this coming season. Neither will be deemed to be an overseas player by the ECB so can compete the English 40-over competition. They will also be allowed to take part in ODIs and the ICC’s World Cricket League but not the ICC’s first-class Intercontinental Cup.
“There are still a few formalities to be finalised,” Jeroen Smits, the high performance advisor to the Dutch board told Cricket Europe. “We are confident that both players will be available for our first matches.
“I’m delighted that the selectors, who make the final decisions, will have the possibility of including these players in our squad and, looking further forward, I see them as potentially playing a significant role in our plans for next year’s World Cup.”
Full postMCC team departs on USA tour
MCC have departed for their seven-match tour of the USA
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
MCC have departed for their seven-match tour of the USA. The tour starts in California on March 17 before heading east to Florida, culminating in two matches at Central Broward - the new national cricket stadium - against USA and a West Indies XI.
The 16-man squad is captained by Michael Foster, the former Australia Under-19 batsman, and includes Matthew Friedlander, who has played for both Northamptonshire in England and Boland in South Africa, and actor Torquil Deacon.
MCC's first match is against the Southern Californian Cricket Association (SCCA) at Woodley CC in Los Angeles. They play two more games at Woodley - against the South West Region of the SCCA, and the Hollywood All-Stars on March 19 and 20 - before moving on to San Jose to play the North West Region and North West Region Under-19s. They then travel to Cupertino, just outside San Jose, to run a coaching session, before flying east to Miami.
"North America has great cricket history - USA and Canada played the first ever international match back in the 1840s - and we hope it's got a bright future too," said John Stephenson, MCC's head of cricket. "MCC believes the USA is a massive potential growth area for the game and we're delighted to do our part to encourage interest in California and Florida."
Full postPapua New Guinea to host Australian Indigenous XI
Papua New Guinea will be hosting the Australian Indigenous national team in the first week of July, with the teams competing in two one-day games and two Twenty20s, which will be played on turf wickets at Amini Park in Port Moresby.
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Papua New Guinea will be hosting the Australian Indigenous national team in the first week of July, with the teams competing in two one-day games and two Twenty20s, which will be played on turf wickets at Amini Park in Port Moresby.
“The Cricket Australia Australian Indigenous XI will be an exceptionally strong and experienced XI,” said Cricket PNG general manager Bill Leane. “They will be captained by Dan Christian, who recently made his Australian debut in a Twenty 20 International against the West Indies. He will be joined by current State-listed players Preston White, Josh Lalor, Worran Williams and an exciting group of young, highly skilled and experienced players.”
“The Australian Indigenous XI will be a formidable opponent and our national team will be challenged in every facet of the game,” said PNG national coaching director and former Australian fast bowler Andy Bichel. “Dan Christian is a super player, he made over 700 runs as Captain on the Australian Indigenous Tour of England.
“He potentially could be going to the ICC T20 World Cup at the end of April. Preston White is playing in the future Tours competition and Josh Lalor is playing great cricket for the Blues.
Full postICC in a quandary over Nepal riot
The ICC has dismissed criticism it was too slow to react to the crowd trouble which marred the match between Nepal and USA in Kirtipur in the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 tournament.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The ICC has dismissed criticism it was too slow to react to the crowd trouble which marred the match between Nepal and USA in Kirtipur in the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 tournament.
The ICC was roundly attacked for its seemingly slow response, not announcing an investigation until two days after the end of the tournament, but it has told Cricinfo the process was started in the immediate aftermath of the game. The next stage is the findings of the investigation will be delivered to the board who will deliberate what to do when they meet in Dubai in April.
The ICC is in a difficult position. If it fails to act then there is a danger it sets a precedent for crowds to disrupt matches if doing so will benefit their side. Against that, it will not want to
stamp down to heavily on a country where cricket has really taken hold.
Full postBermuda announce squad for Namibia tour
Bermuda have announced their 14-man squad for the tour to South Africa and Namibia, which takes place from March 23 to April 12.
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Bermuda have announced their 14-man squad for the tour to South Africa and Namibia, which takes place from March 23 to April 12.
The tour includes a week-long High Performance training camp at the University of Pretoria prior to the team’s departure for Namibia, where they will play a four-day Intercontinental Shield game against the hosts from April 2 to 5. Then follow two limited-overs games, on April 7 and 8, and a Twenty20 match on April 10 before the team return home.
"The team selection was based on attendance, ability and availability,” explained Lionel Thomas, the chairman of the selection committee. “We know it is not our strongest team due to withdrawals for personal reasons from some players and school commitments, but we are cautiously optimistic that the team selected will equip themselves admirably."
"I am pleased to be able to confirm that David Moore has received his work permit and hopes to be able to join the team for the tour,” added Reginald Pearman, the BCB president. “I know the boys have been putting their all into training and I am confident they will do their best."
Full post