Beyond the Test World
Norway wins Nordic Cup Twenty20 tournament
Tony Munro
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Norway defeated a Danish representative team twice in two days in win last month's Nordic Cup Twenty20 tournament in Copenhagen.
The Norwegians maintained an unbeaten record after defeating Denmark by four runs in the final. Sweden took third place in the four team tournament, beating Finland by 112 runs in the play-off match.
The competition proved a positive workout for Norway ahead of the World Cricket League Division Six tournament in Singapore later this month.
Full postFlanders win second EuroTwenty20
In a year when research revealed that cricket could have been invented by the Flemish it was perhaps fitting that Flanders were the winners of the second Carmel EuroTwenty20 tournament staged in North Wales.
Siddhartha Talya
25-Feb-2013
In a year when research revealed that cricket could have been invented by the Flemish it was perhaps fitting that Flanders were the winners of the second Carmel EuroTwenty20 tournament staged in North Wales.
The Australian National University in Canberra uncovered a reference to the sport in a poem written in 1533, in which cricket is linked to Flemish weavers working in England. The weavers from Flanders are known to have settled in rural areas around Kent and Surrey, where it is generally believed that cricket originated.
And the newly-formed Flanders team, captained by former France national team coach Dave Szumowski, did their ancestors proud in the eight-team tournament which also included Bulgaria, Hungary, Russia, Croatia ‘A’ as well as the island of Alderney.
Flanders won by nine runs in a dramatic final victory over hosts Carmel & District Cricket Club thanks to a crucial knock of 32 not out from Szumowski before Brett Meredith (4-21) spun the Flemish side to victory.
Full postMCC off to Croatia
MCC organise dozens of tours all over the world each year, and their latests sees them jetting off to Croatia - or, specifically, the island of Vis.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
MCC organise dozens of tours all over the world each year, and their latests sees them jetting off to Croatia - or, specifically, the island of Vis.
MCC Assistant Secretary (Cricket & Estates), John Stephenso said: “MCC is committed to developing cricket all over the world and we hope that providing good opposition and coaching to Croatia’s cricketers and youngsters will spread the game further throughout the country.
“MCC is delighted to be visiting such a historic club, which has been recently reinvigorated by the commitment and passion of the members of Vis Cricket Club, and we hope the tour can generate interest amongst a new audience in Croatia.”
Croatia achieved ICC Affiliate Membership in 2001.
Full postChappell to coach Singapore
Trevor Chappell, the former Australia batsman, has been named coach of Singapore ahead of their ICC World Cricket League Division 6 campaign next month.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Trevor Chappell, the former Australia batsman, has been named coach of Singapore ahead of their ICC World Cricket League Division 6 campaign next month.
Chappell, younger brother of Ian and Greg, has coached Bangladesh and spent time as a fielding adviser to Sri Lanka. "There is plenty to be happy about,'' Chappell told the Singapore Cricket Association website. "There is plenty of talent. Obviously, there are areas we can improve.''
Full story here.
Full postU-19 World Cup did not cost Kenya millions
In the aftermath of the ICC’s controversial decision to strip Kenya of the rights to host the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, one of Kenya’s main newspapers has wasted no time to stick the knife into a board it has been willing to attack at every
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
In the aftermath of the ICC’s controversial decision to strip Kenya of the rights to host the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, one of Kenya’s main newspapers has wasted no time to stick the knife into a board it has been willing to attack at every opportunity.
In the Standard on Monday, it was claimed that the ICC’s decision had cost Kenya “between US$7 and US$8 million”. Even a basic knowledge of the event would have shown that no board makes cash from hosting such a tournament. The TV rights are already onsold by the ICC, and while the direct costs of hosting (accommodation/transport etc) are picked up by the ICC, any surplus is also kept by them. The country staging the event only gets a hosting fee of around US$250,000.
A day later and a report claimed Cricket Kenya “went to sleep” after securing hosting rights to this tournament in 2006 and that was incapable of working to a “set timetable”. Again, had it bothered to ask the executive, it would have established how much was actually done.
At best this is sloppy reporting. But given what has happened before, there is a suspicion that it was the latest salvo in a long-running campaign to discredit the board.
Full postOdumbe's return would be a massive backward step
Maurice Odumbe ’s campaign to rekindle his cricket career when his five-year ban for associating with a known bookmaker ends next month continues with yet another interview in the Nation
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Maurice Odumbe’s campaign to rekindle his cricket career when his five-year ban for associating with a known bookmaker ends next month continues with yet another interview in the Nation. Yet again the same old tired comments are trotted out, about how great Kenyan cricket was when he played, how it’s gone to the dogs since, and how he is the man to reignite it.
While he believes he still has a role to play, the fact is that he is 40 and hasn’t picked up a bat in anger in any serious event for almost six years. The chances of anyone of that age coming back successfully in any sport are remote – and before the example of Tom Watson at The Open are cited, he has been playing almost non-stop since his fifth Open title in 1983.
Kenya cricket has paid for keeping faith in the old guard and not moving on. There is a small window for the selectors to take the plunge and give youth a chance ahead of the 2011 World Cup. That could mean tough decisions being taken which might include bidding farewell to icons such as Steve Tikolo.
What is certain is that even contemplating the return of Odumbe would be about as backward a step as it would be possible to take.
Full postA busy two months for Associates
The summer season of Associate cricket continues to take shape with various announcements about games being arranged.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The summer season of Associate cricket continues to take shape with various announcements about games being arranged.
Afghanistan's first foray into mainstream competition starts in the rather unlikely setting of Mutare where they take on Zimbabwe in a four-day Intercontinental Cup tie starting on August 16. From there the Afghans head to Europe where they meet Netherlands in the same competition starting on August 24 and follow that with their first two stand-alone ODIs on August 30 and September 1.
Kenya, meanwhile, head to Toronto where their Intercontinental Cup tie against Canada starts on August 7 and is followed by three ODIs on August 12, 14 and 16.
On August 17 Scotland's game with Ireland starts, and that is followed by an ODI weekend as two matches are held on August 22 and 23 ahead of Ireland's ODI against England on August 27 and Scotland's against Australia on August 28.
Full postEuropean Under-19s prepare for challenges
ICC Europe has announced the tournament fixture schedule for the upcoming ICC European Under-19 Division 2 Championship to be held in Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
ICC Europe has announced the tournament fixture schedule for the upcoming ICC European Under-19 Division 2 Championship to be held in Antwerp and Brussels, Belgium.
This will be the third time that a Division 2 tournament has been staged at this age group and will see the Under-19 national squads from Belgium, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Israel, Italy and Isle of Man contest the Championship title over a series of 50-over and Twenty20 matches.
“The competition is of particular importance to national development programmes and player pathways as it gives young cricketers a taste of international cricket before they play
for their country's senior side,” said, ICC Europe regional development manager
Richard Holdsworth. "With seven teams participating, this event is one of the larger tournaments in Europe this summer. There is nothing greater than representing your country in any sport and to be able to do so prior to senior level will hopefully inspire continued growth and development of cricketers in our junior age groups."
Full postAn offer you can refuse
As advertisements go, the one for the post of CEO of the Netherlands cricket board (KNBC) is hardly designed to whet the appetites of candidates
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
As advertisements go, the one for the post of CEO of the Netherlands cricket board (KNBC) is hardly designed to whet the appetites of candidates. In fact, it all but screams out ‘don’t bother to apply’. The Dutch have had two CEOs in the last few months, with the most recent, Andre van Troost, barely having time to pick his office furniture before he quit.
The latest advert from the board starts with the gung-ho comment that it was “required by ICC regulations to advertise this position once again. Hence the following advertisement”. It’s downhill from there, but in case anyone was still interested, the description concludes: “Attention is drawn to the fact that there is already an established candidate.”
Full postKenya to appoint new coach by end of July
Cricket Kenya hope to be able to confirm the appointment of a new national coach by the end of July.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Kenya hope to be able to confirm the appointment of a new national coach by the end of July.
A board spokesman confirmed media reports that a five-man shortlist had been drawn up, but said not all of those had been interviewed and the process was ongoing.
Full post