Beyond the Test World
Two wins out of two for MCC in Mozambique
MCC got off to a winning start on their tour of Mozambique, winning their first two matches.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
MCC got off to a winning start on their tour of Mozambique, winning their first two matches.
After running a coaching session in neighbouring Swaziland on February 6, MCC got down to business the next day with a five-wicket win over Maputo club side Equipa Anfitria.
The home side won the toss and elected to bat first in the Twenty20 match but were restricted by tight bowling from openers Neil Waite (1 for 13 from three overs) and Tom Kopelman (1 for 5 from four). MCC’s bowlers shared the wickets around as they dismissed Equipa Anfitria for 72 inside their 20 overs. Extras were the highest scorer, with 22.
In reply MCC made a poor start, losing Ben Debenham with just two on the board. Some fine bowling from Lily (4-1-8-2) and Bineesh, the captain, meant MCC were never comfortable until youth and experience came together in the form of Andrew Clarke and former Northamptonshire wicket-keeper Toby Bailey. Both finished unbeaten on 21 as MCC knocked off the runs with eleven balls to spare.
Full postNigeria visit ICC academy
Officials from the ICC’s academy – based in Dubai Sports City – have welcomed a team of developing cricketers from Nigeria.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Officials from the ICC’s academy – based in Dubai Sports City – have welcomed a team of developing cricketers from Nigeria.
The Howzat Pioneers touring team recently met with senior management and were given a taste of the coaching and development programs that will be available to visiting teams. The ICC Global Cricket Academy will provide a unique environment for coaching, game education and training in outstanding facilities with some of the games best coaches.
“The ICC Global Cricket Academy will be an important asset for emerging countries like Nigeria to learn new skills and develop the game within their country,” said General Manager Marc Archer. “Our coaches, led by former Australia and England academies coach Rod Marsh, will offer a variety of coaching programs to help raise the game standards of all of the 104 ICC members.”
The Pioneers are a private under-19 club side set up by the Howzat Foundation for Cricket to help raise interest in the game.
Full post'This is more like a bootcamp' says Bermuda batsman
Bermuda are currently in Trinidad on a tour, in preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Bermuda are currently in Trinidad on a tour, in preparation for the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa. But for Lionel Cann, their batsman, the trip has felt more like a boot camp.
e always link up with a guy called Jeremiah, who does fitness training for the army, when we're down in Trinidad. When the boys hear his name we know we're in for a tough time. He's brutal.
The week started on Saturday with a seven-mile hike to the top of a mountain near Port of Spain.
It was a team building exercise with the army fitness instructors and they had us doing push-ups and sit-ups on the way up.
Full postCanada to prepare in Sri Lanka
Eight of the Canadian squad will train in Sri Lanka in the lead up to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Eight of the Canadian squad will train in Sri Lanka in the lead up to the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
The group will attend the high performance camps run by the ICC and arranged by Pubudu Dassanayke between February 10 and mid March before joining the remainder of the squad in Zimbabwe.
Full postA busy year in store for the Falkland Islands
The Commander of the British Forces XI has drawn first blood in the three-game South Atlantic Ashes in the Falkland Islands, winning the opening match against the Governor's XI by 105 runs
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Commander of the British Forces XI has drawn first blood in the three-game South Atlantic Ashes in the Falkland Islands, winning the opening match against the Governor's XI by 105 runs. The CBFs, representing the military, notched up 203 in their 50 overs, before the Governor's XI, drawn from the island's civilians, were dismissed for 98.
It was the first serious game of what is going to be a busy 18 months for cricket in the islands.
In July, 2010, the Islands will be the third team in a unique triangular tournament in Scotland featuring teams from geographical locations all sharing the name Falkland. They will join Falkland CC from Perthshire, which will be celebrating their centenary and Falkland CC from Berkshire in England.
The story of how the three locations came to be known as Falkland is interesting.
Full postTriumphant Afghanistan know 'main test' lies ahead
Afghanistan's victorious cricketers, who were the toast of Kabul on Tuesday, realise they will have to meet greater challenges in order to qualify for the 2011 World Cup
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Afghanistan's victorious cricketers, who were the toast of Kabul on Tuesday, realise they will have to meet greater challenges in order to qualify for the 2011 World Cup. The team, whose top-place finish at the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 in Argentina earned them a spot at the World Cup Qualifiers in April, was greeted by enthusiastic fans on their return to Kabul, and even had a small parade through the city. However, the lack of financial backing remains a worry.
"We never even thought we could expect to do so well," the team's secretary-general, Taj Malik, told AFP. "But the team's main test is still ahead of us." Afghanistan need to make it to the semi-finals of the qualifying tournament in South Africa to ensure a place at the 2011 World Cup in the subcontinent.
Afghanistan's progress towards the World Cup dream has been remarkable - they also won Divisions 4 and 5 - and Malik said the team's achievement was historic given that the they had come together in 2002, after the fall of the hardline Taliban regime. "We thought that maybe in 2015 or 2020 we could be where we are today."
He said the players will rest for 20 days before starting their preparations for the World Cup Qualifiers. "We will try to strengthen the weaknesses of our team. We will prepare our team for the toughness of the World Cup," he said.
Full postCanada set to play ODIs in Zimbabwe
Canada are set to play their first major overseas series against a Full Member country when they tour Zimbabwe for four ODIs in March
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Canada are set to play their first major overseas series against a Full Member country when they tour Zimbabwe for four ODIs in March. The matches form part of their preparations for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in April.
The games, which are likely to all be played in Harare, will take place between March 18 and 26.
The original plan had been for Canada to play against a Zimbabwe A side, but after discussions between the two boards, the itinerary was changed to accommodate the ODIs.
The teams last met in a Twenty20 tournament in Toronto last October when Canada tied with Zimbabwe in the first match before losing a bowl off.
Full postAfghanistan cold shouldered by ministers
Afghanistan's winning the World Cricket League Division Three title in Argentina may have sparked euphoria throughout the country but the team are reported to be less than impressed by the reception on their arrival in Kabul
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Afghanistan's winning the World Cricket League Division Three title in Argentina may have sparked euphoria throughout the country but the team are reported to be less than impressed by the reception on their arrival in Kabul. “We were very disappointed that there was no cabinet minister, vice president or president to welcome us home following our extraordinary achievement,” batsman Raees Ahmadzai told BBC. "It shows that they don't like cricket or our team. But we couldn't believe it when we saw people dancing and cheering in the cold weather.''
Another team member absolved President Hamid Karzai - "a big supporter" - of any blame but said ministers should have been present. "This is a big achievement for Afghanistan. But our victory and team belongs to the Afghan people not to ministers.''
A cabinet minister contacted by the BBC said what happened was "regrettable" and that official engagements had prevented them from attending.
Full postIndonesia aiming to be the next Afghanistan
While all attention is on Afghanistan and their seemingly relentless progress towards the 2011 World Cup, their success story has served to inspire others around globe.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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While all attention is on Afghanistan and their seemingly relentless progress towards the 2011 World Cup, their success story has served to inspire others around globe.
Twenty years ago cricket was almost unknown in Indonesia, but then a few expats started to play and the game has taken off beyond their wildest dreams.
"Because the expatriates needed more people to make their teams of 11 players, they started to ask locals to join. And it turned out that some of the locals were excellent players," Cricket Indonesia chairman Sachin Gopalan told AFP. "It used to be only social games played by expatriates. But it has changed."
Local associations were formed to administer the clubs, and eight years ago a national board came into being. It is now estimated that as many as 30,000 people play the game, a three-fold increase in two years.
Full postBrazil's women wide of the mark
Argentina cruised to a seven-wicket win over Brazil with eight overs to spare in a women’s Twenty20 international in Buenos Aires.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Argentina cruised to a seven-wicket win over Brazil with eight overs to spare in a women’s Twenty20 international in Buenos Aires.
Brazil were restricted to 76 for 9, with 17 wides the biggest contributor to their score. Brazil made things hard for themselves with five of their top six falling to run-outs.
Argentina were never in trouble, but Brazil’s bowlers were as they shipped 28 wides, Reinehr leading the way with eight in one ten-ball period.
Full post