Beyond the Test World
Big year for Ireland in packed 2009
Cricket Ireland has announced a packed international schedule for 2009, a year in which the team will attempt to qualify for the 2011 World Cup
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Ireland has announced a packed international schedule for 2009, a year in which the team will attempt to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
Their year begins with a two-week training camp in South Africa on March 14 prior to the World Cup Qualifiers, which take place from April 1 to April 19. Ireland have been placed in a group alongside Scotland, Namibia, Canada, Oman, and the second-placed qualifier from World League Division 3, the tournament in Argentina which kicks off next Saturday. Four teams from each group will then play in a Super 8 series of games, with the top four gaining qualification for the World Cup.
In addition to home and away fixtures in the Friends Provident Trophy, Ireland will be apart of the ICC World Twenty20 in June, followed by the defence of the ICC InterContinental Cup. "We've a chance to showcase Irish cricket again on the world stage, when we take on Bangladesh and India in the World Twenty20," said Phil Simmons, the coach. "I know how much the players are looking forward to face England again, and we've also got some mouth-watering clashes in the Friends Provident Trophy. It'll be a great experience playing under lights at The Rose Bowl - even more so if it's shown live on tv!
"We've come to look upon the Intercontinental Cup as our own, having won it three times on the trot, and the four day format seems to suit our style of play, no matter what the climate or conditions."
Full postScottish umpire climbs the ranks
Ian Ramage, an Edinburgh-based umpire, has been appointed to the ICC’s Associate and Affiliate International Umpires’ Panel.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Ian Ramage, an Edinburgh-based umpire, has been appointed to the ICC’s Associate and Affiliate International Umpires’ Panel.
The panel, comprising ten umpires, was formed in June 2006 to cope with the increasing amount of international cricket below the elite level. It serves as the pinnacle for umpires from non-Test playing countries, with selection achieved through each of the five ICC Development Programme Regional Umpires Panels.
Members of the panel are eligible for appointments to ODIs involving ICC Associate Members, the ICC Intercontinental Cup matches and other Associate and Affiliate tournaments.
"This is fantastic news for Ian and for umpiring in Scotland," said Roddy Smith, the Cricket Scotland chief executive. "It shows what can be achieved within the ICC structure for our aspiring top umpires. I hope Ian is the first of a number of our best umpires who can eventually reach this level and go on to officiate with distinction."
Full postChina cause concern in below-par tournament
Oman and Thailand retained their unbeaten records with emphatic wins over Myanmar and China on the fourth day of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy Challenge in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but the standard of the teams continued to cause concern.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Oman and Thailand retained their unbeaten records with emphatic wins over Myanmar and China on the fourth day of the Asian Cricket Council Trophy Challenge in Chiang Mai, Thailand, but the standard of the teams continued to cause concern.
Full postICC big guns head to New York
ICC president Haroon Lorgat and special advisor IS Bindra will meet with USA Cricket Association officials in New York later this month.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
ICC president Haroon Lorgat and special advisor IS Bindra will meet with USA Cricket Association officials in New York later this month.
The visit is the first by any senior ICC official since the board returned from its second suspension following elections last March. The USACA president, Gladstone Dainty, was re-elected despite being seen by many as the major block to progress within the country, and he has continued to court controversy with rumours growing that the USA could even be suspended again after months of inaction.
"Given the huge potential, we don't want to lose the market in the USA," Bindra told the Kolkata-based Telegraph, but he made quite clear that did allow Dainty to carry on regardless. "At the same time, we in the ICC need to be clear about the direction the USACA is taking, that's why this review.
"Many in the USA have an emotional attachment to cricket and that needs to be harnessed. Sadly, there's been in-fighting from the early 1990s. Now, apparently, everybody is getting together and that's a good sign. The USACA can't afford to have more factionalism."
Full postMaldives and Bhutan state their claims
Maldives and Bhutan recorded decisive wins on the third day of the Asian Cricket Council Challenge in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Maldives and Bhutan recorded decisive wins on the third day of the Asian Cricket Council Challenge in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Full postIran beat China by 307 runs
Tony Munro
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
In a game of firsts, Iran won their first international cmatch, beating debutants China by 307 runs in Chiang Mai, Thailand in the ACC Trophy Challenge.
The Iran captain Narian Bakhtiar (120 off 66 balls) and Shirmd. Baloochnezhad (119 from 115 balls) propelled Iran to 369 for 6 in 50 overs. But the focus was on the much publicised Chinese who, while conceding over seven runs per over, bowled 17 wides, by no means a record for an Affiliate nation.
When China crashed to 19 for 5, it seemed they were set to replicate their Under-17 team and be dismissed for less than 30. (The U-17s were shot out for 17 in the equivalent under-age ACC Trophy Challenge). However, Dong Chao ground out the highest score of the innings (16 from 47 balls) and combined with Li Jian for a 21-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Extras (20) provided the greatest contribution to the Chinese total. China were eventually out for 62 off 23.5 overs.
Full postUganda win opening tie of tour
Uganda opened their tour of Kenya with a 73-run win against a makeshift Kenya Select XI at the Nairobi Simba Union on Friday
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Uganda opened their tour of Kenya with a 73-run win against a makeshift Kenya Select XI at the Nairobi Simba Union on Friday. Arthur Kyombe, Uganda’s opening batsman, spearheaded the winners’ batting line up with a brilliant performance with the bat.
Uganda won the toss and elected to bat. Kyombe top scored with 83 and put on handy stands with Akbar Baig (12) and Kwebiha Junior (39). But Kyombe was dropped twice, at 28 and 42, by Tony Suji and Benjamin Oluoga respectively. He was eventually dismissed by Suji, hitting out to deep mid-off. Uganda set the opposition a target of 195. James Ngoche, an offspinner, finished with 4 for 25.
In reply, Kenya got off to a horrid start, losing opener Kennedy Obuya cheaply. He edged Charles Waiswa to Lawrence Sematimba for 1 and it all went downhill from there.
The next match is at the Nairobi Gymkhana.
Full postEAP rue missed opportunities in defeat
Western Australia Country (WAC) scored a two-wicket win over the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) team in Round 3 of the 2009 Australian Country Cricket Championships.
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Western Australia Country (WAC) scored a two-wicket win over the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) team in Round 3 of the 2009 Australian Country Cricket Championships.
Defending 209, EAP were confident of taking some early wickets to expose the WAC middle order, however Raymond Haodo Jnr and Sakaria Lomani didn’t get the early break through of the first two rounds. WAC lost their first wicket with the total at 36 when Rarua Dikana removed Cooper.
WAC continued to fight hard against the disciplined and relentless EAP bowling attack, and when part-timer Vani Vagi Morea struck with the score at 6 for 134, EAP had their tails up and were pushing for victory. A 50 run partnership ensued for WAC, and with the tail wagging somewhat they continued to move closer to the required total, before passing 209 with just two wickets in hand.
The best bowler for EAP was Dikana, who worked hard all innings to collect 4 for 50 from 18 overs.
Full postAll the news from Nigeria
Tunde Akinleye
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Tunde Akinleye
The Lagos League 2008-09 season in Nigeria commenced in November with some intriguing contests. First, Federal Government College Warri CC (FGCW) emerged with an exciting squad including the likes of Roland Ilube (ex-national team & London Nigerians CC of London), Femi Olayiwole, Oboh Omoigui, Ameh Edebor (all ex-Cosmo players).
Rocks CC are now back in Division 1 with their mature but relatively young team who have been playing together for a while now. Ibeju-Lekki CC (ILCC) have introduced a second team to the league competing in Division II and who expect to be challenging for the title.
The grand old warriors, Foundation CC (FCC), lost most of their younger players to other teams and their registration list for this season features an array of veterans, quite a few of whom had hung up their boots a few years ago. The champions for last season, Lagos Asians CC commenced training several weeks ahead of the start of the season to demonstrate their serious intention to retain the championship.
Full postBermuda go professional
The bulk of Bermuda's squad have been handed professional full-time contracts by the board as the team begins to prepare for the World Cup Qualifiers.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The bulk of Bermuda's squad have been handed professional full-time contracts by the board as the team begins to prepare for the World Cup Qualifiers.
Kevin Hurdle, the fast bowler still recovering from injury, makes the 19-man squad as does George O'Brien, and there are no major surprises. Gus Logie, the Bermuda coach, will be gathering the players together over the next few weeks as their training regime intensifies, and Logie is determined to right the wrongs of 2008.
The full story is at Cricinfo.
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