Beyond the Test World
Fiji's bankers and soliders prepare themselves
Although we haven’t won any of our practice matches, the Fiji boys feel ready for the start of the tournament on Saturday.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Although we haven’t won any of our practice matches, the Fiji boys feel ready for the start of the tournament on Saturday.
Some of our players haven’t played on a turf wicket for 18 months so it has been useful to get to experience the conditions and adjust to the different bounce to the artificial wickets that we are used to playing on back at home.
I work as a bank officer back in Fiji and our team is made up of soldiers, a lecturer and a graphic designer. We are all lucky that our work has been very supportive in allowing us to prepare for this tournament and take the time off to represent our country.
Although rugby and soccer are probably the most popular sports back in Fiji, we have been receiving a lot of support. We even had the opportunity to go and meet the president before we departed which was a really good experience. It turned out that he used to play a bit of cricket himself, but I couldn’t find out too much more than that. In Fiji, it is tradition that when you are in the company of somebody so senior, you only speak when you are spoken to.
Full postBurger sizzles with confidence over Ireland clash
It’s Namibia's last qualifying match while Ireland has another against Kenya after this
Tony Munro
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
This weekend Namibia plays Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup. It’s Namibia's last qualifying match while Ireland has another against Kenya after this. Cricinfo spoke to the captain, Louis Burger.
Well, it’s your last chance to cement a place in the final and your opponents, Ireland, have a game in hand. Nothing like a bit of pressure to bring out the best out of the team, is it?
LB: Yes, we play every game to win and Ireland will be no exception in this regard. They will be coming at us really hard as they also want a place in the final. The pressure is a bit relieved on our side seeing that we are virtually assured of a spot in the final unless Ireland and Kenya finish in an outright tie, which is very unlikely, and we have to gain no points in the Ireland game.
Full postJersey begin Africa adventure
Matt Hague
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Matt Hague
The Jersey squad arrived in Tanzania today full of excitement about the adventures that lie ahead. We have been talking about coming to play in this tournament ever since we qualified in May, particularly in the last couple of weeks when we have been meeting most days for training, so it is great to finally be here and I can’t wait for the tournament to start.
It was amazing on the journey from the airport to the hotel to get a taste of what life in Tanzania is really like. I, like many of the squad, have never been to Africa before; we couldn’t believe the amount of traffic, which meant we crawled along on the team bus, and the pace of life here seems different to home as well. It makes the island life of Jersey look like a rollercoaster in comparison. We have to play six games in eight days, so the tournament schedule is pretty tough, but I would love to try and see what Dar Es Salaam has to offer and experience some of the culture.
There were people selling all kinds of stuff next to the road. Somebody had even set up a mini shoe shop on the pavement – you wonder how they make a living – and there were lots of people at every traffic light trying to sell you all kind of different things. I think we’ll need to change some of our US dollars into local currency so we can buy some of the fresh fruit that was for sale by the side of the road which looked very appetizing and perhaps I’ll see if I can get some presents for the family as well from the street traders.
Full postConfusion in Nairobi
Getting accurate scorecards from major matches in Kenya is not always a simple process, and that was underlined by confusion which followed the third and final one-dayer between Kenya and the Pakistan Academy side at Nairobi Gymkhana.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Getting accurate scorecards from major matches in Kenya is not always a simple process, and that was underlined by confusion which followed the third and final one-dayer between Kenya and the Pakistan Academy side at Nairobi Gymkhana.
At the end of the match it emerged that there were three different versions of the final card. The match’s official scorer, who was not familiar with the Pakistan side, made several mistakes. The Pakistan scorer provided a different card, and Cricinfo’s scorer turned in yet another.
In the end, it was decided the scores kept by the official scorer would be accepted as the legitimate scorecard.
Full postNamibia name squad for Intercontinental Cup game
Tony Munro
Tony Munro
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Cricket Namibia has named a squad of 13, with some changes from the team that beat Bermuda by 103 runs earlier this month, for its crucial Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland scheduled for October 3-6 in Windhoek, Namibia.
Offbreak bowler Wilbur Slabber replaces Bernard Scholtz while opening batsman Raymond van Schoor is unavailable due to end of year examinations.
Namibia squad:
Full postPakistan CC complete Austrian double
While the Austrian Cricket Association has had a difficult year off the field, on it the competition has been stronger than ever.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
While the Austrian Cricket Association has had a difficult year off the field, on it the competition has been stronger than ever.
Thirteen teams competed for the open league title with teams being split into two groups: the northern league, comprising the nine Vienna based teams, and the southern league consisting of teams from Graz, Ljubljana (Slovenia), Salzburg and Velden. With the exception of Salzburg CC, who won all of their games, the group stages were keenly contested. A sign of the closeness of the competition being that Vienna CC, who finished top of the northern league, lost three of their eight games.
The group stages were followed by quarter and semi-finals with Pakistan CC and Austria CC Wien overcoming Vienna CC and United Nations CC respectively in the semis.
The Open League final was played on a cold, damp, windy, grey Saturday. Austria CC Wien amassed 203 for 6 in their 45 overs (reduced from 50 due to the weather), with PCC knocking off the runs in the 43rd over for the loss of seven wickets.
Full postGlobal invites for $100,000 Twenty20 in Florida
Days after the announcement of a Twenty20 competition in North East region, Cricket Council USA (CCUSA) unveiled what it described as "the richest Twenty20 tournament in the United States".
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Days after the announcement of a Twenty20 competition in North East region, Cricket Council USA (CCUSA) unveiled what it described as "the richest Twenty20 tournament in the United States".
"We will give $100,000 prize money to the winner of the UST20 Cricket Tournament '09," said MAQ Qureshi, the chairman and chief executive of CCUSA, adding that the event was open to clubs from anywhere in the world. "I'm sure that this tournament will bring the best cricketers in the USA and abroad to display their cricket skills and of course the opportunity to win the prize money."
Click here for more.
Full postNetherlands international found dead in Cape Town street
Former Netherlands international Maurits van Nierop has been found dead in a street in Cape Town
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Former Netherlands international Maurits van Nierop has been found dead in a street in Cape Town. He was 25. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear.
Full postHague believes Jersey have no fears
After finishing second in the Division 5 tournament in May, including an impressive semi-final victory over the USA, and then winning a dramatic game against Guernsey to seal the ICC European Championships Division 2, the side is in confident mood
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
After finishing second in the Division 5 tournament in May, including an impressive semi-final victory over the USA, and then winning a dramatic game against Guernsey to seal the ICC European Championships Division 2, the side is in confident mood despite Jersey only becoming an ICC Member back in 2005.
“I think when we started in ICC competitions in Scotland a couple of years, some of our players were in awe of the other teams. We’ve now got rid of that and we now think we can beat anybody,” said Hague. “We definitely think we can go forward in this competition.”
Boosted by the addition of young talents such as Anthony Hawkins-Kay, a fast bowler, and Ben Stevens, a promising spinner, the side has added some fresh faces to the side that performed well on home soil in Division 5, although Ryan Driver will again be a key player.
Hague, who will lead his side in a difficult opening day fixture against Tanzania, who host the tournament, is confident his side can adapt to local conditions. “I don’t know how tough it will be. It will be different and it might be hotter but we definitely have the talent to adjust,” he said. “We’ve played Italy, beaten them twice, but I am guessing Hong Kong, who has been playing against international teams in the Asia Cup – and Afghanistan will be competitive.”
Full post