Beyond the Test World
Rochdale to host Kenya
A Rochdale-based community group, Sports for All, is hosting a reception for Kenya on Saturday, followed by a match on Sunday.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
A Rochdale-based community group, Sports for All, is hosting a reception for Kenya on Saturday, followed by a match on Sunday.
The match forms part of Kenya's European tour, in which they are to play in the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers in Belfast.
"We have made this a free event to encourage families and young people to attend. It is a unique opportunity for those who enjoy cricket, to watch an international team play in their town,” Mohammed Nazir, the chairman of Sports for All, said. “However, we also hope to have encouraged young people to attend and enjoy several events.”
Portfolio holder for community cohesion, Councillor Mohammad Sharif has also pledged his support for the event.
Full postFrance upset Netherlands
France finished their short tour of Holland with an encouraging six-wicket win over a Netherlands side containing three players who recently took part in the Intercontinental Cup.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
France finished their short tour of Holland with an encouraging six-wicket win over a Netherlands side containing three players who recently took part in the Intercontinental Cup.
In the first game, shortened to 35-overs a side because of rain, Netherlands A won by 20 runs after posting 158 for 8. But the result meant they strengthened their side for the second match
After a steady but slow start Netherlands were 112 for 0 after 30 overs. France came back through Jon Houghton (3 for 49) and Tahir Mohammed (4 for 23, including three wickets in an over) and Netherlands were bowled out for 178 with four overs to go.
A couple of steady partnerships and a solid 62 from opener Arun Ayyavooraju, aided by some lusty blows from Shahid Malik (35) and captain Waseem Bhatti (32*), saw France home with 10 overs to spare.
Full postOnly one winner in county v country debate
A common gripe that keeps cropping up, especially where Ireland are concerned, is the number of players who are unavailable for matches because of their commitments in English county cricket.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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In his column in the Sunday Tribune this week, Ger Higgins highlighted the problem, laying the blame at the door of the ECB.
"There is ample evidence that Irish cricket is being systematically plundered by English counties," he wrote. "The fact that there are a dozen-odd players attached to counties wouldn't be much of a problem if they played fair about player release. But they don't: already this season Morgan, Niall O'Brien and William Porterfield have "opted" to play for their employers ahead of their country. Even an ICC regulation that players must be released for ODIs failed to prise that trio from the clutches of the counties. And it is a similar story with Scots players.
"It is about time that the ECB showed some leadership and told the counties to allow their Irishmen and Scotsmen to play internationals. A FIFA-style regulation could be introduced where a player who is not released must not play for the club on any of the days of the Irish game."
Full postFour-nation Twenty20 tournament confirmed in Canada
Organisers have confirmed a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto involving hosts Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in August.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Organisers have confirmed a four-nation Twenty20 tournament in Toronto involving hosts Canada, Bangladesh, Pakistan and West Indies in August.
Full postHurricane strands Scotland in Bermuda
Scotland will have little time to prepare for their Intercontinental Cup clash with Canada after they were stranded in Bermuda by the after-effects of Hurricane Bertha.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Scotland will have little time to prepare for their Intercontinental Cup clash with Canada after they were stranded in Bermuda by the after-effects of Hurricane Bertha.
The storm had been expected to disrupt their game with Bermuda but as it happened the match was unaffected. But it hit the region afterwards, leaving the Scottish players stranded in their hotel rooms.
“The airport in Hamilton was shut down and the squad were unable to make their connection to Toronto,” Cricket Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith said. “The guys were confined to their rooms all day to escape the worst of the wind and heavy rain.
"We were given the option of delaying the start of the Canada match by 24 hours, but we decided against that because of the tight schedule next week when the lads go to Belfast for the European Championships."
Full postKenya deny accusations over Aga selection
Cricket Kenya has angrily denied claims in the Daily Nation that it broke its own selection rules in picking former captain Ragheb Aga for their European tour.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Kenya has angrily denied claims in the Daily Nation that it broke its own selection rules in picking former captain Ragheb Aga for their European tour.
The newspaper, which has been overtly critical of the new board ever since the old Kenyan Cricket Association was replaced in 2005, accused CEO Tom Tikolo of double standards. “The basis on which Aga was picked is only known to the selectors,” Richard Mwangi wrote. “By picking Aga the selectors could have denied a deserving youngster who has been training with the rest of the boys an opportunity of being exposed to a high level, which does not augur well with the development programme.”
The claims by the paper were dismissed by Tikolo as “wholly inaccurate and misinformed”. He continued: “It reflects a misconceived notion that the Kenya national cricket team can only be picked from amongst those players who participate in its elite domestic leagues. This condition is meant for all players who ordinarily reside in the country during the season. There are several Kenyan players who play overseas and do not participate in local leagues and still feature in the national team - because they play in a country and for a team that participates in the top flight of cricket. The most recent examples of such players are the the Obuya brothers who played in Australia.”
Aga is contracted to Sussex, and while CK rules insist that overseas players participate in local leagues and to return home to prepare for a fortnight before any matches or tours.
Full postEurope victorious in Wales
All three eastern European national teams won their matches in the Carmel Twenty/20 tournament in Carmel, Wales yesterday.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
All three eastern European national teams won their matches in the Carmel Twenty/20 tournament in Carmel, Wales yesterday.
In the first match, Croatia defeated the all locally born Slovakia by 123 runs, while Poland overtook the hosts' 111 with three overs to spare in the middle game and the Czech Republic defeated a Cricket Board of Wales outfit by nine runs in the last over to finish the day's play.
Results:
Croatia 148-2 Slovakia 25 all out
Carmel CC 110 all out Poland 111-5
Czech Republic 119-7 Cricket Board of Wales 108 all out
Full postCarmel CC 110 all out Poland 111-5
Czech Republic 119-7 Cricket Board of Wales 108 all out
Candangos the champions of Brazil
Candangos cricket club are the Distrito Federal Champions after having to use a run rate count to determine the winners
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Candangos cricket club are the Distrito Federal Champions after having to use a run rate count to determine the winners. Ian Webster of the Candangos managed to clinch the championship with 40 not out in four-and-a-half overs, helping to bump up the run rate to win by 0.2 runs - a very exciting finish to a championship.
The 7th Ambassador’s XI game was played on June 21 and Great Britain won by 130 runs. Matt Featherstone, the Brazil captain, played his first Ambassador’s game and struck 78. Michael Dobson (GB) was Man of the Match with an unbeaten 52 not out and four wickets.
With this win, the results stand Australia 4 Great Britain 3.
Full postIsraelis 'would make great cricketers' - Rhodes
Now in Israel as part of a unique Israel team with several Jewish cricketers, Jonty Rhodes says he's excited by the talent in a country with no cricket culture
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Now in Israel as part of a unique Israel team with several Jewish cricketers, Jonty Rhodes says he's excited by the talent in a country with no cricket culture. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, he says the book Exodus by Leon Uris really drew him to the country.
"My knowledge of Israel comes from the 'Exodus' and how tenacious and determined the people here are to have transformed the desert into this thriving economy. It's genius, and the people here are tenacious to be able to make a living in a really harsh environment."