Cricket in Argentina enters 102nd season with optimism (5 Dec 1999)

5 December 1999

Cricket in Argentina enters 102nd season with optimism

`Beyond The Test World' is delighted to welcome Argentine national coach, Grant Dugmore to its stable of contributors. Grant will provide regular reports on all levels of Argentine cricket.

Cricket in Argentina is alive and well and indeed flourishing. There is a tremendous growth pattern amongst children and schools, and the number of junior and youth participants, boys and girls, continues to blossom. The highlight this season as far as juniors is concerned is a representative under-15 tour to New Zealand from 14 January to 4 February, 2000. Two boys' and one girls' teams will be traveling in a squad of approximately 45 children and 10 adults.

League cricket in Argentina has entered its 102nd year with a revamped programme. The First Division, or Premier League as we now call it, is made up of four teams, who play three rounds, nine games in all. The Robin Stuart Shield will be played later in the season, with one round of matches (three in total) after which the top two teams in that little round-robin will play in a gala season-ending "cup final", in this case, shield final. The Second Division, played on Saturday afternoons, involves 10 teams, divided into two zones, and inter-zonal play-offs to find a champion before Christmas. In the second half of the season, five teams play in a Saturday Championship. In January, clubs take part in an adapted version of Cricket Max, ours being eight-a-side and 12 overs per innings.

The 101st North v South will be played at Hurlingham from 17th to 19th March. After its success last season, the second edition of the three match series between Argentina and a select International XI will again take place, the first game on 19 December, the second on Boxing Day (26 December) what is hoped will become a traditional fixture, and the third and perhaps deciding game on 11 March. Argentina "A" will play their first ever game that same day, against an ACA XI.

Meanwhile, the Argentina squad will continue their preparations for the 2001 ICC Trophy in Canada, but with the additional incentive of the inaugural America's competition, including us, USA, Canada, Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, pencilled in for Canada in July. The Argentina "A" side will travel to Santiago in Chile sometime later in the year for the 4th South American Championship. We are very proud and honoured that three of our boys have been selected as part of the America's squad to take part in the Youth World Cup for u19's to be held in Sri Lanka in January 2000. They are Carlos Gibson, Lucas Paterlini and Pablo Ryan."