Austrian Open League starts - who will do what and why

The Austrian domestic season began yesterday. Austrian Cricket Association official, Andrew Simpson-Parker, provides this preview:

"Austria`s cricketing public awaits the curtain-raiser to the new season with more excitement than ever before. The Open League champions Lords C.C. take on rivals Pakistan C.C: whom they pipped at the post to record their third title win in four years in 1999. The Open league has been expanded by including two new clubs, Pak Falcons C.C. and Five Continents C.C:, as well as invitees, Ljubjlana C.C. from Slovenia.

The knock-out Trophy competition includes teams from Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, Ljubljana, and Zagreb, the first time a truly representative Central European Cup will take place.

Central Europe`s premier ground, at Seebarn, some 20 km north of Vienna, has been expanded to cope with the heavy fixture demand. Two artificial Notts sports pitches grace the Lower Austrian countryside, and a pavilion is being planned.

The inaugural Representatives Tournament, run by the ECC, will be held at Seebarn in August, and is designed to offer non-Affiliates the chance to compete in a recognised competition.

The Austrian Championship rounds off an action-packed season, featuring matches between Vienna, C.C., Concordia C.C: and Lords C.C. who will have to pick nine Austrian passport holders.

There is a concerted effort to improve the number and standard of umpires officiating in Austria`s leagues this year. Franz Welt, Umpires' coordinator, held a series of seminars for Austrian umpires in Vienna in March and April, which were well attended.

Players to watch out for:

Lords C.C: Captain S. Khanna who was so consistent as a batsman for Lords´ championship-winning team, will again bolster the middle order. Lords play well as a team, without possessing the match-winning individuals of Vienna, Concordia, or Pakistan C.C.

Their steady seam attack of A. Grover, A. Gupta, and M. Lal will keep the run-flow down, although the departure of opening bowler J. Negi will take the edge off the new ball attack. Look out for youngster Paritosh Padhy, who scored his maiden Open League 50 in the third and decisive final match last year.

Pakistan C.C.: Losing Austrian national team star and wicket-keeper, A. Mohammed, and opening bowler and middle order all-rounder, R. Aqif, to rivals Concordia C.C. in the close season has severely weakened last year's runners-up. Secretary, Hammad Rafi, interviewed before a pre-season friendly at Seebarn against United Nations C.C. was however not worried, "two players do not make a team. We have several determined young players waiting to seize their chance, notably Nasir and Isthiaq who must surely be knocking on the door of the national team squad selection."

United Nations C.C: Inspirational captain, Tim Hind, will have to muster all his motivational skills if the UNCC are to improve on last year's fifth place. However, they too have new players from the international community, and are not to be underestimated under any circumstances, especially if they are told they are the underdogs again this year.

Vienna C.C. Much will depend on whether the Vienna bowlers can reduce their horrific record of extras which were often top-score for the opposition in 1999. On paper, a bowling attack headed by Celeghin, Stevens, Hudson, Zulfiqar, Grabetz and European bowling award winner (Corfu 1999) Loader, should rout any Austrian opposition. The batting department is still an unpredictable area, although youngsters Simpson and Grasinger will have benefited from their first full Open League season 1999, and Simpson is fresh from a one-month scholarship in Melbourne, Australia, at the hands of the Crusaders C.C.

Concordia C.C.: Should be serious title challengers in 2000 after a shopping spree during the close season. Aqif and Mohammed from Pakistan C.C., the three young talented Malik brothers from UNCC and Austrian hopefuls Weber and Sturm from Vienna, were amongst a host of players lured away from their clubs.

Concordia will hope to improve on their dismal showing during the past three seasons, and spurred on by National team coach, Siva Nadarajah, the team should do well this year.

Sri Lankan Sports Club: Traditionally the SLSC have always been there or thereabout. They have a tight bowling attack led by skipper Sampath and veteran Riza. The youngster Tharindu should shine this year and the SLSC have a good mixture of youth and experience, exemplified by former Austrian no. 3 batsman, J. Fonseka. SLSC are again expected to be in the top three come September.

C.C. Velden 91: The southern Austrian team of Velden will probably struggle to gain results this year as they have not succeeded in signing any new foreign stars and will have to rely on home-grown talent such as Holmes, Ladstätter, Lunacek, and Schauss, to stem the flow of runs and maybe catch the opposition on the wrong foot as they did in a memorable last-ball finish in 1999 against Vienna. Playing all their Open League matches in Velden should help their cause, but a mid-table position would be a respectable effort for 2000.

Of the newcomers, Ljubljana C.C. should catch some teams unaware as they possess several talented individuals. Pak Falcons and Five Continents, with small, inexperienced squads will do well to maintain mid-table positions in their first Open League season."