Ex-pats battle it out in South Korea

The Korea Cricket Club will soon start its spring season, and the man with his finger on the pulse of cricket on the peninsular, Olivier de Braekeleer, has kindly scribed a preview:

"Following the move from the UN compound to a school ground, important factors will be the speed at which the teams adapt to playing on a shale/gravel outfield and whether the bounce will favour bowlers rather than batsmen.

"This season's opening day will see Australia, unbeaten last fall, take on India followed by Rest of the World (RoW) versus All Stars. Pakistan and England will open their season on April 11th, with their respective opposition being All Stars and Australia.

"The Australians have been a bit shy in releasing their latest team information but will, as always, be very keen competitors for the title; under the strict discipline of skipper, Paul Griffiths, they have concentrated on physical fitness and have been seen to practice going up the Hill. With fast bowler Casey now in prime appealing form, much will depend on the guile and wide experience of Bourke to keep the opposition in check whilst the batting will depend heavily on Griffiths himself.

"India has the most settled team in the competition, and the only one to practice cricket before the season starts. On paper this team can beat anyone in the league and, with all rounder Shammi available throughout the competition to reinforce the bowling, their long batting line-up should ensure them a place in the semi-finals at the very least.

"Canadian Tony James continues to captain RoW ; with strong support from fast bowlers Shah and Humayun, James will hope for more consistency from his team to regain the trophy won in the spring last year. New players Troy from New Zealand and Pereira from Sri Lanka are amongst many new faces but are yet untested in the peculiar Korean conditions.

"All Stars (sometimes referred to as old f..ts) have seen it all and done it all, but can they do it again? Led by Gerald Ross, this team has depended too heavily on opening bats Ross and Wotton and has to reinforce its middle order; after a year of acclimatisation ex-Kiwi tourist Graeme Thomson is expected to contribute heavily with the bat whilst South Africans Simms and van Bloemmestein will also need to feature on the road to success. Captain Ross reports to have found one new bowler but declined to name him for this report.

"The Pakistan team is of unknown quality at the start of the season but, under sponsorship of PIA and under the leadership of first class cricketer Sikander Mirza, it would be surprising if they did not produce some new talent to feature in a future column. The most recent addition to the league, Pakistan has always reached the semi-finals stage and we would expect their natural talent, and depth, to remain at the fore of cricket in Korea.

"The English XI, previously known as the British Embassy, have a number of new faces whom, together with the more experienced players should do well and improve on prior years' results. With the astute Walker as their captain on the field, much will be expected from hard hitting Spragg, from all-rounder Wilson and from opening bowler Garrard. Among the newcomers, Moore and Whyte - previously capped for Argentina - are likely to figure.

"It should prove an interesting and close competition."