Mexican cricket starts to take hold (4 Aug 1999)

2 August 1999

Mexican cricket starts to take hold

Cricket has been played in Mexico since the 1880s when it was introduced by British miners and railroad workers.

Nowadays it is kept alive by expatriates who form the Mexico City Cricket Club, a collection of enthusiasts from countries such as England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, West Indies, the Netherlands and even a Venezuelan who learnt the game in Australia.

Two Mexicans have taken up the game, one after exposure to the game in England and other in Europe.

The Mexico City Cricket Club has about 40 members, about 20 who are 'hard core' regulars. Players often swap between the three clubs to make up the numbers. More regulars are expected next season. The club includes former county age players and district players from India and Pakistan.

These players make up three teams, Aztecs, Reforma and Corinthinians which compete in two competitions - 'unlimited overs' and limited overs.

The limited overs competition runs from September to March while the 'unlimited overs' part of the season lasts from March to June. Aztecs, captained by Hugo van Belle, won the 'unlimited overs' competition, while the limited overs competition was tied by the three teams. Reforma was skipped by Max Cawdron while Corinthians was led by Nick Deakin.

All matches are played at the Reforma Club, described by Hugo van Belle as a "wonderfully green and verdant oasis in the concrete jungles of Mexico City. We are blessed with a grass wicket, I believe the only one in Latin America, which is generally pretty true although without a decent roller we do get the occasional accident!"

While the club has its domestic competition, it would love more visiting teams.

The highlight of its year are the reciprocal matches played against the Memorial Cricket Club of Houston. Last October, the Mexico City C.C. won its first game in Houston in 10 years due chiefly to the performances of its younger players - Nick Deakin, Paul Siljeur and van Belle.

A century to Andrew Woodcock set up Mexico's win in the return game, with the hosts scoring around 250 before bowling out Houston for about 200.

Any club wanting to play the Mexico City Cricket Club should contact either: Hugo van Belle hugo@designet.com.mx Col. Malcolm Watson JMCwatson@compuserve.com phone: 52-5-5251579 ext. 3208; fax: 52-5-5145397