Cash, cows and Cuban cricket
George Binoy
09-Jul-2007
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Castro, communism, cigars and ... cricket
Cricket's tentacles are spreading to the far corners of the world and last week, Allen Stanford invited Cuba to compete for the whopping $20 million prize in the month-long Stanford 20/20 tournament in January 2008. Cuban cricket isn't as strange as it sounds. The sport has been revived during the last few years after it faded away post-revolution. That was largely due to the efforts of one woman, Leona Ford, who was made ICC's global Volunteer of the Year in 2002 and is the only woman head of a national cricket association. Leona, daughter of Leonard Ford who founded the Guantanamo Cricket Club in the early 20th century, brought Cuban cricket to the attention of a few influential West Indians which sped up the development process. Read the full article in The Guardian.
Cricket's tentacles are spreading to the far corners of the world and last week, Allen Stanford invited Cuba to compete for the whopping $20 million prize in the month-long Stanford 20/20 tournament in January 2008. Cuban cricket isn't as strange as it sounds. The sport has been revived during the last few years after it faded away post-revolution. That was largely due to the efforts of one woman, Leona Ford, who was made ICC's global Volunteer of the Year in 2002 and is the only woman head of a national cricket association. Leona, daughter of Leonard Ford who founded the Guantanamo Cricket Club in the early 20th century, brought Cuban cricket to the attention of a few influential West Indians which sped up the development process. Read the full article in The Guardian.
Money, Money, Money
Even as the 2007 World Cup continues to receive the odd punch months after it's completion, Chris Dehring, the tournament's managing director, said this week that ticket sales had raked in US$32 million. "Our ticket revenues are the highest in the history of the cricket world cup or any ICC event," said Dehring, while pointing out that the previous two tournaments in South Africa and England brought in only US$9.7 million and US$22 million. Judging by the empty stands for most of the games, it's likely that a sizable chunk of those ticket-holders decided not to turn up once India and Pakistan were knocked out.
Even as the 2007 World Cup continues to receive the odd punch months after it's completion, Chris Dehring, the tournament's managing director, said this week that ticket sales had raked in US$32 million. "Our ticket revenues are the highest in the history of the cricket world cup or any ICC event," said Dehring, while pointing out that the previous two tournaments in South Africa and England brought in only US$9.7 million and US$22 million. Judging by the empty stands for most of the games, it's likely that a sizable chunk of those ticket-holders decided not to turn up once India and Pakistan were knocked out.
Bovine intervention
Cricket is a delicate game, easily disturbed by external factors - the sun, cold, heat and snow to name a few. Occasionally, you come across tough men such as those at the Neston Cricket Club, who braved a swarm of midges and suffered several bites to continue their game a few weeks ago. This week the hardened verterans from the Hunts and Northamptonshire over-50s refused to let a pitch invasion by 28 cows, led by a charismatic bull, ruin their National Veterans competition match. A day before the game, 28 heffers and one hefty bull decided to lunch on the gourmet grass at the Barnack ground. Not content with leaving foot imprints all over the pitch and the outfield, the cattle decided to hang around until it was time to answer nature's call. The officials cleaned up as best they could and despite the hoof marks and stray traces of cowdung, the over-50s were not to be denied.
Cricket is a delicate game, easily disturbed by external factors - the sun, cold, heat and snow to name a few. Occasionally, you come across tough men such as those at the Neston Cricket Club, who braved a swarm of midges and suffered several bites to continue their game a few weeks ago. This week the hardened verterans from the Hunts and Northamptonshire over-50s refused to let a pitch invasion by 28 cows, led by a charismatic bull, ruin their National Veterans competition match. A day before the game, 28 heffers and one hefty bull decided to lunch on the gourmet grass at the Barnack ground. Not content with leaving foot imprints all over the pitch and the outfield, the cattle decided to hang around until it was time to answer nature's call. The officials cleaned up as best they could and despite the hoof marks and stray traces of cowdung, the over-50s were not to be denied.
Tall, blonde, dark and lean
It was quite literally raining men for suburban housewives when a group of parachutists landed in their gardens. The RAF team had just finished a formation display above Sussex County Cricket Club in Hove when a freak gust of wind blew them off course. The eight daredevils were forced down in trees, gardens and a road. Lisa Morrison, 27, was walking home from work when the team landed around her. "It was raining men. I thought I was dreaming. I was almost tempted to ask for a date," she said. Nobody was hurt.
It was quite literally raining men for suburban housewives when a group of parachutists landed in their gardens. The RAF team had just finished a formation display above Sussex County Cricket Club in Hove when a freak gust of wind blew them off course. The eight daredevils were forced down in trees, gardens and a road. Lisa Morrison, 27, was walking home from work when the team landed around her. "It was raining men. I thought I was dreaming. I was almost tempted to ask for a date," she said. Nobody was hurt.
Reel life to real life
If you've played street cricket as a kid, you can't help but relate to Chennai 600028, an Indian movie based on the rivalry between two teams - the Sharks and Rockers - from different localities in Chennai. The movie, originally in Tamil, begins with the two teams playing the final of a tennis ball tournament. It was such a hit that the film crew is organising a tennis ball tournament under lights involving 32 teams in Chennai to celebrate the success. The winner will play with the Chennai 600028 team and there are also other special prizes. So if you can hit powerfully through the line, or hurl a light ball at frightening pace, roll up, roll up.
If you've played street cricket as a kid, you can't help but relate to Chennai 600028, an Indian movie based on the rivalry between two teams - the Sharks and Rockers - from different localities in Chennai. The movie, originally in Tamil, begins with the two teams playing the final of a tennis ball tournament. It was such a hit that the film crew is organising a tennis ball tournament under lights involving 32 teams in Chennai to celebrate the success. The winner will play with the Chennai 600028 team and there are also other special prizes. So if you can hit powerfully through the line, or hurl a light ball at frightening pace, roll up, roll up.
Angels in the outfield
If you're in Malaysia and happen to hear the name Colonel Gerard's Angels, don't go searching for a crack private investigation agency of Charlie's kind. Instead, your quest is likely to end in a field where the Malaysian women's cricket team is hard at work. They are named after Colonel Gerard Denis Singam of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, who is the chairman of the Armed Forces Cricket and the Competitions Committee of the Malaysian Cricket Associations. His Angels will be competing in the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) women's tournament between July 11 and July 18 in Malaysia.
If you're in Malaysia and happen to hear the name Colonel Gerard's Angels, don't go searching for a crack private investigation agency of Charlie's kind. Instead, your quest is likely to end in a field where the Malaysian women's cricket team is hard at work. They are named after Colonel Gerard Denis Singam of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, who is the chairman of the Armed Forces Cricket and the Competitions Committee of the Malaysian Cricket Associations. His Angels will be competing in the Asian Cricket Council's (ACC) women's tournament between July 11 and July 18 in Malaysia.
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I dream of Strauss
It isn't unusual for Harry Potter, JK Rowling's wizard of world acclaim, to have troubled dreams. Dedicated readers will tell you that Harry's dreamt about flying motorcycles, the death of his parents, taunting mermaids and he once dreamt that he was a giant snake that attacked his best friend's father. Compared to that assortment, Daniel Radcliffe's (who plays Potter on celluloid) dreams, although strange, are rather vanilla. He revealed that he'd dreamt about being stalked by ... Andrew Strauss. "I don't know what prompted it," said Radcliffe. "Although I've been watching huge amounts of cricket - but for some reason Andrew Strauss was being paid to stalk me. I woke up with a cricket bat in my hand."
It isn't unusual for Harry Potter, JK Rowling's wizard of world acclaim, to have troubled dreams. Dedicated readers will tell you that Harry's dreamt about flying motorcycles, the death of his parents, taunting mermaids and he once dreamt that he was a giant snake that attacked his best friend's father. Compared to that assortment, Daniel Radcliffe's (who plays Potter on celluloid) dreams, although strange, are rather vanilla. He revealed that he'd dreamt about being stalked by ... Andrew Strauss. "I don't know what prompted it," said Radcliffe. "Although I've been watching huge amounts of cricket - but for some reason Andrew Strauss was being paid to stalk me. I woke up with a cricket bat in my hand."
George Binoy is an editorial assistant on Cricinfo