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USA Cricketer
October 2009 - Posts
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From Times of India (April 2009)
AHMEDABAD: Harshal Patel is just 18 and lives all on his own in his family's house in Navrangpura. Three years ago, he bid goodbye to his parents who are settled in the US, to return to his roots. He had a dream donning the India cap as a cricket player.
Cricket is what brought Harshal back to Gujarat as there was a limit to what he could achieve in the US. Perseverance has paid off finally and he boarded a flight to Australia on Friday as a member of the Indian Under-19 team which will play Tests and ODIs Down Under.
Harshal's story is stuff dreams are made of. "I left a cosy life in New Jersey because I always wanted to be a cricketer," he said and added that his parents, who allowed him to return to Ahmedabad when he was only 15, encouraged his love for cricket. "I live alone and just practise day in and out," said this US Green Card holder who studies first year of BCom at HA College of Commerce. "By staying alone and managing everything on his own, Harshal has matured a lot as a person which is also reflected in his performance," said Gujarat U-19 coach Ashok Mankad.
However, despite staying alone, Harshal never worried about his daily meal because neighbours are always around to offer meals and solve other problems. "I have got lots of love and care from friends around me," he says.
The right-arm fast bowler, who is looking forward to the bouncy pitches in Australia, said, "This tour is a very good stepping stone to launch ourselves. Almost everyone in our national seniors team has graduated from U-19 and India-A teams."
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In the 2010 ICC U19 World Cup tournament, which will take place in New Zealand from 15 to 30 January, USA has been placed in Group B alongside Ireland, South Africa and Australia.
Team USA must try to uproot the big guns - South Africa and Australia - in the tournament to get into the quarter-finals. Only the top two teams in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals and those that do not qualify will play in the Plate Competition.
Even though the 2010 grouping looks formidable at first glance, it is a better one than what USA was faced with in 2006, the last time USA played at this level, when it was in a group that included South Africa, Australia and West Indies! In 2006, USA lost all three preliminary round matches but did well to reach the semi-finals in the Plate Championship.
Warm-up Fixtures: USA U19 will play India U19 in a warm-up fixture at Redwood Park on January 11, 2010. This encounter is sure to create a lot of buzz given that India is the top-seed in the tournament. Following this, on January 12, USA will play Papua New Guinea.
Tournament Fixtures: The campaign for USA U19 boys will begin at noon on January 16 against Australia U19. USA's second match is against South Africa on Monday, January 18th. On Tuesday, they play Ireland at the same venue. All of USA's matches are scheduled to be held at Queenstown.
ESPN Star Sports is expected to broadcast 10 of the matches live. The tournament opener between defending champion India and qualifier Afghanistan is expected to draw a lot of attention.
The groups are as follows:
As DreamCricket.com readers are aware, in addition to the 10 Full Members, six Associate and Affiliate teams that qualified through the the ICC World Cup Qualifier (including USA) will also take part in the event .
Group A: India, England, Afghanistan, Hong Kong
Group B: South Africa, Australia, Ireland, USA
Group C: New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada
Group D: Pakistan, Bangladesh, West Indies, Papua New Guinea
From the 2008 event in Malaysia several players have already made the breakthrough to senior international cricket including Wayne Parnell of South Africa, Philip Hughes of Australia, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja of India and New Zealand's Tim Southee among others.
However, a quick look at the players from the 2006 USA U19 Squad tells a different story, with only one player, Ravi Timbawala from the squad making it to the initial list of probables for the senior USA team this year.
The team for the U19 World Cup has not yet been finalized but here is a look at the First All America XI team which is expected to contribute most of the players: Shiva Vashishat (Captain), Gregory Sewdial (Vice Captain), Salman Ahmad, Regis Burton, Ryan Corns, Muhammad Asad Ghous, Naseer Jamali, Abhijit Joshi, Azurdeen Mohammed, Saqib Saleem, Saami Siddiqui, Steven Taylor, Henery Wardley and Talha Zamir. In addition, the following players are reserves - Hammad Shahid, Yash Shah, Andrew Ajodhi, Kavishwar Bridgepaul, Lekiram Latchman, Vinay Suri and Karthik Vittala.
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By Sunil Kumar - USACA CE Media Representative
The most anticipated final game of the ICML championship was played at the lush green Addison Cricket Ground on Sunday the 11th of October 2009.
The popularity of the Chicago based cricket league ICML (International Cricket Management League) is growing rapidly thanks to the ability of this ever expanding league's ability to attract talent from the width and breadth of Chicagoland. What impresses everyone is the opportunity this league presents to its kids and youth who experience playing in highly competitive games alongside some of the great names of US cricket.
Semi-Finals: After 14 well contested matches in the round robin stage, four teams made it to the semi-finals. Youngsters, Jaguars, West Suburban and Challengers. Youngsters beat Challengers and Jaguars beat West Suburban to reach to the finals. The game between Jaguars and West Suburban saw three of league's talented youngsters to come to the fore. Abhijit Joshi (46) the national Under 19 player along with Central East Region's Under 19 player Srijay Kumar (77) forged a 134 runs partnership followed by a brisk 37 by Tinu which helped Jaguars pile up 238 runs on the board in 30 overs.
Bhavik Patel, the 19 year old leg-spinner from West Suburban impressed one and all. West Suburban raised the ante with their young Skipper Apporva firing all cylinders. However the Jaguars off-spinning duo of Abhijit and Sunil Kumar halted West Suburbans steady progress effectively, enabling Jaguars to get into finals. The other bowlers for Jaguars who held the fort included Koti, Sid, Tinu and the captain Naveen who inspired with his gentle left arm pace. Srijay Kumar who has been having a dream run in this tournament, followed up his all-round performance (113 in 58 balls and 5 for 21) against Youngsters with an equally quick 77 well earned runs and claimed 2 for 20 in this semi-final game against West Suburban.
Finals: The star studded Youngsters were a confident bunch thanks to the presence in its ranks of Wasim Khan, a very senior player who had played for US, two young Under 19 players from the Central East Region Fahad Babar and Moin Babar, supported by the very versatile Cheema Qalab.
 Thanks to the flying start given by Fahad and Kailash, Youngsters raced to 84 in 10 overs, however two quick wickets, first by Koti Kommineni who rattled Fahad with a sharp in-cutter followed by Srijay Kumar who deceived Kailash by varying his pace to be caught behind, put the youngsters on the back foot. However Manan, the dashing and dazzling batsman who has to his credit a double century in the 30 over format, started displaying high degree of batsmanship and demonstrated why he is feared by bowlers. Nevertheless, cricket is a mind game and it was a smart move by the shrewd Jaguars captain Naveen Jagarlamudi that yielded results.
Picture (right) : Youngsters captain receives the award from Nabeel Ahmed
Naveen wanted to stem the run flow and took the bold decision of introducing spin when the batsmen were in full flow. Mannan who was till then in full cry rushed to loft Sunil’s first ball of the spell, a well-flighted off-spin only to see Srijay Kumar using the fullest advantage of his height to take an overhead catch at the boundary line.
This brought Wasim Khan to the crease; within minutes of his arrival he showed what class is all about. Few neat drives followed by some huge pulls for sixes were enough to unsettle the Jaguars. The astute captain Naveen brought Abhijit Joshi who struck twice in his first over, with Srijay taking a stupendous full length diving catch to end the innings of Iraja, and Minish Patel taking a well judged catch to end Wasim Khan’s tenure at the crease. In no time Youngsters were up against the wall to some very disciplined bowling display by Sunil, Abhijit and Srijay, Youngster were reeling at 170 for the loss of 9 wickets. Jaguars were delighted but equally wary of how Moin plays. Young CER Under 19 player Moin Babar walked in to join Cheema.
This was cricket at its best; it was a blend of youth and experience which makes this league so unique. Batting at an unusual No.10 position, Moin Babar who is known for his aggression played with extreme caution and ensured that he led his team to a total of respectability and beyond. The 10th wicket partnership yielded 58 runs when Cheema was finally out trying an almighty swing of the bowling of the clever Minesh Patel, into the space only to see Sunil settle under it and take a wonderful catch.
 While Abhijit Joshi the skipper off the CER Under 19 team chipped in with 3 very valuable wickets, the father son duo of Sunil and Srijay shared the spoils on the field, while Sunil had 3 wickets and 1 catch, Srijay Kumar had 3 catches and 2 wickets to his credit. It was interesting to watch four CER Under-19 players Fahad Babar, Moin Babar, Abhijit Joshi and Srijay Kumar trying to compete at this level.
Picture (left): Naveen receives runner-up trophy
For Jaguars, Abhijit opened the batting with Hari, the vice captain, both of them played with great sense of responsibility. Hari known for his Sehwag like savage approach to batting gave the Youngsters' bowlers some food for thought, his power hitting sent the ball scurrying to the boundary. Abhijit who is always a treat to watch while on song was on the other end and showed a great sense of urgency in pushing the score through well placed singles and few pleasant drives to the fence, a shot which had pure timing written all over.
However two LBW’s saw Abhijith and Hari depart in quick succession. This was followed by some quick wickets including that of Srijay Kumar, Sunil Kumar, and Naveen. It was left to the young Anuj to show his batting skills along with his team mates Bhushan, Jagan, Minesh, Koti and Satish who all had their own little successes, albeit in a losing cause.
The Jaguars innings ended falling short by close to 50 runs. The margins don’t really reflect the effort as both the teams fought tooth and nail to win this coveted championship. The freezing cold made the battle that much more challenging and credit should go to the two teams and all those who literally “weathered the storm” to witness this fascinating final.
Awards Ceremony: At the colorful awards ceremony that followed, Asif Hussain, President ICML and Khurram Syed Regional Chairman, CER USACA and Chief Operation Officer ICML along with Sunil Kumar, the Media Representative of CER, USACA welcomed the guests who included Nabeel Ahmed, 1st Vice President, USACA, Ifthikar Sheriff, Chairman National Bank and ex-President, FIA, Hyder Mohammed, President FIA, Keerti Kumar, Member FIA along with Masood Akthar Syed “Chik”, Representative of USACA Board and Chidambar Joshi, Youth Development Coordinator, CER, USACA.
Congratulating the teams and speaking at the occasion Nabeel Ahmed emphasized the need for the youngsters to make the best use of the given opportunity and the need to have consistent performance to stake their claims. Ifthekar Ahmed was generous in his praise for the officials of USACA who work with leagues such as ICML and highlighted the need to bring International teams to play the sport in US. He offered FIA's support for such initiatives. Echoing similar sentiments Hyder Mohammed mentioned that FIA was open to any ideas which will help the development of this sport and that his doors are open to those who have welfare of the community and the sport in their heart.
Masood Syed Chik was effusive in his praise of the quality and standard of cricket being played in CER and mentioned how youngsters from this region who were given the opportunity had delivered in the various tournaments at regional, national and international levels. Mr. Khurram in his thank you note expressed his sincere thanks to USACA, the Addison Park District, the Sajid Ali family, and all the teams in the league who made this tournament a grand success.
Nabeel Ahmed who presided over the function gave away the mementoes to the guest and the sponsors. The ICML Championship trophy was awarded to the Youngsters while the runners-up trophy was awarded to Jaguars. Moin Babar was awarded the MVP of finals.
Keeping up with its promise to identify and promote the best talent, ICML awarded the Most Promising Youth Trophy to three of its star youngsters Abhijit Joshi, Srijay Kumar Sunil and Bhavik Patel who performed extraordinarily throughout the tournament. Bushra Ali was awarded the Most Promising Women Cricketer trophy for her wonderful performances in the league. The Most Promising Kid award was presented to Srijith Kumar Sunil (of Jaguars) for wonderful display of talent at every given opportunity in the local and regional tournament. Srijith, who represents the CER Under 15 team, got a match winning dream spell of 5 wickets for 18 runs in 4.2 overs in his debut game against South West Region in the National Under 15 Cricket Tournament.
ICML has not only delivered in its promise of promoting cricket in this region, but it has succeeded in giving the right opportunities and encouragement to these young men who are willing to put the skin in the game. With an ideal mix of experience and exuberance supported by an enthusiastic bunch of administrators who work closely with the teams and its players, the league has ensured the wellbeing of the sport in this region.
About the Author: The author Sunil Kumar is the Media Representative of Central East Region, USACA. An avid cricket enthusiast Sunil Kumar is a freelance journalist and a passionate photographer. Kindly send your comments/feedback on this article to views4sunil@yahoo.com. Copyright: USACA. The views expressed in this media release are those of the author and not DreamCricket.com.
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 After receiving a drubbing in the first match, United Chargers, the team comprising several USA senior players, staged a late comeback in their second match to defeat Barbados in Guyana Cricket Board's Twenty20 fundraising festival. The United Chargers took home $2,000 as Barbados finished fourth in the tournament. Here is how the tournament, a fundraiser for Guayanese cricket, progressed.
On the first match of on Friday, Jamaica defeated United Chargers by a 77 run margin at the Guyana National Stadium. United Chargers bowlers were clobbered mercilessly around the park by Chris Gayle (49 off 29 balls - 5 fours and 2 sixes), Wavell Hinds (51 from 21 balls) and by David Bernard Jr (45* from 28 balls).
Chasing 201 was never going to be an easy task and United Chargers managed 130 for 5 with useful contributions from Carl Wright (54) and Steve Massiah (26*). Jamaica thus won themselves a spot in the finals.
In the second match on Friday, Barbados who beat Guyana when the Guyanese gave up 12 penalty runs for a slow over-rate, still magnanimously agreed to allow the hosts to go to the finals. Chasing 152, the Barbadians reached just 146 in 19.5 overs but 12 penalty runs were added to that total putting them past the finish line. But procedural issues surrounded the controversial penalty runs. Barbadians allowed the hosts to take the winning points settling for a third-place play-off against United Chargers.
In the play-off for third place, United Chargers beat Barbados in the super over after the two teams were tied on 139. The mostly US-based team reached 139-8 with one ball to spare when Devendra Bishoo (of Guyana but playing for Chargers in this tournament) was adjudged run-out as he was trying to get the winning run - even though Dwayne Smith did not have the ball as he felled the stumps. In the super over Lennox Cush conceded just three runs as Barbados chased 10 for victory.
Cush's Man of the Match winning tally of 69 included six fours and three sixes; Deon Ferrier made 23 that included one four and one six. Deon Ferrier was the pick of the USA bowlers with 4-26. Imran Awan (2-16), Cush (2-21) and Everton Nelson (2-27) were effective in containing Barbados who batted first. For Barbados, Kirk Edwards made 43 and Jonathan Carter scored 27.
In the final between Guyana and Jamaica on Saturday, the Jamaicans fell cheaply for 111 in just 19 overs after Christopher Barnwell took a phenomenal 4 for 17 from 3 overs. But the spirited Jamaicans returned the favor and were crowned champions after bowling Guyana out for an even smaller total of 107. Spinner Nikita Miller got 4 for 14 and only Ramnaresh Sarwan (32 from 37 balls) showed class among Guyanese batsmen. Jamaica took home $8,000 for their winning effort. |
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By Peter Della Penna (Pictures: ICC/Bryan Vandenburgh)
 After Team USA ran off three impressive victories to start their ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier campaign in Canada last month, the team was in deep trouble early on in their match against Afghanistan. After 17 overs, the score was 90 for 1. The Afghans had gotten off to a flyer and were scoring at better than five runs per over.
Captain Shiva Vashishat was searching for answers and tossed the ball to spinner Muhammad Asad Ghous. On his fifth ball, Ghous served up a meaty full toss to Mohammad Jawed Ahmadi that was destined for the boundary. However, the fielder at long on had other plans.
Suited up in his mostly red and blue USA uniform with white numbers, Regis Burton could have easily been mistaken for Superman as he dashed 30 yards to his right before soaring through the air. With his body fully extended, his hands became talons as he latched onto the ball before landing softly along the ground (see photo below). It was the most memorable catch of the tournament and one that momentarily helped turn the tide in USA’s favor. It’s no surprise then that when asked what he loves to do most on a cricket field, fielding trumps batting and bowling in the eyes of this all-rounder from the New York Region.
“You spend most of the time out in the field, so when you learn to love that, you become a better cricketer,” said Burton.
Burton has had more time than most to learn how to love his cricket. After he was born in the Bronx, Burton’s parents took him and his brother back to their native Antigua when he was only a few months old. He grew up in the tiny village of Lightfoot where initially he enjoyed soccer and tennis before his passion for cricket took over.
“He was always forcing me to come with him to practice, practice in the yard or help him with something,” said Ragi Burton, Regis’ older brother. “He’s very focused and dedicated.” These two characteristics seemingly go with him wherever he is. Former West Indies fast bowler Adam Sanford, who took 30 wickets in 11 Tests, has known Regis for almost eight years and says that Burton’s development can be attributed to hard work.
“The truth is I think he’s developed a long way,” said Sanford. “Basically, he always works hard at what he wants to do and he really loves the game.” Sanford has spent a lot of time with Burton in the gym, both in Antigua and now in New York, to help get him better conditioned while also adding on some lean muscle. “Before he started gym work, he wasn’t as quick as he is now. Since he’s started his gym work, he’s developed a few yards.”
Burton’s hard work has started to get noticed in the last few years. At the end of the three-day Digicel Cricket Coaching Clinic in August 2007 at Falmouth Cricket Ground in St. John’s, Antigua, Burton was given the clinic’s Most Outstanding Batsman award. According to a press release from the WICB, the award was decided by Kenny Benjamin, Keith Arthurton, Lance Gibbs, Chris Gayle and Ravi Rampaul, who all coached the clinic and observed the youngsters during training sessions on the first two days and matches on the final day. In 2008, Burton was named captain of the Antigua U-19 side in the 2008 Sir Garfield Sobers International Schools Cricket Tournament held in July in Barbados.
A month later, Burton finally returned to the Bronx, living with an aunt, to finish his final year of high school at Thurgood Marshall Academy. For most people, it would have been a tough transition in an unfamiliar environment. However, the fact that he was named prom king should erase any doubts as to how well liked Burton is by almost everyone who comes into contact with him.
 “He’s a very likable guy,” said Lester Hooper, manager of the New York Region U-19 team. “He’s the type of person, through life you meet those types of people that within five minutes you actually have an affinity for them, he’s that type of person. He’s very soft-spoken, laid back. You can’t help but really like the guy.” Perhaps it has something to do with the person he’s named after. Burton’s mother, Francine, named him Regis because she loved watching one of the most likable guys on daytime television while living in New York, Regis Philbin.
One of the few things that Burton struggled with in his adjustment to life in the USA is something that nearly all people from the Caribbean have a hard time dealing with: winter. His first cold season spent in New York was difficult to say the least.
“That was crazy,” said Burton. “I’m not accustomed to all this clothes and things. Every day you had to put on a jacket. I’m a slippers and t-shirt kind of guy. But then I had to come out of my house in a jacket every day, but it’s something that I have to get accustomed to because it’s a move that I know is for the better for me. But I believe I’ll get accustomed to it.”
Burton got involved in the New York cricket scene in the spring after being put into contact with Ricky Kissoon, the captain of Rising Stars CC in the Eastern American Cricket Association. While he enjoyed the action on the field once he got there, Burton wasn’t expecting he would have to travel quite so far to play cricket.
“Antigua, you can take 40 minutes to drive from one side to the other,” said Burton. In New York, the shortest distance he’s traveled to get to a match is an hour. “You leave your house with the intention that you’re ready to play. But then you get into this car and you’re driving for so long. It drops your spirits. Then you’re sleeping. It’s different, but it’s something that I have to get accustomed to and I am.”
Little frustrations such as this are one of the few things that Hooper believes Burton needs to work on to stay focused.
“Regis is one of those people who has to work on his mental toughness,” said Hooper. “Like I told him earlier on in the year, he’s the type of player who takes on too much. When I say take on I mean, if he gets out, if his team bats first and he gets out, it affects him for the entire game. He completely forgets that there’s a second half of a game left. He has to bowl. He’s capable of going out there and getting wickets but when he gets so upset, he tends to lose a little focus sometimes.”
However, his overall skills honed in Antigua have been a great asset to him and definitely helped him attract the attention of USA’s U-19 selectors in his first year playing for the New York Region U-19 team. It’s one of the reasons why he was named a First-Team All-American and helped Team USA qualify for the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand next January. Burton was also named as one of 40 players on the preliminary list of players up for selection for the USA Men’s National Team when they go to Dubai in February for the 2010 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier and Nepal for the World Cricket League Division Five tournament.
 “His outlook on the game is a bit different from someone who plays cricket in the United States,” said Hooper. “He’s played more cricket. He’s accustomed to various situations. He tends to adapt more. He thinks a bit out of the box, which is something that you find that most cricketers from cricketing nations do a lot. He’s able to assess batsmen a bit more and do the extra things that, you would argue that you would really have to force someone let’s say that grew up playing cricket in the United States to do, it’s a natural instinct for him.”
Burton scored 126 runs at 21.00 in seven matches in Canada this past September, including a high score of 52 against Papua New Guinea. With the ball, he took four wickets and had an impressive 4.12 economy rate, tying up one end while opening the bowling for Team USA. He also enhanced his reputation as one of the best fielders on the team with three catches, including the superlative effort against Afghanistan.
“I think Regis has the ability to go places in cricket, but I’ve told him you’ve got to want it and you’ve got to want it bad,” said Sanford.
Now a freshman at SUNY-Old Westbury in Long Island, Burton hopes to do even better for Team USA in New Zealand. A successful event will help justify all the hard work that he has put in over the years.
“It would mean that whatever you do in life, as long as you work hard for it, that it can happen,” said Burton. “You can’t just say that it happened. It would mean a lot to me as a proof and evidence that hard work and determination does pay off.”
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Many new faces including several promising Under-19 players have been named in the first list of forty probables released on Friday.
 The probables will be invited to the selection trials to be held in November in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The selection process is still being finalized and will be announced very soon. For the probables from the four regions that will take part in the National Championship, their performance in the national tournament is expected to be an important factor.
Picture (Right): Ryan Corns of Houston was among the probables
USACA is making arrangements to conduct the National Championship on a natural turf wicket in Fort Lauderdale between November 13-14, 2009. New York, South East, South West and Central East regions will take part in this tournament.
The probables list released yesterday included players from seven of the eight regions that participated in the Eastern and Western Conference tournaments. In addition, the probables include four youngsters who played as part of the Directors XI team in the Eastern Conference.
Manaf Mohamed, USACA's VP of Cricket Operations clarified that the list of probables we released on Friday is based on "performances in the Eastern and Western Conference Championships."
That explains why there were no players from the North Eastern region - that region did not play in the Eastern Conference during 2009. Similarly, players who did not take part in the Conference tournaments, are not in the list of probables. Leaving the door open for exceptionally talented cricketers who did not get a chance to be assessed during the conference tournaments, Mr. Mohamed said: "Other players will be added as they are identified."
It is heartening to see the presence of several next generation cricketers in the list including Ryan Corns, Shiva Vashishat, Hammad Shahid, Gregory Sewdial, Regis Burton, Andrew Ajodhi, Azurdeen Mohamed, Mohammad Ghouse and Abhijit Joshi.
List of Probables:
From the Eastern Conference
Atlantic Region: Durale Forest, Imran Awan, Gowkaran Roopnarine, Mohammad Ghouse, Clain Williams
New York Region: Steve Massiah, Lennox Cush, Sudesh Dhaniram, Carl Wright, Rashard Marshall, Glen Hall, Barrington Bartley, Kevin Darlington
South East Region: Timroy Allen, Nasir Javed, Anand Tummala
Directors XI: Andrew Ajodhi, Azurdeen "Andy" Mohamed, Gregory Sewdial, Regis Burton
From the Western Conference
Central East Region: Shahid Munir, Khawaja Usman Shuja, Amit Kumar, Ashhar Mehdi, Asif Mahmood, Akhil Pathan, Abhijit Joshi
Central West Region: Sushil Nadkarni, Orlando Baker, Rahul Kukreti, Ryan Corns
North West Region: Samarth Shah, Saurabh Verma, Nauman Mustafa, Bilal Khan, Shiva Vashishat
South West Region: Aditya Thyagarajan, Mehul Dave, Ravi Timbawala, Hammad Shahid
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The First Overseas Tour
It was exactly 150 years ago, on October 14th, 1859, that the first tour of USA by a visiting English side came to an end in Philadelphia. It was not just the first tour of North America by an overseas team, it was the first overseas cricket tour. Period!
The tour predated the first English tour of Australia by 3 years and the first tour classified as a "Test" by 18 years. Just for comparison, The Ashes started much later in 1882. The only international tour that preceded the English tour of 1859 was the USA vs Canada series which began in 1844.
A crowd of 3,000 roared their approval for the first match in Montreal between September 24-26, 1859. A crowd of several thousand spectators including 1,000 ladies witnessed the proceedings on the last day of the tour. Sporting tours became a way of life with this event.
The 1859 tour was the brainchild of Robert Waller and WP Pickering. Mr. Pickering had captained Eton before emigrating to Canada in 1852. He represented Canada in the USA vs Canada match of 1853.
Mr. Waller was an importer of more than just merchandize from England. "Cricket, a sturdy plant indigenous to England; let us prove that it can be successfully transplanted to American soil," Robert Waller announced in 1843 as he toasted after a match between his Union Club of Philadelphia (based in Camden, NJ) and the other great club he had helped found - the St. George's Club of New York (which played most of its cricket in Hoboken, NJ). Business took him back to England for a while in the 1850s before he returned to New York later in the decade. While in England, he struck up some friendships that would trigger the historic 1859 tour.
The English team is said to have required a guarantee of GBP 750. Mr. Pickering secured the guarantee money through the Montreal Club and Mr. Waller guaranteed GBP 500 for two matches in the USA.
The result of their combined effort was that on September 6th 1859, twelve professional cricketers of England met at the George Hotel, Liverpool and left the English shores via the Nova Scotian the next morning (see photo below of their maiden cricket journey).
The George Parr XI
 The team comprised William Caffyn, Tom Lockyer, Julius Ceasar (of Surrey); George Parr, James Grundy and John Jackson (of Nottinghamshire), John Wisden and John Lillywhite (Sussex), Robert Carpenter, Thomas Hayward and Alfred Diver (Cambridgeshire), with Fred Lillywhite acting as the manager.
The players were rated among the best in the country at that time, having played for All England and United England teams - the best first class teams in England.
On their voyage from Liverpool to Quebec City on board “SS Nova Scotian,” the Englishmen feared for their lives as storms raged in the Atlantic. In Canada, even though the tourists were far too strong for the locals, the visit was a great success, becoming the first English cricket ‘tour’ in history. George Parr XI won both their matches there.
A Successful Tour
The English team did well financially earning over $5,000 from the tour. That is $125,000 in today's currency. Well over the guarantee amount promised by Mr. Waller. In New York, St. George Cricket Club reported gate receipts of about $2,000 on the first day itself ($50,000 in today's currency). Total expenses for the three days in New York was roughly $3,200, so it can safely be assumed that the hosts made a hefty profit.
The tour also marked several important publishing milestones for cricket. And playing on the English team were two visionary pioneer cricket writers and publishers of the era (John Wisden and Fred Lillywhite).
Fred Lillywhite travelled with his groundside tent and printing press. His role on the tour has been described as that of "scorer, reporter, and mentor, not to say Nestor." True to form, he wrote a fascinating book describing the adventure titled “The English Cricketers' Trip to Canada and the United States.”
“Nobody talks or writes or dreams of anything but cricket. Bats are discussed at breakfast as freely as beefsteaks and balls at dinner as if they are eatable,” wrote the reporter for The Times. “Philadelphians jostle Chicagonians, New Orleanists, New Yorkers, Englishmen shake hands with Canadian French and even the phlegmatic Dutch turn out spiritedly.”
Leslie’s Illustrated reported that even "people who were as ignorant of cricket as they were of the social life of the Chinese" were now discussing ‘no balls’ and ‘cuts.’
Betting was tolerated. “The Eleven do not bet, at least openly, but outsiders do. The bets are that two to one English Eleven will win any one of the four matches named. Even bets that they will win all four. That there will be 8 ducks in the Twenty Two’s batting. Varying wagers on one man’s score against the other. The most animated betting is on the NY match. The Americans back the US to win and the rest bet that English will win easily.”
Sales in the concessions stands too was brisk. Lillywhite had a tent to sell cricket cards. A tent for refreshments was also erected. The Times reporter wrote, “The caterer could not have been chosen for worse food for which he charged - 62.5 cents for each victim, who was compelled to take it or nothing.”
This tour had acquired enormous prestige and representatives from far flung cities traveled long distances to meet with the English side nurturing hopes of having the English side visit their cities.
Cincinnati Cricket Club representatives went all the way to Montreal and promised 75% of the gate receipts if the English side played there. Albany, St. Louis, Baltimore, all tried to persuade the English side to visit their cities and play their local teams. In fact, an unscheduled stop was made at Rochester by the English side after Rochester Mayor announced $1,500 of public funds for improving the city’s cricket ground and took a personal interest in the match.
The USA Leg of the Tour
After winning their two matches in Canada, the Englishmen proceeded to New York where the first match was played between October 3-5, 1859 following which they played a second match in Philadelphia between October 10-14, 1859. The first match is preserved for posterity thanks to the images published on October 15, 1859, in the Harper’s Weekly.
October 3-5, 1859: England vs USA: Match report
The first game of the USA leg took place between the English and the XXII of the USA at the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, NJ on October 3rd, 4th and 5th of 1859.
The Elysian Fields got a $2,000 makeover thanks to the timely help from Edward Stevens (whose bequest led to the founding of Stevens Institute of Technology, also located in Hoboken, in 1870).
Local clubs pitched their tents (giving rise to the expression ‘tented field’). “The largest array of spectators” turned up, way beyond the organizers’ expectations. The English players encountered 8000 spectators on the first day and this number doubles on the second day. In total, some 25,000 spectators watched the game on the three days.
New York’s cricketing skills were embarrassing and it was defeated by a huge margin. England scored 156 and USA XXII scored 38 and 54. Fielding 22 in a side was not unusual those days when playing against England.
Some said that the American team was not truly a representative one. Most on the team were English residents of New York and there were just three Philadelphians on the American team – Walter Newhall, Charles Barclay and William Morgan.
Criticism was focused on the selection of Waller, Walsh and Comery, who were veterans of the USA vs Canada series a decade and half earlier. But Waller could not have been dropped - he was the organizer and an important administrator. No surprises then that along with the first overseas tour came the first selection controversy (and as you will see below, the first umpiring controversy as well)!
October 10-14, 1859. England vs Philadelphia: Match report
In the second match at Philadelphia, which began on October 10th, on the Camac Estate at 13th and Columbia Avenue, the XXII scored 94 and 60 with England scoring 126 and 29 for three to wrap up the match with a seven wicket victory.
This match was closer than the New York one and some of the American pride was redeemed. Thus the series ended with a huge victory for England.
Lillywhite wrote, “the ground presented a most animated appearance. We never saw such a magnificent sight; about 1,000 ladies were sitting by themselves, and they appeared to be enthusiastic.”
This match witnessed the first international umpiring controversy when Henry Sharp inexplicably called a wide when English player Robert Carpenter was caught. Carpenter made 22 decisive runs for his side. Jones Wister claimed that it had cost Americans the match.
October 14th marked the conclusion of the official portion of the American tour (although the match may have ended earlier). Following this match, the Englishmen played some unscheduled matches, including one in Rochester (which Rochester lost by an innings and 68 runs) and a baseball match in New York as the cricket match was interrupted by snow, before returning to Liverpool on November 11th, 1859 by way of Canada.
Scorecards
| United States of America first innings |
Runs |
Balls |
Mins |
4s |
6s |
| J Lang |
b Parr |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
| *R Waller |
run out |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| HE Sharp |
st Lockyer b Jackson |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Hammond |
c Hayward b Parr |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AH Gibbes |
b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Earnshaw |
lbw b Parr |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AL Marsh |
lbw b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Wilby |
b Parr |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| T Senior |
hit wkt b Parr |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WH Wright |
st Lockyer b Jackson |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Higham |
b Jackson |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Head |
b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| S Wright |
st Lockyer b Jackson |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WS Newhall |
c Diver b Jackson |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WC Morgan |
c Jackson b Parr |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| JT Walker |
b Jackson |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Crossley |
b Parr |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Comery |
hit wkt b Parr |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| R Bage |
b Jackson |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| FH Lillywhite |
c Carpenter b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AC Barclay |
run out |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Hallis |
not out |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Extras |
(1 b, 1 lb) |
2 |
| Total |
(all out, 57 overs) |
38 |
Fall of wickets:
1-?, 2-?, 3-?, 4-?, 5-?, 6-?, 7-?, 8-?, 9-?, 10-?, 11-?, 12-?, 13-?, 14-?, 15-?, 16-?, 17-?, 18-?, 19-?, 20-?, 21-38 (57 ov) |
| G Parr's XI bowling |
Overs |
Mdns |
Runs |
Wkts |
Wides |
No-Balls |
| Parr |
29 |
11 |
25 |
8 |
- |
- |
| Jackson |
28 |
19 |
11 |
11 |
- |
- |
| G Parr's XI first innings |
Runs |
Balls |
Mins |
4s |
6s |
| RP Carpenter |
c Senior b Hallis |
26 |
|
|
|
|
|
| T Hayward |
b Hallis |
33 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Wisden |
run out |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| *G Parr |
b Gibbes |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Caffyn |
b Gibbes |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| +T Lockyer |
c Lang b Hallis |
12 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AJD Diver |
c Hallis b Gibbes |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| HH Stephenson |
b Hallis |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Caesar |
b Hallis |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Grundy |
b Hallis |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Jackson |
not out |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Extras |
(10 b, 1 lb, 2 nb, 12 w) |
25 |
| Total |
(all out, 105 overs) |
156 |
Fall of wickets:
1-?, 2-?, 3-?, 4-?, 5-?, 6-?, 7-?, 8-?, 9-?, 10-156 (105 ov) |
| United States of America second innings |
Runs |
Balls |
Mins |
4s |
6s |
| J Lang |
c Carpenter b Wisden |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| *R Waller |
c Lockyer b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| HE Sharp |
c and b Caffyn |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Hammond |
b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AH Gibbes |
c Lockyer b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Earnshaw |
c Carpenter b Caffyn |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AL Marsh |
c Wisden b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Wilby |
b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| T Senior |
c Carpenter b Caffyn |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WH Wright |
b Caffyn |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Higham |
b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Head |
c Lockyer b Caffyn |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| S Wright |
b Wisden |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WS Newhall |
b Caffyn |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WC Morgan |
c Lockyer b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| JT Walker |
b Wisden |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Crossley |
c Carpenter b Caffyn |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Comery |
lbw b Caffyn |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| R Bage |
not out |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| FH Lillywhite |
st Lockyer b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AC Barclay |
run out |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Hallis |
b Wisden |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Extras |
(1 b, 3 lb) |
4 |
| Total |
(all out, 68 overs) |
54 |
Fall of wickets:
1-?, 2-?, 3-?, 4-?, 5-?, 6-?, 7-?, 8-?, 9-?, 10-?, 11-?, 12-?, 13-?, 14-?, 15-?, 16-?, 17-?, 18-?, 19-?, 20-?, 21-54 (68 ov) |
| G Parr's XI bowling |
Overs |
Mdns |
Runs |
Wkts |
Wides |
No-Balls |
| Wisden |
34 |
22 |
26 |
4 |
- |
- |
| Caffyn |
34 |
25 |
24 |
16 |
- |
- |
| Philadelphia first innings |
Runs |
Balls |
Mins |
4s |
6s |
| J Lang |
b Parr |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| CB Sharratt |
b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| *WR Wister |
b Wisden |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| +AC Barclay |
b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WS Newhall |
b Parr |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Hammond |
c Grundy b Parr |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AH Gibbes |
b Caffyn |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WH Wright |
b Parr |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TM Hall |
hit wkt b Caffyn |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Wilby |
b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| CHT Collis |
b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| T Senior |
b Jackson |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| CA Vernou |
c sub (J Caesar) b Jackson |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| SW Kephardt |
b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| S Wright |
st Lockyer b Carpenter |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WC Morgan |
c Lockyer b Carpenter |
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
| EC Hunt |
c Caffyn b Jackson |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| CWM Bayard |
c Caffyn b Carpenter |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Wister |
run out |
19 |
|
|
|
|
|
| H Fisher |
b Jackson |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Hallis |
not out |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| A Waterman |
c Carpenter b Caffyn |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Extras |
(4 b) |
4 |
| Total |
(all out, 134.2 overs) |
94 |
Fall of wickets:
1-?, 2-?, 3-?, 4-?, 5-?, 6-?, 7-?, 8-?, 9-?, 10-?, 11-?, 12-?, 13-?, 14-?, 15-?, 16-?, 17-?, 18-?, 19-?, 20-?, 21-94 (134.2 ov) |
| G Parr's XI bowling |
Overs |
Mdns |
Runs |
Wkts |
Wides |
No-Balls |
| Parr |
36 |
23 |
18 |
4 |
- |
- |
| Jackson |
59 |
41 |
37 |
8 |
- |
- |
| Wisden |
8 |
6 |
2 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Caffyn |
20.2 |
11 |
24 |
4 |
- |
- |
| Carpenter |
11 |
6 |
9 |
3 |
- |
- |
| G Parr's XI first innings |
Runs |
Balls |
Mins |
4s |
6s |
| T Hayward |
c Wilby b WH Wright |
34 |
|
|
|
|
|
| RP Carpenter |
c Gibbes b Senior |
22 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AJD Diver |
b WH Wright |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Caffyn |
b Senior |
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
| +T Lockyer |
not out |
31 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Grundy |
c Newhall b Senior |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| HH Stephenson |
b Senior |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Lillywhite |
b Senior |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Wisden |
b Gibbes |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Jackson |
c WR Wister b Senior |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
| *G Parr |
absent hurt |
| Extras |
(4 b, 3 lb, 11 w) |
18 |
| Total |
(all out, 112.1 overs) |
126 |
Fall of wickets:
1-?, 2-?, 3-?, 4-?, 5-?, 6-?, 7-?, 8-?, 9-126 (112.1 ov) |
| Philadelphia second innings |
Runs |
Balls |
Mins |
4s |
6s |
| J Lang |
c Lockyer b Grundy |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
| CB Sharratt |
b Grundy |
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
| *WR Wister |
b Grundy |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| +AC Barclay |
b Wisden |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WS Newhall |
c and b Wisden |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Hammond |
b Wisden |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| AH Gibbes |
b Grundy |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WH Wright |
c Stephenson b Jackson |
7 |
|
|
|
|
|
| TM Hall |
run out |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Wilby |
b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| CHT Collis |
st Lockyer b Wisden |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| T Senior |
b Wisden |
6 |
|
|
|
|
|
| CA Vernou |
run out |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| SW Kephardt |
run out |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
| S Wright |
c and b Wisden |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| WC Morgan |
b Jackson |
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
| EC Hunt |
lbw b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| CWM Bayard |
c Carpenter b Jackson |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| J Wister |
b Jackson |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
| H Fisher |
b Jackson |
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
| W Hallis |
c Jackson b Wisden |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| A Waterman |
not out |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Extras |
(2 lb) |
2 |
| Total |
(all out, 78.1 overs) |
60 |
Fall of wickets:
1-?, 2-?, 3-?, 4-?, 5-?, 6-?, 7-?, 8-?, 9-?, 10-?, 11-?, 12-?, 13-?, 14-?, 15-?, 16-?, 17-?, 18-?, 19-?, 20-?, 21-60 (78.1 ov) |
| G Parr's XI bowling |
Overs |
Mdns |
Runs |
Wkts |
Wides |
No-Balls |
| Grundy |
23 |
16 |
12 |
4 |
- |
- |
| Jackson |
16 |
10 |
7 |
7 |
- |
- |
| Wisden |
39.1 |
20 |
39 |
7 |
- |
- |
| Philadelphia bowling |
Overs |
Mdns |
Runs |
Wkts |
Wides |
No-Balls |
| Senior |
5.3 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Kephardt |
4 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
- |
| Lang |
3 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Wilby |
6 |
1 |
7 |
0 |
3 |
- |
Copyright: DreamCricket.com
Compiled by Venu Palaparthi of DreamCricket.com
Photos: DreamCricket History Archive
Scorecards licensed from CricketArchive | |
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In an article that appeared in the Associated Press of Pakistan website, Nabeel Ahmed is quoted as saying: “PCB is always looking for neutral
venues for their series with other countries, I think it is in the best
interest of PCB to develop a relationship with USACA more that any
other full member board. PCB had an opportunity to bring Pakistan New
Zealand series to USA. However,in future USACA will welcome to hold
such international events." Nabeel Ahmed also told APP that USACA is keen to "to seek technical
support from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and other test playing
countries boards to evolve a system to establish its cricket under a
solid base at various levels to eventually attain test status."
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Singapore and Bahrain have earned a promotion from WCL Division 6 into WCL Division 5 thanks to their top-two finish in their division. They will join Fiji, Jersey, USA and Nepal in the Division 5 tournament which will be staged in Nepal from 20 to 27 February 2010.
Bahrain deserves special mention for having climbed from WCL Div 7 to WCL Div 6 and now climbing the ladder a bit further to WCL Division 5.
More info on how the two teams earned a promotion from Division 6, click here.
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USA was among the topics that was discussed at ICC meetings being held in Jo'burg.
In his presentation to the ICC, Principal Advisor IS Bindra is reported to have 'highlighted the development potential in both the USA and China and called on all Full Members to play more competitive cricket in these countries.'
Read more here.
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