An All-Star team comprising players drawn from various SCCA clubs will play in the Hollywood All-Star versus MCC Twenty20 match on Saturday, March 20, 2010. The match begins at 9:30AM and will played at Woodley Field, Van Nuys, CA.
Several current SCCA and USA players will join local legends who have served SCCA for years. Two former test internationals - Gary Crocker (Zimbabwe) and Franklyn Rose (West Indies) - who play their cricket in the Southern California Cricket Association, are also part of the All-Star team.
The team is coached by one of USA’s finest coaches - Reginald Benjamin and is managed by Mark Azeez who is a long time member of Hollywood CC and Hollywood Golden oldies.
The game will be played as a tribute to Christopher Carroll from Hollywood CC and Phil Lynch of Corinthian CC. The two long serving SCCA members passed away in the last 2 weeks.
A Tribute to Christopher Carroll
Chris was born March 1, 1944 in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. he was raised in a carefree era, before cell phones, email and fax machines, a 'luxury' Chris maintained for most of his life.
His family traveled extensively throughout Europe during his childhood in the 1950s, thereby instilling in him a lifelong love of adventure and travel.
In 1965, when Europe was still recovering from WW II, Christopher left England for America. Having completed his undergraduate degree from London University, he took an enormous leap of faith and arrived in New York aboard the Queen Mary, from where he boarded a Greyhound bus to Los Angeles with $100 in his pocket. With pluck and perseverance, the 21 year old Englishman joined an investment firm. Two years later, he put himself through USC, earning a master's degree in Finance and then moved into a coveted position with a major New York investment bank. Later, he established Carroll Capital Management Corp., specializing in venture capital, money management and real estate investment.
An avid athlete and passionate cricket player, Christopher is a past president of the historic Hollywood Cricket Club.
Christopher dedicated a formidable amount of his time to the local arts community and at the time of his death, he was an active member of the board of directors of Opera Santa Barbara and the State Street Ballet. He was also a former board member of the Montecito YMCA, past president and current member of the Rotary Club of Montecito, a council member at the Music Academy of the West, and a parishioner of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
A Tribute to Phil Lynch
Phil arrived in California in 1997 when he joined the Corinthian Cricket Club. His impact on the Southern California cricket scene was felt immediately as he started to contribute to the Southern California Cricket Association (SCCA) as Director, Grounds Committee member and other key roles.
Originally from England, Phil was an avid reader, a writer and a talented musician with the blues guitar and vocals. Above all, he will be remembered for his love of cricket in its purest spirit.
He played competitive and social cricket with the same attitude as a gentleman and promoted the spirit of cricket among all.
Pen Pix of the Hollywood All-Stars Squad
Aditya Thyagarajan (C) – Hollywood CC (India): Current USA National player and SCCA captain. Former India U-19 and Karnataka Ranji player.
Nazim Shirazi (VC) – Pegasus CC (Bangladesh): Former SCCA captain and Bangladesh National player.
Ritesh Kadu (WK) – Hollywood CC (India): Future USA player and currently representing SCCA.
Franklyn Rose – Corinthian CC (West Indies): A former West Indies and Jamaica international.
Gary Crocker – Hollywood CC (Zimbabwe): A former Zimbabwe test and ODI player.
Ronnie Iranpur – Hollywood CC (India): Former SCCA and Hollywood player.
Rodney Cutting – Carribean CC (West Indies): Former SCCA player.
Richard Blackledge – Corinthian CC (England): SCCA player and former English first class player.
Paul Severn - Corinthian CC (USA): The only USA born player of the team.
Anup Desai – Hollywood CC (India): Long time SCCA and Hollywood club player.
David Pieters – Pasadena CC (South Africa): At 23 years of age, one of the most talented fast bowlers in the country. A future USA prospect. Currently playing professional cricket in England.
Coach – Reginald Benjamin
Manager – Mark Azeez