USA Cricketer : USA Cricketer

Oh Henry! Wardley is USA U-19's Gift of the Atlantic Region.

openingbat — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 03:00:00 GMT

By Peter Della Penna

Tucked away in a leafy suburb of New Jersey lives one of America’s best young cricket talents. Chatham resident Henry Wardley, helped lead the Atlantic Region U-19 team to the finals of the USACA National U-19 Tournament in Brooklyn this past May. The 19-year old left-handed opening batsman scored two half-centuries in three innings during group play, including a Man of the Match 51 against the New York Region. Not bad for someone who wasn’t even sure if he should try out for the team.

“From the first day I saw him kind of knew that he is something special,” said Govind Itwaru, Wardley’s captain at Excalibur CC in the New Jersey Cricket Association. “Looking at him batting, it’s beautiful to watch him bat. His stroke play is unbelievable. It’s not anything you see in the local level of cricket that we play.”

“He pushed me to go and tryout for the Atlantic Region and then he said to definitely go on and play for them because you’ve got a shot,” said Wardley. “Playing in England, you never really think that you can be put at any sort of high level because there’s so many other good cricketers. But he really told me I was good enough.” His success for the Atlantic Region paved the way for him to be selected as a First Team All-American and inclusion in the USA U-19 team which will play in Toronto next month for the U-19 ICC Americas Championship. But cricket wasn’t necessarily the first sporting passion of the dual American and British citizen.

While Wardley’s parents were from Yorkshire in the north of England, he was born in Manhattan and lived in New Jersey until the age of eight. Growing up in the New York metro area as the world’s most storied baseball franchise was about to begin their dynasty of the 1990s, cricket was just about the furthest thing from his mind.

“He was upset when we left the US the first time, because we ruined his chances of ever playing for the Yankees,” said a chuckling Bridget Wardley, Henry’s mother. Wardley’s father Neil works in financial services and after spending 11 years in the US, Neil’s work took the family, which includes Henry’s younger sister Lucy, back to England where they settled in Kent, south of London.

The American part of Henry was still resisting a British invasion. Not only did he do his best to maintain a strong American accent, but he was still keen on baseball. As a nine-year old, Wardley was a member of the Tonbridge Bobcats U-13 baseball team which won a national championship in England. However, after a talk with his dad, he started to give in to the idea of playing cricket.

“It just wasn’t gonna go anywhere so my dad suggested I play cricket instead,” said Wardley, in his now British accent with a bit of a laugh.

When Wardley was 13, he entered Sevenoaks School, a boarding school in Kent. It was here that he started to really develop as a cricketer under the tutelage of the school’s Master in Charge of Cricket, Chris Tavare. Tavare, who played 31 Tests and scored two centuries for England, could tell early on that Wardley was going to be a talented cricketer, despite his clear style developed from America’s pastime.

“He was a bit of a baseballer,” said Tavare, recalling his first observations of Wardley. “He just struck me as someone who had a really good eye for the ball and although technically he was quite raw, he could just hit a ball hard and hit good balls pretty hard too.” Wardley started off at Sevenoaks batting in the middle order, but after working hard on his batting, he pushed his way up to become an opener.

“He was keen to improve but we didn’t overdo it because he was just a natural talent,” said Tavare. This involved helping to cut out the aerial shots from baseball and practicing more orthodox cricket strokes. “He was always an aggressive player and we very much let him play that way. The only difference was probably trying to get him to hit the ball in a few more areas and hit it along the ground more consistently, which he started to achieve. He became a very good driver of the ball, particularly through extra cover, that sort of area, extra cover to mid off.”

A few years before Wardley graduated Sevenoaks, his father took up another job opportunity to come back to America and was going to bring the family back. While Wardley continued to board at Sevenoaks, the plan was for him come back to New Jersey in the summer time to be with the family. Neil Wardley knew that it was important to keep up his son’s cricket skills and get connected with a club.

“When we came back the second time, [cricket] was the main objective,” said Neil Wardley. “The first time he played baseball and the kind of sports that you would as a kid being born and growing up here.” Neil got into contact with Shelton Glasgow, the Atlantic Region Representative for USACA, who put him in touch with Itwaru at Excalibur CC. “So we went one Saturday or Sunday and it was amazing. They were very welcoming and very friendly and that was it. Govind took Henry under his wing and he got to play every Saturday and every Sunday.”

“When he came to the team, he was 16 and I saw him hit the ball and you couldn’t think a 16 year old could hit the ball that far and that hard,” said Itwaru. Wardley didn’t stick out just because of his talent and his age in a team and league of grizzled veterans. The New Jersey cricket scene has a heavy South Asian influence, but Henry wasn’t particularly bothered or intimidated.

“Everyone’s pretty friendly, I don’t find it an issue… the only word I know is ‘shabash,’” said Wardley, referencing the Hindi/Urdu word for excellent or well done that is often shouted throughout grounds in central New Jersey on the weekends. “It’s strange sometimes when I’ll look around a ground where there’s two or three cricket grounds and I’ll be the only white guy there, but it doesn’t bother me. I think it’s quite good fun. At Excalibur there’s always running jokes going. They call me ‘Token.’”

After graduating from Sevenoaks and continuing at Excalibur CC last summer, Wardley found the transition to college life in the fall at McGill University in Montreal quite a struggle without cricket nearby.

“Unfortunately cricket wasn’t on my agenda when I chose it,” said Wardley. “There’s a lot of cricket but it’s so cold up there and you have to travel a long way to get to any sort of training sessions.” Wardley made some friends and was invited to go to practice with a club that was 15 metro stops away from McGill on Montreal’s public transport network. However, there were only so many trips he could make in below freezing temperatures before he decided to get creative.

“I got so frustrated with not being able to play last year,” said Wardley. “We had a long dorm hallway and I found a road sign and I propped it up against one wall and I got my friends to come out and I said, ‘I’ve got to play cricket because I’m getting so frustrated right now. I’ll bowl at you guys.’ So I’d run up and try and knock their heads off with a taped up tennis ball. I’d get them out and I’d say, ‘Alright you just throw the ball at me now’ and that’s how I got my batting practice in.”

The funny and laid back teenager said that half the battle was trying to make sure no one hit the fire alarm sprinklers on the ceiling during these makeshift sessions. While Wardley struggled to get his cricket fix in, he had a source of marvelous inspiration close by to get him through the first year.

“I love Richie Benaud,” said Wardley. “I have a little poster above my door in my McGill room and I feel that every morning when I leave the room he blesses me. It’s from Wisden Cricketer. I’ve had that above my door everywhere I’ve for the past three or four years.”

It’s this ever present spirit and hunger that others see in Wardley that makes him not only a good player, but a good teammate as well.

“You could sort of sense he had a real passion for cricket,” said Tavare. “He enjoyed being in the team with the other guys in the dressing room and having a good laugh as well, but once he got in the middle he was pretty serious about his cricket.”

Wardley has kept up his form from the tournament in Brooklyn and is set to make an impact in Toronto. In his last match for Excalibur, Wardley scored a 70. The USA U-19 team leaves on July 1 for a few days of training before their first match on July 6. Wardley is chomping at the bit to put on the Stars and Stripes.

“I’m psyched to play for them,” said Wardley. “I can’t wait to represent my country. I bought an American flag two days ago. When I go to the hotel, I’m gonna put it up outside the hotel so people know.”

Action picture courtesy: NewYorkCricket.com

USA's Best Cricket Grounds: Leo Magnus Cricket Complex - Woodley Cricket Field in Van Nuys, California

openingbat — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:50:00 GMT

Fifth in the DreamCricket.com series on USA's best cricket grounds

Click here for the first, second, third and fourth articles in this series, which explores the best grounds in USA selected on the basis of the ground's setting, the passion that went into creating the ground, and the pitch and outfield quality. If you know of more grounds - private or public - please email us at content @ dreamcricket . com

By Peter Simunovich

David Sentance has a deep and strong relationship with the Leo Magnus Cricket Complex also known as the Woodley Cricket Field in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley, about 20 miles from Los Angeles in California. He fondly talks about the lush grass and how batsmen can play their full range of shots on four natural turf pitches with large outfields that best serve medium fast and spin bowlers.

Sentance, a 57-year-old investment firm owner, proudly boasts how Woodley Cricket Field can host four matches each Saturday and Sunday over summer and up to eight games if the schedule has T20 games.

For the past 33 years he has been involved in cricket in the Los Angeles area since he moved there from England and is somewhat of a historian about the game and Woodley Cricket Field, which is acknowledged as the best in the US.

"The ground is just so beautiful," Sentance told DreamCricket.com. "It is dedicated to cricket and no other sport is played there."

Fast bowler Franklyn Rose, who played 19 Tests with the West Indies and now plays with Corinthians Cricket Club in the Southern California Cricket Association, also has a strong affiliation for Woodley Cricket Field.

He said: "It has the best cricket field facilities in the US. There is no comparison. I have played around the world and it is first class. It is good for batting and bowling. If you are good enough you will get runs and wickets."

Steve Massiah, the US senior captain, also has a soft spot for the field. He said: "Woodley is really good for batting and has wonderful pitches. I have scored a century and quite a few 50s there. The wickets are very conducive for batsmen and there is something for the bowlers.

"It is a beautiful field and I strongly endorse it."

Carl McGroggan, the secretary of the Southern California Cricket Association and an all-rounder with the British and Dominion Cricket Club, which plays at Woodley Cricket Field, said the fields were very well maintained. He said David Heaney, a grounds man from Adelaide, Australia, was flown in each year to work full time at the field from March to September to make sure it had the best surface in the country.

Woodley Cricket Field, which is the home field for 20 teams, said McGroggan, had the feel of a district cricket club in Australia. It has a small stand, which can seat 50 and a clubhouse with bathrooms.

Sentance said that Woodley Cricket Field would be complete if it had the same pavilion at Griffith Park in Burbank where cricket was played before.

The old Griffith Park pavilion is now used for wedding receptions. Cricket was played at Griffith Park on a turf wicket with a matting cover from 1933 to 1978 and the one-floor 2,000 sq. ft. pavilion was well maintained with showers, lockers, a clock tower, a verandah to watch the matches. It had two fields and a practice area, said Sentance. There was also a courtyard behind the pavilion, which housed mowers and other machinery to keep the field in grade one condition.

"It was a very exciting facility with the Union Jack flying high," he said.

In the 1930s, acknowledged as the golden era of Hollywood, some of entertainment's A list headed by Boris Karloff, Merle Oberon, Olivia de Havilland, Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh, John and Lionel Barrymore, Errol Flynn and Elsa Lanchester would watch cricket at Griffith Park. "Back then it was a place to be seen," said Sentance.

And in those days Griffith Field was surrounded by stables for horses taking part in equestrian events.

In 1978, said Sentance, the equestrian fraternity wanted to take over the Griffith Park field. Part of the reason was the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles and equestrian events and polo were on the drawing boards to be held in the immediate area.

The cricket family strongly objected to the move and for two years, said Sentance, negotiations took place with local council authorities before it was decided that the game could move to what is now Woodley Cricket Field.

It took another four years for trees to be removed and the field to be laid properly for cricket. The game, however, did not miss a beat with matches still being played at Griffith Field and at the University of California at Los Angeles.

In 1980, Sentance recalled, there was an opening day at Woodley Field with boy scouts taking part.

The cricket complex is named after Leo "Jingles" Magnus, the former Jamaican cricketer who played for Southern California, coached Compton Cricket Club and spent a lifetime making contributions to the sport he loved. The field is also called Woodley cricket field because of the street it is on.

The late Claude Worrell, an attorney, played a lead role during this time in securing a new home for cricket. Sentance said that Worrell worked hard and he would strongly endorse any move to have his efforts remembered in some capacity.

India and Australia played four limited over matches at Woodley Cricket Field in 1999 and attracted 5,000 for one game.

Over the years Woodley Cricket Field and Griffith Park have hosted Australia and India international teams, English County sides, Canada, New Zealand and top Pakistan and West Indies club teams.

Woodley Field may not have the deep seated tradition of Test venues in cricket playing countries nor does it have the capacity to seat large crowds, but to players and administrators in the US it is a little gem of a field.

"In a way it is our Lord's," said Sentance.

Copyrights for all Pictures held by Dwight McCann. DreamCricket has used these with his permission.

Meet Shiva Vashishat - Captain of USA U-19 team

openingbat — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:43:00 GMT

Shiva Vashishat led his side to
the national championship

Ganesh Sanap, the president of the Northern California Cricket Association, says Shiva Vashishat has the qualities of a natural born leader on the cricket field. He has watched the 18-year-old grow up "before my own eyes" since he was 15.

"He comes from a good family and background," said Sanap. "He puts himself in harm's way and takes responsibility."

Shiva's leadership skills were rewarded when he was named captain of the US Under 19 team after he successfully led the North West Region in the recent national tournament.

A psychology student, Shiva, who came to the US with his family from the Punjab in India eight years ago, is no stranger to the captaincy. He has led the North West Region in three of the past four years and has been skipper of his local team, the Broncos, in a Super 25 competition.

"I like the leadership skills, setting an example from the front and getting the team together," he told DreamCricket.com.

Even though he is still a teenager, Shiva is aware that a captain's job is a lot more than tossing the coin before a game and leading the team onto the field. There is the responsibility of field placings, when to make a bowling change and sometimes change the batting order, among others. And off the field he has the role of representing the team and handling press conferences.

The captain is the face of the team.

Shiva understands that discipline on and off the field is part of his job and to keep the team together in what he describes as "clutch situations. Unity is very important."

He often uses words like togetherness and setting an example by saying: "I like setting an example from the front and getting the team together." He gives the impression that the team does not revolve around him and that he works on it being a close unit.

Shiva said the national captaincy was "a huge honor. It was a dream that came true. I did not completely expect it. I was happy," he said.

He says he models himself on India's Rahul Dravid. "I like his temperament, stroke play and captaincy," he said.

One of his goals in life is to play Test cricket with the US senior team. He understands he has a long way to go before selectors will call him to senior level and is aware that he has to practice hard, stay fit and healthy and perform. "It is possible," he said.

Last year Shiva was selected in the "probables team" before selectors chose the senior team and spent two days on and off the field with US captain Steve Massiah. "It was a really good experience with Steve. He was pretty straight forward with everything. He is a dedicated guy and I picked up a lot of things from him. I saw the fitness level we had to reach," he said.

Right now Shiva practices three or four times a week and works out three days a week. So far his cricket and studies are blending well. Asked if he would like to one day captain the US, he said: "That would be something."

Massiah recalls his time with Shiva and said: "He is a solid player and has a good technique. I think he has a bright future and I wish him and the entire Under 19 team all the success they can get," he said.

Wicketkeeper Saami Siddiqui said that one of Shiva's strongest points was his ability to communicate. "He is very good that way with the players," he said. "He listens to advice and then makes up his mind. He is not a stuck up captain."

Saami, who was chosen as the US Under 19 wicketkeeper, said Shiva was prepared for matches and always had a plan for his bowlers. "He really is good and has leadership qualities," he said. "It is not the easiest bunch (Under 19s) to control."

Abrar Ahmad, the manager and chief selector of the North West Region team, recalls Shiva beginning with the Bay Cricket Alliance League in 2002 and Kulwant Virdi, who was a coach at the time, saw leadership qualities in the youngster even then.

"I think he was only 14 when he was captain in social and conditioning games," said Ahmad. "They were prepping him to be a captain. I remember Shiva being very involved, he helped prepare the field and also played."

Ahmad believes Shiva has to stay focused and not let his recent achievements "get to his head." He added that he also showed experience out in the middle. "He doesn't panic, he gets guys involved, makes the right bowling changes and field placings and impressed selectors (at the Under 19 tournament). He was at the right place at the right time," said Ahmad.

Saqib Saleem, a batsman and leg spinner who was chosen in the Under 19 team, said Shiva was always talking to teammates so he could get to know them better. "He is very smart and a fast learner. He knows when to make bowling changes and the right field placings," he said.

"We have been friends for four or five years and Shiva is always trying to improve himself," said Saqib.

Owen Graham, who played in Jamaica before he moved to the US 15 years ago, has worked with Shiva by passing on tips about playing and captaincy at the highest level.

"He is a good all round athlete. He is very level headed and the sky is the limit for him," said Graham. "He has tremendous potential, is a very nice young man and we talk a lot. He is a good listener and learns well. He has a good head on his shoulders."

Graham has such a high opinion of Shiva that he said: "I would take him as my son."

The US Under 19 team is in good hands and the right leadership.

USA deserves its wild card entry to World Cup T20 Qualifier

openingbat — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:43:00 GMT

By Venu Palaparthi

Reader Comments

A debate has raged recently over USA's wild card entry into Twenty20 World Cup Qualifier to be held in Dubai in October 2009. USA was chosen as the eighth nation to round off the top six associates with ODI status and the host country UAE, which is currently ranked 17th.

USA has been accused of grabbing Namibia's spot (that country is ranked 18th).

According to the critics, USA's selection has violated the sanctity of ICC's merit based 'structure.'

I agree that Namibia completely deserves its high ranking among associates. Namibia would be justified if it feels that it has been short-changed by ICC. They worked hard to secure that ranking.

At the same time, I disagree with the view that USA 'undeservedly' got a ticket to the Qualifier.

USA's critics are of the view that we should remain in exile for some more years. I think these folks are missing the big picture.

Firstly, by definition, a wild card is a special admission into a tournament whose current ranking wouldn't merit entry. In most sports, it's because the invitee is a rising star or a local favorite. ICC gave USA an entry based on USA's potential - not its current ranking.

Secondly, the ICC ranking system is not a 100% accurate reflection of cricketing merit. As you will see, USA's ranking of #32 has much to do with off-field issues stemming from its years in exile and less to do with its on-field performance.

Divisions and regression

First a quick walk through recent history.

By all measures, 2004 was the year in which USA cricket hit its previous peak. USA had a 2nd place finish in 2004 ICC Americas. Then it followed that up with a first place finish in ICC Six Nations Challenge UAE 2004 - a tournament that featured Scotland, Namibia, Canada, etc.

With that came the opportunity to play in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy. Although USA got mauled by the two blue-chip countries in its group - Australia and New Zealand, it also secured a rare victory over Zimbabwe - a full member country - in a warm-up match in September 2004.

But in 2005, USA Cricket became bogged down by a fractious dispute between two rival factions. In fact, the problem came to a head just before the ICC Trophy in 2005 when the two factions disagreed on the squad that would play in that tournament. In May 2005, the USACA named a squad that was condemned by opponents as being 'unrepresentative.' On June 3, just a few weeks before the tournament start, ICC confirmed that USA will participate in the ICC Trophy 2005. It was in these morale-depleting circumstances that a team from USA played in the last ICC Trophy 2005.

Why is this important?

Well, the entire World Cricket League ladder that is in place today is based on the results of the 2005 ICC Trophy. Therefore, the results of the ICC Trophy 2005 played a significant role in shaping the cricketing destiny of associate countries.

USA, which was ranked 6th in ICC Trophy 2001, slipped to 10th among the associates in the 2005 ICC Trophy. In this tournament, USA lost three matches to opponents, one match to rain and its sole win was against Papua New Guinea.

Since this competition was used to seed the global World Cricket League, USA was placed in Division 3 and Namibia in Division 2 based on their rankings of 10th and 7th respectively after the completion of the 2005 ICC Trophy.

But that's not all! There was a further twist in USA's case.

ICC's suspension of USA in 2006 and 2007 made a bad situation worse for cricketers here. USA was pushed to the bottom-most WCL Division 5 when it emerged from suspension in 2008. That meant that USA's climb was going to be steeper by another 10 ranks.

USA's loss was Argentina's gain as that country took USA's place in WCL Division 3 held at Darwin. To their credit, the Argentinians used this opportunity and moved to Division 2, albeit temporarily. In different circumstances, USA would probably have joined Namibia in Division 2.

Namibia, thanks to a top 3 finish in Division 2 against the likes of Argentina, Denmark and Uganda, progressed to the 2009 World Cup Qualifier.

The cards that were dealt were played well by some countries. USA needed to scratch its way back from WCL Division 5. Not impossible (as Afghans proved), but one bad day on the field was all it would take to end their campaign.

WCL Division 5 - An off-day at a crucial juncture.

USA went to WCL Division 5 with tremendous hope (and sub-optimal preparation) just weeks after the ICC suspension was lifted. It won all 4 of its matches in the group stage, but things went awry in the semi-finals against Jersey. As a consequence, USA was out of contention for the World Cup (of the ODI variety). Jersey moved to Division 4 and Afghanistan transited through Division 4 to even greater heights.

The cards that were dealt were played well by Afghanistan and, in retrospect, somewhat poorly by USA. Unfortunately, USA had a bad day at a very crucial juncture.

Where are they now?

Barring USA, the graduating class of the 2005 ICC Trophy have done well - Namibia moved to the 2009 World Cup Qualifier and so have UAE, Canada, Bermuda and Uganda. This is perhaps a reflection of the fact that these countries were blessed with a stable and nourishing environment for cricket between 2005 and 2008. In contrast, USA was in suspension for two years, had no funds for three, and played little international cricket in 2006 and 2007.

USA is happy for all these countries (and for Afghanistan, which did so astonishingly well despite the lack of such nourishment) - all these countries deserved their ascent.

In summary, USA has atoned for its administrators' presumed mistakes - it was demoted in the World Cricket League system and is on the sidelines for the 2011 World Cup.

Denying USA a wild-card entry to a T20 competition, on the basis of a ranking structure formulated in 2005 is like using the same stick to beat USA twice.

Are the rankings sacred?

First things first, the ICC could not have thought of the WCL 'structure' in the context of a T20 World Cup. Because Twenty20 was unheard of in ICC corridors in 2005. The qualifiers for the first two T20 world cups were completely different - in fact, it is fair to say that the qualification methodology is evolving.

Even if rankings were considered, the global ICC rankings miss another important point. There is so little WCL action in a year that relying on a ranking system based purely on 'qualifying' events is like marking a calendar in England based entirely on sunny days!

Just before the 2008 ICC Americas tournament, I wrote on this website: "Although USA, Canada and Bermuda are regarded as comparable in the region, they are miles apart in World Cricket League standings. By that ranking, USA is inferior to all but one team in the region and only slightly better than Suriname."

As I had predicted then, USA reclaimed its status as the No. 1 cricketing nation in the Americas by winning all its matches and finishing ahead of Bermuda and Canada in the 2008 ICC Americas Tournament. Off the field, progress is being made in administrative matters too.

None of this recent progress impacts USA's rankings because, according to the ranking system, the highest win percentage in qualifying (i.e. WCL) matches versus other associates is what determines these rankings.

ICC Americas victories in 2008 against better ranked Canada (#16), Bermuda (#19), Cayman Islands (#25) and Argentina (#26) do not count since these were not in the WCL setting. And USA's victories in 2004, when USA defeated Scotland (now #15), Canada (now #16) and Namibia (now #18) in the ICC Six Nations Challenge do not count because the WCL was not in place in 2004. It is USA's misfortune that it has played few matches since 2005 owing to its suspension from ICC.

Given that, I don't know if the ranking structure can be considered sacred.

Why shouldn't the top-ranked team in Americas play?

If meritocracy and rankings are interlinked - then there is another point that must be made.

The countries that are playing in the Qualifier are - Ireland, Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands, Afghanistan, Scotland, UAE and USA - the wild card entry.

Europe's #1 is playing. Africa's #1 is playing. Asia's #1 is playing. Why is USA, which is ICC Americas #1 'undeserving'? Canada after all is the regional runner-up.

Where's the money?

Some have suggested that ICC's decision is motivated by dollar signs. That is a rush to conclusion like no other. USA is the second largest TV market for global broadcast rights by ICC's own admission! And it remained the second largest TV market throughout its suspension. USA's cricket consumers have buttered the cricketing world's bread for many years now.

Granting USA a wild card to a T20 Qualifier may not do too much in the near-term since the bread is densely buttered already.

But if USA cricket attains buoyancy based on its performance in this tournament, then the entire cricketing world will gain from increased American interest in the sport. And if increasing interest in the game is ICC's long-term goal, then we must commend ICC for finally making that a priority in USA.

Monty Desai - From coaching USA's South East region to coaching Rajasthan Royals

openingbat — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 02:58:00 GMT

Monty Desai - From coaching USA's South East region to coaching Rajasthan Royals

Monty Desai with RR Captain Shane Warne

Monty Desai, who until recently coached USA's South East region, completed a stint with Rajasthan Royals in South Africa as part of its elite coaching squad. His next assignment is in England as Rajasthan gets ready to play against Middlesex. DreamCricket.com caught up with him in Mumbai as he was taking a break after IPL 2.

DreamCricket: Congratulations Monty on completing your first season with Rajasthan Royals. Can you share with our readers how a coach from Atlanta ended up on the coaching staff of the prestigious Rajasthan Royals?

Monty: Thanks Venu. Like many who are passionate about this game, I started this journey with a dream to become a cricketer and soon realized that my fate was to become a cricket coach. I have been in this field for the last 12 years, where I have coached with World Cricket Academy since its founding under the guidance of late Shri Hanumant Singh. I came to Atlanta mainly for family reasons.

Initially, it seemed my coaching life was not going to be possible in Atlanta, but here too I started coaching the regional team, thanks to AGCC management for keeping faith in me. I was also able to set up a coaching clinic for kids in Atlanta with support from a long list of well-wishers from Atlanta.

Earlier this year, when we met in New Jersey, I was on my way to Mumbai and I was still not sure what was in store for me in India although I knew that with IPL, there would be plenty of opportunities.

My name to Rajasthan Royals was suggested by my close friends Zubin Barucha and Andy Flower and I am grateful to both of them for believing in me.

My experience in development work and probably my philosophy about 'mind and man management' impressed the Rajasthan Royals management in my interview and I was taken on board.

DreamCricket: IPL is just once-a-year, so what did you do before the start of the season?

Monty: Rajasthan Royals is involved with a bit of talent scouting and we also hold a few workshops through out the season in India. We also set up the Professional Development Camp in February, where I was involved with some serious work trying to identify fresh talent ready for IPL. Best part about Rajasthan Royals is that they are willing to throw fresh talent in such a high profile tournament.

DreamCricket: But many of these players were sent back?

Monty: All of them knew when we came to South Africa that the team will be short listed to 20 players after the conditioning camp in CapeTown. It was decision time and we had to take some tough decisions in South Africa where we had to short list our team. Some teams like Kolkata had to trim down even further.

This was tough, no doubt. I always believe in the phrase "there are no rehearsals in real life only performances," in the team's interest, sometimes you have face tough decisions as it comes. We had given enough opportunities to everyone to show their skills in the warm up matches before the start of the IPL. Some like Kamran Khan stayed back and made it to the team, purely through their exceptional performances through out the trials games, development camp and warm-up matches.

Monty Desai with Rajasthan Royals Management

DreamCricket: How did the development work translate to a coaching role?

Monty: To begin with, I was mainly appointed to work on the development squad, at the same time I had few interactions with Darren Berry personally and on emails to execute the team plans as explained by him. By April, I was finally on board as a Coach on the Development Squad with the first official full fledged tour IPL'09 for Rajasthan Royals. All I can say I was lucky to be working with a very friendly coaching team - Shane Warne, Darren Berry and Jeremy Snape. They were all very open and receptive to suggestions and that helps as you feel that you are welcomed as a part of the team. It was their decision to keep me on for the whole tour so I continued giving my inputs and more importantly learn from them.

DreamCricket: Tell me about the coaching staff. Normally, you see a physio and a coach, perhaps an assistant coach. Rajasthan coaching department had Darren Berry (Director of Coaching), Jeremy Snape (High Performance coach), John Gloster (Physio), yourself and Satish Samant as coaches. What was the role of each of of you?

Monty: Everybody had a role - John is our Doctor, he along with his medical team were brilliant and thoroughly professional in taking care of each and every player's fitness. Sometimes they had to work long hours to treat injuries. John is very creative in our warm ups and cool downs during practice sessions and matches. Recovery sessions in cold swimming pools were awesome - lots of fun.

Jeremy Snapes does lots of one-on-one work where he involved me and Satish Samant as well. The aim was to keep players' confidence high. Sometimes we all had long hrs at the nets as all our batsmen were desperate to perform in the matches. He is the best at what he does, his 3 seconds chill theory works for most of the players around the world. Satish and I just added Indian expertise to it, specially for overseas batsmen batting against spin.

Darren Berry likes to plan all the sessions well ahead and he personally works a lot with wicket keepers. Darren is very passionate and always busy thinking about strategies and discussing the same with Warnie. He believes in lot of team building activities and he cares for each and everyone associated with this team.

I personally like to observe a lot before making any judgments on technical aspects, so when I worked on one-to-one it was all about keeping it super simple. I always wanted to see if the players were willing to push themselves out of their comfort zone. If not, then I would slowly try to push them sometimes by being vocal but most of the times by being quiet and patient. My coach Shri Hanumant Singh used to always say "Try to read their mind and then try to convince them".

Between Darren, Jeremy, myself and Satish we shared the coaching work load like fielding sessions, net sessions etc. It was a blend of Australian, English and Indian coaching concepts and theories.

Finally Shane Warne executed lot of these plans and frequently produced his magic on the field.

DreamCricket: Rajasthan's campaign started off badly with a huge loss and then a rain affected match. But after that, it was not too bad - considering you did not have the services of the 2008 Purple Cap winner Sohail Tanvir and 2008 Man of the Series Shane Watson.

Monty: Even after the tournament started with so many distractions, we kept saying to all our players to stay on course, unfortunately I don't think each and everyone of us committed to it 100%. If we had done that we would have won it again because the team that comes together fastest wins the championship and we just couldn't do it fast enough this year. We kept saying to all the players and ourselves to either find a way or make one! So it was not the absence of Sohail Tanvir or Shane Watson alone that mattered.

DreamCricket: From a coaching and development perspective, the absence of these two bowlers meant that you could try your new finds - Kamran Khan and Amit Singh. That brings back to what you said earlier, that Rajasthan Royals is willing to try its new talent - a very fair operation.

Monty: Yes very fair and they stand by our decisions. Abhishek Raut who won us one game against Deccan Chargers is another such name that we can boast of. Of course, we wanted him to be more consistent but to be fair he had no experience at this level. We missed out Dinesh Salunke this year because of his injuries and he will be strong contender next year. Don't be surprised if there are few more new names next year as Rajasthan Royals is very different from other franchises for sure. We are also thinking of talent scouting programs in USA.

DreamCricket: We should talk about your USA programs soon. Of course, despite the absence of many players, the team still had some solid victories. A lot of the outcomes were dependent on Graeme Smith, Yusuf Pathan and Warnie himself. What else stood out for you? What were the highlights from IPL 2?

Monty: True. Though we didn't display good consistent performances, my biggest highlight was definitely our win against Mumbai Indians. Munaf bowled his skin out. The super over win against KKR was huge as well, I am sure everyone enjoyed Yusuf's big hits but lets not forget Kamran's efforts as well. All I can say we have shown lot of character in pressure games this year. Sweat, blood and tears are the ingredients of our team, we will come back strong next year.

DreamCricket: What did you learn from the experience?

Monty: I must say this was one of the most important , challenging and a wonderful experience of my cricketing career. I personally faced the challenge of getting together with the different cultures and moods which a common dressing room carries. Just imagine when you are the most crucial link between the overseas players, Indian players and the foriegn coaching team, with one of the greatest ever performer Shane Warne as your captain/coach, the challenge is bigger than one could imagine.

At the end of the tournament I am happy that my inputs were appreciated by Shane and Darren and I am hoping for further involvement to create something special for next year.

Of course all this wouldn't have been possible without the support of Manoj Badale and the management team of Rajasthan Royals who trusted in my abilities.

DreamCricket: What's in store for you next? Are you going to return to Atlanta to coach here?

Monty: I am heading off to England, we have a one off match against Middlesex in July. Maybe I will return after that to Atlanta. I am emotionally attached to that city as my parents still live there. The biggest thank you goes to my parents and my wife who have supported me right from the start. They have sacrificed a lot for me and I owe them all a lot.

DreamCricket: How do you rate the IPL itself? The move to South Africa?

Monty: Overall IPL was a huge success in South Africa and hats off to Lalit Modi who officially has a staff of only 4 people and yet could manage an impossible. He is proof that "Impossible is Nothing."

DreamCricket: Thank you Monty. We hope that you will stop by and visit our DreamCricket Academy on your next trip. Our boys will surely be eager to meet you and get some tips.

USA gets opportunity to go straight to 2010 World Cup Twenty20 Qualifier

openingbat — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:57:00 GMT

USA to play in ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in UAE (October 2009)

The ICC Development Committee has granted USA an entry to the ICC World Twenty20 Cup Qualifier for the 2010 World Cup. The Qualifier tournament will be held during October of this year. Aside from USA and hosts UAE, the tournament will feature Ireland, Canada, Kenya, the Netherlands, Afghanistan and Scotland.

Top two teams from the Qualifier will join the 10 full members in next year's World Cup to be held in West Indies in April-May 2010.

The ICC Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "I am thrilled that the ICC Development Committee has again taken an expansive and innovative approach to promoting our great sport by inviting the UAE and USA to join the top six associate and affiliate teams at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier later this year."

"For the USA the tournament represents a wonderful opportunity to move towards a brighter future and exploit its potential after a period on the fringes following previous suspensions and demotions because of administrative issues.

"Twenty20 is the perfect vehicle for cricket to excite the USA and the carrot for its players and administrators is that a top-two finish will earn it a place in the main event which is to be held in its own region."

Lorgat added that he trusted that "the United States of America Cricket Association will embrace this opportunity and will prepare squads of the highest standard."

USA to play in ICC WCL Division 5 Tournament in Nepal (January 2010)

The ICC Development Committee announced that Nepal would host the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 5 to be held in January 2010.

The six-team event is to be played by Nepal, USA, Fiji, Jersey and two teams promoted from Division 6 to be held in Singapore in August/September 2009.

Top two teams from Division 5 will be promoted to Division 4 to be held in Italy in June, 2010.

Canada to play in ICC Intercontinental Cup; Bermuda in ICC Intercontinental Shield

In yet another initiative that is sure to motivate Associate countries, ICC has completely revamped its ICC Intercontinental Cup tournament.

The tournament will now be divided into two divisions, with the first division comprising the six leading Associate nations - Ireland, Canada, Kenya, Holland, Afghanistan and Scotland. A team from Zimbabwe will join the six associates.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: "This new format will allow the top six Associate teams to maintain a high standard of even competitiveness." The ICC's Development Committee will offer prize money for the first time, with the winners taking US$100,000.

United Arab Emirates, Namibia, Bermuda and Uganda will play in the ICC Intercontinental Shield. This competition offers US$25,000 to the winner. USA will not take part in either of these but the new two-tier format with prize money gives USA something to aspire to as it embarks on its ambitious project to be among the top 15 cricket countries by 2015.

Meet Atul Sharma: First IPL player to have trained in USA

openingbat — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:02:00 GMT

[Pictures courtesy of Spin Cricket]

Pace bowler Atul Sharma, the Rajasthan Royals rookie has had to sit on the sidelines this IPL season after he suffered a tear in his shoulder whilst fielding in a practice match in Potchefstroom, South Africa, 5 weeks ago.

Atul worked hard and was hoping to attain full fitness for a late entry into the competition, but that now looks unlikely. If everything goes well, he may be fully fit in time for his team's match against Middlesex Panthers, English Twenty20 champions, at Lord's on July 6.

Sharma has based his cricket training at the University of Potchefstroom and the North West cricket facility, Senwes Park in Potchefstroom since December. The IPL switch from India to South Africa meant Sharma stayed put. DreamCricket.com caught up with Atul Sharma in Potchefstroom.

DreamCricket: How does it feel to be part of Shane Warne's Rajasthan Royals?

Atul Sharma : It's a great honor to be on the team, to just be in the presence of so many legends - all masters of their craft, just to sit beside them. So much to learn just by watching them play and interact.

DreamCricket: We were eagerly anticipating the debut of India's fastest bowler. How are you dealing with the disappointment of getting injured? It must be really upsetting.

Atul Sharma: Well. The mood remains upbeat. I am just looking forward to getting fit so I can repay Rajasthan's faith in me. My shoulder is strengthening every day. It's annoying it happened when I wasn't even bowling but that's how it goes with injuries. Everyone gets them.

I am fortunate to have met some amazing people who have helped me. My route to the IPL is hardly traditional...

DreamCricket: That I would have to agree with. Your IPL draft was unconventional and different from the time-tested approach of selection in India...

Atul Sharma: The IPL is a fantastic platform for getting talent out of every corner of India. I am not the only player who has been drafted in this manner. IPL has pitched several unknowns against world-class players and that makes the whole event a magnet for fans, TV and media worldwide. Anyone can emerge from this and get a shot at the big time.

DreamCricket: How did it all begin? Tell us about your journey to IPL.

Atul Sharma: It's been a hectic few years. I spent six months at IMG in Florida, then University of North Carolina, back across to MCI training camp in the UK, out to Potchefstroom, home to Mumbai and then out to the AIS (Australian Institute of Sport) in Brisbane. My goal was to improve my ability to bowl fast and achieve Olympic level fitness.

DreamCricket: Tell us about your experience at the University of North Carolina.

Atul Sharma: At Noth Carolina I trained with Jeff Gorski, the world Javelin Champion - one of the best and most respected Javelin coaches of the world. I learnt Javelin technique and strength conditioning there.

The two sports that would come close for training in fast bowling would be baseball pitching and javelin throw. Of the two, javelin comes closest to fast bowling in terms of run-up, arm pull and stretch reflex. In consultation with my coach, Ian Pont, we came up with javelin training.

DreamCricket: Does that mean that you bowl like a javelin thrower?

Atul Sharma: To find out, you would have to wait until you have seen me in action. But don't worry - my bowling action been assessed by the Australian Insitiute of Sport, and it is fine.

DreamCricket: Mr. Pont has said that you are built like a power-lifter and a sprinter. Good ground speed, immense power, and a good throwing arm. All the attributes of a fast bowler. How fast have you been bowling?

Atul Sharma: I have been bowling high-90s. 100 mph is not improbable - I have it in me to do that. The whole idea is to bowl accurately and still be very very quick - that has been my mission.

DreamCricket: How did you end up in Florida?

Atul Sharma: There is this academy, I am sure you have heard of it, it is called IMG in Sarasota, FL. They do a lot of sports training - baseball, soccer, football. They have an institute called IPI - International Performance Institute. I went there for strength and conditioning training. Trained to handle the forces and stresses that go through ones' body while fast bowling. I was at IMG for 6 months.

DreamCricket: You are starting with Twenty20. Do you think you can scale upto ODI and playing test cricket for India?

Atul Sharma: That would be a dream come true. Growing up in India, every kid wants to either join the army or play for India. It would be a great honor if I can get that chance. Fitness wise, yes I can scale up to that level.

DreamCricket: Thanks Atul for talking to us. We wish you a speedy recovery. We hope to see the first USA trained IPL player in action very soon.

Atul Sharma: Thank you.

Making of an American Cricketer - Jason Fox

openingbat — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:47:00 GMT

By Peter Simunovich

Jason Fox has an Australian father and an American mother. He was born in Wichita, Kansas, one of his goals in life is to represent the US in Test cricket and he has a weakness for the good old fashioned Aussie tucker like fish and chips, meat pies, sausage rolls, pasties and, of course, Vegemite.

50% Australian. 50% American.
100% American Cricketer.
He has an Australian flag in his bedroom and on his list of things to do he wants to get a tattoo of the Australian Southern Cross star formation on one of his ribs.

Right now he is working on a recipe for a meat pie - Aussie style - and in an interview with DreamCricket.com he recalled how he went to Sydney, Australia, in 2007 for six months where he stayed with an aunt and uncle to learn more about cricket.

Jason, who is also partial to a cheeseburger and hot dog - American style - put on at least 10lbs. as he ate his way through meat pies, sausage rolls, fish and chips, pasties and Vegemite on toast during his visit Down Under.

"I'm a patriot to both countries and while I have spent virtually all my life in the US I am proud of my Australian heritage," he said. "It is a nice mix. My father is from Sydney and my mother is born and bred in Kansas."

Listening to Jason talk he delivers a nice mix of both accents and uses the famous Australian words of G'day, mate with the aplomb of a true blue Aussie.

When he was in Sydney, Jason, now 16, attended school and trained at the Kingsgrove Cricket Academy. At the time he was high order bat and liked to bowl right arm leg spin. At the academy he spent a three-hour session with former Australian Test leg spinner Terry Jenner, who taught him how to grip and deliver the ball.

He then did a course in leg spin bowling at the academy and it seemed at the time that he was on his way to being an all-rounder. "I learned a lot down there. I also learned how to bat," he said.

But when he returned to Wichita regular wicketkeeper Brian Morrison, who was 50, felt he was getting old to continue playing with the Wichita World XI team in the Tri-State Cricket League. There was no ready made 'keeper to take over from Morrison, a New Zealander, so Jason stepped up behind the stumps.

"Brian helped me a lot and now I like 'keeping. It is my game," said Jason. "When I first started to 'keep I used to throw a tennis ball against a wall while wearing inner gloves to help get used to catching the ball and not dropping it.

"Wicketkeeping is my No 1 choice, it keeps me involved in the game."

Jason has also matured as a batsman and is at No. 4 in the batting order for the Wichita World XI. This week he took a step closer to his ultimate goal of representing the US in Test cricket when he was named in the Central East Region Under 19 squad to play in the national Under 19 tournament in New York next week.

At the end of the tournament selectors will name a national Under 19 team to play in the America's Cup later this year. Last year Jason was selected in the national Under 15 team, which lost to Canada in the America's Cup final.

So far it looks like a natural progression towards the senior national team, but Jason is not taking anything for granted. He is working hard in the nets and off the field he keeps up with international cricket by watching videos of Test matches that fill the bookshelves at his home.

His father, Edward, who built his own cricket field next to the family home and coached the game at school and junior level years ago, has DirectTV satellite so they can watch live telecasts of Test matches.

"We're now watching the England-West Indies series and before that we watched the India-New Zealand Tests. Sometimes I stay up until after midnight," said Jason.

It is all part of growing with the game to reach his dream and wear the US colors at international level.

"The game has grown in leaps and bounds since I started playing," he said. "I think cricket in the US is where soccer was 20 to 30 years ago. The game has to be embraced by Americans and it is starting to be embraced."

While cricket is a high priority in his young life, Jason this week received a letter from Clearwater High School informing him that he had made the honor roll as a scholar. He just might have it all.

USA's best cricket grounds: Foxfire Field, Kansas

openingbat — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:55:00 GMT

By Peter Simunovich

It is Edward Fox's cricket field of dreams. It took him five years to build it the way he wanted it to look and it cost him an estimated $120,000. It was a labor of love and he doesn't really mind that he spent so much out of his own pocket.

The Foxfire field is in Haysville, about 20 miles from Wichita in Kansas. It is not a state of the art field nor is it anything like the Sydney Cricket Ground or the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia where he was born.

Foxfire Field, Haysville, Kansas - Aerial View. Field of dreams!

But it is his. And the 41-year-old, who is from Grafton, New South Wales, built it for cricket, a game he began playing as a child. Now married with three children - two sons and a daughter - he has lived in the United States for 19 years.

Edward Fox

Fox, who is a very much hands-on type of guy and works from his home as an entrepreneur in a number of various small businesses, missed cricket after moving to the US.

He is now captain and all-rounder of the Wichita World XI team, which plays in the Tri-State Cricket League (comprising teams from Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkasas) and, yes, you guessed it, he is president of the league as well. While he loved his weekend playing commitments, it wasn't enough.

After a series of getting through red tape and endless meetings with local government authorities he finally succeeded in building his field of dreams. The field and his home is on 15 acres of land and one of the success stories from the field is his son, Jason, 14, who was selected in the US Under 15 squad as a batsman-wicketkeeper.

"It is basically my field of dreams," he said proudly in an interview with DreamCricket.com. He bought the land in late 2002 and now the field boasts an artificial pitch, a 30ft by 50ft pavilion with two bathrooms, one shower, a 54-inch TV and 30 seats in front of the pavilion.

Fox's field has free admission on game days and his wife prepares a free lunch with beverages for the 30 to 40 fans, family and friends of players. When Fox isnâ€™t playing and can find a few minutes away from his multi tasking jobs, he is also groundsman of the field.

"I love it. It is a hobby. I could have gone into boating, but I like to see a lot of juniors playing cricket," he said. "When I came here the thing I missed was cricket. I wanted to create a legacy.

"I can now step out of my house and walk 100 yards to the field."

Over the years Fox went to schools and introduced children to schools. He coached them on the finer points of the game. He was making inroads, but it wasn't enough. Fox wanted a field with a pitch and proper facilities.

The wicket area, by the way, is 12ft by 90ft, which he thinks might be "the largest concrete pitch in the US." It is made up of a four-inch concrete base with fiber mesh and topped with good quality artificial turf.

"The goal is to one day have a turf pitch," he said.

The pavilion is adorned by flags of the cricketing world!

Fox describes the Wichita team as the A to Z of cricket. "We have players from America to Zimbabwe and in between," he said.

He described the competition as a C grade pub competition, but quickly added that there were some players who had the ability and talent that could compete at a high level.

Fox has done more than create a legacy. He has introduced cricket, a game he loves and respects to Haysville and has given many players the chance to compete on a better field with facilities that some larger cities in the US do not offer cricketers.

The field is also a starting point for future players to one day represent the US, beginning with his son, Jason, already a junior member of the US cricket team.

USA's best cricket grounds: Fontana Field - Just what the doctor ordered

openingbat — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 14:52:00 GMT

By Peter Simunovich

Fontana Field: Just what the doctor ordered

When Asif Ahmad decided to buy and build his own field in Fontana, California, a one-hour drive east of Los Angeles, he went the whole nine yards or in cricket terms, the full 22 yards, the length of a cricket pitch.

The pitch at the Fontana field

The Fontana Cricket Ground sits on five acres of land, has a pavilion, four turf pitches in the center square of the field, the practice nets have three turf wickets, a bowling machine and there are another two concrete pitches that are used during winter.

For those who visit and watch games, says Asif, it reminds them of an English cricket field. But there is a lot more to this than just a nice ground in pleasant surroundings.

More than four years ago Asif made a trip to Melbourne, Australia, and visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground, commonly known as the MCG, then later to Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, to talk to the groundsmen and get samples of clay that help make up the turf wickets at the two famous cricket stadiums.

Upon his return, he had them analyzed by an engineer, who worked with a brick company.

The pitches in the nets are 90 percent clay and the wickets on the field are 80 percent clay, said Asif, 53, a physician who moved to the United States from Lahore in 1985.

The Fontana outfield is a cricketer's dream!

Asif used hydro seeding as top soil rather than sods, which, he said, made the wickets spongy. "The pitches are very quick," he told DreamCricket.com.

The field has a pavilion, which is really a 1,200 sq. ft. house, built above ground level to give players a better view of the field. The pavilion has two bedrooms, two bathrooms each with a shower and toilet for the players to use on game days.

Dr. Asif Ahmad - Creator of Fontana field

The front of the house is all glass so players can watch the game from inside. Overall, the field is just what the doctor ordered.

Asif played cricket in Multan as a fast bowler while studying at medical school and while he wasn't destined for a first class career he was "quite passionate about the game," he recalled.

When he came to the US he found everything he wanted except cricket, and there was a period from 1985 to 1998 where there was little cricket, there were some games, but no international matches to watch on TV.

"I missed it," he said.

In 2004 Asif began a youth program with the City of La Mirada on a field with tall grass. But he wanted more. A patient told him about a piece of land and after taking a look at it he bought the five acres for about $1 million.

Nina Ahmad - Heavily involved with
Citrus Valley Cricket Club

"It was vacant land with an old shed, I think it was a chicken farm at some point. It was very dirty at the time," he said. Asif went to the local council and it was very helpful as he talked about developing a cricket field.

He had dreamed for years about having his own field so he could start an academy to teach cricket to the youth in the area. The academy has between 60 and 70 aged from eight to 18 coached at a high quality level by Mumtaz Yosuf, a former spin bowler who played Test cricket for Sri Lanka. He later coached Sri Lanka and also coached in Australia.

"It is highly skilled cricket," said Asif. "I want to give back to the kids." The academy is made up mainly of players from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"We have a few American kids, but we have found that when they go home cricket stops. They have nobody to talk to about the game or to watch it on TV. The others can go home and talk about the game with their family or watch games on TV," he said.

For Asif, the field is special to him and his family - his wife, Nina, and two sons, Salman, 17, and Shakeel, 14. "We can enjoy it," he said.

Salman, an all rounder, and Shakeel, a leg spinner, have the potential, says Asif, to play at first class level. "We are working with them every day," he said.

Last year Salman represented the South West California Region Under 19 team and will repeat again this summer and Shakeel will do the same with the Under 15 team.

"When I look at the field I feel very satisfied," said Asif. "It is a true cricket field. The pitches are of a high standard, there are nets to practice. It is a breeding ground for cricket. There is a lot of satisfaction and my wife is heavily involved."

The Citrus Valley Cricket Club, which is made up of Under 18 and older cricketers, play on the field during the Southern California Cricket Association season and youth teams from age 10 and upwards also play there.

Asif praised coach Mumtaz for his patience and quality coaching the Americans, who took a while to understand and get used to cricket.

Asif has two more 10-acre properties near Fontana and one day he might also develop them into cricket fields. But that is another story.

Don Lockerbie makes a big impression in first visit to Bay Area.

openingbat — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:46:00 GMT

By Peter Simunovich

USACA CEO Lockerbie with U-15 cricketers in Bay Area

When Ganesh Sanap, the President of the Northern California Cricket Association, saw US cricket CEO Don Lockerbie on his fact finding trip to California last weekend he closed his eyes and thought to himself just how much things had changed in the 13 years he had been involved in the game on the West coast.

In that time he had not seen a senior cricket administrator from the USA Cricket Association even though invitations and requests had been made many times.

"This is a good sign," said Sanap, who lives in Santa Clara, and heads an association of 37 teams and four divisions, one of the largest and oldest in US cricket.

Lockerbie spent the weekend in northern California visiting administrators, volunteers, players, coaches, umpires and fans to listen to their thoughts and to explain his plans and hopes to revitalize the game in the US and to take the national team to the top 15 in the world.

"He was pretty passionate in promoting the game. He wants to see the US in the 2015 World Cup in Australia and he would like to see more Americans playing the game," said Sanap. "He wants to bring international teams to the US.

"He gave us a vision and we offered our help and if we all work together cricket can go a long way here."

By all accounts, Lockerbie, made an impression on his trip West. Administrators liked what they heard from the cricket chief.

"I came home feeling very energized," said Lockerbie. After talking and listening to many people he felt that cricket in the US was like an underground movement with an ethnic base and private clubs. He also felt the warmth of commitment and loyalty to the game from children to some who had been playing the game for 60 years.

"They were ready to turn it to the wonderful thing that it is," he said.

Hemant Buch, Chairman of the Western Region of US cricket, which includes Hawaii, hosted Lockerbie's visit, said the cricket chief met with more than 100 people, attended a dinner, breakfast, mixed with sponsors, attended Under 13 and Under 11 games at the California Cricket Academy and spoke to the youngsters.

In a conversation with the children, one of them told Lockerbie: "I want to play for the US cricket team," which must have pleased him.

He also watched a match with senior players, visited a field with new turf wickets, attended a fund raiser, met with administrators from a local college about a possible cricket program and his willingness to speak to everyone from children up showed that he cared about the future of the game as a whole and not just the US national team.

"Don certainly has energized cricket here. He also has a sharp marketing mind, which cricket has lacked," said Buch. "He knows the ropes and has cut through the bureaucracies and political fences. I think he will represent us well at the ICC (International Cricket Conference) and lead us in the right direction.

Lockerbie met with Bay Area cricketers over dinner on Friday

"He was a good listener when he spoke to people and is concerned about the future of the game and knows how important it is to get the game to schools and colleges. He also talked about the importance of fundraising.

"It gave me a feeling that he really has a free hand in executing his job, which is a very welcome gesture by the US cricket board." Jaswinder Singh, the Chairman of the Bay Area Cricket Alliance, believes Lockerbie's plan to introduce cricket at grass roots level was the right way to go to help solidify the future of the game. "Yes, I would say he is a guy who can bring the game together. His ideas are to lay the groundwork for a better game," he said.

"His vision is what the game needs. It is very encouraging and his whole concept is unique -- he looks at all aspects of the game and wants to improve the game as a whole and not just with the US team.

"The game needs someone like him. It is perfect timing and the (US cricket) board is behind him and more united than before."

Even though Lockerbie has been in the job only a short time he has shown that he is on the way to unify the different factions that have fragmented the game for years.

"It was a wonderful trip, a whirlwind trip, Don hardly had time to breathe. It was so positive from as soon as we saw him to the time he left," said Raj Padhi, who is the regional representative and a USACA board member. "He spoke to all five leagues in the Bay Area and it was very well received by everyone.

"People are now more hopeful, more optimistic about cricket and because of Don the game is going somewhere. In the past a lot of people were fed up with administrators because they were not giving much hope. That has changed now."

APL - the American Premier League - wins Hadlee's endorsement.

openingbat — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:20:00 GMT

Sir Richard Hadlee threw his weight behind the APL

The newly formed American Premier League generated a lot of buzz helped by media reports that the league signed Inzamam-ul-Haq and six other Pakistani cricketers for its inaugural season.

New Zealand all-rounder Richard Hadlee confirmed earlier today that he has joined APL as an ambassador and executive consultant.

Jay Mir, the President and CEO of American Sports and Entertainment Group Inc, has drawn up plans for a six-team tournament to be played in October at a baseball stadium in Staten Island.

Mr. Hadlee's endorsement is expected to provide new thrust to the infant league that Mir has called 'revolutionary.'

Mr. Mir also told Reuters that England spin bowler and ICL coach John Emburey had agreed to be coach of a 'Premium World' team. Richie Richardson is named as coach for Premium Windees.

The event and the teams

According to APL's website - www.AmericanPremierLeague.us, six teams - Premium Bengalees, Premium Paks, Premium Indians, Premium Windees, Premium World and Premium Americans, are expected to take part in this tournament.

Premium Paks team featuring Moin Khan (coach), Inazimam Ul Haq (sic) Captain, Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Rana Naved, Toufeeq Umar, Abdur-Razzaq, Shahid Nazir, Shabbir Ahmed and Humayun Farhat is listed as one of the teams.

APL deemed 'Unauthorized' by ICC

Cricket administrators reached by DreamCricket.com said that they had neither been formally approached nor had approved the event.

ICC issued a memo in which it noted that members are "precluded from releasing their players to play in this event until such time as ICC confirms that the event has been approved."

According to UK's Telegraph newspaper, David Collier, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board, last week told counties to warn players against signing up to the American Premier League.

Mr. Mir appears to be unfazed and plans to go ahead with the tournament.

Tickets selling fast

The APL website suggests that the tickets, priced between $50 to $25,000 are selling fast.

Click here for details.

Columbia professor introduces students to cricket

openingbat — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 01:50:00 GMT

By Peter Simunovich

Rajeev Kohli played a little cricket while growing up in New Delhi, India. He wasn't really good, but this did not stop him from becoming passionate about the game. And like most youngsters in cricket playing countries he remembers listening to Test matches broadcast on the radio when the Indian team visited England and Australia.

Legendary radio broadcasters like John Arlott, of England, and Australia's Alan McGilvray painted a vivid picture of what was happening on the field as the young Kohli listened intently while following the fortunes of the Indian team.

Prof. Kohli of Columbia

Now Kohli, a professor in marketing at the Business School of Columbia University in New York, is involved in a cricket project with three different groups of his students.

The groups, which are made up of four students each, are involved in a study of how to best develop the game in the US and the potential of the 20/20 format.

The groups are made up of all Americans, a mixture, including one from India, and the third of predominantly women. Only the student from India was aware of cricket as a whole when the project began about three months ago.

Prof. Kohli, who moved to the US as a student in 1978 and has been at Columbia since 1990, said that developing the game from grassroots level, which was the most difficult, but had the most potential, has emerged along with the 20/20 format.

The 20/20 game showed potential to attract spectators in the US and create a large following that could become passionate as, say, baseball, soccer or in traditional cricket playing countries.

The project involves market research and the development concept. The students are now finalizing the project, which has a business perspective and is part of a MBA course, and they will submit their reports to Prof. Kohli in about three weeks.

The idea of the project came over a conversation between Prof. Kohli and I.S. Bindra, the former president of the Board of Cricket Control in India and now International Cricket Control board member, in January in New Delhi.

At the time Prof. Kohli hosted a group of more than 20 students from New York to New Delhi for a week, which was part of a semester course on the aspect of innovation in India.

On the cricket project, US cricket CEO Don Lockerbie was invited to take part in a teleconference call with Prof. Kohli and the students to answer questions and share his ideas on marketing and the growth of the game.

Prof. Kohli said he would read the reports when they were submitted, then condense them and make them available to the ICC.

"If something comes out of it we could take it to another level," he told DreamCricket.com.

New York Times and IHT coverage of American College Cricket Championship

openingbat — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Montgomery College of Maryland won the first American College Cricket Championship in Ft. Lauderdale this past weekend.

From The New York Times

As envisioned by Lloyd Jodah and Nino DiLoreto of the American College Cricket, this championship, to be held over spring break, will become the ultimate collegiate championship in USA. They toiled hard to make that a reality during the first year.

Not since 1881 has USA seen a collegiate cricket championship that has had such an impact. In 1881 U Penn, through the efforts of John B Thayer Jr. joined with Harvard, Haverford, Princeton, Trinity College of Hartford and Columbia to form the Intercollegiate Cricket Association. Cornell was admitted some years later. Columbia, Princeton and Trinity dropped out after the first season but the others continued to play well into the 1890s.

Yes, there are other college championships in America - such as the Intercollegiate Cricket League in the NJ/PA/NY area; MichCA IUST championship in Detroit (which was won by Oakland University), and the MidWest Cricket Tournament featuring some 15 university teams from the midwest (which was won by Columbus).

The American College Cricket Championship kicked things up a notch. Firstly, the championship is designed as a pan-USA championship and colleges from Florida to Pennsylvania entered the tournament. Secondly, they secured some top-notch endorsements and some small sponsorships. Shivnarine Chanderpaul gifted a trophy - a rare feat for USA cricket. The prizes were sponsored by Laparkan, DreamCricket's PavilionShop, and Bedessee Sporting Goods. DreamCricket.com provided media coverage. But the coup de grâce was that they got New York Times and International Herald Tribune to cover the final!

This year, five colleges took part in the event, traveling at their own expense. As New York Times noted - the students "packed their sunscreen and headed to Florida" to play cricket! By all accounts, the students enjoyed the tournament. In the words of Kalpesh Patel of University of Miami: "We always had the desire to play, but there was no real framework for us to get involved. "With that kind of a beginning, the organizers have set the stage for a bigger event next year.

This year, Sumantro Das of Boston University said that his team spent something like $400 per participant - a huge cost for a student. "Who else is doing anything for cricket in this country?" he asks. The Boston University Cricket Club received some help from the university. Lloyd Jodah, the tournament's organizer, hoped that the event would attract greater sponsorship support and the participating colleges would get more help from their universities. With luck, the tournament could be held at the 5000 seat Broward County Stadium that has a purpose-built wicket.

Cricket is not one of the eleven sports covered by HurricaneSports.com - University of Miami's athletic site. But when Miami students broke into "Go 'canes" chants, there was little doubt that they were as proud of their cricket as they were about their baseball.

Check out the following link for the article on New York Times article. Here is the link to the IHT article. Of course, here is the link to the DreamCricket.com article.

Montgomery College wins the Chanderpaul trophy

USA's Best Cricket Grounds - The Hobson Field

openingbat — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:02:00 GMT

Mark Hobson describes his cricket field as "a little bit of England" in Climax near Greensboro, North Carolina. He encourages the players to wear whites during matches and even during practice. He is a traditionalist at heart.

Hobson Field, Climax, NC - Aerial View. One man's passion!

The field is on seven acres of property and blessed with the right shape and the right topography for a cricket ground 160 yards long and 150 yards wide. The ground shares the space with a house and what was once a church, has a septic system, a scoreboard - shipped in from Australia - bathrooms (handicap accessible), fencing, bench seating and even some rocking chairs in front of the house that adds to the park cricket atmosphere.

The pitch is made of concrete with outdoor carpeting and three teams play their home matches at the field, which also has practice nets.

The ground features a pavilion and an amazing outfield.

The church house is used as a clubhouse and meeting room while the house reminds Hobson of the Ealing Cricket Club's pavilion in West London where he played cricket before he came to the United States 29 years ago for a two week vacation. He also played junior cricket with Middlesex.

Hobson, now 49, a senior executive with a mattress company and married with two children, remembers when he had $1,200 in his pocket, no job and nowhere to live. But this is a country where dreams can come true.

He now leads a comfortable life, still loves his cricket and still is the wicketkeeper for High Point Cricket Club in the 36-team Mid Atlantic Cricket Conference.

Hobson has a nice success story to tell and how he has helped cricket flourish in North Carolina. But he is reluctant to talk about how he has spent a considerable amount of his own money to buy the land and turn it into a cricket field so the game can grow even more.

The Hobson pitch is concrete with outdoor carpeting selected to get the right bounce.

Hobson recalls how he first moved around in Florida, Illinois and Minnesota and how he drove around North Carolina without finding a field for teams to play cricket.

After he bought the land he faced many obstacles before he eventually got the go ahead from local authorities. At first, it was tough, few people in the area had heard of cricket let alone watched it, and there was a mountain of red tape, hearings and letter writing to be completed before he was given the green light. It took him three years to make this dream come true. In the process, he created "a piece of the British Commonwealth in a rural stretch of the Triad," as one newspaper wrote.

Hobson even laughs about it now when he remembers how people thought he wanted to grow cricket bugs for fishing instead of having a cricket field.

Mark Hobson enjoying a match on his ground

Now he has professional landscapers help to keep the field in good shape, neat and tidy and a woman named Pam, who lives in the house on the property, helps with cutting the grass.

"I love cricket. This is the culmination of a dream," he told DreamCricket.com. "I want to give back to the cricket community. I am an immigrant who came here with nothing and got a chance to do something. I was fortunate enough to spend money on this. It is my legacy."

Asked if in the future his field would have a turf pitch, Hobson said: "The game is still recreational and there is too much maintenance."

Hobson describes the standard in his Mid Atlantic Cricket Conference as high. He said: "I am impressed with the players, the spirit and their attitude."

He says the league has about 500 active players with 65 percent from India, 20 percent Pakistan and the rest from cricket playing countries like Australia, West Indies and Britain.

Hobson is clearly attached to his field, the Cape Cod style home and the surroundings, he said: "I might retire in the house one day."

Mark Hobson - what a legacy to leave behind

Mark plays for High Point Cricket Club.