Cricket in Canada
Building Support For A U Of M Cricket Team
FARHAN ISLAM/
Have you ever heard of a sport that has a name matching that of an insect? Well, it’s out there, and that sport’s name is cricket. For those who are unfamiliar with this sport, it is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players each, on a roughly elliptical-shaped field, in the centre of what is called the pitch.
Cricket has a history spanning back to the 16th century, although the official history of international test cricket began in 1877. Although the exact origin of the sport is unknown, there is a body of evidence that suggests that the game was played during the Saxon and Norman times by children living in the Weald, an ancient forest in southeast England.
There are many different types and grades of cricket. Those who play professionally at an international level play what they call “test cricket.” Test matches are considered the top level and only full members can play test matches, since teams need a lot of experience and the right temperament.
Cricket is a game that requires patience, practice, and experience and, last but not least, team spirit. It is a game that is not just there to play but also to help improve patience and tactics. Thus the sport has been divided into three different levels; full members, associated members and affiliated members. Full members are those countries that are capable of playing both international test cricket and one-day international matches, while associated members can play international one-day but aren’t yet qualified to play test matches. Affiliated members can participate in domestic one-day matches and only participate in international events occasionally.
In Canada, the national team is now ranked 12th in the world, and is getting ready for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.
Canada has a colourful cricket history. British soldiers introduced the game to the country, which they used to play during leisure time. By the time Canada became a nation in 1867, the game was so popular that the first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, declared it the national sport of the fledging country.
Presently, Canada is recognized as a potential test-playing country, but due to a lack of infrastructure and popularity it is going towards that level at a slow pace, yet still steadier than other potential candidates. There are ten full members in the world: Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.
The Canadian Cricket Association (CCA) is the governing body of the sport in Canada. In Manitoba, the sport is governed by the Manitoba Cricket Association, which joined the CCA in 1895. The sport of cricket is played year-round in Manitoba, both indoors and outdoors. Most games are played at Assiniboine Park, Richmond West Park, and Gimli Park. This past year, there were 15 teams playing in two divisions.
Many cricket players attend the University of Manitoba. These players are interested in creating a team for the university. Cricket has been introduced to many universities across Canada — including U of T, SFU, and Queen’s — and since this game is growing in popularity, it is gaining support from the government. With Canada becoming one of the best cricketing nations, we should help bring this game into our community. So why wait for it, let's make a cricket team at the University of Manitoba and help newcomers learn about the game.
If anyone is interested in learning more about the sport, they can contact the Manitoba Cricket Association at www. cricket.mb.ca for more information. Other useful websites are www.cricinfo. com, www.canadiancricket.org, and www.cricketnext.com. If anyone is interested in making a university cricket team, please contact Farhan Islam at far_927@yahoo.com.
