patel@iham1.UUCP (S. R. Patel) (02/02/85)
CRICKET IN U.S.A. ================= Cricket has been played in all parts of U.S.A for a number of years. Also, a lot of good calibered players from other countries are residing in this country and all cricketeers enjoy playing this game. I am sure something can be done to promote this game like soccer has been. Cricket leagues are normally played between late spring and early fall but not much has been done to promote it further than these leagues. I had played in New York for 1 year before I moved to a Chicage suburb and have been playing in the Mid-West League and All-State League for the last 3 years in the Chicago area (which includes Milwaukee and St. Louis). The best thing that can be done is to organize a "good" cricket team with "Test Player" caliber and play the game by inviting foreign cricket teams. Last year, some attempts were made by officials of our league by inviting cricket players like Sunil Gavasker, Sir Garfield Sobers, Colin Cowdrey, etc., in the Chicago area but nothing much could be done after that. But, if the effort is made by all the cricket playing leagues in the entire U.S.A, some success is possible. Other option is to broadcast "Test" matches being played in foreign countries on a TV channel so that more people can understand the game and get involved in it. I have often seen live soccer being played in Australia on a cable channel and something similar can also be done in cricket for the cricket loving fans. S. R. Patel ==================================================== Please send your replies and thoughts to iham1!patel ====================================================
mmt@dciem.UUCP (Martin Taylor) (02/03/85)
> >The best thing that can be done is to organize a "good" cricket team >with "Test Player" caliber and play the game by inviting foreign cricket >teams. Last year, some attempts were made by officials of our league by >inviting cricket players like Sunil Gavasker, Sir Garfield Sobers, Colin >Cowdrey, etc., in the Chicago area but nothing much could be done after >that. But, if the effort is made by all the cricket playing leagues in >the entire U.S.A, some success is possible. In Toronto, teams sometimes have a Test player (usually West Indian) playing in League games, sometimes for the season, but more commonly just for a couple of games. These players bring out a few spectators, but only those who already play or are interested in cricket. The mass of the public doesn't care. Toronto is a bit of a centre of cricket in North America, having over 80 teams in 9 sections of a league, and yet it is rare that we get any mention in the papers, radio or TV. -- Martin Taylor {allegra,linus,ihnp4,floyd,ubc-vision}!utzoo!dciem!mmt {uw-beaver,qucis,watmath}!utcsrgv!dciem!mmt