Top Level International Cricket Coming to the USA this year

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[BaBaStooey]

Agreement for 'aggressive expansion' in North America

India and West Indies to play in USA

Cricinfo staff

May 11, 2006

The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has announced that it has signed an agreement with the Indian board which will see the two countries work together to exploit the lucrative US market. The USA is home to more than 10 million expats, many from the subcontinent and the Caribbean, of which more than 200,000 are said to be dollar millionaires.

The WICB said that the first major project would be to host three to five one-day internationals in the USA and Canada in August and September. These will be outside the Future Tour Program unveiled earlier this week, and as that shows India are already committed to a tri-series in Sri Lanka in the first half of August, the likelihood is that this will be in Septmeber. That is sure to attract comment as several of India's players have expressed concern over player burnout and September provides some rare time off for them ahead of a chaotic year.

The series comes almost immediately after India complete a four-Test, five-ODI tour of the Caribbean which starts this weekend.

It is also unclear how the USA Cricket Association will react to the news, as officially they should have control over matches played on their soil. Although Ken Gordon, the WICB president, was in Florida last month to meet with USACA officials, it is not thought that anything was agreed, although a spokesman for the USACA stated that it had been "kept fully abreast throughout the negotiating process" and that it was "extremely excited that these two entities have decided to engage each other in North America".

What is beyond doubt is that the WICB, which has massive debts, needs the income these games will generate, and the press release makes that clear. "Because of current financial difficulties, India will fund this project on the understanding that it will be repaid out of the West Indies' share of the profits of the series."

This is, according to the WICB, the first of a number of joint projects, which include "the opening of the multi-complex stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the aggressive expansion of cricket in North America."

© Cricinfo

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To play against an All-Stars United States team

Lara to lead West Indies in New York

Cricinfo staff

May 9, 2006

Brian Lara: headed for the Big Apple © Getty Images

Brian Lara will lead a West Indies squad against an All-Stars United States team in two promotional one-day matches in New York on July 8 and 9. Cricket International, a New York-based cricket publication, one of the sponsors of the event, confirmed Lara's availability along with that of several other West Indies players.

"I have not played cricket there for some time, so I, personally, am looking forward [to] getting there, and I know a lot of my team-mates are supposed to be coming over and playing those two matches," he has been quoted as saying by the Jamaica Gleaner. "It is always good to spread your wings and get across to a different sort of audience and I am hoping that we can have a lot of Americans as well. It's exciting, and it's going to be good cricket."

Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Daren Ganga, Fidel Edwards, Corey Collymore, Runako Morton, Denesh Ramdin, Ian Bradshaw and Rawl Lewis are expected to be in the West Indies squad.

Both matches wil be played at the Floyd Bennett Park in Brooklyn.

[Lawgvr1955]

Thanks for the update.

Go Windies!!

[BaBaStooey]

India were bowled out for 200. Dravid (as expected) was the top scorer with 81. However, the Indians secret weapon, Dhoni, was out for only 3, and their last 4 wickets fell over a span of only 16 runs.

However, the Windies batsmen did not respond. They were bowled out for only 103, with only four batsmen reaching double digit scores.

India are 40 for 2 in their second innings, but once again, their openers were not able to produce. Sehwag and Jaffer combined for only 5 runs before both falling by the fourth over. Dravid and Laxman are batting right now with the lead at 137 runs with 8 wickets remaining.

If the Windies can bowl them out cheaply, their batting will need to improve in order for them to win. The wicket definitely seems to favor the bowlers right now.

[Lawgvr1955]

Sounds like you have been watching the matches. They used to show cricket on our cable system, but quit a few years back.

Do you know if ESPN or some other channel will carry the Windies in NY next week?

[BaBaStooey]

No, I don't think they will.

The matches are not broadcast on cable television. The best way to watch is by ordering the matches via satellite packages. However, some of the matches are on DirecTV, and some of them are on DISH Network.

My method of watching matches is a little odd. I do not have satellite, but I know someone who does, and they record them for me. However, I do follow the matches as they happen on the internet via the website cricinfo.com (a fantastic website).

I do not know if the Windies upcoming matches in NYC will be broadcast.

Oh, and for an update to the test match. India finished up their second innings with a score of 171 all out, giving them a total of 371 and setting the West Indies a target of 269 to win. A draw was not going to happen in this case due to the match progressing very quickly. India finished batting early on the 3rd day.

West Indies fought hard after their opener Chris Gayle fell only 2 balls into their second innings. Sarwan scored 51 and Ramdin had 62 not out. However, once the top batsmen were out for the West Indies, Ramdin was left to bat with tail-enders, and spinner Anil Kumble of India (only the second man in history to take all 10 wickets in a test innings) picked up 6 for 78 as the Windies were bowled out for 219. India won the series 1-0 by winning the fourth match by 49 runs. Indian captain Rahul Dravid was named Man of the Match for his two half-centuries.

[BaBaStooey]

And now, some pictures!


Virender Sehwag (L) and Wasim Jaffer (R) walk out to bat, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 1st day, June 30, 2006


West Indies celebrate as Virender Sehwag departs, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 1st day, June 30, 2006


Rahul Dravid cuts during his half-century, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 1st day, June 30, 2006


Anil Kumble plays the ball onto his stumps for the umpteenth time in the series, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 1st day, June 30, 2006


The Indians mob Harbhajan Singh after another West Indian wicket falls, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 2nd day, July 1, 2006


Rahul Dravid in a picture perfect cover drive, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 2nd day, July 1, 2006


VVS Laxman snaps up Chris Gayle, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 3rd day, July 2, 2006


Celebrations break out after the fall of Corey Collymore to end the match, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 2nd day, July 1, 2006


Indian fans wave the Tricolour in celebration, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 2nd day, July 1, 2006


A thrilled Indian bunch pose with the series trophy, West Indies v India, 4th Test, Jamaica, 3rd day, July 2, 2006

[Lawgvr1955]

Thanks for the pics and link. I went to the site and saw that there is great controversy surrounding Brian Lara prior to the team coming to the US this week end.

[BaBaStooey]

I feel bad for Lara. He was able to carry his team to victory in the one-day series, but it seems like he is the only one with a winning attitude. He is a legend on a team of young guys. In baseball, he would have been traded to a powerhouse making a run at the title, but in cricket, you cannot be traded from your national team.

Lara wants more input into the selection process. He wants the most motivated guys in the West Indies on his side. The selectors are apparently not giving him who he wants.

[BaBaStooey]

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/canada/content/story/252680.html

I am now seeing that the proposed matches in the USA have been moved to Toronto, where the two teams will play their series exclusively.

While this is not a big problem for me, because Toronto is pretty close to where I am, this is a blow for cricket in the USA.

The group that runs cricket in the USA, the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) has been in trouble over the past few years for not doing a very good job. This has translated to our performance on the field, some of you may recall the absolute demolishing we received at the hands of world champs Australia a couple years back.

Are you telling me this country doesn't have the resources to develop a couple of international-quality cricket pitches suitable for spectator viewing? The sport isn't even given a chance to go anywhere here in this country.

Why weren't some of the Philadelphia-area clubs involved in this venture? I'm pretty sure the Merion club has a pitch which would meet the needs of everyone involved.

[Skooz]

I am at the forefront of the "soccer sucks" crowd, but I would fascinated with learning about cricket. I look forward to the sport getting some play here.