New USA Cricket League Starts

[Andy TAUS]

BhoysFC1995,

Two of the AUS players named are AUS has-beens from years ago.

Greg Mathews has spent the last ten years flogging (selling) hair-pieces as hair-replacement on TV while Colin Miller has not been in the AUS cricketing scene as a player (or in any other capacity) for at least 5-6 years (when he was retired).

The APC sounds just like another one of those marketing exercises these two AUS past-players have been promoting around the world.

Hope there's more substance to the APC than the amount of Matthew's natural hair.

Andy T.

[AndyMead]

oh, and honestly, who gives a poo that i called it a baseball pitch
Plenty of folks. It irks me, but I'm not going to worry about it. The only "pitch" in baseball is the delivery from the pitcher to the catcher.

[Craig the Aussie]

BhoysFC1995,

the last ten years flogging (selling) hair-pieces as hair-replacement on TV while Colin Miller has not been in the AUS cricketing scene as a player (or in any other capacity) for at least 5-6 years (when he was retired).

Well "Funky" Miller was a bit more recent than that. He was Australian cricketer of the year in about 2001.

But, this league looks like a very very dodgy enterprise. None of teh national associations accredit it, nor does the ICC.

[BhoysFC1995]

Plenty of folks. It irks me, but I'm not going to worry about it. The only "pitch" in baseball is the delivery from the pitcher to the catcher.

ok, fine, whatever.

anyways-

news for today

Pro Cricket launches (http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/06-24-2004/0002199189&EDATE=)

Pro Cricket to Begin in US (http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/5967_848605,001600060001.htm)

[BhoysFC1995]

Ambrose, Richardson for American Pro Cricket (http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20040625T230000-0500_61791_OBS_AMBROSE__RICHARDSON_FOR_AMERICAN_PRO_CRICKET.asp)

Richie Richardson and Curtly Ambrose are among nine West Indians identified to participate in the controversial American Pro Cricket league in the United States in the next few weeks.

Richardson is a former Windies captain and Ambrose is a fast bowler.

[Sachin]

I cannot believe they are implementing the DH rule. I just can't believe it.

Anyway, have tickets gone on sale in DC? I can't seem to find any info.

Sachin

[BhoysFC1995]

American ProCricket all set for launch (http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/NATIONAL/AUS/)

"...the league is fully funded for the first three years. The interest raised by an exhibition match played in America on June 19 has also led him to be optimistic. "Actually we sent out invites to only 50 people, but around 900 turned up as we kept the gates open. Online bulletin boards have been talking about the opening match, so that is an indication that it is here to stay."

well, i was there and no way was there 900 people. and as for the lsat sentence, i think they shoulod invest some money into marketing, instead of relying on free publicity on BB's.

[BhoysFC1995]

ok, so i just saw at the website some of the new rules they will have-

100 balls.

RULES
1. Each team has 1 inning, each consisting of 20 by 5-ball overs (ie. a total of 20 overs per team for each match).
2. Each team shall consist of 12 players of which one player is classed as a designated hitter for one nominated bowler.
3. If a no ball is bowled the batsman is not out (unless run out). The no ball must be bowled again. For a no ball, 1 run shall be added to extras, plus any additional runs scored of it as credited to the batsman.
4. If a wide is bowled, 1 run is scored and the ball must be bowled again.
5. Each of the bowlers can bowl up to a maximum of 5 overs each per match, thus a minimum of four bowlers must be used.
6. The wicket-keeper must be properly equipped with pads and gloves.
7. Result : For a win, the result shall be determined simply by the team having scored the most runs in their respective innings.
8. Points :
a) Win - 4 points.
b) Tie - 3 point each ;
c) No result - 2 points each.
9. The bowling team shall complete a 20-over innings in less than 90 minutes
10. New batsmen must be in position within 90 seconds of a wicket falling.
11. Only two fielders are allowed outside an inner circle region as determined by the umpires ,during the first and final six overs of a team's innings.
12. Only four fielders are allowed outside an inner circle region as determined by the umpires, during overs seven through fourteen of a team’ innings.
13. Umpires can impose a five-run penalty for time-wasting by batsmen. They are expected to be ready as soon as the bowler is ready.
14. In the event of rain, Time and overs remaining shall be calculated at the rate of 4.5 minutes per over.
15. A 3 minute drinks break may be taken at the conclusion of 10 overs of a teams innings.
16. The normal laws of cricket shall apply except where modified above.
------------------------------

so 5 balls an over, not 6. the preseason game i went to was 6 balls an over.

sort of like the DH rule in baseball, there is a batter who doesn't have to field, and bats in place of a bowler.

[BhoysFC1995]

video highlights are up on the site from the preseason match-
www.procricket.com and go to the right side, theres some good clips there.

[CrewDust]

What is the over/under on the number of overs the underdogs will get this weekend? :p

[BhoysFC1995]

your comedy is unexplainable.

[Andy TAUS]

your comedy is unexplainable.I totally agree. Seems like a play on terms/words gone wrong, by some-one who doesn't know better.

:confused:

[BhoysFC1995]

maybe i/we should just be happy a new person ventured into the forum ;) ?

anyways-
andy, did you (or any other aussies/non people in the US) watch the video clips; i am interested to see what you guys think.

[BhoysFC1995]

Yahoo News article (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20040629/lf_afp/cricket_usa_040629153335)

...Nearly 30 years after Pele came to the United States in a similar bid to boost football fortunes, American Pro Cricket (APC) will bring about 40 global standouts to US cities during a two-month debut season that begins Friday...
"There are 7.5 million people watching or playing cricket in America. There is definitely room for growth to take the game to the next level."

[BhoysFC1995]

ALL OUT- Ten Comments of the Game
FAST'n'FURIOUS ACTION
Florida Thunder 1-89 (12 ov)beat NY Storm 10-88 (19.2 ov)

so i ventured out to watch the first ever pro cricket game in the USA. as a rookie to cricket i was full of excitement; the best way of giving my review is just listing them-

-Fast'n'Furious is the motto of the league. Well, they had the furious part right away, the game started 57 minutes late b/c someone forgot to bring the wickets... no joke.

-Now the Fast part, that would be Florida's batting and how fast it took them to get beat NY, 12 overs only.

-Here comes the puns, (just call me the 'big pun' for the rest of this post). Florida provided an ample amount of "Thunder", crushing numerous fours and adding a a few sixeroos (is that even a word?). One six in particluar crackled past the seating level into the food stand area (you get it, crackled b/c of thunder??)

-had to throw in a aussie word as the stadium announcer was aussie, as well a Colin Miller, a bowler on FLA who did quit well. His new nickname, and pun#2, Thunder From Down Under.

-ok, back to the game, NY is really really bad. Their batting was mediocre, and their running seemed to be coached by a blind man. countless times they were run out for miscommunications.

-the crowd- not bad, louder than last game and slightly more as well. 500 is my guess. they also seemed a bit drunker (what else was everyone suppose to do besides drink for a 55 minute game delay)

-my camera didn't work too good last night, it had a hard time focusing; much like NY's strategy throughout the game.

-will i go to more games to watch my local NY storm? well first maybe they should switch their name from Storm to something like the "NY light summer breeze". Sure, i will problably go again, but after watching NY play twice, it seems like they will be the Gold Coast Seagulls (defunct team of NRL) of the League- people show up to watch the other teams do good.

-still no announcement on the new tv network's launch.

-final thought- not a bad time, got to see some cricket in a stadium in NYC, which could never be a bad thing. a good experience overall, i hope people will give this league a chance. thats my 10th thought, i am All OUT!!! (jeez, how cheezy!)

[BhoysFC1995]

as promised, some shoddy pics-

http://www.ofoto.com/I.jsp?c=j46i8vu.198kz0b2&x=0&y=3ip29l

[BhoysFC1995]

cricinfo has a link up on a review of the match, and quit interestingly they quote a certain individual

http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/JUL/009414_USA_02JUL2004.html

[Andy TAUS]

cricinfo has a link up on a review of the match, and quit interestingly they quote a certain individual

http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2004/JUL/009414_USA_02JUL2004.htmlDid this certain individual get a fee for his input ?

:D

[BhoysFC1995]

Did this certain individual get a fee for his input ?

:D

no, not yet!.... but here's my latest installment, enjoy....
--------------------------------------------------
All Out
7.7.04
Hey, NY Wins!
-jeff thompson

So 3 games have been played, New York has won and an even bigger shocker, the procricket website has been updated!

-SF won their inagural match- which started at 6pm, not 7 silly kids- by 8 wickets. interesting tidbits from the game, a six became an out b/c the spot where the fielder caught the ball had no boundry line, so the umps first said six, but then decided if the line was long enough to continue to his spot he would have been out.

-the SF game had a few hundred fans, and if any of them made the cross country flight, they would have noticed a person looking just like Florida Thunder's Aussie Colin Miller playing for Texas. Well, thats because IT WAS! the league is allowing people to play for various teams through out the length of the season. doesn't that make ProCricket more of a exhibition series rather than a League?

-NJ (5-145) Beat FLA by 5 wickets in 18.2 ov (and they had Colin Miller!) The Fire were led by Shawn Riley getting 35 runs. 1200 fans saw this game.

-Oh yeah, i mentioned the league's site has been finally updated, but something is still amiss over there. the have links to the past 3 games, but for example the NJ-FLA game lists both teams as NJ Fire. For the SF-TX game, the toss shows "Won by NY Storm NJ Fire Were Asked to Bat First", huh?? and since the standing aren't updated, i'll do it for ya:

San Fran.... HA! as i am typing this, apparantly so are they, the page was just updated (whew, saves me some typing)
http://www.procricket.com/standings.asp

-NJ (172-7), possibly tired from there recent win over Florida, fell to NY (won by 9 wickets in 19 overs). Congrats to NY, who seem to become a new team compared to the previous two games. they needed only three batters to win this contest with all of them making the half century mark or better(Hinds 58, Sylvester 50, Samuels 51). Sylvest got his 50 off only 16 balls, not bad at all. this makes me actually think at least one guy in the league will get a highly coveted century before this season finishes.

-Congrats to the league if unconfirmed reports are true that over 2000 people saw NY's metamorphasis into a winning team in NJ. if thats true, the league is moving towards a good trend- larger crowds.

-what do i wish for? why can't the players wear baseball caps instead of the bucket style ones? by switching, it would help prevent them from constantly getting blown away too. In other leagues they wear them in the ODI format (australia for example), and plus it would help with merchandising- i think people would be more inclined to buy a baseball cap right? talking about team names (was i??) i nominate NY's name to be switched to the 6er's. i think i will actually refer to them as that name for now on. i'll actually make that my question of the day (see below)

-i believe i will venture out to the NY-DC game on friday, my only request is that it starts on time. with the NY 6er's on a one game winning streak, and seemingly have found a batting order that will work, i am excited for the upcoming game. and i know you are all asking yourselves "will i take shoddy pictures of the game"- of course!

-Raza Zaidi of NJ says Central Jersey is the "cricket playing heart of the nation" read here-
http://www.c-n.com/news/c-n/story/0,2111,997199,00.html

-The news: Ajay Jadeja is returning home from the US without participating in American Pro Cricket matches after the Indian cricket board told players to keep off the event.
what i say: he did decent in the preseason match, but the effect of this i will leave to my more knowledgable fans. And that makes ten, so I am ALL OUT!

extra balls-
* USA expectedly beat Cayman Islands by 6 wickets in their first match of the America's Cup
* NZ is on a war path, not-beaten going into the Natwest series final over in England, watch out Australia (and USA too, he-he) in the ICC Champions Tourny in September
* Thumbs down to USA getting nixed for a world cup 07 hosting spot. come to think of it, the reasons are pretty valid

Question of the week- How about we change the name of the NY Storm to the NY 6er's? send replies to jeff@jeffstar.com

[mrdance_cpfc]

Hi everyone.

I'm a cricket fan in the UK and Im very interested at how this pro-league thing is going in the US. BTW in answer to an earlier question, how good are attendances, well this weekend sees the finals day of the twenty20 cup which is a tourno that mirrors the length of game you are playing, the finals day is sold out and demand is very high indeed. I've got my ticket :) Maybe I'll post a report if you're interested...

Anyway, please keep posting BhoysFC1995, this is really fascinating on my part.

Cheers