As the second most-watched sport after football. Cricket is enjoyed all over the world. The old British sport that spread its wings all over the commonwealth, introducing cricket throughout the world. It grew to be a popular sport in South Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe.

Cricket has expanded over the last hundred years all over the planet. But the funny thing is only 12 teams play..2 teams from Europe 5 teams in South Asia, 2 from Africa, 1 in west indies
representing 15 Caribbean countries and 2 from the very bottom of the earth in Australiasia

These countries are full members whilst 93 countries remain as associate countries.It wasn’t too long that Ireland and Afghanistan joined as members in 2018 and ten years before that Bangladesh joined also. It is promising to see new countries join- but at such a slow rate?

The Netherlands and Cricket?

The Netherlands and Dutch cricket is not the first thing you think of when visualising cricket-Even though the name Cricket” comes from the Dutch word “Kricke” and the “Krickstoel” resembled the stumps we see today behind the batsmen. The dutch cricket board was established in 1883. It is one of the oldest national governing bodies in the sport- it is even older than some of the full members
of the ICC.
Dutch cricket has been enjoyed for many years since an English traveler played on dutch soil in 1780. It didn’t stop their many foreigners played cricket in the Netherlands.

In 1969 The England team stopped by before an ashes match and embarrassingly lost against the home team. Cricket was the most popular sport in the Netherlands in the 19th century until football came. This didn’t get in the way of Dutch cricket. The team plodded along and made a few more upsets. In 2003 the Netherlands made an impressive 320 runs in the Icc world cup and beat Namibia by 64
runs. Jacob Jan Esmeijer was one of the Netherlands ‘ best-left arm spinners. He would not let anyone go for more than 5 runs an over.

Jan was one of the names in the hall of fame of Dutch cricket. Anton Bakker played in the 1969 match against England and was considered the best captain in Dutch cricket. Steven lubbers also is a
great. Even though he didn’t do much in the first few competitions, he found his confidence and got 12 wickets in 1986 and made 3 half centuries. He stayed put and guided his country through matches and tournaments. He retired on a high note, in 1996 and now sadly a gymnastic teacher.

A talent wasted, 6000 cricketers in the Netherlands are yearning to bring it back. There needs to be a push for this sport in this country. Captain Paul Borren retired at 34 leading the orange team for nine years. He contributed over 1000 runs with the bat and 46 wickets. Paul led the team to another historic victory, against England in 2009, winning by 4 wickets. The left-arm spinner Peter
Seelar succeeds him. He is determined to push the team to new boundaries but understands he has big boots to fill.

The future could possibly be…Orange?

Things have progressed…In 2017 the Netherlands has regained ODI status after 4 years, which is a huge achievement. Ryan Campbell is the coach of the Orange team and he is confident that his team will continue to make more upsets and surprises. But they need to “Up their game” for the big teams. Last year in Dubai and Abu Dhabi the Netherlands won eight of nine games to qualify and beat
Papua New Guinea, in the final, to win the ICC T20 World cup qualifier trophy.

This sport survived the first world war as the dutch continued to tour England. Cricket has a new formidable force. It is the Royal dutch lions, they are fighting for what they once had. “Kricke”
Ryan Campbell the coach said that Netherlands will not accept that they are just known as the “13th” member in the ICC but a team that never forgets and never gives up.

The post Dutch Cricket Courage appeared first on Cricket's Finest.

Cricket has come a long way- from it’s 50 over matches with chubby hairy men bowling and batting until the sun goes down.

Things had to change and it began in England in 2003, where cricket was born.

They had to find a way to make the game shorter in length but more exciting. The 20/20 idea encouraged players to be fitter, stronger and smarter with the ball and bat.

This way it would get the crowd on their feet and not sleeping reading a book like in test cricket.

It became a hit and was rolled out throughout the world. This new dynamic twist to the sport attracted younger crowds. With more crowds came more money.

Sponsors would queue up to get a slice of pie. Companies would compete to get their name on advertising boards on the pitch and through televised sponsorship and sponsors for prizes and tournaments

A cricket-mad country like India took advantage of this. The IPL (Indian premier league) started a T20 tournament and it has become the biggest tournament the world has ever seen.

The IPL brand is worth $6.3 billion US dollars, and it contributes $114 million to Indian GDP in 2015 It was a matter of time other countries followed suit: The Big Bash League in Australia, Natwest T20
Caribbean premier league and The BPL Bangladesh Premier League.

The leagues almost compete with each other, flaunting cash on prize money, celebrity endorsements and drafting new players and old legends from all over the world.
In India filmstar, Shahrukh khan owns KKR Kolkata knight riders it is worth 105 million dollars. Whilst in Bangladesh BPL earned $51million just on sponsorship in 2017. In the Natwest, T20 teams are given a $45
million budget for players.

How is t20 cricket played?

As the name suggests each team has 20 overs (120 balls) to make the most runs and bowl batsmen out.
There are 9 batsmen and teams can only use 5 bowlers with a maximum of 4 overs each (24 balls)

Bowlers have to bowl with a straight arm and not overstep the mark- to get a no-ball. They would be facing the batsmen and behind him a wicketkeeper ready to catch a ball that clips the bat or run him out.

Only five fielders to stand in the circle and only two players patrol the outside. If they catch a ball the batsmen are out, that is if they don’t hit the ball over the head for a 6 or let it go for a 4 when it rolls to the boundary line.

After 13-15 overs they have a tea break and then back for an exciting run chase.

Prizes go for the man of the match sometimes best fielder, most sixes, and most wickets.

It is a very exciting 3 to 4 hours of cricket. Players are tested. Every bowl, run, catch makes a massive difference. You hear the crowds roar. Trumpets blowing after every boundary,
Cheerleaders dancing.

We have to thank the ECB (English cricket board) for concocting the idea and revolutionizing the sport. Cricket is not just “the gentlemen’s game” it is a beautiful game played and watched by all.

More recently with the Coronavirus pandemic has put a halt to cricket tournaments and matches around the world. This is because of the worldwide social distancing law that disallows any large gathering
Pakistan Super League was due to start this year. It would of been 4 years this year that they have played on their home soil. The IPL has also been canceled. It has caused drama in the camps over pay and contracts

We hope that this virus fizzles out soon and that we can all enjoy once the beautiful game.

The post What is T20 Cricket?  And how has it revolutionised the beautiful game. appeared first on Cricket's Finest.