Thailand, unlike former British colonial bases like India and Malaysia,
has never been known for it's cricket. Yet for 14 years the Cricket Sixes
at Gymkhana Club has been Chiangmai's only annual international sports
event of any kind - and it's suddenly spinning off successfully into Thai
schools! David Hardy reports.
"Three Chiangmai schools played in a prototype tournament during
last year's Sixes" recalls retired English engineer Peter Dawson,
now co-chairman of the new Chiangmai Schools Cricket Association. "The
SCA was formed soon after, and this year 6 local schools took part including
2 government schools, Rong Or at Sansai and Sai Moon at Hang Dong, who
were only introduced to the sport 2 months ago."
"Brian Wiggins, the professional Australian junior coach, came
to Chiangmai in March, thanks to the Australian Cricket Board, and spent
time at all the schools. He was delighted at his reception, particularly
at the government schools, and praised the natural skills of many of the
Thai boys and girls. Within minutes, batsmen were clobbering the ball all
over the field, bowlers were bowling correctly with straight arms, and
fielders caught and returned the ball as though they had been playing for
years!"
"In the tournament, now called the Sixes Junior Cricket Cup, Rong
Or gave Montfort College a close run in the final of the 9-10 year age
group and Sai Moon beat Lanna International for the bronze medals in the
11-12 year group. The principal of Rong Or is so enthusiastic that he is
putting cricket on his curriculum!"
To the millions of devotees of the sport, this breakthrough has been
welcomed around the world - especially by those who noted that amongst
the international stars playing in our latest "big" Sixes (names
like Mike Gatting, Tom Hogan, Jonny Commins, Kenny Jackson, Rumesh Ratanayaka
and Amal Silva) not one adult Thai name figured.
But even the rawest western recruit would notice several differences
between the junior and senior games. Peter explains: "The children
are aged between 8 and 12 and their equipment consists of plastic bats,
a pair of wickets and a soft ball. No protective clothing is needed. The
game can be played in a large indoor arena or outdoors in a field with
a reduced boundary. Two teams have 8 players each and the batting side
bats in pairs, each receiving 4 overs. If a batsman is 'out', he stays
at the wicket but his score is reduced by 5 runs." Other changes are
shown in the accompanying panel.
The Sixes have scored
in a big way with lots of moral support from UNICEF, promoting the child's
right to play - and the cricket ethic of "fair play". Adult teams
return the compliment with a donation!
Sixes chairman Maurice
Bromley (left), a former fast bowling star himself, has always wanted to
get the sport into Thai schools. This winning player received her award
from a Sri Lankan star - watched by Khun Sinturong of Prince Royal's College.
Big-time backing
Chiangmai's junior cricket initiative has not just been supported by
the visiting overseas teams who contributed equipment. It's development
has drawn specific praise from the Governor of Chiangmai Province, the
Mayor, the Commander of the 33rd Military Circle (Royal Thai Army) and
the Northern Region of TAT.
It has also attracted the attention of no less a body than the United
Nations, and their Children's Fund "Envoy for Youth", Thai film
star Kathaleeya McIntosh, presented the awards to this year's winners.
The "Right to Play" is a formal article in the UNICEF Convention
on the Rights of the Child worldwide, and His Excellency Anand Panyarachun,
their Ambassador to Thailand, has praised the Chiangmai Sixes for their
efforts.
"UNICEF is as keen as you are to encourage cricket, and it's ethic
of fair play, among the youth of Thailand" he wrote in his message
to the Sixes annual magazine. "The many efforts and contributions
like yours have allowed the work of UNICEF in Thailand to put smiles on
the faces of children whose rights and needs must be met as a priority.
We are now more convinced than ever that our aims of eradicating child
poverty, child abuse, child labour and other such manifestations of vulnerabilities
of children can be achieved with the collective will of business, government
and civil society."
This Thai government
school includes children so poor that a fund to supply them with breakfast
is beeing planned - yet they are already way up the Junior batting order.
More local schools are likely to join in and more inter-school tournaments
will be played this year. As the players of the past 2 years grow older
there will be opportunities for them to graduate to the adult game, played
with a hard ball and more complex rules. As a start they can join in the
monthly informal Sunday cricket played at the beautiful, 103 year old Chiengmai
Gymkhana Club.
"In a few year's time they will form the core of a Thai Chiangmai
side, playing matches against Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pattaya and elsewhere"
enthuses Peter. "Who knows? One day they may play at Lords!"
Adult and junior cricket is open monthly to all-comers. The May date
is Sunday the 13th, from 9.00am at Gymkhana Club, near Gawila Barracks
on Old Lamphun Road. More information on (tel) 216132 or e-mail: peterdaw@cm.ksc.co.th
A move to make Chiangmai and Phuket duty free shopping
havens within just 3 months was announced at the recent tourism conference
opened by the Prime Minister at the Chiangmai Plaza Hotel. (...).
MISS
JUREEPORN. I'm 30 years old and would like to marry with
a foreign gentleman 30-45 years old who has a good heart (...).
David
Hardy
![[ Yahoo! News Search ]](http://us.yimg.com/i/yahootogo/ytg_news.gif){kind=small}
![[ Yahoo! Weather ]](http://us.yimg.com/i/yahootogo/ytg_weather.gif){kind=small}