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Canadian cricketers set for matches

29/ 6/2005

Cricket

THREE of the borough's cricket teams face competition from across the Atlantic as the Toronto Cricket Academy visit the area.

Saddleworth, Werneth and Woodhouses will play the visiting side during August as the Academy fits in nine games in 15 days against teams across the region.

It will be the Academy's second visit to England, having won seven out of their eight games when they toured the Devon and Somerset regions two years ago.

The objective of the tour is for the group to perform well and learn about English playing conditions. Organisers also hope that clubs will explain their history to their visitors

Fifteen players and six adults, led by Academy president Brian Hale, arrive in Manchester on August 1, hoping to repeat the feats of ex-Academy members Ashish Bagai and Zubin Surkari.

Bagai is the current Canadian wicketkeeper who played in the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, while Surkari hit 140 against the UAE in the recent Six Nations qualifying tournament.

Among their ranks this time is 10-year-old Nitish Kumar who - having received glowing praise from Somerset CCC's Academy and King's College, Taunton - went on the Academy's tour to Trinidad and Tobago last year.

Also with the team will be Arsalan Quadir who represented Canada at under-15s level in the Cayman Islands last year.

The match against Saddleworth takes place on August 4, they face Werneth on August 8 and play Woodhouses 24 hours later.

All games start at 2pm except the Werneth one which gets under way at noon.