Tîm criced i Gymru - Welsh Cricket Team

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2009-06-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

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Cymru fel gwlad yng nghystadlaethau Twenty20

2009-06-09T13:43:00.000-07:00

Oddi ar wefan Vaughan Roderick, BBC Cymru
From Vaughan Roderick's blog, BBC Wales

Criced yn yr Iwerddon AFP
Rwy'n deall y dadleuon ynghylch gemau prawf ac undydd ond oes 'na unrhyw reswm dros beidio cael Cymru fel gwlad yng nghystadlaethau Twenty20?

ICC World Twenty20. Where's Wales? Ble mae Cymru?

2009-06-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

Mae'r ICC World Twenty20 England 2009 newydd gychwyn, a bydd yn parhau tan Fehefin 21ain. Felly pa wledydd sy'n cymryd rhan? Awstralia , Bangladesh , Lloegr , Iseldiroedd , India , Iwerddon , Seland Newydd , Pacistan , Yr Alban , De'r Affrig , Sri Lanca. Iwerddon, Yr Alban a Lloegr ond dim Cymru! Rhaid i'r Cymry chwarae dan faner Lloegr. Mae'n sefyllfa gwbl warthus, a rhaid cael newid ar frys.

The ICC World Twenty20 England 2009 has just started, and will last until June 21. And what countries are taking part? Australia , Bangladesh , England , Holland , India , Ireland , New Zealand , Pakistan , Scotland , South Africa , Sri Lanka and West Indies. Yes you read right, Ireland, Scotland and England, but no Wales! Our players must play for England. It is a complete and utter disgrace.

Rhowch Dim Criced i Gymru - Give Wales a Cricket Team

2009-02-02T10:34:00.000-08:00

Newydd ddod ar draws yr erthygl yma gan Adam Price ar ei flog.

Just recently found this article by Adam Price on his blog.

Rhowch Dim Criced I Gymru - Give Wales a Cricket Team

It’s a mystery why a Celtic country with the strongest cricket tradition is hidden under the umbrella of England’s team when Scotland and Ireland have independent teams. Indeed, Wales has more cricket teams than Scotland and Ireland combined. For over a century, we’ve sustained a first rate team. And many of ‘England’s’ players have come from Wales.

In the two other famous team games - rugby and football - we have, luckily, national representation. And yet, cricket teams are just as numerous as football and rugby ones in Wales, indeed, even more so according to the cricket journalist Michael Blumberg. The standard of a Welsh test team would surely equal at least Zimbabwe or Bangladesh. So why not, therefore, venture in our own colours?

Opposers say that Wales is already represented in the England and Wales Cricket Board (the EWCB). But how often do you hear the second letter pronounced by the media or even game officials? Also, it’s only England that is represented in the team’s name. This is a bit like calling the West Indies team - the only other multi-nation team acknowledged by the International Cricket Committee, the ICC - Jamaica, or calling Ireland’s team Ulster or Eire.

The ICC remains neutral on the matter. So why, therefore, are Wales’ cricketers treated in this manner? The argument given states that money to Glamorgan would disappear. But why would this be the case? Glamorgan receives money because the team competes in the EWCB’s county competitions - not because the team produces players for England. In the same way, Swansea and Cardiff benefit from being part of the English football leagues but this doesn’t have any effect on Wales’ right to compete as national team

A new national team would be able to ask the Welsh Assembly Government for support, as it has a duty to support national teams as set out in the One Wales Document. Also, the ICC has development funds available to new nations. But the biggest prize of all would have to be beating England at Lords. An old-province avenging its former masters.

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Mae’n ddirgelwch pam y dylai’r wlad Geltaidd sydd a’r traddodiad criced cryfaf gael ei chuddio o dan ymbarel tim Lloegr pan fo gyda’r Alban ac Iwerddon dimau annibynnol. Mae gan Gymru mwy o glybiau criced na sydd gan yr Alban ac Iwerddon rhyngddynt. Rydym wedi cynnal tim o’r radd flaenaf ers dros ganrif. Ac mae nifer helaeth o chwaraewyr “Lloegr” wedi dod o Gymru.

Yn y ddau gem tim adnabyddus arall - sef rygbi a phel-droed - mae gyda ni gynrychiolaeth genedlaethol, diolch i’r drefn. Ac eto mae clybiau criced yng Nghymru yr un mor niferus a rhai rygbi neu pel-droed, neu hyd yn oed yn fwy yn ol y newyddiadurwr criced Michael Blumberg. Byddai safon tim prawf Cymreig yn gydradd o leiaf a Zimbabwe neu Bangladesh. Felly, pam ddim mentro yn ein lliwiau ein hunain?

Yn ol y gwrthwynebwyr, mae Cymru yn cael ei chynrychioli eisoes ym Mwrdd Criced Lloegr a Cymru (yr EWCB). Ond pa mor aml y clywch chi yr ail lythyren na yn cael ei ynganu gan y cyfryngau neu swyddogion y gem? A Lloegr yn unig, wedi’r cwbl, yw enw’r tim. Mae hyn ychydig bach fel galw tim India’r Gorllewin - yr unig dim criced arall aml-genedlaethol sy’n cael ei gydnabod gan y Cyngor Criced Rhyngwladol, yr ICC - yn Jamaica, neu alw tim unedig Iwerddon yn Ulster neu Eire.

Mae’r ICC yn niwtral ar y mater. Felly pam fod cricedwyr Cymru yn derbyn y fath sarhad? Y ddadl sydd yn cael ei grybwyll yw y byddai arian i Forgannwg yn diflannu. Ond pam? Mae Morgannwg yn derbyn yr arian oherwydd ei bod hi’n cystadlu ym nhystadlaethau sirol yr EWCB - nid am ei bod hi’n cynhyrchu chwaraewyr i dim Lloegr. Yn yr un modd mae Abertawe a Chaerdydd yn elwa o fod yn rhan o gynghreiriau pel-droed Lloegr heb newid dim ar yr hawl i Gymru gystadlu fel tim cenedlaethol.

Byddai tim cenedlaethol newydd yn medru gofyn am gymorth gan Lywodraeth Cymru sydd ag ymrwymiad i gefnogi timau cenedlaethol yn nogfen Cymru’n Un, a’r ICC sydd a chronfa datblygu ar gyfer cenhedloedd newydd. Ond y wobr fwyaf, does bosib, fyddai curo Lloegr yn Lords. Fel Indiaid y Gorllewin a’r Dwyrain: cyn-dalaith yn talu’r pwyth yn ol.

Criced Cymru

2008-10-01T11:21:00.000-07:00

O flog Gray's Monotony / From Gray's Monotony's blog

Criced Cymru

In light of Cardiff hosting a one-day international between England and South Africa a few weeks ago, Mohammad Ashgar AM called for Wales to establish a full national cricket side. How would this happen?

It is important to note at the outset that Wales does have a history of competing in international cricket. The first match was against Scotland in Perth in 1923 and Wales beat the West Indies in 1928. Half a century later Wales competed in the first ICC Trophy, a tournament for non-Test playing nations, won by Sri Lanka. More recently Wales have played England in 50-over games, winning handsomely in 2002 (admittedly with the distinctly non-Welsh Jacques Kallis on board).

Many Welshmen have been of Test match standard over the years, not all of whom were selected by England. The most notable and recent is Simon Jones who played such a big part in the 2005 Ashes success. Others include Simon's father Jeff, who won fifteen caps for England in the 1960s, and Robert Croft, who played twenty-one times for England between 1996 and 2001.

Glamorgan of course are the only first-class County side in Wales and so any Welsh line-up would inevitably be made up of many Glamorgan players. At the beginning at least, it could be that Welsh-born cricketers play for Wales in one-dayers, including the World Cup, but for England in Test matches. Ed Joyce played one-dayers for Ireland before winning Test caps for England.

A Wales Minor Counties team has existed since 1988 and competes in the Minor Counties Championship. Glamorgan themselves used to play in this competition until they were awarded first-class status in 1921. Wales Minor Counties also played in what was the NatWest or C&G Trophy - 'the FA Cup of cricket'. However, the format was altered in 2006, leaving no place for a Wales side.

So how might Wales get their own national cricket team?

Scotland have shown us the way. Scotland resigned from the UK Cricket Council (then superseded by the England and Wales Cricket Board, or ECB) in 1992 and two years later were elected to Associate membership of the International Cricket Committee. They qualified for the 1999 and 2007 World Cups and have since played in several other international tournaments, winning the inaugural ICC Intercontinental Cup. Capturing the ICC Trophy in 2005 meant that Scotland gained temporary first-class One-Day International Status in January 2006.

Currently it is the Welsh Cricket Association that looks after the amateur game in Wales. The Association is a member of the England and Wales Cricket Board, commonly referred to as the ECB with the W conveniently dropped. (Even the website is ecb.co.uk). Wales would have to break from the ECB and become an Associate or Affiliate member of the ICC to be able to enter the ICC World Cup Qualifier (formerly ICC Trophy). It is performing well in this competition that confers qualification for the World Cup.

There are many Welshmen at the top of the game. David Morgan, former Glamorgan and ECB Chairman, is now President of the International Cricket Committee, Tony Lewis - nine times capped by England - is Chairman of the MCC, and Hugh Morris (three caps) has worked for the ECB for many years and is currently Managing Director of England Cricket.

Ashgar's Plaid colleague Adam Price tabled an Early Day Motion in 2002 that expressed the desire for a Welsh national team to compete in the World Cup. Now that Ashgar has raised the issue once again, maybe the Assembly can put pressure on the top brass to give serious consideration to the proposal.

Adam Price EDM

2007-03-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

Newydd ddod o hyd i'r EDM yma gan Adam Price AS a wnaethpwyd nol yn 2002. Dim ond 11 Aelod Seneddol wnaeth ei arwyddo ar y pryd, ond llongyfarchiadau i Adam am godi'r mater. Sylwer na gefnogodd unrhyw AS Llafur o Gymru y Cynnig, na chwaeth unrhyw aelod Seneddol Ceidwadol!

I've just found this Early Day Motion by Adam Price MP made back in 2002. Only 11 MP's signed the motion at the time, but congratulations to Adam Price for raising the matter. Note that none of the Welsh Labour MP's voted for the motion, and no Conservative MP's whatsoever supported it.

WELSH CRICKET TEAM - EDM 1499, 24/06/2002

Price, Adam
That this House congratulates the Welsh Cricket Team on their historic eight wicket victory over England at Cardiff; recognises the contribution of Wales to the game of cricket; notes that Scotland and Ireland are recognised as official competing nations during the Cricket World Cup; and calls on Wales to be awarded the equivalent of full national status in the cricketing world
Price, Adam (Plaid Cymru - Cymru / Welsh Constituency)
Llwyd, Elfyn (Plaid Cymru - Cymru / Welsh Constituency)
Jones, Nigel (Lib Dems - Lloegr / English Constituency)
Ewing, Annabelle (SNP - Yr Alban / Scottish Constituency)
George, Andrew (Lib Dems - Lloegr / English Constituency)
Thomas, Simon (Plaid Cymru - Cymru / Welsh Constituency)
Robertson, Angus (SNP - Yr Alban / Scottish Constituency)
Salmond, Alex (SNP - Yr Alban / Scottish Constituency)
Pickthall, Colin (Labour - Lloegr / English Constituency)
McDonnell, John (Labour - Lloegr / English Constituency)
Williams, Roger (Lib Dems - Cymu / Welsh Constituency)

Ireland beat Pakistan at Cricket! Where's Wales?

2007-03-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Erthygl oddi ar blog 'British Nationalists in Wales Watch - 20/03/07

An article from the 'British Nationalists in Wales' Watch Blog - 20/03/07

Amongst all the celebrations after we beat England at rugby, it seems to have passed people's notice that Ireland beat Pakistan... at cricket!

Who the hell plays cricket in Ireland? In any case, it just begs the question - where's the Welsh team? Of course, we know the answer, deep in the bowels (or up the arse) of the Englanddontmentionthewalesbit 'national' cricket team.

What is this sad psychology that it's better to be ignored as part of an England team than to have a Welsh team? Heavens, aren't there some blazer wearers who'd like a trip to the West Indies as a committee member of a Welsh national cricket team? Heavens again, we even beat England at cricket a few years ago!

Who are these people? That Mrs Davies, Burry Port, syndrome sure does run deep. As I've said before, a lot of bravado (and musical hall Welshness) when it comes to the Welsh rugby team, but for many of the Brit Nat persuasion, that's as good as it gets. We are a beaten, peasant people pretending this inferiority complex is internationalist brotherhood.

It’s just not cricket

2007-03-20T03:29:00.000-07:00

Llythr o'r Western Mail - 20/03/07

Letter from the Western Mail - 20/03/07

SIR – I am delighted that the Welsh Rugby team did us Welsh proud on Saturday by convincingly beating the old enemy, the English, at our new citadel of the Millennium Stadium. Suddenly the pride in my country, Wales, soared like an eagleThen, once again back down to earth.
The cricket authorities in Wales who sold us out to the English by joining the England and Wales Cricket Board, the ECB, succeeded in relegating Wales to being the silent “W” in this unholy alliance. As a result, on the very weekend that Welsh rugby was filling us Welsh with pride, the World Cup cricket tournament listed teams from Ireland, Scotland and England. In one stroke, these so-called Welsh cricketing authorities had relegated Wales to a nonentity with accompanying global humiliation!
Carmarthen East Plaid AM, Rhodri Glyn Thomas, has called for a Welsh team at future World Cup cricket tournaments.
If it is in their power to do so, I call on our Welsh Assembly Government to instigate the setting up of a Welsh national cricket team so that once again we, the Welsh nation, can hold our heads up with pride.
JACK HARRIS
Eaton Crescent, Uplands, Swansea

Plaid's Cricketing Election Pledge

2007-03-19T03:42:00.000-07:00

Erthygl o'r South Wales Evening Post - 19/03/07

Article from the South Wales Evening Post - 19/03/07

A Carmarthen politician is hoping to knock opposition parties for six with a sporting election pledge.Plaid deputy leader Rhodri Glyn Thomas has called for a Welsh team at future World Cup cricket tournaments.

The Carmarthen East and Dinefwr AM pledged that if the pro-Welsh party got the nod at May's Assembly elections, he would lobby the International Cricket Council to include Wales in the 2011 world cup.

Welsh cricket legend Robert Croft backed the idea - but says some serious work would have to be done to get off the plan off the ground.

The Cricket World Cup, which started last week, consists of 16 teams, including Holland, Ireland and Scotland. Wales has an international side at present, but it does not feature in the tournament.

Mr Thomas said if nations with less of a cricketing tradition were allowed to compete, there was no reason why a Welsh team could not feature in the tournament.

He said: "I have no doubt that a Welsh team would hold its own.

"More importantly international status for Wales in terms of the world cup would be a massive boost for the sport of cricket in Wales."

Cricketer Robert Croft welcomed the move, calling the proposal "a lovely thought".

But he added: "There would have to be a lot of work done."

Tim Criced Cymreig

2007-03-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

Erthygl o Blog Ted Jones - 13/03/07

Article from Ted Jones' Blog - 13/03/07

Fel cefnogwr criced brwd rwy’n croesawu galwad Plaid Cymru heddiw dros tim Cymreig ar gyfer cystadleuaeth Cwpan y Byd.

Fe fydd gan yr Alban, Iwerddon, Canada, Bermuda, a’r Iseldireoedd timoedd yn cystadlu yn y pencampwriaeth sy’n dechrau heddiw. O ystyried fod yna traddodiad llawer cryfach yng Nghymru, dw i methu deall pam nid oes tim gyda ni yn cystadlu.

Y ddadl yw bod yr ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) un un gorff, on dos bosib gyda bach o synwhyr cyffredin fe fydd yr ICC a’r ECB yn medru dod i gytundeb gyda galliogu tim Cymreig i gystadlu heb peryglu statws Morgannwg na gem y llidw yng Ngherddi Soffia.

Fe chwareodd tim o Gymru yng nghwpan yr ICC yn y 70au, felly does dim rheswm yn fy nhyb i pam na allai tim o Gymru bod yn chwarae yn y cwpan y byd yma. Mae yna cynsail hanesyddol hollol glir.

Oherwydd y sefyllfa presennol ni fydd un cymro yn chwarae yn y pencampwriaeth. Dychmygwch yr hwb byddai tim Cymreig yn cael ar dablygiad criced yng Nghymru – os bosib hynny ddylai bod ar flaen meddwl y sawl sy’n gweinyddu’r gem.

There should be a way... for Wales to be allowed opportunities such as this

2007-03-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

Neges ebost gan Mike Fatkin, Prif-Weithredwr Criced Morgannwg - 13/03/07

Email response by Mike Fatkin, Chief Executive Glamorgan Cricket - 13/03/07

This question comes up every four years and there isn't a straightforward answer. We could opt out of the England and Wales Cricket Board set-up - we have that right - but we would lose getting on for £2M which is given to the county club and the county board to develop the game here. I have no knowledge of what monies are available from ICC.

Scotland and Ireland struggle financially. Yes, they have the carrot of World Cup cricket every four years - if they qualify, which they haven't always - but for the remaining times I know it's very difficult for them to get any kind of profile, to develop the sport and to play competitive matches. We know that it's a desperate struggle for them financially.

Scottish and Irish players can qualify for England. Ed Joyce is the most recent Irish example, with players like Dougie Brown and Gavin Hamilton Scots who have played for England. Joyce is now ineligible for Ireland; Hamilton is no longer a regular in county cricket and has waived his right to play for England in order to play for Scotland. The example of Joyce is most apposite. Having now played for England, he would forfeit his right to represent them again if he played for Ireland. He chose not to.

Wales played in the 1975 world cup. We have also played matches against England - indeed beat them in 2002. Ideally we would exploit this more but we have to face the fact that should we do so - and we will always have the right to - we will sacrifice financial support, all year round profile in Wales, the probability of losing players to English first class counties, the costs of establishing and maintaining our own professional structure of cricket, and the loss of any rights to stage major international cricket.

You say 'many many cricket supporters' find the present situation unacceptable. That is not our finding. The overwhelming majority of people we speak to would love to see Wales in a World Cup but fully recognize that for two weeks of high profile we would be putting the whole development of the game here at risk. They see Glamorgan as Wales's representatives at the professional level and take huge pride in seeing Welsh cricketers playing for England. Anomalous, I agree, but that's what we are told.

Speaking personally, I still maintain there should be a way to continue doing what we are doing and for Wales to be allowed opportunities such as this. It is something we continue to work for. At the moment, though, we would have to choose between one and the other.

Regards

Mike Fatkin

www.glamorgancricket.com

Why aren't we at the party?

2007-03-08T03:44:00.000-08:00

Erthygl o'r South Wales Evening Post - 08/03/07

Article from the South Wales Evening Post - 08/03/07

Someone asked a pertinent question the other day about kamikaze pilots - why did they wear helmets? And here's another puzzler that will perplex many people.The Cricket World Cup - why doesn't Wales have a side preparing to play in the Caribbean when the likes of Scotland, Ireland, Holland and Bermuda are involved?

We are told that Wales are part of the England set-up . . . big deal.

Even on the England and Wales Cricket Board's own website, the acronym ECB is used, with the 'W' airbrushed out.

The team that takes the field is known to all and sundry as England.

And if you want to buy headwear for the upcoming World Cup, the official on-line shop of the England and Wales Cricket Board is where such business is conducted, with their offer of an ''eye-catching hat'' with ''unique design elements''.

The site enthuses: ''The attractive two-tone finish of this navy and sky blue headgear is complemented by some superb raised embroidery.

''The word 'England' runs smartly across the peak . . . and the ECB three lions crest and official Cricket World Cup logo are sewn into the front.''

What about Wales? You may well ask.

While surfing the internet, I visited the Wikipedia site, where the following interpretation is put on the idea of a Wales cricket team.

''The Welsh cricket team has appeared on a number of occasions. Generally, however, Welsh players are represented in international play by England.''

You don't have to be a flag-waving, card-carrying nationalist to feel that isn't how it should be.

The sticking point for Wales entering a side in a World Cup, apparently, is that it wouldn't square with Glamorgan getting around £1.3 million a year from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

A declaration of independence at national level would supposedly cost the county their cash and deal a blow to the game in Wales.

It would be worth checking out if that is the case.

Yes, Glamorgan play in the county championship, but in recent years Scotland, who get a grant of £600,000 or so, have competed in two of the three main competitions in British cricket.

And, anyway, is an extra £700,000 or so adequate compensation for Wales not being able to feature in the World Cup?

As Robert Croft argued at the time of the last global cricket bash, ''I'm not saying we should get Test status, but that link (with England) should not be used to stop us competing in the one-day arena and in World Cups, especially if the tournament is expanded.''

But despite Wales having a shedload of key figures on the EWCB, nothing will happen.

It won't because people are prepared to accept the status quo, however unsatisfactory it may be.

It is like the Football Association of Wales presiding over a situation where the three strongest Welsh clubs, Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham, are not allowed to enter European competition because they play in a foreign set-up.

No-one should be happy about that, either, yet no-one has the will, brains or vision to do anything about it.

A Wales cricket team at the World Cup might not rip up any trees, but it is unlikely that Scotland, Ireland and Holland have great expectations for the tournament that starts next week.

Not to put too fine a point on it, some of the sides who have taken part in previous World Cups have been rubbish. Canada, for instance, were skittled out for 35 by Sri Lanka in the 2003 event.

How bad is that? There are probably teams in division nine of the Pembroke Pensioners League who'd fancy their chances of knocking up 35.

A few years ago, a Wales XI were good enough to beat England in a one-day game; who is to say some way down the line that would not be repeated?

But you get the impression certain people are happy to take the annual handouts and just be grateful to be part of the English set-up. So what if the team is known as England? Doff the cap and say how wonderful it is to be on board.

There will be one Welshman at the World Cup, namely Glamorgan's David Hemp - featuring for Bermuda.

No doubt he will have a great time and good luck to him, but he should be playing for Wales.

Some of us have advocated exactly what you say

2007-03-05T16:03:00.000-08:00

Ebost gan Dr. R. B. Kemp Esq, cyn-Gadeirydd y Welsh Cricket Association, 2006

Email response by Dr. R. B. Kemp Esq, Immediate Past Chairman, Welsh Cricket Association, 2006

In essence, the problem is Glamorgan who have won a dispensation to play in an English County League. Some of us have advocated exactly what you say (Welsh players representing Wales at the World Cup) but the Glamorgan players would not like being deprived of the chance to play test cricket and high quality county cricket - for the latter they would move to an English county.

We have discussed it many times (a split from the ECB to create the WCB and a Welsh national side) but the other disadvantage is that we would lose access to all the money coming from Lords that sustains the development of cricket at junior level.

Richard Kemp

I quite agree with you

2007-03-02T16:08:00.000-08:00

Ebost gan Brian Crockett Esq, Trefnydd y Cwpan Criced Cymreig, 2006

Email by Brian Crockett Esq, Hon. Assistant Secretary, Welsh Cricket Cup Organiser and Child Welfare Officer WCA/CBW, 2006

I quite agree with you (that Wales should have a side at the World Cup), and am willing to discuss the issue further.

Brian Crockett Esq

if cricketers in Wales decided to move away from the EWCB we would be supportive of this decision

2007-03-01T16:13:00.000-08:00

Ebost gan Manon Rees Roberts, Cyngor Chwaraeon Cymru, 2006

Email response by Manon Rees Roberts, Sports Council for Wales, 2006

I understand that there were some discussions a few years ago regarding the Welsh Cricket Board moving away from the EWCB, however, this was rejected for three main reasons, namely, to ensure that:

a. Glamorgan County Cricket Club continued to play in the County Championship and other one day cups and leagues;
b. the Wales Minor Counties team could continue playing in the MCC Championships;
c. Wales continued to receive revenue from the EWCB to support the game in Wales.

Therefore, the reasons for remaining part of the EWCB were financial as well as competitive.

However, if cricketers in Wales felt that it would be in their best interests to move away from the EWCB and establish a Welsh Cricket Board, the Sports Council for Wales would be supportive of this decision if there was strong and widespread support for this.

Manon Rees Roberts

There is no reason why we should not have our own national team

2007-02-28T16:39:00.000-08:00

Ebost gan Mark Vincent, Llechryd CC - www.llechrydctc.co.uk, 2006

Email response by Mark Vincent, Llechryd CC - www.llechrydctc.co.uk, 2006

1... why the ENGLAND AND WALES CRICKET BOARD use ECB instead of EWCB?

Beats me .... Laziness most probably ... on the part of journalists & the PR guys at the E&WCB, plus an all-pervading assumed English pre-eminence.

2...Why the 'National' Team is called 'England' even though it should be called 'England and Wales'?

Same as above. Interestingly, this team has never been given the correct name. I grew up being told by my grand father that the correct name was in fact... The Marylebone Cricket Club President's Invitational Eleven.

3... why the emblem is the three Lions, when it should be the three lions and the Red Dragon?

Same as the answer to the answer to question 1

4... Why doesn't Wales split from the ECB to create the WCB with our own national side?

...I DON'T KNOW.

Their are indeed TWO administrative bodies for cricket in Wales; both with rather fractured terms of reference and are subordinated to the E&WCB...

The Welsh Cricket Association (WCA) is the Governing Body of Welsh Amateur Cricket and is so recognised by the Sports Council for Wales (SCW) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (E. & W.C.B)

and

The Cricket Board of Wales (CBW) is an umbrella body partnership comprising the Welsh Cricket Association (WCA), Glamorgan CCC, Wales Minor Counties, Welsh Schools Cricket Association and the Sports Council for Wales (SCW).

Underneath these bodies are the "minor" county & regional bodies such as Pembrokeshire C.C. (effectively managed by the Haverfordwest C.C.)

You may know that I am involved with Llechryd Cricket Club where I play, serve on the cricket & executive committees and administer the website. I mention my involvement at Llechryd C.C. as I have experience of the confusion that is involved in applying for grants for equipment or coaching courses. In some cases the application is made directly to the E&WCB, and in others (for example, to fund the training for junior coaches) we apply to Pembs.C.C. (who presumably receive the funding from the WCA via the E&WCB.

Anything that would rationalise this arrangement would be welcomed.

When I was much younger I spent some summers in Scotland & I was very taken with the strength of cricket there at the time, therefore, I was not surprised when a Scotland national team first qualified for the World Cup. But they have, as yet, failed to break in to FULL Test match status.

There is no reason why we should not have our own national team, and I believe that it MUST be an ultimate goal; though a sensible time-scale is the big question. The merits of such a move is a topic that often arises in conversation at our local cricket club. How the youngsters would aspire to emulate their heroes? How the administrative infrastructure could cope? How truly competitive a National team might be?

Mark Vincent

Finance would be the biggest hurdle

2007-02-27T16:18:00.000-08:00

Ebost gan Steve Watkins, Swyddog Datblygu Criced (D.Dd Cymru), 2006

Email response by Steve Watkins, Cricket Development Officer (S.E.Wales), 2006

We have Wales National teams at Junior level under 11 - under 16 which is run by the Cricket Board of Wales. After those age groups the players come under Glamorgan. Wales have a Minor Counties team but not a National team at Senior Level. I do not know all the politics behind the ECB \ EWCB etc but at present finance would be the biggest hurdle as neither Ireland or Scotland are funded through the ECB, I doubt that the Welsh Assembly would fund especially as Glamorgan at present get in excess of 1m from the ECB.

Steve Watkins

Welsh savour sweet success over England!

2007-02-26T12:40:00.000-08:00

Rwyf newydd ddod o hyd i'r adroddiad yma oddi ar wefan y BBC yn dilyn buddugoliaeth Cymru dros Loegr yn 2002. Mae'n dangos yn glir y byddai cefnogaeth eang i dîm criced Gymreig.

I've just come across this report on the BBC website, following Wales' historic win over England back in 2002. It just goes to show how popular a Welsh Cricket Team would be here in Wales.

Monday, 24 June, 2002, 18:27 GMT 19:27 UK
Welsh savour sweet success

Croft was awarded the man-of-the-match award

By Dewi Hughes
for BBC Sport Online at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Whatever the sport and whatever the occasion, a Welsh victory over England always tastes that little bit sweeter.
And when the win comes entirely against the odds and in such style, Welsh supporters can never be accused of hiding their delight in embarrassing the big neighbours from over the border home.
Such occasions have been few and far between to say the least in recent years.
Since the footballers have been denied the opportunity to meet since 1984, the responsibility for derby success on the sporting field has been in the hands of the rugby players.
And we all know too well who holds the upper hand there.
So when Wales secured an eight-wicket victory over England with 57 balls to spare on Monday, the delight was plain to see all around Sophia Gardens.

England wickets fell at regular intervals

It was extra special too considering this was the first official match between the two nations.

Photo Gallery: See this story in pictures
England, on the other hand, were understandably not amused.
With the exception of captain Nasser Hussain and Darren Gough, this was the side expected to take on one-day specialists India and Sri Lanka in the forthcoming NatWest series.
So seeing Steve James and David Hemp coping so comfortably with the England bowling attack to forge a match-winning partnership of 132 will not have pleased coach Duncan Fletcher
Fletcher became a firm favourite with the Glamorgan faithful during his time in charge at the club, but his former players handed him no favours as they wore the colours of Wales for the first time.
The Zimbabwean had warned his players beforehand that Wales would want to give his side "a good hiding", and no one epitomised that Welsh determination to win more than Robert Croft.
The Glamorgan off-spinner could not have hoped for a better shop window in front of the England selectors ahead of next year's World Cup.
He certainly made the most of the opportunity as he produced a man-of-the-match display.

Stewart's 38 runs were not enough to save England

The relish with which he celebrated his two wickets gave evidence - if any was in fact ever needed - that this was nothing less than a full-blooded competitive match.
Croft, with 50 one-day international England caps to his name, used all his experience and every trick in the book to unsettle the England batsmen.
Alec Stewart was given particular special attention from Croft as the off-spinner varied his pace, bowled from a yard behind the crease and even paused in mid-action.
But Croft's most telling contribution came with the bat.

Match report
Even though he was bowled for just 30, his aggressive style put Wales on the front foot early in their innings as they chased England's total of 189.
Matthew Hoggard was handed particular punishment in the third over as Croft blasted four consecutive fours.
This brought predictable chants of "Crofty for England" from the crowd as they began to smell the scent of a possible historic victory.
He lost his wicket to James Kirtley in the very next over, but was given a standing ovation from a small section in front of the pavilion which a few minutes earlier had finally found their voice.
But this was by no means a one-man show.
The five other Welsh bowlers each played their part in restricting the visitors to such a disappointingly low score.
England would have hoped for a total approaching 270 on a friendly wicket, but the fact that the first four wickets fell to catches suggests the batsmen failed to show enough respect to the Welsh attack.

James finished on 83 not out

South African Jacques Kallis - an adopted Welshman for the day - was expected to be Wales' joker in the pack.
The world class all-rounder took the first wicket of the day to remove dangerman Nick Knight.
But thanks to the imperious form of James and Hemp at the crease, Kallis was not forced to bat until Wales were only 13 runs short of victory.
Before the game began, Croft said he wanted the match to become a permanent fixture on the cricket calendar.
And after witnessing such a comprehensive Welsh victory, few inside a sun-baked Sophia Gardens would disagree with him.
The only snag, however, is that England will probably not be too keen to venture back over the Severn Bridge ever again.

What is the point of this blog?

2007-02-25T12:22:00.000-08:00

Wales has continuously produced some quality cricketers. However, only two home-grown Glamorgan players have had the opportunity to perform at the World Cup. Croft represented England in 1999 whilst David Hemp was Bermuda’s star player in 2007. Our proposal is that Wales should be made Associated Members of the I.C.C. in the same way as Scotland and Ireland so that Welsh cricketers of the future can also showcase their talents at the biggest stage of all.

The benefits would be great:

give more cricketers in Wales the opportunity to play in a World cup
raise cricket awareness amongst Wales’ youngsters
increase nationalistic pride
Give those of us who are not quite good the chance to spend a couple of weeks in slightly more tropical conditions!

Wales and Glamorgan have always been treated as second class in cricketing terms. The mere fact that the likes of Don Sheperd and Alan Jones didn’t get a single Test cap is as good an example as any.

Ireland and Scotland, meanwhile, are able to field an international side as well as entering a one-day domestic competition with the counties.

This, combined with the fact that Wales generally have higher quality players than our Celtic cousins, should mean that Glamorgan should be able to maintain their full-status within the domestic structure. It is appreciated that this must be the case if such a scheme is going to work because in no way would one wish to devalue Glamorgan’s status.

With over £7 million being invested in developing Sophia Gardens into one of the top cricket venues in the UK, Wales could have a base to be proud of. Crucially, since 'Team England' would remain as the official test side for England & Wales (at least in the short-term) and the likes of Simon Jones would carry on playing for England in the same way as Ed Joyce, there would be no need to take future Test matches away from Cardiff. It is an important source of income not only for Glamorgan CCC but also to Cardiff as a City – as would any international involving Wales be.

We have seen from important Glamorgan matches and the Wales-England matches that the support is out there and people would be ready to embrace an international side in the same way as the Scots an Irish have done.

Beth yw pwrpas y blog?

2007-02-25T09:07:00.000-08:00

Mae Cymru yn gyson wedi bod yn gartref i gricedwyr o fri. Wedi dweud hynny, dim ond dau o Gymry Clwb Criced Morgannwg sydd wedi cael y cyfle i ddangos eu doniau yng Nghwpan y Byd. Fe gynrychiolodd Croft Lloegr yn 1999, a David Hemp oedd yr unig chwaraewr proffesiynol yng ngharfan Bermuda yn 2007. Ein cynnig ni yw y dylai Cymru gael ei wneud yn Aelodau Cyfrannog o’r I.C.C. yn yr un ffordd a’r Alban ac Iwerddon fel bod mwy o gricedwyr safonol Cymru yn cael chwarae ar y safon uchaf.

Byddai’r buddiannau’n enfawr:

mwy o gricedwyr Cymru yn cael chwarae yng nghwpan y byd
cynyddu ymwybyddiaeth criced ymysg ieuenctid Cymru
cynyddu balchder cenedlaethol
rhoi’r cyfle i’r rhai ohonom ni sydd ddim digon da i chwarae’n broffesiynol i dreulio cwpwl o wythnosau mewn ansawdd dipyn mwy trofannol!

Mae Cymru a Morgannwg wastad wedi cael eu trin yn israddol yn nhermau criced. Mae’r ffaith syml fod cricedwyr o safon Don Sheperd ac Alan Jones heb yr un cap rhyngddynt yn enghraifft gwych o hyn.

Yn y cyfamser, mae Iwerddon a’r Alban yn cael cadw timau rhyngwladol ynghyd a maesu tîm yng nghynghrair undydd y siroedd.

Dylai hyn, ynghyd a’r ffaith fod Cymru yn gyffredinol yn cynhyrchu chwaraewyr o safon uwch na’n cefndryd Celtaidd, olygu y gallai Morgannwg gadw ei statws llawn-amser o fewn strwythur domestig yr ECB. Gwerthfawrogwn fod hyn yn gorfod digwydd gan nad oes unrhywun sy'n cefnogi criced yng Nghymru am danseilio statws Morgannwg.

Gyda dros £7 miliwn yn cael ei fuddsoddi i ddatblygu Gerddi Soffia i fod yn un o feysydd criced gorau Prydain, byddai gan Gymru gartref i fod yn falch ohono. Yn allweddol, gan y bydd y Cymry yn cynrychioli “Team England” mewn gemau prawf (yn y tymor byr oleiaf) yn yr un ffordd a’r Gwyddel Ed Joyce, ni fyddai’n rhaid cymryd gemau prawf i ffwrdd o Gaerdydd yn y dyfodol. Mae’n ffynhonnell incwm da i Forgannwg ac i Gaerdydd fel dinas - yn yr un ffordd ac y byddai gemau rhyngwladol Cymru.

Rydym eisoes wedi gweld gyda gemau proffîl uchel Morgannwg a’r gemau rhwng Cymru a Lloegr fod y gefnogaeth ar gael a bod y Cymry yn barod i gofleidio tîm rhyngwladol yn yr un ffordd ac y mae’r Gwyddelod a’r Albanwyr wedi gwneud.