ICC EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
NEWSLETTER ISSUE 18 - APRIL 2002

Welcome to Issue 18 of the ICC European Development Programme newsletter. Please continue to send us press releases, reports on events or details of forthcoming events for the diary at any time - we look forward to receiving your information soon! E-mail alison.smith@mcc.org.uk

European Flicx Competition Winners
Congratulations to Yugoslavia (Red Star Belgrade), Bulgaria (National Sports Academy), Sweden (Guttsta Wicked CC), Finland, Spain (Tenerife), Belgium (Mechelen CC), Germany (Tegernsee CC) and Ireland (Leinster Cricket Union), who were all recently informed that they have won pitches in the Flicx competition. Flicx asked for stories about cricket being played in places where it had never been played before or about cricket making a real difference to a community. The response from Europe was fantastic, and although the 8 entries above were selected as winners, there were several other strong contenders, all of whom will be receiving financial support from the EDP to buy Flicx pitches. For an overview of the winning entries visit www.flicx.com and click on the ‘Media’ tab. The EDM is still happy to consider applications, so if you think you could make good use of one of these innovative pitches, which can be rolled out to provide a consistent playing surface wherever an area of flat ground is available, email your application to adam.cole@mcc.org.uk.

For the full story, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/125525_ECC_06APR2002.html

Affiliates Meeting & SCU/EDP Development Forum
Representatives from 8 mainland European Affiliate and 2 Associate countries joined a very healthy number of Scots and Irish in Glasgow over the Easter weekend for the ECC Affiliates Meeting and SCU/EDP Development Forum. The European contingent met at the Swallow hotel for a series of presentations and meetings on the Saturday afternoon, before joining forces with the UK-based delegates at Hampden Park on the Sunday for a number of keynote presentations and seminars. Highlights included extremely useful presentations by Mike Bailey (Austria) and Andrew Armitage (Finland) on development initiatives in their respective countries, whilst the agenda submitted by Ken Sainsbury (Spain) for the Affiliates’ meeting itself generated considerable discussion.

For the full story plus photos, see:

www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/128165_ECC_11APR2002.html

World Cup Warm-Up for Holland
The ICC has confirmed that a new tournament, the ICC Six-Nations Challenge, will take place in Windhoek, Namibia, from 5-15 April 2002. The tournament has been scheduled to provide an intensive build up for qualifying Associate Members Canada, Holland, Kenya and Namibia, prior to participation in the 2003 World Cup. The four Associates will compete in the Challenge along with A-teams representing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. Teams will play each other in a "round robin" format, with the top teams facing each other in a final. The initiative is a central part of the ICC's $US1 million High Performance Program which aims to bridge the playing gap between the Full Test playing countries and qualifying Associates.

For the full story see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/MAR/121843_ECC_28MAR2002.html

Meanwhile, the ICC has confirmed the match schedule for the ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in Sri Lanka in September 2002. Holland have been pooled with Pakistan and hosts Sri Lanka for the first stage of the tournament.

For full details, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/124826_ECC_04APR2002.html

The ‘Imagination’ Team Hit the Road

The long-awaited ‘Imagination’ Roadshow, sponsored by the European Development Programme and Flicx International, is finally on its way. Successfully launched at the European Youth Coaching Camp at Bradfield College (29 March – 1 April), not even unforeseen problems with customs and obtaining a vehicle with a tow hitch could delay the start of the Roadshow’s tour of mainland Europe. The first leg of the tour – 4 days at 3 different venues in France – was a huge success, with Bruce Smuts and Mike Flockhart teaming up with French coaches David Bordes and Jean-François Defez to train and entertain some sizeable and very enthusiastic groups of youngsters. Bruce and Mike had both enjoyed the French hospitality, and at the time of writing, were squeezing in a spot of sightseeing before heading on to Luxembourg for the second leg of the tour.

To follow the roadshow’s progress across Europe, click on the links at the bottom of this page:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/124879_ECC_04APR2002.html

European Academy - Spain

Players and coaches from 10 member countries met on Saturday 6 April in Alfas, Spain, for the start of the inaugural European Cricket Academy. At a reception courtesy of Alfas del Pi, they were greeted by Antonio Fuster Garcia, Mayor of Alfas, and Ken Sainsbury, AEC President. The Sunday morning gave experienced Middlesex CCC physiotherapist Simon Shepard the opportunity to physically test each of the 14 players, all of whom are aged between 18-25. In conjunction with these tests the team of ECC coaches - Mike Hendrick, Richard Cox, Brían O'Rourke and Richard O'Sullivan - conducted fact-finding interviews with each player.

For the full story and photos, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/127509_ECC_10APR2002.html

Youth Coaching Camp – Bradfield College

The European Development Programme’s third Youth Coaching Camp was held at Bradfield College in Berkshire from 29 March–1 April. Twenty-six youngsters and eleven coaches from eleven European countries attended, and were put through their paces by Richard O’Sullivan, Brían O’Rourke, David Bordes, Roland Butcher, Bruce Smuts, Mike Flockhart and the EDO over the course of the four days. The programme was demanding, but all participants worked hard and showed excellent commitment.

For the full story plus photos, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/127532_ECC_10APR2002.html

ECC Euratom Experience

The European Joint Research Centre in Ispra (40 minutes from Milan) provided the venue for the 5^th coaching trip to Italy by ECC Coach Richard O’Sullivan. Euratom CC enter both an U13 & U15 side in the FCRI championships. The week gave Richard the opportunity to conduct an afternoon of introductory sessions in the European School with the help of the enthusiastic teaching staff, which provided children from a variety of backgrounds with their first experience of the game.

For the full story, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/123535_ECC_02APR2002.html

New Coaching Expertise in France

ECC Coach Tim Dellor was in Paris at the end of March to develop the coaching skills of eighteen French cricketers. The three-day course attracted players from a variety of backgrounds but all with good cricketing ability. The eighteen coaches in the sports hall spoke a mass of different languages, with a German speaking English but little French, French speakers with little English, a typical Englishman struggling to string an English sentence together (the ECC Coach), and Urdu and Hindi speakers with a working knowledge of most European tongues. This was a truly multicultural event.

For the full story:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/126154_ECC_08APR2002.html

European Umpiring Consultant visits Denmark

Graham Cooper paid 2 visits to Denmark on the weekends either side of Easter where he conducted an ACU&S Part 1 Course that led to the Part 1 Examination. 7 candidates attended during the first weekend, with 5 of them returning for the 2^nd and for the exam itself. The request for the course was made by the Danish Cricket Association, who have set up an Umpire Task Force whose function is to improve the standard of umpiring and umpire training throughout the country. The first task this group set themselves was to become qualified under the ACU&S qualification system and they requested that the European Development Programme provide suitable instruction to enable them to achieve this goal. In conjunction with the ACU&S, it was decided that a full Part 1 course should be undertaken by all members of this Work Group and so Graham was duly despatched to Brondby (Copenhagen) to give his help.

For the full story, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/127015_ECC_09APR2002.html

Ken Amos and John Holder in Paris

Ken Amos and John Holder travelled to Paris to run an introductory umpiring course at the University club Paris on 6-7 April. 20 cricket enthusiasts attended, including a film crew. The film will be completed in November. Look out for John Holder at the Oscars as Best New Actor and Ken Amos as Best Supporting Actor for next year. Many attendees only managed one of the two days, making presentation of the course very difficult. Those that wished to take the visual and oral test having only attended the Saturday did so, with us working well into the evening. Sunday was also very disjointed, with late arrivals and new enthusiasts, but the course was completed. At Tom Keeble's request, a presentation of the problems with an injured/striker and his runner was added. This created great discussion and a very animated finish to the programme.

Denis Burns in Switzerland

The newest recruit to the EDP umpiring education team, Denis Burns, travelled to Bern in Switzerland to run an ACU&S Part I course, complete with exam, from 15-17 March. The nine participants had already benefited from an introductory course given by John Holder last year and were motivated and keen to gain an ACU&S qualification. The hospitality (French wine, Swiss beer, and Scotch, as well as Diane’s gastronomic delights) was excellent and Phil displayed superb planning and logistical skills in bringing together umpiring enthusiasts from all parts of Switzerland (and one from France!)

For the full story, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/MAR/118428_ECC_22MAR2002.html

Scotland - New Campaign, New Captain, New Squad

The Scottish selectors named their squad on Monday for a training session and the first game of the season against Leicester CCC on the 16th and 17th of April. As part of their long-term strategy, national coach Tony Judd and the panel of selectors have made some key decisions. Craig Wright (West of Scotland) will take over as captain, with a view to developing a squad not only for this season, but also for next year’s entry to the Norwich Union League and even further to the 2007 world cup. The selectors would like to thank Greig Williamson for his contribution as captain last season, and confirm that he remains very much part of their plans for the squad. Moneeb Iqbal (West of Scotland) has also been promoted from the U19 team to the senior squad.

For the full story, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/126903_ECC_09APR2002.htm

ECB Indoor Champions Win Vienna Winter Cup

Pudsey Congs CC, current ECB Indoor Champions, won the annual Vienna CC Wintercup on 10 March, following in the footsteps of Madisons CC and Farsley CC, who also achieved the double in 2000 and 2001. The competition which has been an international tournament for the last ten years was this year contested by Pudsey Congs CC, Teeside Polygons CC, Prague CC, Bessborough CC, Cricket World Nomads and hosts Vienna CC. During its history, the Vienna CC Wintercup has played host to a wide variety of touring sides, and it is estimated that around thirty of the players who have participated have gone on to play first class cricket, including current England Test Wicketkeeper Jamie Foster and England 1 Day international squad member Jeremy Snape.

For the full story plus photos, sees:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/MAR/117968_ECC_21MAR2002.html

Development in Damazan

Congratulations to the Stendhal high school in Aiguillon, near Agen, who recently won a school regional challenge sponsored by Orangina for the best sport project. The school is linked with Damazan CC and is fortunate enough to have an English teacher who loves cricket, and who encourages his talented youngsters to join the club. The school’s project finished ahead of football, rugby and basketball projects (the three main sports in south west of France) from hundreds schools in the Aquitaine region, and includes an afternoon training session with PE teachers and an evening match between teachers and pupils, which will be funded with £600 from Orangina. Damazan also hosted a regional training day on 23 March, led by Level III coach David Bordes, to introduce cricket to sport teachers and to improve the level of the area’s young cricketers.

Youth Development Drive Continues in Hellas

On Wednesday 6 March, the 3rd Kwik Cricket Primary Schools Tournament was held by the Municipality of Melitia on Corfu, in co-operation with the Direction of the Education of the First Degree and the HCF, and the 4th Kwik Cricket Schools Tournament in Corfu Town was held on the weekend 30-31 of March. The HCF has employed 4 PE Teachers in Corfu, 2 in Athens and one in Thessaloniki to run cricket lessons for talented children from the local primary schools. These PE teachers will work with the HCF coaches to encourage more children to become members of the local cricket clubs. Monday 8 April was Olympic Day in Hellas, and the HCF coaches were busy demonstrating cricket for the children from Corfu Town’s primary & secondary schools at the National Athletic Centre of Corfu.

For the full story plus photos, see:

http://www-usa.cricket.org/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/CRICKET_NEWS/2002/APR/127406_ECC_10APR2002.html

• The Prefecture Board of Corfu recently invited the Hellenic indoor squad and members of the HCF to the Prefecture Hall to present trophies to the players and coach in recognition of their victory in Belgium.
• Damazan CC in France held a theatrical evening centred around the life and works of Victor Hugo, whose bicentenary falls this year, to raise funds for the club.

Deadlines

Finance:

A reminder that the balance of €300 per person for the European Academy in Spain was due by 1 April. Please could any outstanding payments be made as soon as possible. The accounts department are checking that all tournament deposits (except Representative Festival), U16 youth camp payments and Academy deposits have now been paid.

Events:

All member countries should have returned their response forms for European Presidents’ Day by 31 March. If you wish to attend but have not yet returned your form, please do so immediately, as we will be unable to guarantee places for any last minute returns. Deadlines for returns for the MCC Young Cricketers Scheme are due by 26 April (see Adam Cole’s email of 5 April). We are still waiting to receive information about plans for European Spirit of Cricket Weekend from a significant number of countries – please send details to alison.smith@mcc.org.uk as soon as possible to assist us with allocation of promotional materials and personnel.

4-5 May: European Spirit of Cricket Weekend

18 May: European Presidents’ Day – Lord’s Cricket Ground

Coaching & Umpiring

12-14 April: Elite coaching visit, Denmark – Roland Butcher

For further information about European development initiatives, please see www.ecc.cricket.org.

For information about the ICC Development Program as a whole, see www.icc.cricket.org.