'Not your daddy's N.L. cricket team': Province fights Quebec in 3-day tournament
Eastern T20 Tournament welcomes Quebec, P.E.I., N.S. and N.B. in St. John's
Cricket Newfoundland and Labrador hosted four provincial teams during the annual Eastern T20 tournamenton St. John's Flyers Field over the weekend, both hoping to win the title and highlight the growth of the sport in the province.
Cricket N.L. umpiring committee head and player Fahad Hossain, whowas at the sidelines for every game, said the provincialteam has gradually gotten stronger over the past few years.
Saturday's game against current Eastern and national champion Quebec, said Hossain, was a close one.
"We gave Quebec quite a fight. We actually took the game till the last minute, and it was a very narrow loss," he said.
"We were very proud of the boys. They made our province proud."
The two provinces compete for the Eastern title in short-form cricket, alongside New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. While long-form cricket, with 50overs consisting of six balls each,can take an entire day, said Hossain, a short-form cricket match usually lasts about three hours.
Hossain, who is also captain of the N.L. Tigers, said the sport's following in the province has grown considerably since the current cricket association was started in 2010. Whilethe league could only form two teams of 11 players each back then, he said, today nine teams play in two leagues.
It's a trend Chris Lansdellhas also been watching with pride.
Lansdell, who is abroadcaster for Cricket N.L., was on the committee that chose this tournament's provincial selection.
"There was a long time where the Newfoundland team was considered an easy win for the rest of the country. This year, Quebec is definitely the strongest team at this tournament, and we put a real scare in them yesterday. We came very close to beating them and the Quebec players were heard on the sidelines, saying, 'Wow,this is not your daddy's Newfoundland and Labrador cricket team,'" said Lansdell.
"We're seeing a lot of strong players who have a genuine shot of performing on a national stage."
The sport's growing success in the province is something he would have never dreamed of happening, he said.
"Until a couple of years ago, I never really had a way to play or take part in cricket. And now, to see this," said Lansdell.
"Yesterday, this ground was full. There was no parking to behad. There were people all around the ground watching a Newfoundland and Labrador cricket team play cricket on a sunny afternoon in June."
A wish to see cricket in schools
He wants to see the game grow even further with the addition of a second field at the top on his list.
"In 10 years' time, I'd love to see cricket in schools in Newfoundland and Labrador.I'd love to see school gyms across the country playing indoor cricket. I'd love to see representatives from this province playing on the national team for Canada, getting contracts to play in leagues across the country," said Lansdell.
"It's a big goal, but given some of the talent we have here in the province and the way we've been developing it, I don't think it's out to lunch."
With an increasing number of South Asians settling permanentlyin the province, said Hossain, he believes the trend of a growing league will continue. It's something he's proud to showcase to other provinces.
"I actually always wanted them to come here and see the ground because I've been to most provinces and I can actually proudly say we have one of the best fields that there is in the country," he said.
"Giving them a chance to see the weather that we play in, the ground conditions and also giving ourselves the chance to prove that, yes, we are good enough to compete with them."
The Eastern T20 Tournament wrappedup in St. John's on Sunday afternoon.
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