Hua Hin Cricket Sixes

[PeteC]

News » Sports
Hua Hin next to host tournament

* Published: 4/04/2010 at 12:00 AM
* Newspaper section: Sports Bangkok Post

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/sports/ ... tournament

The cricket season in Thailand is in full swing, and the fun now shifts south of Bangkok to the beachside Dusit Thani Hotel in Prachuap Khiri Khan, venue of the 15th Hua Hin Cricket Sixes from tomorrow until Friday.

Every year around Easter week, the picturesque setting of the hotel becomes a kind of second home to players from Britain, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Indian sub-continent, who descend on Hua Hin to pit their skills and wits against each other.

Cricket was slow in taking off in Thailand , but is now steadily gaining ground here as well as in the region - which is evident from cricket's inclusion in the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, later this year.

In the process it has helped budding local players, some of whom have qualified for the national side.

The 15th edition of the tournament brings together an interesting cast of characters including the usual suspects and some first-timers to Hua Hin, all looking for their place in the sun.

Nine matches are scheduled for tomorrow. The action kicks off with Melbourne Cricket Club taking on Euroa in the Cup division. Euroa, making its first appearance at Hua Hin, boasts former Victoria and Australia ODI player Shaun Graf in its ranks, while the former have the services of former Australia (U-19) captain Michael Hill who made his debut for Victoria this season. Defending champions The Woodbines are in action the following day.

The day's second game features reigning Masters' champions Lardna Follies, led by erstwhile diplomat-cricketer Brett Farmer, starting defence of their title against Canterbury Cricket Club. Now based in India, Farmer returns with his motley crew to wage yet another Sixes campaign.

Other notable returnees include former Australia pacer Mick Lewis; Michael Dighton who's played variously for Tasmania and Western Australia, and English counties Hampshire and Derbyshire; David Bandy of Western Australia; and Mark Cleary of South Australia.

Leading the local challenge will be Colin Devonshire and his Hua Hin Hopalongs, while former champions Thai Thevada, whose strength is youth, are the sentimental favourites.

The official dinner welcoming players and umpires tomorrow evening is courtesy of he Dusit Thani Hotel, while the Tourism Authority of Thailand has pitched in support by agreeing to host the farewell dinner and prize presentation at the end of the tournament; UOB Assets Management, meanwhile, is providing T-shirts for the teams.

[STEVE G]

Pete, the other night I met one of your fellow Americans who is entered in one of the teams, I haven't a clue if he knows anything about cricket.
I've just arrived up in Issan, but I'm going to head back on Thursday to try and catch the last day of the tournament.

[PeteC]

Pete, the other night I met one of your fellow Americans who is entered in one of the teams, I haven't a clue if he knows anything about cricket.
I've just arrived up in Issan, but I'm going to head back on Thursday to try and catch the last day of the tournament.

He may. I just googled 'american cricket' and amazed to find there is a lot of it throughout the country. When living there I never saw any reports at all so suspect it's gained re-popularity in the last decade or so. Apparently it was 'the sport' back in the 1850's >. Pete

[STEVE G]

Whilst he's not what you would consider a young man, a shouldn't think he played the sport in the 1850's although I might be wrong as I have seen him wearing a cowboy hat of the same style as those seen in 'Wanted' posters from that era.
I did once meet a Dutch cricket team, but they turned out to be mainly of Indian origin so they had an excuse.