Vincent Bastick

Some background on cricket in Brazil may be useful before outlining the Brazilian men's league. Cricket began in Brazil with the creation of the Rio Cricket Club in Niterói in 1882. Matches were held here and other clubs in Rio de Janeiro, where Emperor Dom Pedro II was a frequent spectator.

Cricket was also played at British clubs in Vitória, Salvador and Barretos. A few years later Charles Miller introduced cricket and football at the São Paulo Athletic Club (SPAC). Using players from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, Charles formed the Brazilian national cricket team in 1888, and began staging international matches against Chile, Argentina and Uruguay, whose own British communities also had thriving cricket scenes.

In time, interest in cricket gave way to football, and combined with the declining British influence in Brazil, by the 1960s the sport was left with only two grounds – Rio Cricket and SPAC.

Despite this, cricket continued to be played to a good standard, with the national team hosting New Zealand in 1972 and the MCC in 1985. Eventually however, cricket in Rio also fell away, with the last game back in the late 1980s.

However, the opening of Brazil ’s economy in the mid-1990s saw an influx of foreigners to Brazil, which rejuvenated the sport in São Paulo and saw British bank HSBC build a cricket ground in Curitiba. Additionally, a wicket was laid in a public park in Brasília, allowing the expatriate community there to form a local league (nets were also built at the Australian Embassy).

In 1993, Brazil sent a national team to the first South American Championships, held in Peru , and has competed in every tournament since then. In 2000, the Brazilian Cricket Association was formed, and the national league commenced with three teams. By 2002, Brazil had achieved ICC Affiliate Member status, and junior development programs were underway in Curitiba, Brasília and São Paulo.

In 2004, cricket became part of the physical education curriculum at the University of Brasília, which resulted in the creation of the mostly-Brazilian Candangos side, and a steady stream of new Brazilian players to the national team. By 2004, the national league boasted nine teams.

In 2006, the men’s team participated in the first regional ICC World League of Cricket Division 3 Elimination round, held in Suriname. The next year was a big one: Brazil played against the MCC in São Paulo, an all-Brazilian women’s team was formed, which played three games against Argentina in Curitiba, then the men’s team competed in the second ICC World League of Cricket tournament, held in Buenos Aires,

Continue reading "Brazil's fascinating tryst with cricket"

Argentina Women comfortably beat their Brazilian counterparts in a three-match Twenty20 series in Buenos Aires.

The considerably more experienced Argentinian squad won both the first day’s matches comfortably enough and made sure of the trophy, but the Brazilians showed in their enthusiasm and desire to learn that it would not be long before they were able to compete with the other Associates’ and Affiliates’ women’s sides in the region.

The visit returns one made by Argentina to Brasilia in 2007, soon after the formation of the Brazilian women’s team.

International umpire Karran Bayney, who had been officiating in the World Cricket League Division 3 tournament, said after the matches that he was impressed both by the spirit in which the games had been played and the improvement in the visitors’ performance as the day went on.

Rod Lyall has the full report at CricketEurope.

Argentina cruised to a seven-wicket win over Brazil with eight overs to spare in a women’s Twenty20 international in Buenos Aires.

Brazil were restricted to 76 for 9, with 17 wides the biggest contributor to their score. Brazil made things hard for themselves with five of their top six falling to run-outs.

Argentina were never in trouble, but Brazil’s bowlers were as they shipped 28 wides, Reinehr leading the way with eight in one ten-ball period.

Brazil's annual Twenty20 tournament was held on November 8 and 9 in the southern city of Curitiba, bringing together 40 players from around the nation. Teams from Brasília, São Paulo and Curitiba played a total of six games over the two days. The eventual winner was São Paulo, with 3 wins from four matches.

In terms of cricket development, the Twenty20 showed significant improvement in the skills and game sense of the Brazilian players. Four years ago when the T20 began here, there was one Brazilian player. Now they have a strong contingent of local players who have the ability to match it with seasoned cricket veterans.

Candangos cricket club are the Distrito Federal Champions after having to use a run rate count to determine the winners. Ian Webster of the Candangos managed to clinch the championship with 40 not out in four-and-a-half overs, helping to bump up the run rate to win by 0.2 runs - a very exciting finish to a championship.

The 7th Ambassador’s XI game was played on June 21 and Great Britain won by 130 runs. Matt Featherstone, the Brazil captain, played his first Ambassador’s game and struck 78. Michael Dobson (GB) was Man of the Match with an unbeaten 52 not out and four wickets.

With this win, the results stand Australia 4 Great Britain 3.

Next week's ICC annual get-together promises to have more than its fair share of politicking, posturing and controversy. But, unless there is a major about-turn, it should also be a watershed for the Associates and Affiliates.

In 2009, income from the ICC's six-year media deal with ESPN-Star, worth over US$1 billion, kicks in, and while the game's big boys will still keep the lion's share, the rest will see substantial increases in their incomes.

Continue reading "Future bright beyond the Test world"

Following on the heels of the ICC becoming an IOC recognized federation, the Brazilian Cricket Association has now been officially recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Sport, which opens the door to a number of important support programs.

Continue reading "Brazil feel the benefit"

Brazil’s performance at the Americas Division 3 Championship in Buenos Aires certainly had its share of ups and downs. In the first match they let Belize score 186 after having them 88 for 7 at one point, and were then skittled out for 55. In the second Brazil did slightly better with the bat, managing 157, but the eventual tournament winners, Turks & Caicos, knocked that off with five wickets and 27 overs to spare.

Continue reading "Review of Brazil in ICC Americas Division 3 Championship"

They say every good book or movie should have a dynamic beginning, a solid middle to keep your interest and a surprise and thrilling ending. If the 2008 Americas Division 3 was a movie or book it had the perfect script.

Continue reading "Turks & Caicos edge thriller in Americas Championship"

The number of people actively participating in cricket outside the Test-playing countries increased 17% in 2007, according to the ICC.

The research, carried out by the ICC's development program, was collated from 33 Associate and 58 Affiliate members. It showed that there were 338,051 male and female players in those countries in 2007, an increase of 49,158 on the previous year. Since 2002, when there were 144,047 participants, there has been a 135% rise.

Click here for the full story.

Brazil caused the big surprise on the fourth day of the ICC Americas Division 3 tournament with a 37-run win over previously unbeaten Chile. Brazil came into the match on the back of two defeats in two while Chile, with three wins in three, just needed victory to take the title. Matt Featherstone, who runs the country's cricket development programmer, was Brazil's hero with 152 off 109 balls as they piled up a daunting 359 or 6, adding 145 for the third wicket with Viren Narula (81). Paul Wollocombe (66) and Simon Shalders (80) led a spirited chase but it was too much for Chile. Belize kept their hopes alive with a 34-run win over Peru

Chile's defeat means that Turks & Caicos Islands or Belize will now pip them to the title if they win their meeting on the final day, as they both have better net run rate.

Chile maintained their unbeaten record with a 54-run win over neighbours Peru on the third day of the ICC Americas Division 3 tournament in Argentina. Chile were pressed all the way and at 68 for 6 appeared to be on course for a low score. But Tim Messner (57) and Kamran Zeb (41) added 75 runs for the ninth wicket as Chile climbed to 203 all out. Peru had troubles of their own as they slumped to 5 for 4, and despite a sixth-wicket stand of 62 between Ahmed Nadeem (53) and D. Lakdal (49) they were bowled out for 149 in 38 overs. In the other game Brazil slid to their third loss in as many days as they were bowled out for 169, a total Turks and Caicos Islands passed for the loss of five wickets.

Chile now have three wins from three games and need to beat Brazil in their final game on Friday to win the tournament.

Remaining matches

Friday 15 February - Belize v Peru, Brazil v Chile

Saturday 16 February - Belize v Turks & Caicos Islands, Brazil v Peru,

Chile dominated the first two days of the ICC Americas Division 3 tournament in Argentina, beating pre-tournament favourites Belize by 26 runs on the opening day after posting 271 for 6, with their captain Simon Shalders leading the way with an 84-ball 104. In the day’s other game, Peru, only admitted to ICC membership in 2007, went down to an eight-wicket defeat to Turks & Caicos Islands combination, whose veteran captain Ralph Doughty took 4 for 18 in 9.2 overs.

On the second day Chile powered to an eight-wicket win over Turks and Caicos Islands. Turks and Caicos were bowled out for 252, with Donvan Mathews’ 68 the top score. Chile's Paul Woolocombe lead the chase with an unbeaten 104 with captain Simon Shalders scoring 69. In the other match Belize beat Brazil by 138 runs, bowling out the Brazilians for 55.

Plenty of January rain has kept Brazil from practising much ahead of next month’s World Cricket League Division 3 qualifying tournament in Buenos Aires. It has, however, given the Brazil selectors more time to choose the side, which include a sizeable number of Brazilian born players. In all, five members will be making their debut with the squad.

Brazilian bowler Rudy Hartmann, who has played for Brazil on several previous occasions (including against the MCC when he took two wickets) has kindly been invited by the Argentine Cricket Association to stay on in Buenos Aires to play in their domestic league.

The tournament runs February 10 to 17.

From ICC Americas’ regional newsletter

October 21 saw the first Brazilian league game between Curitiba’s two new teams – Swadisht and Gralha Azul – with Swadisht coming away with a four-run victory. Curitiba have benefited from the recent arrival of a number of new players from around the cricketing world, as well as several home-grown players who have taken up the sport. The HSBC groundskeepers did a great job to prepare the field, despite plenty of rain earlier in the week. If the weather cooperates the teams hope to sneak in one more match before the national Twenty20 tourney in Sao Paulo in mid-November, which will feature teams from Curitiba, Sao Paulo and Brasilia.

Brazil captain Matt Featherstone and three other Brazil players will be heading to Buenos Aires in November as part of a South America X1 to play some warm up games against Argentina, ahead of the ICC World Cricket League in Namibia.

Courtesy ICC Americas