http://www.postimees.ee/?id=22018
Yes, Estonia has it's own national cricket team. It is a very extraordinary but enthusiastic group of people who arrived yesterday from the international tournament in Wales. They won the event and even though this was not a big event the result is worthy of reckognition.
«For us the tournament was high-level event even though for English it would not be so important,» explained Indla Venkat, indian, working as head chef and supporter of Estonian team. We should also say that Estonian national team does not really look like a regular national team as lot of people from different parts of the World have come to live here and now play for Estonia.
«We have players from India, UK, Australia, New Zealand,» described team member Andres Burget. «Who works and lives, who studies in Estonia.» Men dont see anything weird in this and consider Estonia as their home. «We all live here. Estonia is in our hearts. For example I have a wife and children here,» explianed one of the forefather of Estonian cricket, Anil Puri from India.
New level
«Ten years ago we started with the club and then the level in Estonia was very low. Now we have evolved and made it to the international level,» explained Venkat, who has been involved with Estonian cricket since the first days. This years biggest achievment was to be accepted as a member of International Cricket Council.
«Couple of weeks ago we were accepted as members of the ICC. They will give us around 600 000 krooni next season to evolve cricket in Estonia,» explained Burget.
Men did not hide the hopes of EOC (Estonian Olympic committee) or government's help for the next year. «Our goal is to attract younger estonians so we can evolve cricket as a serious sport in Estonia. We are amateurs at the moment,» admitted team captain, Australian, Tim Heath.
«At the moment wa are in the end of international rankings but now after we were accepted as members of ICC we want to move forward,» said Burget about Estonia's current level.
«We just beat Czcech Republic who used to be in 72nd position. We will raise in the rankings between 50-70 place.»
Cricket is a hobby to these men as all the players are involved with work in their private lives. «We train twice a week and in addition we have two games, usually on Friday and Saturday. everybody is welcome,» advertised Heath happily. «Domestic League games take place from May till the end of September,» aded Burget.
Welsh tournament was successful for the team. «We beat Russia, Czech Republic and then local Welsh team in the preliminaries while in semi-final we won against Croatia. In final we met czech's again and the game was extremly tense. We won only three balls before the end of the game,» explained Burget lively. «Besides that, Murali Obili was selected as the best bowler of the tournament.»
Even though the team is made up of foreigners at the moment this community ihas Estonia in their heart. «It's great to play and win for Estonia,» sayd Heath. «For me the most wonderful moment was the final game when they played Estonian national anthem – it was a great feeling and I even had a tear in my eye,» admitted Puri, who has made a family here.
More important than the tournament win these men consider making cricket more popular in Estonia.
For a bystander cricket might look like a difficult combination of rules and traditions which for some reason looks like Great Brittain's parliament and it's traditions but for these people cricket is simple and a number one sport.
Beatiful sport
«At the beginning cricket seemed one of the most awful and boring game in the whole World but then I really got in to it and found the miracle of this game. It's a fantastic game,» admits one of the few estonians in the team, Andrus Kämbre.
«Cricket is 2nd most played ballsport in the World. It's a team game, friendly and cool game,» described Burget. «It's a beautiful sport,» sayd Puri. «Cricket is a team game. We play as one,» explained Gleb Bihanovs. «It's an emotional and intensive game,» added Heath.
In India cricket is with long traditions and thats why people from there are interested of this game. «I am born with cricket. Everyone plays it in India,» sayd Nand Lal. «It's in my blood,» added Vineeth Govind.
In Great Brittain to choose cricket as main sport is taken for granted. «In England you can choose either football or cricket. I chose cricket,» added englishman Tim Filer.
This sport gives enough physical exercise. «We get sweatty when we train,» admitted Burget. «This is not a walk in the park. Ther's a lot of tactic's and team work and in addition quite many bruises,» explained Heath diligently.
«It is a very refreshing, competitive game, one that need lot of thinking as well. One of the most important things is coordination as when the ball moves towards you with 140 km/h you have to hit it first and then try to guide it through opposite teams players.»
Besides that, cricket is considered as benchmark of fair game. «It is true. We have a deep rspect towards each other. This is a gentlemens game and the right spirit and attitude are most important here.,» explained Heath. «Even when the umpire is wrong, whatever his decision was, we respect it.»
Inga Höglund, reporter |
