…the magnificent performances of South Africa’s AB De Villiers and New Zealand’s Jessie Ryder in the past week, created a lot of interest for local cricketers. Add Ewan Thompson’s call-up to the New Zealand Twenty20 squad, and there was plenty of good cricket news to enjoy in the midst of economic doom and gloom.
AB De Villiers played half a season for Carrick in 2004 before returning to South Africa, and as they often say, the rest is history. The multi-talented young sportsman has since become an integral part of the strong South African team, but his performance in Perth last week is surely his best to date. Chasing an unprecedented 414 to win in the 4th innings against the best test team in the world was a daunting prospect, but 106 not out from AB stole the honours in an historic victory.
Big scores have become commonplace for De Villiers in the last few years, and his nine innings sojourn with NCU cricket was no exception. His top score of 233 was part of a total aggregate of 894 runs at an amazing average of 127.7.
Not bad for half a season!
AB has gone on to greater things on the world stage, but he still retains contact with a number of friends in Ulster, and his exploits are widely watched with great interest by a large number of local cricketers.
Jessie Ryder’s connections with Irish cricket were somewhat less glamorous!
Last year the talented, if controversial, young Kiwi, was recruited by Ireland for the Friend’s Provident campaign in May, but three runs from two outings against Essex and Gloucestershire at Castle Avenue didn’t endear him to the critics. Worse was to follow when he failed to turn up on time for the next match, and his services were unceremoniously terminated. There’s never been any question about Jessie’s talent, but according to many followers of Kiwi cricket, his lack of application and focus at times virtually amounted to self-destruction. But Jessie has many admirers, not least the great Sir Richard Hadlee, and despite one infamous blemish over the last 12 months, he has finally ‘settled down’ and established himself on the New Zealand team. Some Irish cricket followers may question his credentials after that sorry saga last May, but there are fewer better strikers of the ball in world cricket these days than the burly Kiwi. His claim to fame this week was spearheading the New Zealand surge for victory on the last day of the Napier test against the touring West Indians. The match was superbly poised with virtually any result possible going into the last two sessions, and when Ryder passed his third successive half-century, a home win looked the most likely outcome. But then McCollum was adjudged caught behind, and with five wickets down, skipper Vettori threw a spanner into the works and lamely accepted the draw. What a travesty to cricket, and little wonder New Zealand are rooted at the bottom of the test ladder when they can’t chase 90 runs in 15 overs with five wickets intact against the weakest bowling attack in the history of West Indies cricket. Worse still, what an insult to Jessie Ryder and to cricket in general, that a test captain should see a draw as a better option than the chance to win, when he had a rampant match-winner at the crease. The proverbial two men and a dog watched this match, and with such negativity, what hope has test cricket competing against the shorter versions of the game? It is sometimes said that Twenty20 cricket could ruin test cricket, but decisions like this are more likely to damage its credibility and integrity.
One bright spark on the horizon for local cricket followers was the inclusion of Ewan Thompson in the New Zealand Twenty20 squad and this has brought a lot of pride to the Civil Service North club where he has starred for several seasons. Everyone in Irish cricket wishes Ewan every success and hopefully he’ll get the chance to show his immense talent on the international stage.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
