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Practice session at Bagatelle
France Cricket
Paris, le 14 May 2007
FRANCE CRICKET MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Réf : FCDS07111C
16 of the most talented players from throughout France converged on Bagatelle Cricket Ground in Paris on what was a glorious spring day in the nations capital for the 1st of May holiday.
The players who came from 11 different clubs in France were trialling for selection in possible U'19, U'23 and Senior national teams.
The morning session was very intense and demanding as candidates were put through a series of cricket specific fitness tests to measure their ability of competing at international level.
After the lunch break the players were split into two teams and played a match to further provide selectors and coach of their ability to perform whilst under the stress of a game situation. The match showed signs of brilliance including a classic one handed diving catch from Saumur's Andy German and a trademark quickfire 62 not out from PUC's Waseem Bhatti.
Unfortunately for organisers and players the match was correctly called off by the officiating umpires before the first innings was completed because of extreme danger to the general public. In a scene that is common in respect to the challenges of developing cricket in France, Parisians continually entered the field of play (unknowingly what a game of cricket was and understandably so without any signs at the ground to warn or educate the public) and very casually sunbaked, played games of football, flew kites and had family picnics which was no doubt the typical thing to do on such a lovely sunny day at a public park in Paris, especially on a national holiday.
Whilst it was a dissappointment to prematurely call off the trials, it was quite interesting to physically see the challenges that France Cricket is faced with in promoting and developing the sport of cricket in this country. It shows that there is a lot of hard work required to educate the general public and in the short-term to find a national training ground or facility.
Despite such large obstacles, the performances and efforts shown by the players illustrates the great depth of talent that France possesses and if we can manage to harness such talents than not even people sunbaking in the middle of a cricket ground will prevent cricket in France from reaching new heights.
Special thanks must go to Dusty Rhodes and Baheerathan Thevarasan for umpiring, Vincent Buisson for scoring and to those players who sacrificed their time from work, friends and family and especially those who travelled long distances to make themselves available for EDF selection.
-Ends-
For more information, please contact:
Dave Szumowski
Entraîneur National
Fédération Française de Baseball, Softball et Cricket
41, Rue de Fécamp - 75012 Paris
Tel: +33 (0) 144 688 932
Fax: +33 (0) 144 689 600
Mobile: +33 (0) 678 190 931
© France Cricket
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