Paris, le 27 May 2007
FRANCE CRICKET MEDIA RELEASE
Réf : FCDS07113C
France will play a 50-over match against world famous Australian cricket club, the Crusaders, (www.crusaderscricket.com.au) at Saumur, the nearest turf wicket to Paris, on Wednesday the 27th June.
The Crusaders who are internationally recognised ambassadors for cricket arrive in Europe on 8th June for a 42-day tour that will include 31 cricket matches in six different European nations .
Highlights of their tour will be matches against a President Italian Cricket XI, Switzerland, Duke of Norfolk's XI and the MCC at the Lord's Nursery Ground.
They will spend a whole week in our beautiful country where they will visit the Burgundy wine region of Cote D'Or, explore the City of Light (and Love), Paris, admire Monet's Garden in Giverny and Versailles Palace before playing a match against Standard Athletic Club (14h Sunday 24th June) at Meudon. From Paris to the Somme battlefields of northern France and the adopted 'Australian' village of Villers Bretonneux, a journey south to the Loire Valley to view Chateau Chenonceau and Chateau Villandry before undoubtedly the highlight of their tour - the match against the Equipe de France de Cricket!
After this match they drive up to Brittany to admire the amazing Mont St Michel and to play a match against des Ormes CC before taking a ferry to the motherland where they complete their epic tour.
The match against the EDF will be of a very high standard as most of the Crusaders players are either current or former first-class players and may even include former Australian Test player Merv Hughes who was last year inducted into the the Crusaders Hall of Honour.
The game will again provide the French players with the opportunity to improve their cricket by playing against quality opposition on a grass wicket and in the 50 over format that is regulation in European Championships compared to 35 over matches that are currently conducted in France's national leagues.
The French squad is set to be announced after the 8th June.
Background History of The Crusaders
The idea behind the creation of the Crusaders in Australia in 1977 was to bring former Test, First Class and District players and umpires together to develop youth cricket.
Today the main focus of the Crusaders is to provide young cricketers with encouragement and the opportunity to develop their interest, improve their standard of play and to promote a spirit of fair play in the time-honoured traditions of the game.
Links with clubs in the UK and Europe have helped the Crusaders to organise successful playing tours every second year. As a consequence, the Crusaders are now an international and nationally recognised ambassador for cricket.
International and first class players from 15 different nations have represented the Crusaders over the years.
Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, former CEO of the International Cricket Council, David Richards, and British media celebrity, Michael Parkinson, are honorary Patrons of the Crusaders.
In 2001 the Crusaders played matches in France against Chateau Thoiry CC, Chauny CC and Standard Athletic Club in which they were victorious on each occasion.
The Crusaders have played 306 matches during international tours to the United Kingdom and Europe. Out of these matches the Crusaders have won x 162, lost x 68, drew x 50, tied x 6, and abandoned x 20.
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