Tallin - Estonia

EDP Coach Tim Dellor visited a country preparing to host one of the biggest European competitions, where the pitch is all-important, a good score will seal victory and where a duck is referred to as "nul point". No, not cricket's European Championships but the Eurovision Song Contest.

There's nothing unusual about getting a lift from the airport in a black London cab. Unless you're in the Estonian capital city, Tallin, which sits on the Baltic Sea in Eastern Europe. It was probably the only black taxi east of Barking. The barking-mad idea is the brainchild of Jason Barry - he of "One Man And His Bat" fame, the expedition to play cricket in a world-record beating 92 countries. He owns the cab as a marketing stunt and as it thunders around Tallin's cobbled streets, it certainly turns a few heads.

The game of cricket seems to spark less interest in Estonia. But an improving ground centrally located, a core of enthusiasts and an effort to get the game played in a dozen primary schools bodes well for the future. EDP Coach Tim Dellor sampled the delights of one of European cricket's quieter backwaters for the Spirit of Cricket weekend. It's only a quieter backwater, mind you, if the three touring English rugby clubs can be avoided. All mysteriously sporting fake moustaches, they appeared intent on dashing any chance of England's Eurovision entry being keenly anticipated. Raucous choruses on the plane and in the bars seemed ever lasting - and less than harmonious.

The rugby tournament was being held at the same venue as the newly developed cricket ground, the Hippodrome, where the major sport is trotting, ie horse-drawn chariots. During the freezing winters, cricket is played in sports halls every Sunday. During the summer, Estonians and expatriates from England meet every week to practice and play matches.

The trip enabled Tim Dellor to earn a full international rugby cap, appearing on the wing for Estonia against Finland in the second round of the tournament. A remarkable achievement considering he hadn't played a serious game with the oval ball since the age of 13.

Estonia is a happy place... be your interests rugby, Euro-pop, trotting or cab-spotting. Now let's add cricket to that list.