Jeety Sandhu, of the Seattle Cricket Club © Seattle Times

Seattlites more used to baseball were introduced to the finer game recently, when Worcestershire's Over-50s toured the city.

The players, all over 50, matched up against Seattle Cricket Club on Wednesday for a five-hour-long event at Magnuson Park in Seattle. Worcestershire scored 135; Seattle scored 124.

There was also a break for a proper high tea in the afternoon — complete with little cucumber sandwiches, dainty cakes and, of course, tea — set up right on the playing field.

"It's a social event rather than a competitive one," said Bunti Sarai, president of the Seattle Cricket Club, which plays against British guests once every three or four years.

At the Seattle Cricket Club, formed in the 1960s as part of a competitive league from British Columbia, there are about 100 playing members ranging from 13 years old to 71.

Read the full story at the Seattle Times

SportingPulse has an enjoyable round-up of the ongoing Pacific Games in Fiji, and of cricket in the region - specifically Samoa.

As the cricket venue for the 2007 South Pacific Games the Faleata Complex provides the idyllic backdrop for national teams

Yesterday's epic battle between traditional cricket rivals Samoa and the Kingdom of Tonga exemplified the spirit of cricket and the competitiveness of athlete's representing their country with pride and distinction.

At long last, Netherlands have advertised for a new coach. Paul Jan-Bakker has been in charge since Peter Cantrell's resignation after the 2007 World Cup, and the ICC have the full advertisement at their site.

An exciting opportunity exists to join the Dutch Cricket Association (KNCB), one of the six ICC High Performance Program Associate Members. The Netherlands have qualified for the last two ICC Cricket World Cup tournaments.

The KNCB is seeking a highly qualified National Coach initially to develop and prepare their National Team to qualify in 2009 for the next World Cup. The National Coach will be responsible for the overall management of the international program which includes planning, development, implementation and evaluation of specialised cricket training and competition programs, and development of younger talent for the future.

A programme of international fixtures is in place including the Intercontinental Cup (First Class), World Cricket League and regional events, and plans are being explored for further ODI’s against Full and Associate ICC member countries outside of ICC feature tournaments.

The successful candidate will be in position to assist to establish a strategic direction for the national program that is in keeping with KNCB's overall vision for the future.

Final applications will close on Sunday 16th September 2007

Fiji's good form in the Pacific Games continued today when the humbled, or embarrassed, New Caledonia by a whopping 383 runs. Batting first Fiji made 403 for 8 before dismissing New Caledonia for a paltry 20.

They face Tonga on Friday and Samoa on Saturday.

If you have any further information or photos about this match, or any in the Pacific Games, do get in touch

SportingPulse have a full report:

In making its way to its impressive 403 run batting stint, New Caledonia showed very early signs of unsettling Fiji by dismissing opening bat Iliesa Navatu McGoon for 2 runs in the third over and Sekuove Ravoka for 7 runs in the 7th over. However, the entry of Kida Jikoivanualevu into the action saw Fiji gain real composure and the Fiji run scoring machine go into overdrive. Jikoivanualevu and Fiji's captain, Iniasi Cakacaka, settled in at the crease and put on a 71 run partnership before Cakcaka was bowled by S. Kilama for 29 runs. Kida was eventually caught by Midraia off a bowl from Folituu for a well played 67 runs. Fiji's batting depth showed through its batting order with number 7 batsman Tupou Golati making an impressive 71 runs and top scoring for Fiji and Kitione Tavo at number 8 making 42 runs not out with two sixes to his name. Fiji eventually scored 336 runs off the bat with New Caledonia conceding 35 wides and 19 no balls.

New Caledonia, with what can only be described as a mountain to overcome, took to the pitch with the hope of making a close game of the huge run chase. However, the impressive Fijian bowling attack was always going to make the task ahead for the New Caledonian team a real challenge. New Caledonia, in the course of 16 overs, put 20 runs on the board before they were all dismissed by the highly charged Fijian team.

Thanks to Andrew Dunford for the SportingPulse reminder

A Bulgarian travel blog has an interesting (albeit rather confusing) report on the poor state of the country's pitches which it blames on the insect of the same name. At least, we think that is the case. Have a read and leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Nepal have qualified for next year's Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia after defeating a spirited Afghanistan side by 48 runs in the final of the Asian Cricket Council Under-19 Elite Cup at the Kinrara Oval. Nepal successfully defended a modest of 172 to bowl out Afghanistan, who lost their last four wickets for three runs in 11 balls.

The tournament also served as the Asian qualifier and by virtue of winning it, Nepal joined Papua New Guinea (from the East Asia-Pacific region), Ireland (from the Europe region), Bermuda (from the Americas region), the ICC's 10 Full Members and hosts Malaysia at the 16-team World Cup to be played from February 17 to March 2, 2008.

Read the full report

Botswana produced the shock of the Africa Under-19 World Cup Qualifiers when they Uganda by 27 runs to reach the semi-finals in Benoni on Monday.

Botswana's unexpected victory eliminated Tanzania from the semi-final on net run-rate after the duo along with Uganda ended up at four points each from three matches. In Wednesday's semi-finals, Uganda meets Namibia while Kenya faces Botswana. Kenya topped Pool One after conjuring up a four-wicket victory over Zambia while Namibia finished second after defeating Ghana by 172 runs, courtesy of an unbeaten century by Sean Silver.

In the Botswana-Uganda match, Botswana scored 192 for 8 after being put into bat with contributions from Karan Kapoor (54) and Nadeem Tajbhay (36) while Emmanuel Nakaana bagged 3 for 45. In turn, Uganda was dismissed for 165 in 44 overs after losing their last seven wickets for 54.

Tanzania, in their last match, carved out a 153-run victory over Nigeria. Athumani Kakonzi (70) and Seif Abdul (68) put on 123 for the second wicket to set the platform for Tanzania's 296 in 49.5 overs. Nigeria, in its target chase, were bowled out for 143.

Silver scored 101 to inspire Namibia to a 172-run victory over Ghana and featured in a 117-run second wicket partnership with Tiaan Louw (62) as Namibia scored 287 for 6. Ghana were dismissed for 115 with Elandre Oosthuizen taking 4 for 39 and Louis Petrus van der Westhuizen claiming 3 for 13.

Spinners Rakep Patel and Rohit Vekaria shared six wickets to help Kenya beat Zamibia by four wickets. Patel took 3 for 16 and Vekaria bagged 3 for 17 as Zambia were spun out for 152. Kenya achieved victory in 34.1 overs for the loss of six wickets.

The winner of the Africa Under-19 Qualifiers join Papua New Guinea (from the East Asia-Pacific Region), Ireland (from the Europe Region) and Bermuda (from the Americas Region), the ICC's 10 Full Members and hosts Malaysia at the 16-team U-19 World Cup from February 17 to March 2 2008 in Malaysia.

Syed Ashraful Huq, the chief executive of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) believes that China's foray into the game will boost the chances of cricket making it as an Olympic sport.

"China's standing as the world's leading sporting nation can play a major role in influencing future Olympic rosters," Huq was quoted by the Associated Press of Pakistan. He said that China's say could help cricket's chances to make it to Olympics and that's why the game needed to be developed in the country. "I don't know if cricket can make it into the London Olympics in 2012, where it could have demonstration status, but maybe the one after that."

Huq indicated that although over a 100 countries played the sport, a major nation like China playing the game could help it qualify as a truly global sport. He felt that cricket's debut at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games will give the game a fillip in China.

He expressed confidence over the game's progress in Asia. "Eventually cricket will become the biggest game in the Asian Games - the number one, because it is seen by the most and it is followed by the most," he said.

Huq, who visited Guangzhou to see the cricket facilities being developed for the Asian Games, also praised the Pakistan Cricket Board for their assistance in promoting the game in China.

Cricket has been played only once at the Olympics, in 1900, though only one match was played, between England and France. Cricket also featured in the 1998 Commonwealth games in Malaysia.

	Trinidad and Tobago's explosive talent, Amanda Samaroo © ICC

Canada’s women have given their country some joy, with victory in the first ICC Americas Women’s Championship, held in Canada. They overhauled Bermuda by five wickets in the deciding victory.

Bermuda, though, have the consolation of a place at the World Cup qualifiers in Lahore in November. Argentina sank to three defeats in three, but will take some positives – and have two players competing for a place in the ICC Americas XI who take on Trinidad & Tobago Under-17 on Friday.

T&T have been the outstanding side of this tournament – their latest victory a huge victory against Argentina – but they were not eligible for the title. Nevertheless, it has been excellent experience for them. And they appear to have a rising star in their ranks – the batsman Amanda Samaroo, whose highlight was a superb unbeaten 128, off only 125 balls.

Click here for more.

A mouth-watering tussle between last year’s grand finalists Tafea and Mele is by far the pick of this weekend’s match-ups in Vanuatu’s club championship. With Tafea flying high on top of the table, with 90 points, and Mele (70) hitting their straps last week, this Saturday’s 50-over encounter at Kazaa Field could be a good battle.

While the game is being played under the lengthened format, whether the match lasts the distance is another matter, with neither side showing any great desire to bat for fifty overs in their previous day-long matches. As always, the Mele Bulls’ hopes rest on the shoulders of just a few of their stars, while Tafea appears to have a much more rounded squad. But that could count for little if Tafea can’t make the early necessary break-throughs against the Bulls’ top order.

Despite the inclement weather in Port Vila, the National Bank of Vanuatu Beach Cricket Tournament is still set to go ahead as planned Tuesday from 8am.

The day’s activities will be held at Mele Beach, and is a way for the Vanuatu Cricket Association to introduce children to cricket, and show how it can be played in almost any environment.

Around 300 primary school children are expected to participate.

	Ramon Sealy receives his Man of the Tournament award © Getty Images

After being asked to bat on a bright sunny day in Toronto, Bermuda got off to a solid start before Kevin James (3 for 23) and Arsalan Qadir (3 for 24) began to make inroads. From 35 without loss, Bermuda slumped to 57 for 4, and it was a fifth-wicket partnership of 46 between Khiry Furbert, the wicketkeeper, and Malachi Jones (33 from 49) which began their recovery.

The real rescue hero though was Stefan Kelly, the allrounder, who ended unbeaten on 52 from 55, adding a crucial 79 for the seventh wicket with Furbert. With Canada boasting a powerful batting lineup, 195 was most gettable. Ruvindu Gunasekera began in sublime fashion with 31 off 42 balls, including five fours, and he was given good support by Chris Manohar (40 off 70), with whom he put on 55 in 13 overs.

Jersey followed up their victory at the European Under-19 Division 2 Championship, with a win over France in the final of the Under-23 tournament in Guernsey on Thursday

Openers Ruvindu Gunasekera and Terryn Fray stroked centuries of contrasting styles and offspinner Pratik Patel captured a remarkable 7 for 3 as Canada and Bermuda maintained their winning streak in the five-team round-robin Americas Under-19 World Cup Qualifier in Toronto on Wednesday.

If the French had any remaining doubts that Rwanda, the tiny country in the heart of Central Africa, was a lost colonial cause they must have been banished by the sight of the heavy home-made rollers - oil barrels filled with concrete - smoothing the cricket pitch of the Kicukiro Oval just outside the capital Kigali.

Click here for more.

Supporters of Genoa, Italy's oldest professional football club, have long been proud of their Anglo roots. Founded, like AC Milan, by a group of Brits in 1893 as Genoa Cricket and Athletic Club (Sir James Spensley started the football in 1896), it's still officially known as Genoa Cricket and Football Club.

Things have been going well on the footballing front of late, with i grifoni (the Griffins) finally winning promotion back into Italy's Serie A after a series of false starts. Now, a group of supporters keen to know more about their distant cricketing past approached the club and are giving cricket a new lease of life.

Click here for more.

Canada and Bermuda lived up to their pre-tournament favourites' tag by scoring convincing victories in their Americas Under-19 Qualifiers in Toronto on Tuesday. Canada beat Argentina by nine wickets while Bermuda won their second match in a row by beating Cayman Islands by seven wickets.

Click here for the full report ...

Bermuda and the Cayman Islands notched victories on the opening day of the Americas Under-19 Qualifiers, as Bermuda eased past the Bahamas by 195 runs while the Cayman Islands powered to a ten-wicket win over Argentina.

Click here for the full report ...

The real impact of the USA's suspension from international cricket will hit home today when north of the border in Toronto the region's leading teams will meet to take part in the Americas Under-19 Qualifier.

The prize at stake is a place at the ICC U-19 World Cup in Malaysia next February and March. While hosts Canada will be joined by sides from Argentina, Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands, the USA's young players will be left at home dreaming of what might have been.

The USA were present at the last U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka - on that occasion the ICC hierarchy commendably decided that it would be unfair to punish young players because of the governance issues affecting the national board . But this time there has been no such concession and so the U-19 side will miss out.

The sadness of this becomes more apparent when you listen to people involved in grassroots US cricket.

Last month, Hemant Buch, co-founder of the California Cricket Academy, told Cricinfo: "There will simply be more and more junior cricket in all parts of North America, and we should have several thousand first-class juniors ready to play competitive cricket by 2011."

When the various factions indulge in their next bout of self-obsessed squabbling for control of the USA Cricket Association, they would all so well to remember that the real victims of their conduct of recent years should be in Toronto preparing for the biggest week of their lives.

Fiji have been forced to move their training from Albert Park as they gear up for this year's South Pacific games.

“This would be good because the weather is hot and of course the venue for training is the main thing.”

The 14-member team consists of five players that went down in the final to Papua New Guinea in the 2003 South Pacific Games. Fiji has been denied three times the gold medal, always settling for silver but this year, Vosaicake said gold was their main agenda.

“We are tired of settling for second best. This team has prepared well and the recent international meets has helped in our buildup for Samoa.”

Only two players, Sakaraia Lomani and Filimoni Vuli will be making their debut. The side has experience from the EAP Championship, Vanuatu Bilateral and World Cup qualifiers.

Their toughest challenge is coping with 50 overs instead of 30 overs, normally played in the local club games.

“It is a challenge for us. Most of our players have experience in 50 overs and we have been training to accommodate that but it is not tough, it can be done.”

[via Fijilive]

The matches begin next Monday on August 27. A full schedule can be found at SportingPulse.

Barry Ganese hit the cricketing maximum on Friday (August 10), powering his was to six sixes in one over of six balls. Ganese was playing for Toronto and District Premier club Overseas against the touring Trinidad and Tobago club side Powergen at Maple Leaf CC, King City, Ontario. He continued to score freely and took his side to victory with an individual score of 80 runs not out from a mere 30 balls.

“I've had close encounters before with four and five sixes in an over, but this was the first time for six sixes,” he said. “It was a big thrill out there. It was especially good to have family and friends - a lot of friends - around to see it.” He admitted that a few of his ten sixes were mishits.

Canada face a stiff challenge from Bermuda in their bid to return to the Under-19 World Cup when the five-team round-robin Americas U-19 Qualifier begins at Mapleleaf CC, King City in Toronto on Monday (August 13).

Argentina, Caymans Islands and debutants Bahamas are the other teams taking part in the week-long competition. The winner will join the ICC’s 10 Full Members, hosts Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Ireland (who recently qualified from the East-Asia Pacific and European Regions respectively) at the 16-team U-19 World Cup to be played in Malaysia next February. Canada missed the 2006 event in Sri Lanka but participated in the 2002 and 2004 tournaments.

Familiar home conditions, an improving infrastructure and more international exposure helps Canada to start as firm favourites and coach Courtney Gonsalves is optimistic that his players are ready for the event. “All the players attended the elite programme we started last October in which we set up talent hunt and training camps throughout Canada,” he said. “Our goal is to qualify for next year’s U-19 World Cup and I am sure that the combination of this elite programme along with exposure in the premier division will help us achieve our target.”

However, Canada are likely to be tested by Bermuda who have been bolstered by the inclusion of allrounders Malachi Jones and Stefan Kelly, who played in the recent full World Cup, while the youngsters' captain Rodney Trott narrowly missed the event. The trio will rejoin the senior Bermuda team for the match against Ireland in the ICC Intercontinental Cup after completing the Toronto assignment.

Bermuda coach Arnold Manders believes his team’s hopes of earning a finals berth are better than ever. “I think our chances of winning are greater than previous years because we have played more matches as a team and the players are confident in their individual roles.”

Bermuda prepared for the tournament by playing eight domestic 50-overs-a-side competition matches between May and June besides participating in the Sir Garfield Sobers Cricket Tournament in Barbados which was also used as a training camp for the Americas U-19 Qualifier.

“We have worked tirelessly on the team concept, and the individual discipline of the players have really improved. Our team this year is mentally stronger [than previously] and combined with the intense training the players received from the coaches, this should result in a good team combination. The players have the knowledge and now they need to produce.”

For Argentina, it will be their first appearance in this event as an ICC Associate Member. They have previously struggled at the junior level but it would be dangerous to discount them, particularly after the senior team’s heroics in Darwin in June where they earned promotion to the World Cricket League Division 2 by qualifying for the final of the Division 3 tournament.

Middle-order batsman Pedro Bruno, left-arm seam bowler Santiago Irigoyen and allrounders Ignacio Redruello and Tomas Birnie were part of that successful campaign in Darwin, but instead of making big predictions, coach Hamish Barton has set his sights on winning at least once in Toronto. “Basically our main goal is to win one game. We feel this is a realistic goal for the Argentine team considering the team’s past performances and the stage of its development.”

Barton said the sport is still in the embryonic stage in Argentina and the team has prepared as best it can in the tough winter season. “The players are very much in the development stage and we are aiming to do the basics right and achieve our specific goals for each skill area, the experience and exposure to international cricket.

“The team has prepared as best it could as it is winter in Argentina at the moment and training has been extremely difficult at times. But the team has trained well and the development of the players over the last three months has been very pleasing.”

Caymans Islands have always been very competitive at youth level and nobody is expecting them to be far behind this time. Captain Ramon Sealy, along with top-order batsman Darren Cato and bowler Kervin Ebanks, have played in the Caymans Islands domestic Division 1 tournament for the last two years.

Sealy sees batting as his team’s strength. “I think the team has a good chance of winning because we have a strong batting line-up which is not only capable of setting high totals but chasing them as well.”

Bahamas are the only Affiliate Member in the group and are fielding a team for the first time. The senior team will participate in next year’s ICC World Cricket League Division 5 to be played in Jersey in May.

Bahamas captain Gregory Taylor hopes that the Americas U-19 Qualifier will help his country’s bid towards earning ICC’s Associate Membership. He said: “We hope to achieve recognition as an Affiliate power house and to show the ICC and the world that we are ready to become an Associate Member of the ICC. Two years ago we did not have a full U-19 team, but we worked hard under the guidance of coach John Welch to achieve this. Jonathan Barry, Jeremy Jesubatham, Rodrick Mitchel and I came up in the U-15 program from 2001 and have played a lot of cricket with the seniors.”

The United States of America, who took part in their first U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka in 2006 are missing this time as the USA Cricket Association is currently suspended as an ICC Member.

Argentina Juan Tomas Birnie (capt), Alejo Tissera, Augusto Mustafa, Facundo Duggan, Hernan Fennell, Horacio Esperon, Ignacio Fermani, Ignacio Redruello, Juan Pablo Bordacahar, Pablo Siracusa, Pedro Bruno, Ramiro Rodriguez Delgado, Santiago Iritxity Irigoyen, Santiago Paez Nicoletti.

Bahamas Gregory Taylor (capt), Adrian Dean, Ambry Moss, Anwar Sawyer, Corie Frazer, Franz Taylor, Fritz Stubbs, Jeremy Jesubatham, Jermaine Adderley, Jonathan Barry, LaSalle Thompson, Marc Taylor, Rodrick Mitchel, Rudolph Fox.

Bermuda Rodney Trott (capt), Christopher Douglas, Dennico Hollis, Greg Maybury, Hodsoll Kyle, Jordan De Silva, Khiry Furbert, Lamar Richardson, Malachi Jones, Marico Bassett, Stefan Kelly, Steven Bremar Jr, Tamauri Tucker, Terryne Fray.

Canada Abishek Krisnamoorthy (capt), Chris Monohar (vice-captain), Arsalan Qadir, Asif Manjra, Hasan Raza Zaidi, Jaskeerat Singh Kalon, Kevin James, Khushal Gangopadhyay, Majid Usman, Pratik Patel, Riayzkhan Pathan, Rustum Bhatti, Ruvindu Gunasekera, Usman Iqubal.

Cayman Islands Ramon Sealy (capt), Corey Cato, Dale Parker, Darado Thompson, Darren Cato, Earl Hart, Kervin Ebanks, Patrick McConvey, Robert Hewitt, Sacha DeAlwis, Shane Cato, Vincent Ebanks, Zachary McLaughlin.

Quick Haag won the first-ever Nachenius Tjeenk Twenty20 Cup final in Schiedam on Saturday evening, beating hosts Hermes-DVS by 32 runs in front of a crowd of several hundred.

Chasing 139 to win, Hermes were torn apart by spells from Darron Reekers and Henk-Jan Mol, who took six wickets in the space of eight overs to turn a promising position of 31 for 0 into 57 for 6. Pankaj Joshi and Lou Borrani had given their side a good platform, but once the wickets started to fall Quick kept the pressure up and never gave the hosts a chance of getting back into the game.

Check out Cricket Europe for Rod Lyall's full report

Bermuda's confidence has been hit by the absence of their leading batsman, David Hemp © Getty Images

Their squad is severely depleted and inexperienced and they have just been humiliated in two warm-up one-dayers against Denmark. But according to Gus Logie, the Bermuda coach, his side are embarking on a new era with confidence.

Logie's men take on Netherlands in their Intercontinental Cup match on Monday with only four surviving players from their disastrous World Cup campaign in the Caribbean earlier this year: Irvine Romaine, Stephen Outerbridge, Dwayne Leverock, the crowds' favourite, and Lionel Cann.

"Some of the younger players have an opportunity to prove themselves and I am looking forward to seeing them progress more than anything else," Logie said. "It is always important to start on a winning note. We have to be realistic of the situation. We are looking forward to seeing some good individual performances and trust that it will be enough to benefit the whole team.

"To emulate any past achievements, we need a similar commitment level of the players and a good start in the competition."

Jekon Edness takes over the wicket-keeping duties from Dean Minors, and a number of youngsters such as Jacobi Robinson, Arthur Pitcher and Ryan Steede are also set to feature.

In stark contrast, the Netherlands are almost at full strength after the return of the captain Jeroen Smits, Bas Zuiderent, Edgar Schiferli and Adeel Raja. The quartet missed the trip to Aberdeen last week where they lost to Scotland by an innings and 59 runs.

"I know Bermuda is missing some good players and I feel sorry for them but when we step on the field, I want my team to be ruthless and play as hard as it can," Paul-Jan Bakker, Netherlands' coach, said. "No disrespect to Bermuda but if we produce a clinical performance and win comprehensively, it will do a world of good to our confidence for the next game against Ireland. It [the game against Ireland] will be a very important match for our progress in the competition because Ireland is certainly one of the top sides in the tournament.

"It is good for the balance of the team that the four players are back. It gives the team a fresher look and, most importantly, it gives us the firepower and aggression we missed in Aberdeen last week."

Ireland's domination of European youth tournaments continued as they captured the Under-13 title in Denmark this week.

They edged home against Scotland in a thrilling contest by just one wicket in the final decider. They opened the competition with a convincing seven-wicket win over Netherlands thanks to a fine bowling performance from Ross Adair and George McKinley. The pair each picked up three wickets to dismiss Netherlands for 104. Tyrone Kane and Jordan Magee also got among the wickets.

That total proved little obstacle to Ireland as they lost just the three wickets - David Barr top-scoring with 50, while Matthew Clarke, the wicketkeeper, made a composed 20.

Determined batting from Denmark saw them post a respectable 154 for 6 in the next game, with Saad Ahmed (45) and Basit Javed (38) playing neatly. Adair was again their main performer with the ball, taking 3 for 31. Ben Wylie, the captain, secured the win with a chanceless 71 not out.

The deciding fixture with Scotland was going to plan when four wickets from McKinley reduced Scotland to to 80 for 7. But a fine rearguard action from Johnny Perrium (31), and Nicky Farrar (27), saw them score 141 for 9.

In reply Ireland were well placed at 60 for 1, but Andrew Umeed hit back with four wickets to reduce them to 132 for 9. The nervous last pair of George Adair and McKinley got the Irish over the finishing line much to their obvious delight. The Scots will rue the concession of 41 extras - 38 of which were wides, which proved the decisive factor in the outcome.

"I'd like to congratulate the entire squad and support staff on another fantastic achievement. To win the title for an 8th consecutive year is a truly remarkable feat,” Tom Prior, the Irish Cricket Union president said.

Ireland have a chance to complete a second consecutive clean sweep of the European Championships, having won all six tournaments last season, and having won four of the five so far in 2007. The Under-17s are currently in action in Dundee, where they play Scotland in the final fixture on Sunday and Monday in a two-day fixture.

Denmark 114 for 5 (Klokker 43, Leverock 2-19) beat Bermuda 113 (Hansen 7-13) by five wickets

Bermuda's problems continued to grow as they started their European tour with a five-wicket loss to Denmark at Brondby's Svanholm Park.

Although Bermuda were missing several players because of business commitments while others in the World Cup squad had retired, a side ranked as one of the leading Associates should still have been too good for the Danes.

Bermuda won the toss and batted, but they had no answer to the medium pace of Thomas Hansen who was almost unplayable. The first four overs were maidens and the batsmen appeared unable to cope with the swinging ball.

As had been so apparent at the World Cup, few had the technique or the patience and Bermuda slid to 39 for 7, with Hansen returning remarkable figures of 7 for 13 from his ten overs. Lionel Cann engineered a recovery of sorts with 35, which included three sixes, but by then the innings was in tatters and they did well to post 113.

Denmark lost two early wickets but Freddie Klokker and Max Overgaard steered them to 79 for 2 with a third-wicket stand of 42. Although Dwayne Leverock removed Klokker for 43 and Overgaard followed soon after, the middle order held their nerve and fittingly it was Hansen who hit the winning runs.

James Whittaker

Bermuda's national coach Gus Logie has a threadbare squad of just 12 players at his disposal as Bermuda prepares to begin the post World Cup era against Denmark.

Practically everyone that travelled to Europe this week is guaranteed a game over the next few weeks with Bermuda's thin resources stretched to the limit. Just four of the World Cup squad - skipper Irving Romaine, new vice-captain Stephen Outerbridge, big hitter Lionel Cann and spinner Dwayne Leverock - boarded the plane on Monday night with a host of new faces being asked to fill the enormous void left by the likes of Janeiro Tucker, Clay Smith, OJ Pitcher and Kevin Hurdle.

The middle order - Bermuda's strength over the past few years - has been completely decimated. As well as Tucker, Smith and Pitcher there will be no David Hemp, no Dean Minors and no Kwame Tucker. A squad of up and coming youngsters and international novices will take their place.

Ironically most of the youngsters - the likes of Edness, Robinson and Arthur Pitcher - have played for Bermuda before. It is club veterans like Roderick Masters, Dwight Basden and James Celestine who will be making their international debuts on this tour.

Coach Logie admitted the team was in a rebuilding stage and said the tour would be a test of how quickly the new boys could adapt to the enormous jump in class from domestic cricket. "Any time you go out to play you play to win, but we also have to be realistic and realize that this is a rebuilding stage. We are looking at development of our younger players and exposure for certain players to a higher level of cricket. It's about understanding what it takes to play at that level."

The opening games against Denmark are not full one-day-internationals because the Danes did not qualify for the World Cup and ODI status. But Logie expects them, along with Holland and Ireland who Bermuda face later in the tour, to be among their biggest rivals for re-qualification at the ICC Trophy 2009 in Malaysia.

"We played them a few years ago and narrowly beat them, but they have grown in stature and the game has taken off a bit in Denmark. Many of their players have exposure to the English county cricket set up. They, Holland and Ireland are going to be three of our arch rivals in 2009 and we need to learn as much from this tour as we possibly can."

There will be new roles for some of the players on this tour with Lionel Cann, traditionally used as a late-order finisher, likely to be asked to become the mainstay of the batting line-up along with Romaine. "We don't have the same depth in the middle order anymore and the chances are Lionel will be asked to bat higher up and play a more integral role. Players like Lionel and the captain Irving Romaine will need to play a central role."

The return of seamer George O'Brien gives the bowling attack an injection of pace and aggression while Jacobi Robinson, Arthur Pitcher and Ryan Steede will play a supporting role. Dwayne Leverock will again be the centre-piece of Bermuda's bowling attack with his economical left-arm spin.

Logie said the new boys had shown commitment in practice. Now it was time to see what they could do on the big stage. "This is an opportunity to assess certain players and see how they gel as a team. We can practice as much as we want but you have to think that those things we did in training can be done in game situations."

Preparation for the tour has been far from ideal with Azeem Pticher, Kevin Hurdle and Maurice Lowe all pulling out for work and personal reasons and Greg Maybury being called-up to the Under-19 qualifiers. The search for available replacements saw Robinson and Basden called up. But further back-up was not available.

"We have a lot of players playing the game but for whatever reason not everybody is in line for selection for the national team."

He added that the passion for the game shown at Cup Match was not so evident when it came to the national team. "Players can want to train, want to play with passion at the local level. If that can be transferred to the national team they can reap just as good rewards."

One fillip for Logie will be the arrival of three stars from Bermuda's Under-19 team ahead of the game against Ireland. Seamers Stefan Kelly and Malachi Jones and spinner Rodney Trott will jet in from Canada after representing the U-19s in the World Cup qualifiers. "These are the guys we are looking at to carry the flag in the near future. We want to wish them all the best in Canada where we trust they will qualify for the World Cup."

Reproduced with permission of the Bermuda Sun

This year's ICC European Under-13 Championship, starting on Tuesday, is taking place on the small island of Mors on the northern part of Jutland, Denmark in the picturesque town of Nykobing.

Nykobing has a long tradition in Danish cricket where the sport has been a large part of the town's sporting picture for many years. However, Denmark, and also the Netherlands, will on paper always struggle in comparison to Ireland and Scotland simply because they don’t play that much cricket in this age group. Tradition says it will be a struggle between Ireland and Scotland for the title although Netherlands surprised last year with a win over Scotland which left all three countries with the same points.

The Under-13 Championship has been won by Ireland since 2000 so that brings a weight of expectation, but captain Ben Wylie is the sole survivor from last year in Copenhagen. However, Scotland seem to be taking the tournament very seriously with the team playing warm-up matches against Cleveland and Durham.

Last year Netherlands’ youth development was under the control of Roland Lefebvre and his work has begun to show results as Netherlands managed a win over Scotland as well as last-place Denmark.

Denmark will be fielding a side with three faces seen last year in Copenhagen. This year the team will be coached by Mickey Lund who works as the Danish Development Officer.

Chris Dehring, who headed the organising committee of the World Cup, has been named as the independent third party in attempts to resolve the dispute which led to the United States being suspended from international cricket by the ICC.

The two main factions - the official USA Cricket Association and a group of disgruntled league presidents - met in Washington in June where they agreed to put aside their differences and work towards finding a solution.

That meeting was chaired by Ken Gordon, the erstwhile president of the West Indies board, and the two factions agreed to appoint a reconciliation commission headed by John Aaron, the president from the New York region, and consisting of four lawyers and Julian Hunte, who last week replaced Gordon as WICB president.

That commission examined the new constitution which is at the centre of the row. Drawn up by the USACA, its opponents were highly critical of it, and the commission's report will be submitted to a three-man panel comprised of Dehring, Aaron and Gladstone Dainty, the USACA president.

The other main issue causing friction is the national elections. These were held in February but were roundly condemned as the timescale given to members was general considered to be unacceptable, and there were also allegations of widespread flaws. The Washington meeting set a date of November 30 by which time new elections had to be held.

The next round of meetings are scheduled to take place this weekend (August 11 and 12) in Miami and it is understood that Gordon will again be in the chair although Hunte will also be present, as will Dehring.

The USA remains suspended from all international competition and, crucially, is not in receipt of any funding from the ICC. That position will not change until after elections have been held at the earliest.

Cricket Scotland has announced a 15-man squad to take part in September's Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.

"I know that this bunch of cricketers will give everything they've got to make an impression," Ryan Watson, Scotland's captain, said. "We have nothing to lose, and we have to play with that certainty in order to spring a surprise or two."

Roddy Smith, chief executive of Cricket Scotland, welcomed the opportunity for Scotland to play on the world stage and said, "The team showed in their very close loss to West Indies last month that they can compete very well against Full Members."

Scotland have two warm-up games arranged in South Africa prior to the tournament, against Bangladesh on September 8 and Zimbabwe on September 9.

Scotland squad Ryan Watson (capt), John Blain, Dougie Brown, Navdeep Poonia, Gordon Drummond, Gavin Hamilton, Majid Haq, Ross Lyons, Qasim Sheikh, Neil McCallum, Gregor Maiden, Dewald Nel, Colin Smith (wk), Fraser Watts, Craig Wright.