Americas Cricket Association
Encyclopedia
The Americas Cricket Association is an international body which oversees cricket in countries in North and South America, and the Caribbean islands. It is a subordinate body to the International Cricket Council
. The ACA has 16 member countries. It is responsible for the development, promotion and administration of the game in the region.
The ACA is also responsible for the ICC Americas Championship
, which is the premier international competition in the region, and allows teams to compete for World Cup qualification. The Cricket World Cup was held in the region for the first time, when the 2007 World Cup
was hosted across the Caribbean islands.
The first ever International match was played in Hoboken, New Jersey between England and XXII of the United States on 3, 4 and 5 October 1859. An earlier international was played, as reported in The New York Weekly Post Boy, between XI of London and XI of New York, played in New York in 1751 and won by the New Yorkers, the scores being 8o and 86 against 43 and 47, however it is believed both teams were made up of New Yorkers.
Cricket had declined in popularity during the American Revolutionary War as all things "English" were unpopular. It enjoyed a brief resurgence across the US and Canada in the early 19th century, however, the bitter Civil War which broke out in 1861 between the Northern and Southern States had many unforeseen results, one of which was to establish baseball beyond all doubt as the national game of the United States. Despite this cricket has continued to enjoy popularity particularly in Philadelphia, Boston and New York.
North America's loss was Australia's
gain, as the attention of English touring teams turned to Australia instead of North America.
In more recent times in has received a resurgence of interest across the US due to satellite television coverage of large events, and a strong following and participation among ex-pat communities from many Commonwealth
countries. The US has also started to invest large amounts of money in a bid to soon qualify for the world Cup.
In Canada, the game has enjoyed wider popularity. It was first played by British troops, and has continued to enjoy varied popularity since. In the year 1844, Canada and the United States of America met in their first international
at the St. George’s Club in New York on the site where the New York University Medical Centre is now located. This was over thirty years before the famed England versus Australia Ashes series began and historians believe the contest is the oldest international sporting fixture in the world. By the time Canada became a nation in 1867, the game was so popular it was declared the national sport of the fledgling country by the first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Cricket in Canada stagnated towards the end of the 19th century due to the rising popularity of baseball, before a resurgence in the 1950s.
It has since gone from strength to strength, and like the US, is well supported by large ex-pat Commonwealth communities. This resurgence was galvanised in 1979 when Canada first participated in the World Cup, and although not enjoying the success they would have wished, the have repeated their appearance at the 2003 Cricket World Cup
. They have also qualified to appear at next years tournament in the Caribbean. Canada has since been granted full ICC ODI status in 2006, and has risen to 14th on the ICC's Official ODI rankings, just outside the Test nations.
Cricket was first played in South America by captured British troops following Colonel William Carr Beresford’s doomed invasion in 1806. Although played in several countries, it has only really gained popularity in the last 20 or so years. The main exception to this is Guyana, which is part of the West Indies Cricket organisation, and the main place in South America where cricket has flourished.
The true heart of American cricket though, is without doubt the caribbean. Cricket has been played on Caribbean islands by sailors, soldiers, slaves and settlers since at least the 17th century. It has always been a popular past time on the islands that were part of the British Empire.
As most of the islands were small in terms of population, they began to form unified teams from the 1890s onwards to play against touring English teams. The West Indies Cricket Board was soon formed. The WICB joined the sport's international ruling body, the Imperial Cricket Council, in 1926, and played their first official Test match in 1928. Their successes were limited however, until black players begun to be selected in the team in the 1950s and 1960s. Under greats of the game such as Sir Frank Worrell
, Gary Sobers, Rohan Kanhai
and Clive Lloyd
this period ushered in a Golden Age for West Indian cricket which saw them challenge Australia and England for pre-eminence in world cricket. This culminated with them rising to the position of unofficial world champions in the 1970s and 1980s, with a team consisting of legends such as Viv Richards
, Michael Holding
, Malcolm Marshall
and Joel Garner
.
More recently, the West Indies has declined rapidly. Many blame the rise in popularity of American sports for this. The current side have failed to emulate the deeds of previous great sides, despite being loaded with talented players. The decline has been checked with victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004, and it is hoped that hosting the 2007 cricket world cup will usher in a new period for West Indian cricket.
For more detailed information on West Indian cricket, see: History of the West Indian cricket team
.
International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the international governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by representatives from England, Australia and South Africa, renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965, and took up its current name in 1989.The...
. The ACA has 16 member countries. It is responsible for the development, promotion and administration of the game in the region.
The ACA is also responsible for the ICC Americas Championship
ICC Americas Championship
The ICC Americas Championship is a one-day cricket tournament organised by the Americas Cricket Association for non-Test national cricket teams in the Americas...
, which is the premier international competition in the region, and allows teams to compete for World Cup qualification. The Cricket World Cup was held in the region for the first time, when the 2007 World Cup
2007 Cricket World Cup
The 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup was the ninth edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup tournament that took place in the West Indies from 13 March to 28 April 2007, using the sport's One Day International format...
was hosted across the Caribbean islands.
History
Cricket has flourished in the Americas since colonial times, particularly in the Caribbean, where the unified islands team known collectively as the West Indies has had full ICC test status since 1926. Despite the contrary belief, cricket has flourished in North America since the 18th century.The first ever International match was played in Hoboken, New Jersey between England and XXII of the United States on 3, 4 and 5 October 1859. An earlier international was played, as reported in The New York Weekly Post Boy, between XI of London and XI of New York, played in New York in 1751 and won by the New Yorkers, the scores being 8o and 86 against 43 and 47, however it is believed both teams were made up of New Yorkers.
Cricket had declined in popularity during the American Revolutionary War as all things "English" were unpopular. It enjoyed a brief resurgence across the US and Canada in the early 19th century, however, the bitter Civil War which broke out in 1861 between the Northern and Southern States had many unforeseen results, one of which was to establish baseball beyond all doubt as the national game of the United States. Despite this cricket has continued to enjoy popularity particularly in Philadelphia, Boston and New York.
North America's loss was Australia's
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
gain, as the attention of English touring teams turned to Australia instead of North America.
In more recent times in has received a resurgence of interest across the US due to satellite television coverage of large events, and a strong following and participation among ex-pat communities from many Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries. The US has also started to invest large amounts of money in a bid to soon qualify for the world Cup.
In Canada, the game has enjoyed wider popularity. It was first played by British troops, and has continued to enjoy varied popularity since. In the year 1844, Canada and the United States of America met in their first international
United States v Canada (1844)
The Canadian cricket team in the United States in 1844 was the first international team to travel to another country and the match between the two national sides that year, billed as "United States of America versus the British Empire's Canadian Province", was the first official international...
at the St. George’s Club in New York on the site where the New York University Medical Centre is now located. This was over thirty years before the famed England versus Australia Ashes series began and historians believe the contest is the oldest international sporting fixture in the world. By the time Canada became a nation in 1867, the game was so popular it was declared the national sport of the fledgling country by the first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. Cricket in Canada stagnated towards the end of the 19th century due to the rising popularity of baseball, before a resurgence in the 1950s.
It has since gone from strength to strength, and like the US, is well supported by large ex-pat Commonwealth communities. This resurgence was galvanised in 1979 when Canada first participated in the World Cup, and although not enjoying the success they would have wished, the have repeated their appearance at the 2003 Cricket World Cup
2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
. They have also qualified to appear at next years tournament in the Caribbean. Canada has since been granted full ICC ODI status in 2006, and has risen to 14th on the ICC's Official ODI rankings, just outside the Test nations.
Cricket was first played in South America by captured British troops following Colonel William Carr Beresford’s doomed invasion in 1806. Although played in several countries, it has only really gained popularity in the last 20 or so years. The main exception to this is Guyana, which is part of the West Indies Cricket organisation, and the main place in South America where cricket has flourished.
The true heart of American cricket though, is without doubt the caribbean. Cricket has been played on Caribbean islands by sailors, soldiers, slaves and settlers since at least the 17th century. It has always been a popular past time on the islands that were part of the British Empire.
As most of the islands were small in terms of population, they began to form unified teams from the 1890s onwards to play against touring English teams. The West Indies Cricket Board was soon formed. The WICB joined the sport's international ruling body, the Imperial Cricket Council, in 1926, and played their first official Test match in 1928. Their successes were limited however, until black players begun to be selected in the team in the 1950s and 1960s. Under greats of the game such as Sir Frank Worrell
Frank Worrell
Sir Frank Mortimer Maglinne Worrell is sometimes referred to by his nickname of Tae and was a West Indies cricketer and Jamaican senator...
, Gary Sobers, Rohan Kanhai
Rohan Kanhai
Rohan Bholalall Kanhai is a former West Indian Cricket player of Indo-Guyanese descent. He is widely considered as one of the best batsmen of the 1960s. Kanhai featured in several great West Indian teams, playing with, among others, Sir Garfield Sobers, Roy Fredericks, Lance Gibbs, and Alvin...
and Clive Lloyd
Clive Lloyd
Clive Hubert Lloyd CBE AO is a former West Indies cricketer. He captained the West Indies between 1974 and 1985 and oversaw their rise to become the dominant Test-playing nation, a position that was only relinquished in the latter half of the 1990s...
this period ushered in a Golden Age for West Indian cricket which saw them challenge Australia and England for pre-eminence in world cricket. This culminated with them rising to the position of unofficial world champions in the 1970s and 1980s, with a team consisting of legends such as Viv Richards
Viv Richards
Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards, KNH, OBE is a former West Indian cricketer. Better known by his second name, Vivian or, more popularly, simply as Viv or King Viv Richards was voted one of the five Cricketers of the Century in 2000, by a 100-member panel of experts, along with Sir Donald...
, Michael Holding
Michael Holding
Michael Anthony Holding is a former West Indian cricketer. One of the fastest bowlers ever to play Test cricket, he was nicknamed 'Whispering Death' by umpires due to his quiet approach to the bowling crease...
, Malcolm Marshall
Malcolm Marshall
By 1984 Marshall was seen as one of the finest bowlers in the world, and he demoralised England that summer, especially at Headingley, where he ran through the order in the second innings to finish with 7-53, despite having broken his thumb whilst fielding in the first innings...
and Joel Garner
Joel Garner
Joel Garner , also known as "Big Joel" or "Big Bird", is a former West Indian cricketer, and a member of the highly regarded late 1970s and early '80s West Indies cricket teams....
.
More recently, the West Indies has declined rapidly. Many blame the rise in popularity of American sports for this. The current side have failed to emulate the deeds of previous great sides, despite being loaded with talented players. The decline has been checked with victory in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2004, and it is hoped that hosting the 2007 cricket world cup will usher in a new period for West Indian cricket.
For more detailed information on West Indian cricket, see: History of the West Indian cricket team
History of the West Indian cricket team
The history of the West Indian cricket team begins in the 1880s when the first combined West Indian team was formed and toured Canada and the United States. In the 1890s, the first representative sides were selected to play visiting English sides...
.