Nigerian cricket team
Encyclopedia
The Nigeria national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Nigeria
in international cricket
matches. Cricket has been played in the country since the late 19th century, and the national team played their first match in 1904. The Nigeria Cricket Association
has been an associate member of the International Cricket Council
since 2002.
(now Ghana
) led to an international in 1904, the Gold Coast winning by 22 runs.
The match became an annual fixture and for the first three matches was multi-racial. The fourth fixture in December 1906 was for Europeans only, and the African population started their own annual fixture in 1907. Internationals stopped for the First World War
, and did not restart until the mid-1920s.
Between the two world wars, cricket began to become more formally organised in the country with two cricket associations for the Europeans and Africans being formed in 1932 and 1933 respectively. First-class cricket
ers from England began to appear in the annual matches against Gold Coast, and the 1939 match, the last before World War II ended in a 58 run win for Gold Coast.
Matches resumed after the war with a five day match in Lagos
in 1947 which ended in a draw. The 1949 match went the way of the Gold Coast. As the number of Europeans working in the country reduced, the quality of the African players increased and cricket began to be organised on multi-racial lines in 1956.
in 1976. Internal problems with both the Nigeria Cricket Association and in Nigeria itself led to a decline in standards, though Nigeria formed a majority of the players on the West Africa cricket team that became an ICC associate member in 1976.
The West Africa team took part in the ICC Trophy
tournaments of 1982
and 1997
before withdrawing from the 2001 tournament
in Ontario
. Nigeria still continued to play on their own on occasion, though they sometimes withdrew from tournaments, as at the 1998 Africa Cricket Association Championship. The West African Cricket Conference ceased to exist in 2002, and Nigeria became an associate member of the ICC in their own right the same year.
. Nigeria finished fourth in their group after their only win of the tournament against Malawi. They finished 5th in the Africa Cricket Association Championships in 2004, their only win coming against last placed Tanzania, thus failing to qualify for the 2005 ICC Trophy
.
In August 2006, Nigeria took part in Division Two of the World Cricket League Africa Region
in Tanzania
, finishing last. This originally relegated them to Division Three, though they are not playing in that tournament in 2008. They won the North West Africa Championship in 2007 and 2008..
Nigeria are played in Division Two of the World Cricket League Africa Region in 2008 and came second hence qualifying for 2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven
. They came 3rd in the tournament thus remaining in the division ..
In May, 2011 Nigeria participated in the 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven
in Botswana. Nigeria came second in tournament this qualifying for 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Six
. Then the team went to South Africa in may, 2011 to participate in 2011 ICC Africa Division two (T20) on route to qualification of 2012 ICC World Twenty20
. They won the tournament and qualified for 2011 ICC Africa Division one (T20)
:
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in international cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
matches. Cricket has been played in the country since the late 19th century, and the national team played their first match in 1904. The Nigeria Cricket Association
Nigeria Cricket Association
Nigeria Cricket Association is the official governing body of the sport of cricket in Nigeria. Its current headquarters is in Lagos, Nigeria. Nigeria Cricket Association is Nigeria's representative at the International Cricket Council and is an associate member and has been a member of that body...
has been an associate member of the International Cricket Council
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...
since 2002.
Early years
Cricket has been played in Nigeria since the late 19th century when the game was introduced by the British. Contacts between the administration in Lagos and their counterparts in Gold CoastGold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
(now Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
) led to an international in 1904, the Gold Coast winning by 22 runs.
The match became an annual fixture and for the first three matches was multi-racial. The fourth fixture in December 1906 was for Europeans only, and the African population started their own annual fixture in 1907. Internationals stopped for the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and did not restart until the mid-1920s.
Between the two world wars, cricket began to become more formally organised in the country with two cricket associations for the Europeans and Africans being formed in 1932 and 1933 respectively. First-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
ers from England began to appear in the annual matches against Gold Coast, and the 1939 match, the last before World War II ended in a 58 run win for Gold Coast.
Matches resumed after the war with a five day match in Lagos
Lagos
Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa...
in 1947 which ended in a draw. The 1949 match went the way of the Gold Coast. As the number of Europeans working in the country reduced, the quality of the African players increased and cricket began to be organised on multi-racial lines in 1956.
Post independence
Following Nigeria's independence in 1960, there was much interest in cricket. Annual matches against Sierra Leone and The Gambia began in 1964, and were evenly contested until the late 1970s, when football began to become more popular in the country. Cricket began a process of decline, and when Tanzania toured in 1974, Nigeria lost two of the three matches and drew the other. They also lost heavily to the MCCMarylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in 1976. Internal problems with both the Nigeria Cricket Association and in Nigeria itself led to a decline in standards, though Nigeria formed a majority of the players on the West Africa cricket team that became an ICC associate member in 1976.
The West Africa team took part in the ICC Trophy
ICC Trophy
The ICC World Cup Qualifier is an international one-day cricket tournament run under the auspices of the International Cricket Council. Any Associate or Affiliate member of the ICC may attempt to qualify for the ICC Trophy by means of a system of regional qualifying events. The test-playing Full...
tournaments of 1982
1982 ICC Trophy
The 1982 ICC Trophy was a limited-overs cricket tournament held in England between 16 June and 10 July 1982. It was the second ICC Trophy tournament to be staged, with matches between the 16 participating teams played over 60 overs a side and with white clothing and red balls...
and 1997
1997 ICC Trophy
The Carlsberg 1997 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament played in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in March/April 1997. It was the qualification tournament for the 1999 Cricket World Cup. Kenya and for the first time Bangladesh and Scotland all Qualified.-First round:...
before withdrawing from the 2001 tournament
2001 ICC Trophy
The 2001 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament played in Ontario, Canada in 2001. It was the qualifying tournament for the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
in Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. Nigeria still continued to play on their own on occasion, though they sometimes withdrew from tournaments, as at the 1998 Africa Cricket Association Championship. The West African Cricket Conference ceased to exist in 2002, and Nigeria became an associate member of the ICC in their own right the same year.
ICC Membership
Nigeria's first tournament after becoming an ICC member on their own was the 2002 Africa Cup in ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. Nigeria finished fourth in their group after their only win of the tournament against Malawi. They finished 5th in the Africa Cricket Association Championships in 2004, their only win coming against last placed Tanzania, thus failing to qualify for the 2005 ICC Trophy
2005 ICC Trophy
Ireland beat Bermuda easily as Ed Joyce made 103 for the hosts in Stormont.----Denmark beat Uganda by 28 runs as Thomas Munkholt Hansen took 6 for 30 to carry Denmark to a 28-run win over Uganda in Muckamore. Denmark made 197 with Henrik Saxe Hansen making 71...
.
In August 2006, Nigeria took part in Division Two of the World Cricket League Africa Region
World Cricket League Africa Region
The World Cricket League Africa Region or Africa World Cricket League is a one-day cricket tournament organised by the African Cricket Association for non-Test national cricket teams in Africa...
in Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, finishing last. This originally relegated them to Division Three, though they are not playing in that tournament in 2008. They won the North West Africa Championship in 2007 and 2008..
Nigeria are played in Division Two of the World Cricket League Africa Region in 2008 and came second hence qualifying for 2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven
2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven
The 2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven was a cricket tournament held in May 2009 in Guernsey. The tournament was the first stage of qualification structure for the 2015 World Cup as well as part of the wider ICC World Cricket League...
. They came 3rd in the tournament thus remaining in the division ..
In May, 2011 Nigeria participated in the 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven
2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven
The 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven is a cricket tournament took place from 1 to 8 May 2011. It forms part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2015 Cricket World Cup...
in Botswana. Nigeria came second in tournament this qualifying for 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Six
2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Six
The 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Six is a cricket tournament that took place from 17-24 September 2011. It forms part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.The host country for this tournament is Malaysia....
. Then the team went to South Africa in may, 2011 to participate in 2011 ICC Africa Division two (T20) on route to qualification of 2012 ICC World Twenty20
2012 ICC World Twenty20
-Group B:---------Group C:---------Group D:---------Super 8s:The Super 8s stage consists of the top two teams from each group of the group stage. The teams are split into two groups, Groups 1 and 2. Group 1 will consist of the top seed from Groups A and C, and the second seed of groups B and D...
. They won the tournament and qualified for 2011 ICC Africa Division one (T20)
World Cup
- 19751975 Cricket World Cup-Group B:-Knockout stage:-Semifinals:In the best World Cup performance to date by a bowler, Gary Gilmour took six wickets as England were bowled all out for 93 , after falling to 37/7...
: Not eligible - Not an ICC member - 1979 to 2003: See West African cricket teamWest African cricket teamThe West African cricket team was a team representing the countries of Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone in international cricket matches whilst they were an associate member of the International Cricket Council between 1976 and 2003. They played in the ICC Trophy on three occasions, in 1982,...
- 20072007 Cricket World CupThe 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...
: Did not qualify
ICC Trophy
- 19791979 ICC TrophyCanada proved too strong for Malaysia, Rasiah Ratnalingham's excellent analysis of 12-5-18-3 not enough to stop the Canadians winning by 44 runs thanks to 77 from Cecil Marshall and 4-33 from John Vaughan...
to 20012001 ICC TrophyThe 2001 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament played in Ontario, Canada in 2001. It was the qualifying tournament for the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
: See West African cricket teamWest African cricket teamThe West African cricket team was a team representing the countries of Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone in international cricket matches whilst they were an associate member of the International Cricket Council between 1976 and 2003. They played in the ICC Trophy on three occasions, in 1982,... - 20052005 ICC TrophyIreland beat Bermuda easily as Ed Joyce made 103 for the hosts in Stormont.----Denmark beat Uganda by 28 runs as Thomas Munkholt Hansen took 6 for 30 to carry Denmark to a 28-run win over Uganda in Muckamore. Denmark made 197 with Henrik Saxe Hansen making 71...
: Did not qualify
ICC World Cricket League global
- 2009: 3rd place (Division Seven2009 ICC World Cricket League Division SevenThe 2009 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven was a cricket tournament held in May 2009 in Guernsey. The tournament was the first stage of qualification structure for the 2015 World Cup as well as part of the wider ICC World Cricket League...
) - 2011: 2nd place (Division Seven2011 ICC World Cricket League Division SevenThe 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Seven is a cricket tournament took place from 1 to 8 May 2011. It forms part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2015 Cricket World Cup...
) - 2011: 5th place (Division Six2011 ICC World Cricket League Division SixThe 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Six is a cricket tournament that took place from 17-24 September 2011. It forms part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.The host country for this tournament is Malaysia....
)
ICC World Cricket League Africa Region
- 2006: 5th place (Division Two)
- 2011: 1st place (Division Two)(T20)
Records
- Highest team total: 397/7 declaredDeclaration and forfeitureIn the sport of cricket a declaration occurs when a captain declares his team's innings closed and a forfeiture is when a captain chooses to forfeit an innings. Declaration and forfeiture are covered in Law 14 of the Laws of cricket...
v Gold Coast, 1932. - Highest individual score: 166 by E Henshaw v Ghana, 1982 and by B Olufawo v Ghana, 2001.
- Best bowling: 7/65 by WS King v Gold Coast, 1952.
Current squad
- The following list contains the 14 players in Nigeria's squad for the 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Six2011 ICC World Cricket League Division SixThe 2011 ICC World Cricket League Division Six is a cricket tournament that took place from 17-24 September 2011. It forms part of the ICC World Cricket League and qualifying for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.The host country for this tournament is Malaysia....
.
- Endurance Ofem (Captain)
- Kunle Adegbola (Vice-Captain)
- Saheed Akolade
- Olalekan Awolowo
- Olajide Bejide
- Ramit Gill
- Joshua Ogunlola
- Sean Phillips(Coach/Player)
- Segun Olayinka
- Seun Odeku
- Oluseye Olympio
- Ademola Onikoyi
- Varun Behani
- Chibuike Iteogu
Players
The following players have represented Nigeria internationally and also played first-class cricketFirst-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
:
- Henry SavoryHenry SavoryHenry Jarvis Savory was an English cricketer who played internationally for Nigeria. A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler, he played one first-class match for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in 1937, against New Zealand.Following his only first-class appearance, he played...
- played for GloucestershireGloucestershire County Cricket ClubGloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
in 1937. - Richard ParkhouseRichard ParkhouseRichard John Parkhouse was an cricketer. A right-handed batsman, he played internationals for Egypt and Nigeria and first-class cricket for Glamorgan.-Biography:...
- played for GlamorganGlamorgan County Cricket ClubGlamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
in 1939. - Geoffrey AnsonGeoffrey AnsonGeoffrey Frank Anson was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman, he played ten first-class matches during the 1947 English cricket season for Cambridge University and Kent...
- played for Cambridge UniversityCambridge University Cricket ClubCambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
and KentKent County Cricket ClubKent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in 1947. - Robert MelsomeRobert MelsomeBrigadier Robert George William Melsome MBE was a senior British Army officer and English cricketer. He saw active service during the Second World War, but spent much of the war as a prisoner of war in Germany....
- played for GloucestershireGloucestershire County Cricket ClubGloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
between 1925 and 1934. - William ShirleyWilliam Shirley (cricketer)William Robert de la Cour Shirley was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he played first-class cricket between 1922 and 1925, primarily for Hampshire...
- played for HampshireHampshire County Cricket ClubHampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
and Cambridge University between 1922 and 1925.