Oxford Mini Cricket World Cup, July
2004
by Quentin Williams
Twenty20, the shortened 20-over-a-side format of cricket, has taken the world by storm. This exciting and explosive version of the game that was started in England in 2003 has taken off so dramatically that it is now considered by many influential cricket nations as the most appealing form of the short game. It has already been embraced by cricket in South Africa, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the first Twenty20 international will be played in England against Australia next year. Or so any cricket historian will tell you, but I beg to differ. Long before marketing execs at the ECB decided to target the on-their-way-home types who enjoy a drink and some quick cricket; the first international 20-over competition was played amongst a bunch of Oxford graduate students in 2002, for exactly the same reasons. To have some fun, play some cricket and enjoy a drink and a chat with some like-minded individuals.
Those who are familiar with the Oxford experience know that once Trinity term (the summer term) ends and all the undergraduate students leave; graduates and postdocs are left with long months of summer, and only monotonous research to do. They also know that Oxford has a big multinational graduate community eager to get their minds out of their labs. Stanton Smith, a South African Rhodes scholar, decided to liven up these tedious days by bringing together teams from Australia, South Africa, India, England, New Zealand and Rest of the World to play in a fun, social, 20-over cricket tournament. The tournament, called the Oxford Mini Cricket World Cup, was held over a weekend during which winners from two groups of three teams played against each other in the final on the Sunday. Rules like forcing batsmen to retire once they reached 30 were included to make sure that everybody participated in each game. In this manner the social and inclusive nature of the tournament could be maintained.
The first competition was won by South Africa in a courageous effort against the tournament favourites, Australia. The next year the concept was taken further with the introduction of semi-finals on the Saturday, with Australia finally living up to their tags as favourites and beating England in the final. Both weekends was capped off with players from all the teams getting together for a BBQ and some beer the Sunday evening.
An account of the 2004 tournament from South Africa's perspective
In 2004 the competition really heated up with a team from Pakistan deciding to enter the fray as well. South Africa was drawn into a tough group that included pre-tournament favourites Australia, and upset-specialist New Zealand, that almost cost South Africa a semi-final spot the year before. The other group consisted of Pakistan, India and England.
South Africa started their campaign against New Zealand eager to regain the trophy, and each member willing to lay their bodies on the line in the quest. After winning the toss, opening batsmen, Quentin and Mark, started off with a stable 33* and 19 respectively, until our captain Stanton ended the innings with a big-hitting 32* that included 3 sixes. 131/3 looked like a very defendable target, but you never know against the Kiwi's. However, all hopes of a Kiwi victory was snuffed out by our accurate opening bowler, Wiesner, with a Shaun Pollock-like spell of 7/1 after 4 overs. Nick Owen, our borrowed Englishman, made South African through marriage, finally ended their innings with 18/3 off 4, making sure that the Kiwi's could only manage 114/9. With our first victory in the bag, we awaited the Aussies in our next match. Our semi-final spot was secured, but we desperately wanted to beat the Aussies, because hey who doesn't. Unfortunately our desperation showed in the field, and despite a good spell from Frank von Delft (25/1), they amassed 210/2. A good pitch, with a fast outfield, meant that we were in with a chance, but it wasn't to be. We only managed 116/9 with Quentin (32*), Stanton (25) and Wiesner (20), the only guys making ends-meet of the Aussie bowling.
We faced a strong England side in the semi-final, which included Lawrence Schafer, a South African who has lived here in Oxford for the past 8 years. So I guess he can be called English by now. We learned from our mistakes against the Aussies, and changed our desperation into determination and passion. England having won the toss and opted to bat, were soon 108/8 after 16 overs. Wiesner (28/1) and Stanton (24/2) started us off with a good opening spell, but it was the destructive bowling of Tommo Scriba (28/3) and Julian (22/2) that placed us in a healthy position.
But somehow, still unexplained and incomprehensibly to this day, we lost the plot. They scored 44 in the last 4 overs and reached 152/8, with the South-African-cum-Englishman, Lawrence getting 33*. We put up a valiant effort but scored only 105/9. Stanton, despite getting hit on the head by an over-eager English fielder, scored a brave 26, while Constantine chipped in with a valuable 16. We were out of the competition, but we all had some fun and even made some new South African pals along the way.
England went ahead and faced Australia, who almost lost to Pakistan in the other semi-final. For the second year in a row, the Aussies won the mental battle and also the game. In a very one-sided contest, Australia scored 172 and easily “talked” England out for 81. Afterwards the competition was finished off with a wonderful social gathering of all the tournament participants.
Yes, we all come to Oxford to work hard and hopefully further our academic interest. But there is always time for some fun, some social gathering, and the wonderful chance of peaceful interaction between people of many cultures and countries. May the strong tradition of the Mini-World Cup continue long after guys like Stanton leave the English shores.