Mongolia: Cricket, Ulaanbaatar style, in 2001
As the weather is improving, so is the turnout for cricket
Wilf McKee
19-Jun-2001
As the weather is improving, so is the turnout for cricket. We currently
have the use of the 'Naadam Stadium' - the national stadium no less - where
the Mongolian 'manly sports' take place each year in July.
So far a total of 16 people have turned out for Saturday afternoon limited
over, generally six -a-side with everybody fielding, but bowlers only from
the non-batting side.
It gets exciting when the fifth wicket is down because the last man has to
run twice in order to finish up at the end he received the ball. He can be
put out at either end while he's running, so it makes for adventurous
batting. On the last ball of the over, of course, he need only run once, to
be at the right end to receive the bowling. If he doesn't run, then the next
over starts with him at the same end as the bowler. He has to run, but can
only be put out by the delivery itself - no stumping. You'd be surprised how
many otherwise pretty fair bowlers lose length and direction when there is
no batsman to aim at!
The 16 players includes seven Indians, including the Indian Ambassador, two
Pakistanis, three 'Poms' and four Australians including two former Poms,
and one Old Etonian Mongolian!
We hope to get some more Brits and Kiwis and at least two more Mongolians
for the annual Mobil Cup match which has become effectively the Subcontinent
versus The Rest. We are aiming at 24 June or 1 July.
The Mongolian Cricket Club has received boosts from three sources this year: