‘The hitting was outrageous’: How the T10 Tape Ball World Cup took off in Liverpool

T10 Tape Ball World Cup at Liverpool College

The T10 Tape Ball World Cup got off the mark with a bang – several of them, most from the bat of Pakistan’s Junaid Qadeer.

He hit 85* as his side racked up 222/4 from their 60 balls against India.

For Pakistan, it led to a big win over their fierce rivals – complete with a passionate but good-natured pitch invasion.

And for World In One City’s Sam Goodall-Walker, it was just the start the pioneering tournament needed.

Goodall-Walker said: “It’s always challenging when it’s something new because you don’t know how it’s going to go down, how people are going to take it. 

“But so far, it’s been fantastic and really enjoyable for everyone involved.

“I didn’t really know what to expect from India v Pakistan – I know teams from South Asia know a bit more about tape ball than teams from the home nations, but the hitting was outrageous. 

“It was a big rivalry and it got heated, but it was all in good spirit.”

Monday, July 21

Wales 111 (7.5) lost to Bangladesh 171/6 (10) by 60 runs

India 161 (8.2) lost to Pakistan 222/4 (10) by 61 runs

Wednesday, July 23

Ireland 148/7 (10) lost to Sri Lanka 149/3 (10) by 5 wickets

England 142/6 (10) lost to Afghanistan 165 (10) by 23 runs

WIOC has been running successful football tournaments along the same lines for four years, but cricket was still a step into the unknown.

Crucially, they have had plenty of buy-in from big local cricketing names.

Former Leigh skipper Finn Hulbert, now at Liverpool, is the captain of an Ireland squad including all three Rankin brothers; Rainford wicketkeeper Will Threlkeld, brother of Lancashire women’s captain Ellie, leads an England side including club teammates John Dotters and Jason Login, Newton-le-Willows’ Ben Walkden and Chris Chambers, and Northern’s Chris Laker.

But the winners so far have all been from the Subcontinent. 

There’s a few familiar names there – Whitefield’s Asiri Gamage for Sri Lanka, Sefton Park’s Huzaifa Zubair for Pakistan, to name two – but many of the city’s South Asian cricketers play outside the old-money structure of the Love Lane Liverpool Competition.

If this tournament gives them a high-profile platform to show what they can do, that’s another plus. 

“What’s got me most excited about it is that I didn’t realise how much cricket players would buy into it,” Goodall-Walker added.

“There’s a lot of travelling, a lot of commitment, but it’s been great. 

“Hopefully the word will spread, when people hear about the chance to represent their nation in a world cup, and get excited. 

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“Anyone can run a tournament, but there’s a danger you’ll get some players who’ll just run away with it because they’re a level above, so what we tried to do is to come up with a format that will even the teams up. 

“Tape ball was ideal for that. A lot of the Sri Lanka side play for South Liverpool, lower down the pyramid, but they’ve played a lot of tape ball cricket, so it was a leveller straight away.”

The difference is not just the ball. Fielding sides have nine players on the field, and batting sides have nine batters and eight wickets, but the squad of 15 can all play a full part with unlimited substitutions.

Goodall-Walker said: “We wanted to maximise participation.

“So you can have specialist bowlers, batters and fielders – it allows captains to be more dynamic, and increases participation. 

“It’s been interesting to see how each team has gone about it.”

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The tournament, which is being held on the hockey pitches at Liverpool College, continues tonight with Pakistan v Ireland and England v Wales. 

It concludes next Sunday, August 3, with a finals day – if attendances and enthusiasm so far are any guide, it could be a cracker.

“Spectators are coming down, about 100 each night,” said Goodall-Walker.

“People are coming here to play because it’s a big opportunity and they want to represent their countries.”

And WIOC, which is running the tournament along with the Academy North coaching organisation, already has plans to bring it back next year – possibly in an expanded format.

Goodall-Walker added: “All the equipment will still be available and the teams will be established. 

“We don’t have a West Indies team, or teams from Australia and New Zealand this year. 

“But with the Academy North database and a city the size of Liverpool, and the new format we’re using, hopefully the word will spread and that will change.”

from Merseyside Cricket Online https://ift.tt/yC5xDGz