Exotic Sports: Ice Cricket
Unbeknownst to the majority of the cricketing world, strange things are afoot in the tiny country of Estonia. Here, for the last three years, the Estonian National Cricket Association has been organizing Ice Cricket Tournaments. Ice Cricket is …hold your breath…Cricket played on Ice!
As bizarre as it sounds, every year from January to March, cricket teams from different parts of the world gather in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, to take part in this unique form of cricket. The ‘outfield’ is the frozen lake Harku or the Baltic Sea. The wicket is painstakingly carved out of ice. Instead of the normal leather ball which would freeze and harden in the minus six degrees temperatures, a composite red plastic ball is used. Also, the red ball is easy to spot in the snow. The boundary is marked off with snowdrift. Teams consist of 6 or 8 players with rolling substitutes so the normal squad number is around 10.Jason Barry, inventor of Ice Cricket and the national coach of the Estonian cricket team, speaks about his inspiration behind creating this game:
The way that I came up with the idea was that other countries play on matting on the ice, but no one plays ice cricket on a real ice wicket. This creates a whole new dimension, as well as a lot of laughs! This is our third season and we have hosted teams of all abilities, from all over the world...and still they keep coming back for more.
You have to play by the official Ice Cricket rules, some of which are as whacky as the game.
- Only one pad, the front pad, needs to be worn.
- Fours and Sixers can be scored and local rules dictate that should you hit a moose or a cross country skier an additional 6 runs is scored!
- All teams that take part in the first game must toast the wicket by taking a vodka shot.
- Sauna and ice plunge pool is available should it be required. Alternatively fires to warm you are also provided.
The aim of the tournament is to promote Estonia as a cricket tour destination and to increase the popularity of cricket in Estonia among the local population. But the main objective here is to have fun. Ice Cricket in Tallinn is social cricket at its best. As Jason says:
The best element about Real Ice Cricket is that all standards arrive in the hope of winning the tournament, with grand plans and strategies, only to be beaten by a team of no-hopers...and ironically no one seems to care...because the true winner is the experience, the fun and meeting so many new friends.
A bunch of guys playing cricket on ice, in the cold, in Estonia.
And they say Indians are crazy about cricket.
Welcome Desipundit and Indianpad readers! Like what you read ? Check out some of my better stuff - I'm a Desicritic , Football with the Family and Statement of Purpose .
dude, u actually saw one of these games or are they paying u for advertizing or something ??
is estonia anywhere near to netherlands ??
either ways looks u having a lot of fun touring europe !
- Ravish
Posted by
Anonymous |
8:37 PM
A friend of mine, an arch-conservative Anglo-phile, likes to point out that any nations who wish to participate in the cricketing world should first cede their sovereignty to Westminster, be granted independence at the wishes of the British parliament, and only then may play cricket.
It's wrong for non-English nations to play cricket. Just completely wrong.
Posted by
Aurelius |
10:46 AM
I'll be sure to pass on the message to the Estonians.
They should have known better.
Posted by
Huzaifa |
10:58 AM
I think the whole topic was prompted one drunken night when it was mentioned that the Americans might be allowed to play in the Cricket World Cup - which wold of course be a tragedy for the gentlemen's game.
Posted by
Aurelius |
1:34 PM
Whenever I used see "Made In Estonia" on apparels at Walmart, I used to wonder if there's really a country by that name. Now I know..
Cricket on Ice! That must be something!! Would like to try once.
Posted by
Happy-Go-Lucky |
3:47 PM
are you huzaifa from lokhandwala? deepak's friend? have to be. nobody else i know likes EXACTLY deepaks music.
i like it, because deepak gives me the music. thank god for music, no, thank god for deepak :-)
me again.
Posted by
Anonymous |
4:29 AM
oh it was me, Evenstar.
Posted by
entrancetotheshrine |
4:30 AM
HEllo!! I'm actually the current captain of the Estonian cricket team...and I just happened to come across this blog! Its all true!! We've already had one tournemnt this year..and we've got the Ice cricket world cup in February - which is being covered by trans world sport..so maybe you'll get to see it! I disagree that its only English people who should play cricket. If it was only English people playing..the game would never progress as we are all rubbish!! Anyway..playing on ice is a great leveller (literally). If any of you want to come and play..you are more than welcome! No..we are not near the Netherlands..we are across the Baltic sea from Finland..and border Russia! Check out www.inforadio24.com for more info on ice cricket and Estonia!
Posted by
James |
10:40 AM
Baltic Adventures have been running the Ice Cricket over the last 4 years. Not only is this an unique tournament, but it is also genuinely great fun.
If you would like to see more images of our Ice Tourists playing on the Ice Wicket, then feel free to have a look on our website:
www.balticadventures.co.uk/Ice-Cricket
..or if you fancy joining us for this winter's tournament, then we would be honoured to welcome you.
Contact: icecricket@balticadventures.co.uk or Tel: 01582-462 283
You will never have so much fun on ICE:-)
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