Bradman was bowled for a duck in the USA

Cricket in America goes back more than a century:

by malinga
June 9, 2024 1:05 am 0 comment 982 views

USA batter Aaron Jones turned the match against Canada on its head

When the United States of America beat a former World Cup champion in their World Cup 2024 T20 cricket encounter this week, the result according to historians became one of the landmark moments in the history of cricket in the United States.

Aaron Jones the hero who showcased modern American cricket speaks at a post match interview after equalling the record of 10 sixes by West Indies great Chris Gayle in their T20 World Cup match against Canada this week

Aaron Jones the hero who showcased modern American cricket speaks at a post match interview after equalling the record of 10 sixes by West Indies great Chris Gayle in their T20 World Cup match against Canada this week

Way back in 1932, an Australian X1 with the great Don Bradman toured the USA and the moments or action that took place on the field was memorable according to historians.

Bradman was dismissed without scoring in one match in New York on the tour and the Australians could only draw some matches.

Earlier another USA team posted wins over the counties Lancashire, Kent and Surrey that were classified as First Class matches on a tour of the United Kingdom.

Later a World All Stars XI captained by Tony Greig featuring Garry Sobers, Alan Knott, Gregg Chappell and others surprisingly lost to an American side, most of whom were originally from the Caribbean, in an exhibition match at Shea Stadium in the Bronx in front of 8,000 fans according to another historic record which are now coming out of the files to coincide with the 2024 T20 Cricket World Cup now taking place in the USA and the West Indies.

The USA team is currently making headlines after beating arch sporting rivals and neighbours Canada and Pakistan in the ongoing tournament featuring 20 countries that include the top Test playing nations or to the International Cricket Council (ICC) full members.

According to reports filtering through, Joe Lynn, the curator of the United States Cricket Museum at Haverford College near Philadelphia said beating Pakistan was “huge” for cricket in the country.

“This tournament could not have started better from the US perspective. To win the first game against Canada was one thing, but beating a full-member nation like Pakistan is something else,” the BBC quoted Lynn as saying.

“Perhaps it’s always been a misnomer to say cricket died in the US at the hands of baseball, but I think it has been in hibernation more than anything else. With Major League Cricket and this World Cup it is a reawakening of sorts.”

For the record the US played their first T20 international in 2019 and are ranked 18th in the world behind Nepal and the UAE.

“Beating Pakistan is a big achievement,” said US captain Monank Patel. “It’s a big day for Team USA. Not just for USA, for the USA cricket community too.”

Aaron Jones hit 10 sixes to kick-started the tournament for the USA in style in the opener against Canada when he scored a match-winning unbeaten 96.

“I’ve got shivers down my spine,” said former Netherlands all-rounder Ryan ten Doeschate on BBC Test Match Special. “Coming from an associate nation myself, I know how difficult this is.

Interestingly, for the first time the Olympics will accommodate cricket at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, USA.

“Beating Pakistan in the World Cup is going to open many doors for us,” added Monank. “Hosting the World Cup in the USA and performing here as a team, it helps us to grow the cricket in the USA.”

Pakistan reached the T20 World Cup final in 2022 and were eventually beaten by England. On Sunday they will meet arch rivals India in New York.

“If you lose a match, you are always upset,” said Pakistan captain Babar Azam. “We are not playing well, in fielding, bowling and batting.

“I am upset. As a professional, you have to step up against such a performance or such a team in the batting, in the middle order. This is not an excuse that they (USA) played well. I think we played badly.”

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