PRESS RELEASE
England in hunt for six-up at KARP Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2011
[Hong Kong, October 10, 2011]: Five-time champions England, led by Rory Hamilton-Brown, return with a tried and tested squad as they look at winning the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes at the Kowloon Cricket Club from October 28-30.
Surrey captain Hamilton-Brown is one of four players who figured in last year’s Sixes and is determined to win England its first Cup title since 2008. The others who have experienced the pressure-cooker atmosphere at the KCC include Kent all-rounder Darren Stevens, Warwickshire fast bowler Rikki Clarke and Somerset opener Peter Trego.
The three new faces are exciting young batsman Josh Cobb, who plays for Leicestershire, England and Nottinghamshire wicketkeeper Chris Read and Lancashire opening batsman Tom Smith.
Read, who has played 15 tests for England and played in the 2004 series against the West Indies when Brian Lara scored his world record 400 not out, will take care of the gloves as Hamilton-Brown mixes the rest of his professional outfit as they chase a sixth success.
Chris Adams, former England batsman, current coach of Surrey and manager of the England team in Kong Kong commented that, “I can’t wait to get the team to Hong Kong. The squad is a blend of experienced players and young players who have been identified as potential England players.”
“A good performance in Hong Kong will certainly carry a lot of weight going forward. I think Rory’s [captain Rory Hamilton-Brown] having been here before will help. Last year he wasn’t quite sure how to approach the tournament, where to play himself etcetera, but his experience in Hong Kong will help bring the side together as quickly as possible. I’m very excited to work with Peter Trego as well. He is playing in the Champion’s league at the moment and is a superb player. They are all very good players with a lot of potential.”
He added, “The challenge for us has to be nothing less than to go and win the tournament and for the players to show what power, ability and self-belief they’ve got in the short form of the game. A win in Hong Kong can be the ignition of a long career in international cricket.
“It is a strong selection and England is determined to win its first Cup title since 2008,” said Andrew Walpole, spokesman for the England and Wales Cricket Board.
With a mix of some of the most talented all-rounders in the English county scene, the crowd favourites will be strongly tipped to be in Cup contention and continue their remarkable record in this tournament.
“We have always known England to be a very competitive team. They are thorough professionals and will be a dangerous proposition for all opponents. I expect them to be strong contenders for the Cup,” said HKCA president captain Shahzada Saleem.
England are already the most successful team at the Hong Kong Sixes – Pakistan are second with four wins – and with ‘home’ support will be keen to extend their dominance at the tournament.
Disciplined bowling and powerful batting will be the mantra skipper Hamilton-Brown will have passed on to his team who will look to get off to a flying start in the preliminary pool competition which includes defending champions Australia, Ireland and Bangladesh.
“It will be all out action right from the word go. We cannot forget what happened when England met Ireland at the World Cup, and then of course Australia are their arch-rivals. It will be exciting stuff,” Saleem added.
England Squad: Rory Hamilton-Brown (Surrey, captain), Rikki Clarke (Warwickshire), Josh Cobb (Leicestershire), Chris Read (Nottinghamshire), Tom Smith (Lancashire), Darren Stevens (Kent), Peter Trego (Somerset), Manager: Chris Adams (Surrey)
About the Karp Group Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2011
Organized by the Hong Kong Cricket Association since 1992, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes is the only international cricket event held in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Sixes is fully sanctioned by the world's governing body for cricket, the International Cricket Council, and title sponsored by Karp Group. An recognised "M" Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee since 2007, the Hong Kong Sixes is being supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Commission's Mega Events Fund for the first time in 2011. The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong.
With the support of the Hong Kong Tourism Commission’s Mega Events Fund for the first time in 2011, this year’s Karp Group Cricket Sixes 2011 is set to be the biggest and best clash in the 19-year history of the Tournament. The Hong Kong Sixes has also been recognised an official “M" Mark event by the Major Sports Events Committee since 2007.
Tickets can be purchased from the Hong Kong Ticketing website at www.hkticketing.com, the Hong Kong Cricket Association office in Olympic House, Kowloon Cricket Club, Hong Kong Cricket Club and at Jashan and DotCod restaurants in Central.
The tournament has been broadcast live since 2008 and in 2010 reached over 80 million households on the Indian subcontinent, across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa, as well as being packaged for distribution in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe and China.
About the Mega Events Fund
The Mega Events Fund was set up in 2009 to support mega arts, cultural and sports events to be staged in Hong Kong. |
