Canada's Alberta province ex-pat league continues
Tony Munro - 21 May 1999

Cricket in Alberta, Canada centres around the province's two main cities, Edmonton and Calgary, with 10 teams in Edmonton and nine in Calgary. The province has a long cricket history with Edmonton's first club, Edmonton Cricket Club, being formed in 1883, and Strathcoma following in 1893.

Edmonton's other clubs are Commonwealth, Greenfield, defending premier and provincial champion, Gujarat, Islanders, Juniors, Liberty, Millwoods and Victoria Park (which fields two teams).

The Edmonton 11-a-side competition commenced earlier this month and continues until September, while the knockout competition, which has a history dating back until 1922 will be played in September.

The nine clubs in Calgary are: the title-holder, St.Johns, Carib, Crescent Star, University Colts, Canasia, Glenmore, Titans, United and Calgary C.C.

The champions of the two competitions will play off for the Alberta Provincial Championship in Edmonton on September 11.

The inter-city competition between Edmonton and Calgary will be played in early July.

Gujuarat will represent the province in the John Ross Robertson Trophy for the Western Canadian Club Championship next month in Vancouver.

While at the senior level, the game is almost totally an expatriate past time, Kanga Ball cricket is being introduced into schools in centres such as Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Red Deer.