Photo © Israel Cricket Association

Planned a few months ago, the U12 league got underway this evening to coincide with the European Spirit of Cricket weekend, with the competition aptly being named the Spirit of Cricket League.

Last year saw the creation of an U15 league, and this year an U13 league will be added as well. As a prelude to that, and in an effort to give talented players a chance to experience competitive cricket prior to the league, an U12 league was thought of, as a bridge between the mini-cricket the younger players are familiar with, and the real cricket they will have to play in the U13 league. Whilst the 8-a-side games are played on a tennis or basketball court using soft balls, players are allowed to bat for as long as they can, with each team allocated 16 overs. Each bowler has to bowl at least 1 over, with a maximum of 3 overs allowed per bowler. Thus the rules of 6 balls per batsman, continuing even if you are out, have been replaced by rules that favour the better players, giving them a chance to maximize their potential.

Another innovation has been to split the teams on a regional basis, to avoid long traveling distances. The Northern group consists of teams from Ra'anana, Chativat Yonatan, Kibbutz Be'erot Yitzchak and Bet Sefer L'Teva in Tel Aviv. Dimona, Be'er Sheva, Yeruham and Ashkelon complete the Southern Group. The top 2 teams from each group will meet in a national final. All games will be played in the early evenings.

Photo © Israel Cricket Association

The first game of the competition took place this evening, with Kibbutz Be'erot Yitzchak, who hold the (unofficial) title of "kibbutz world champions", hosting Ra'anana. The Ra'anana team were clear favourites, but each and every batsman simply failed to spend any length of time at the wicket, and they slumped to 32 all out in 13 overs. The kibbutz reply began well enough, but a flurry of wickets left them on 24/6 – just one wicket in hand and still 9 runs required for victory… Ra'anana certainly had their chances to clinch the win, with a catch being dropped and then a run out opportunity missed as the kibbutz pair scampered through for the winning run, cheered on by a sizeable crowd of supporters who enjoyed their first taste of a cricket match. The game was played in exactly the spirit that was intended, was enjoyed by all and has set the standard for a competition that promises to become the nursery of young talent in Israel for decades to come.

© ISR