It is unlikely that the ICC is about to add the "Kibbutz World Cup" to their list of tournaments, but if they should the winners, (and lone participants), would be the young cricketers from Kibbutz Be'erot Yitzchak.

Located just outside the city of Petah Tikva in central Israel, a few minutes drive from Ben Gurion international airport, Be'erot Yitzchak is venue of a weekly cricket practice for 12 of the kibbutz youngsters, aged 7 - 9. Each of the kids is Israeli born and most had probably no idea that the game cricket even existed, until they started playing, almost 18 months ago. Despite having no prior knowledge or appreciation for the game, the kids have not only learnt how to catch, throw, bat and bowl, but grasped the fundamental principles and attitude required to play cricket. But the technicalities are secondary - the primary achievement is that each week they come racing down on their bicycles to the tennis court, situated almost next to the kibbutz dairy, which boasts over 500 cows, - a sure sign that they enjoy this game, so foreign to them, very much.

The kibbutz movement was founded towards the end of the 19th century, as Zionism gained momentum in Eastern Europe, and the first wave of Jewish immigrants began returning to their ancestral homeland, after 2000 years in exile. The pioneers had one goal - to settle the land. Facing near impossible conditions, the immigrants grouped themselves into communal settlements, which became known as kibbutzim, from the Hebrew word kvutza, which means "group". With the vast majority of settlers having come from a socialist background, the kibbutzim were organized on the basis that each worker would be considered an equal member of the community, regardless of the task he or she performed. Duties would range from working in the fields to doing the laundry, running the kindergarten to cooking in the kitchen. All the kibbutz resources were pooled and equally split.

Kibbutz Be'erot Yitzchak, which means "The wells of Isaac", was originally established in the south of Israel. After it was overrun by Egyptian forces in 1948, those that survived relocated to their present site.

The early pioneers of present day Israel were faced with massive obstacles. Swamps had to be turned into farmlands, and all this while faced with a hostile local population who were very unwelcoming to their new neighbours. The kibbutz way of life contributed greatly to the successful overcoming of these obstacles and the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.

Whilst hundreds of kibbutzim remain in Israel today, many are slowly changing the socialist foundations on which they were based. As farming becomes less profitable, kibbutzim are moving away from agriculture and into other industries. More and more kibbutzniks are working outside the kibbutz, with cheaper foreign workers being brought in to replace them as manual labourers, and land has been sold for commercial development.

Kibbutz Be'erot Yitzchak is little different. Whilst the kibbutz still cultivates the fields, breeds turkeys and chickens and operates the dairy, Thai workers now milk the cows at 4am and not kibbutzniks. The kibbutz recently leased acres of valuable land to a development company and a large mall now stands on the area.

For all the changes that have been undertaken, the kibbutz movement remains an important part and great contributor to Israeli society. Perhaps within a few years the movement will contribute an international cricketer as well...

© Israel Cricket Association