The delights of small-town cricket in southwest France

The delights of small-town cricket in southwest France
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Catus CC was formed in 2004 and received a boost in 2007 when the mayor granted the use of an area of flat land near Lac Vert. (Supplied)
The delights of small-town cricket in southwest France
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Catus CC was formed in 2004 and received a boost in 2007 when the mayor granted the use of an area of flat land near Lac Vert. (Supplied)
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Updated 29 August 2024
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The delights of small-town cricket in southwest France

The delights of small-town cricket in southwest France
  • Catus CC, established in 2004 in a village with a population just under 1,000, is an example of a club set up by people who love the game

This week I am in southwest France, visiting friends who spend their summer in the valley of the Lot River. It flows westwards in a tortuous fashion for 485 km, joining the Garonne, which then flows northwest to the city of Bordeaux and on to the Atlantic Ocean.

It is my first visit to this region, which is famous for wine production. I am aware that cricket is played in France, having taken a team to play near Versailles for a number of years around the turn of the 21st century.

On this basis, it seemed a reasonable assumption that cricket would be played in the southwest. A little research revealed the existence of an Association des Clubs de Cricket du Sud-Ouest, founded in 1992. It comprises 10 clubs: Bordeaux-Giscours, Catus, Damazan, Eymet, Saint Aulaye, Eyliac, two Toulouse clubs and, in 2024, Nimes and Montpellier rejoined. This means the ACCSO covers a large area, with attendant transport costs.

On a very well-organized website, committee members’ contact details are displayed. My introductory email was answered by the secretary, Hugues “Hui” Scheers, who informed me his club, Catus CC, would host a cup semifinal on Aug. 25. Catus was only a half-hour drive away from my base, and my traveling companions and hosts decided to join the adventure.

Catus is a small village with a population just short of 1,000. The cricket club was formed in 2004 and received a boost in 2007 when the mayor granted the use of an area of flat land near Lac Vert, along with financial support for a synthetic pitch.

On arrival, a picturesque scene unfolded. The ground is part of a sports and leisure complex, backed by a hill topped with imposing oak and chestnut trees. At the other end is a small river, which posed a problem because the ball was often hit into it until a local rule was introduced that stipulates bowling can only take place from the hill end.

Catus was facing Toulouse CC Wolves. Both teams contain many South Asian players, mainly Indians in the case of Toulouse. Catus has a more varied composition. Amongst its ranks are Afghanistan refugees, who were very welcoming and keen to talk cricket, about which they are passionate. This was evidenced by the fact they travelled over 3.5 hours from their base, close to the Spanish border.

The name of another team member, Sri Lankan Amal Saminda Silva, will be familiar to cricketing aficionados as his older namesake represented his country. This Amal Silva, who has French citizenship by virtue of marriage, is also an accomplished and elegant player, scoring 102 out of his team’s 302. This total is a record in the competition and the highest scored at Catus cricket club.

Two Afghans, Badshah Khan and Jamal Ziauddin scored 62 and 46, respectively. There was much raw talent on display. The top order of the Toulouse Wolves team made a spirited start in their pursuit of a formidable target but could not keep up the momentum, being dismissed for 159 in 27.2 overs.

The victory puts Catus CC in the final of the Blevins Franks Cup, so named after a sponsoring company which specializes in financial services for people moving to — and living in — France. Catus has also reached the final of the BF League.

This follows a stellar season in 2023 when they reached the finals of both cup competitions and topped the league. The cup competitions are in T20 and 35 overs format, the former being introduced in 2022. The Ligue is 40 overs but may be reduced to accommodate travel time.

As ever in club cricket, a handful of people manage clubs and leagues. At Catus, Scheers told me that he was mowing the outfield at 8 a.m. before setting up electrical connections to computers and the mounted camera which streams the match. Club funds are tight and there is a reliance on donations at both club and ACCSO levels.

As if match day preparations and management were not enough, cricket clubs in France were landed with a new situation in 2023. Association France Cricket, the governing body, was accused of simulating women’s matches to obtain financial aid from the International Cricket Council. It was also accused by players, clubs and recent FC members of lacking transparency about how those funds were used.

The scandal has led to the disbandment of the women’s national team — unfortunate timing given that cricket is to become an Olympic sport in 2028. This means the sport will receive “high level” status in France and the national governing body becomes eligible to apply for more public funding.

The scandal has also led to ACCSO members deciding not to affiliate with FC in 2024. In turn, this means competitions organized by ACCSO are open solely to clubs which have either affiliated to an “association sportive omnisports” or taken out insurance cover mandated by the French Code du Sport with a commercial insurer.

ACCSO members report that the on-going situation with FC is “fluid”. It must be galling for local clubs with limited funds to learn of the financial irregularities and phantom matches generated by their national governing body.

Amid the welter of franchise cricket now in existence and the riches which it has created for players, team owners, advertisers and other stakeholders, it is easy to forget that grass roots cricket is played and organized by people who love the game. They do not do it for money and they can be found in unexpected places. One such place is Catus, where a cricketing home has been provided for people whose life’s journey has, at times, been bleak.


Dubai Basketball returns home with 10-game unbeaten record

Dubai Basketball returns home with 10-game unbeaten record
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Dubai Basketball returns home with 10-game unbeaten record

Dubai Basketball returns home with 10-game unbeaten record
  • Team continues to dominate ABA League after win over Mornar-Barsko zlato of Montenegro

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball extended their winning streak to 10 games with a commanding 83-71 road win over Mornar-Barsko zlato in Round 27 of the ABA League.

The victory takes Dubai Basketball to a 22-5 record, as the team continues to assert its dominance in its debut ABA League season.

Controlling the tempo from the first quarter, Dubai Basketball set the tone early and never looked back. The team maintained a steady lead throughout the game, at one point building a 20-point advantage in the third quarter after an explosive 11-2 run. The early lead proved decisive, as Dubai expertly managed the game’s closing stages to secure another convincing result on the road.

Montenegro’s Mornar-Barsko zlato made a late push and reduced the deficit to 13 points by the final buzzer. However, Dubai’s composure and relentless work on both ends of the court ensured there would be no upset for the UAE-based team.

A standout performance from Jerry Boutsiele earned him the Man of the Match award by the ABA League. The center delivered an all-round performance, finishing with 13 points with an almost perfect free-throw record, nine rebounds, and as always, key contributions on defense.

Reflecting on the win, Boutsiele said: “We came here with the goal to stay focused and keep our momentum going. Everyone stepped up, and we all played our part, and the team dynamic has never felt better. Ten wins in a row means a lot, but we’re hungry for more. The job’s not done yet, and we look forward to giving our fans a home win soon.”

With this result, Dubai Basketball solidified its position as one of the most consistent teams in the league. The team is preparing to take on Croatian side Split for their first home game of the month on Sunday, April 20 at Coca-Cola Arena.


Mbappe leading Real Madrid comeback charge against Arsenal

Mbappe leading Real Madrid comeback charge against Arsenal
Updated 15 April 2025
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Mbappe leading Real Madrid comeback charge against Arsenal

Mbappe leading Real Madrid comeback charge against Arsenal
  • The Gunners lead 3-0 after dismantling the holders in London last week in the quarter-final first leg, leaving Madrid craving the sort of dramatic comeback the 15-time winners are renowned for

MADRID: Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid in search of Champions League glory, hoping to be on the right side of exactly the kind of magical night they need against Arsenal on Wednesday if they are to progress to the semifinals.
The Gunners lead 3-0 after dismantling the holders in London last week in the quarter-final first leg, leaving Madrid craving the sort of dramatic comeback the 15-time winners are renowned for.
Returning from a three-goal defeat would be step further than anything Los Blancos have managed so far, but that is precisely why they tried to lure Mbappe to the club for years.
The French superstar’s explosive edge gives Madrid hope of achieving what appears to be borderline impossible.
“Of course we can,” said Mbappe on his way out of the Emirates last Tuesday, heading to the team bus after Arsenal’s stunning victory.
Declan Rice struck two sublime free-kicks and Mikel Merino’s third helped Mikel Arteta’s side put one foot in the final four.
Arsenal will be fully aware the job is not yet complete, having seen Mbappe’s devastating impact against Premier League champions Manchester City earlier this season.
Mbappe netted a hat-trick against Pep Guardiola’s side in February at the Santiago Bernabeu in the play-off round, helping Madrid eliminate City 6-3 on aggregate.
The striker was sent off for a wild challenge against Alaves in La Liga on Sunday, putting his team-mates under pressure, but can make it up to them with a special performance at the Santiago Bernabeu against Arsenal.
Madrid scraped a 1-0 win and Mbappe only played 38 minutes before his dismissal, so he should be fresh for Wednesday.
Mbappe has 33 goals in 49 games across all competitions this season, matching Madrid’s all-time top goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally in his first season at the club.
Mbappe failed to lift the Champions League trophy with Paris Saint-Germain during his seven seasons at the club and in 2022, was on the sharp end of a spectacular Real Madrid comeback.
PSG led 1-0 from the last 16 first leg, with Mbappe on target, and he netted his second goal of the tie to give the French side the lead at the Bernabeu.
It sparked Real Madrid into life and a remarkable 17-minute Karim Benzema hat-trick turned the tie around and powered Los Blancos into the quarter-finals, on the way to lifting the trophy.
Mbappe said his treble against Man City was exactly the kind of night he was craving.
“I’ve been dreaming of moments like this since I was a kid, to play for this club and to feel what it’s like on a big night at the Bernabeu,” said the Frenchman.
“A lot of people have told me about it, but now I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and I hope we’ll have many more.”
In 2022 Madrid made a stunning comeback to beat Man City despite trailing 5-3 on aggregate in the final minutes of the semifinal second leg, progressing 6-5 in the end.
Perhaps their most important comeback came in the 2014 final against rivals Atletico, trailing 1-0 until Sergio Ramos headed home in the 93rd minute to force extra-time, with Los Blancos winning 4-1 to claim ‘La Decima’, their 10th Champions League trophy.
They also overcame a 2-0 quarter-final first leg deficit against Wolfsburg in 2016, winning the second leg 3-0 with a Ronaldo hat-trick.
Mbappe would dearly love to emulate the Portuguese forward’s feat against Arsenal.
“At the Santiago Bernabeu, comebacks are always on everyone’s lips,” said Ronaldo.
Madrid and comebacks have been synonomous since the 1980s when winger Juanito was involved in several, including the UEFA Cup semifinals in 1985.
“90 minutes at the Bernabeu is a long time,” he warned Inter Milan after the hosts won the first leg 2-0 in Italy, with Madrid going on to triumph 3-0 on their way to glory.
Mbappe came to Madrid to add to their rich history and Arsenal’s visit presents the ideal opportunity.
“We have to believe, we have to have confidence,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti last week. “Because sometimes, quite often at the Bernabeu, it happens.”


Nuggets’ Josh Kroenke shares what went wrong in Denver

Nuggets’ Josh Kroenke shares what went wrong in Denver
Updated 15 April 2025
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Nuggets’ Josh Kroenke shares what went wrong in Denver

Nuggets’ Josh Kroenke shares what went wrong in Denver
  • Kroenke said there were two prior moments when he felt the team was headed in a direction “not up to my standards“
  • Kroenke reached the point where he realized “certain things had slipped to a point where they shouldn’t have been“

DENVER: Nuggets vice chairman Josh Kroenke was apologetic for changes made last week, when coach Michael Malone and general manager Calvin Booth were fired without warning.

But he also hinted that the changes have already brought upon the desired result.

“The season is not over yet,” Kroenke said Monday. “We just finished the season like a freight train as far as I can tell.”

Entering the locker room after a Sunday night (April 6) home loss to Indiana, the Nuggets’ fourth consecutive loss, the picture before Kroenke prompted him to pull the plug on the status quo.

“I could feel how flat the room was,” he said. “On a four-game losing streak heading into the playoffs with a flat locker room, I internalized how much I had let the room slip. It was not up to standards of Denver Nuggets basketball.”

Kroenke said there were two prior moments when he felt the team was headed in a direction “not up to my standards” but he resisted making a change out of respect for Malone and Booth.

Ben Tenzer was named interim general manager on Monday and will be in place for the duration of the playoffs working alongside interim head coach David Adelman.

Kroenke pulled back on his initial hunch last Thanksgiving that a change was required, and then again before the All-Star break during an eight-game win streak.

“It was either out of personal feelings or a belief in the group,” Kroenke said, confirming he sat in on meetings with Booth and Malone. “I need people who are policing the culture and pushing forward. We went on a little run before the All-Star break. There were reports out there I was contemplating something then. That is true.

“Those eight games masked a trend that was going on behind closed doors.”

No players or club personnel requested the change in organizational structure, Kroenke said. He offered three-time MVP Nikola Jokic a chance to discuss a decision that had already been made, but Kroenke said Monday that Jokic’s response was a head nod of “no.”

However, Kroenke reached the point where he realized “certain things had slipped to a point where they shouldn’t have been” between his senior basketball officials. He said he apologized to Booth and Malone with “as positive a bad conversation as we could have.”

“To be frank, neither of them deserved it. For that I apologize. As the leader of the organization, I need to be better,” Kroenke said.


Zverev shakes off recent funk to beat Muller in Munich

Zverev shakes off recent funk to beat Muller in Munich
Updated 15 April 2025
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Zverev shakes off recent funk to beat Muller in Munich

Zverev shakes off recent funk to beat Muller in Munich
  • Zverev has played six tournaments since losing the Australian Open final in three sets to Sinner in January, but has not made it past the quarterfinals at any
  • World No. 15 Ben Shelton made a stuttering tourney start, coming from a set down to beat world No. 410 Borna Gojo 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7-3)

MUNICH: World No. 3 Alexander Zverev got his clay court season back on track with a 6-4, 6-1 over Frenchman Alexandre Muller in the first round of the ATP event in Munich on Monday.

The German lost his opener at last week’s Monte Carlo Masters to Italian Matteo Berrettini, missing the chance to bump Jannik Sinner from the world the No. 1 position.

Instead, that defeat and the Carlos Alcaraz’s victory in the final on Sunday saw Zverev dropping down a place in the rankings and dented his preparations for next month’s French Open.

On Monday, Zverev broke his opponent in the first game. Muller broke back at 3-3 before Zverev recovered to win the set in 47 minutes.

The No. 1 seed found his rhythm in the second, breaking his opponent three times.

The 27-year-old completed victory in one hour and 20 minutes.

Zverev has played six tournaments since losing the Australian Open final in three sets to Sinner in January, but has not made it past the quarterfinals at any.

“I’m very happy with the match,” Zverev told Sky Germany: “I want to play my best tennis again — and this was a very good step in the right direction.”

Since winning back-to-back titles in Munich in 2017 and 2018, Zverev has not made it past the final eight.

He will face either countryman Daniel Altmaier or Taiwan’s Tseng Chun-hsin in the quarterfinals.

Earlier on Monday, world No. 15 Ben Shelton made a stuttering start to the tournament, coming from a set down to beat world No. 410 Borna Gojo 4-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7-3).

Shelton, seeded second in Munich, fought off three match points, winning both of his sets via tiebreak in two hours and 24 minutes.

Defending champion Jan-Lennard Struff, who beat American Taylor Fritz in the final last season, opens his campaign against Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo on Tuesday.


Norris feels ‘nowhere near’ his best as Formula 1 title contest heats up inside McLaren

Norris feels ‘nowhere near’ his best as Formula 1 title contest heats up inside McLaren
Updated 15 April 2025
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Norris feels ‘nowhere near’ his best as Formula 1 title contest heats up inside McLaren

Norris feels ‘nowhere near’ his best as Formula 1 title contest heats up inside McLaren
  • After finishing third Sunday at the Bahrain Grand Prix, which was won by his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri, Norris said he felt far more confident last year when he lost out on the title to Max Verst
  • Norris says “something is just not clicking” for him with McLaren’s dominant car and that he even lacked confidence when he won the Australian Grand Prix last month

Lando Norris may be top of the F1 standings but he feels like he’s driving “nowhere near” his best and can’t work out why.
After placing third Sunday at the Bahrain Grand Prix — won by his McLaren teammate Oscar Piastri — Norris said he felt far more confident last year, when he lost out on the drivers’ title to Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.
“I’m confident that I have everything I need and I’ve got what it takes,” Norris said. “I have no doubt about that, that I’m good enough, but something is just not clicking with me in the car.”
Norris, who qualified sixth for Sunday’s race, saw Piastri close to within three points of him in the standings.
“As soon as you’re not gelling (with the car), then you’re going to be in issues, and that’s what I have at the moment,” Norris said.
Even though he’s still leading and won the season-opening Grand Prix in Australia last month, Norris said he hasn’t felt comfortable all year with McLaren’s car — widely considered the fastest on the grid.
Last year, “I knew every single corner, everything that was going to happen with the car, how it was going to happen. I felt on top of the car. This year could not have felt more opposite so far,” Norris said.
“Even in Australia, I won the race but never felt comfortable, never felt confident. The car was just mega and that’s helping me get out of a lot of problems at the minute, but I’m just nowhere near the capability that I have, which hurts to say.”
Norris and Piastri combined to help McLaren won the constructor title in 2024, the team’s first since 1998.
Teammate battles which shaped F1
The years when F1 has been dominated by a single team have produced some of the most bitter rivalries, as McLaren witnessed in the late 1980s with a feud between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost.
More recently, the relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg turned sour during their championship fight at Mercedes in 2016.
Norris and Piastri are keeping things civil, though there were awkward moments last year when Norris was asked to make way for his teammate in a race.
McLaren has faced tests from other teams, with Verstappen winning in Japan last week for Red Bull and Mercedes’ George Russell competing with Norris and Piastri on Sunday. Still, the pace of the other teams seems to be fluctuating from race to race, and McLaren’s isn’t. The gap of 58 points on the constructor standings to second-place Mercedes after just four races is vast.
“We haven’t had a consistent challenger week-in, week-out,” Piastri, a 24-year-old Australian, said. “As long as we have the best car, it’s going to be tight between Lando and I.”