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| Sierra Leone cricketers dream of taking on world's greats | Sierra Leone cricketers dream of taking on world's greats |
| (8 days later) | |
| Without a single blade of grass, and with a crease that has to be drawn in the dirt with a stone, Sierra Leone's national cricket pitch is a far cry from Lord's. But the team nurture dreams of one day taking on the greats of world cricket. | Without a single blade of grass, and with a crease that has to be drawn in the dirt with a stone, Sierra Leone's national cricket pitch is a far cry from Lord's. But the team nurture dreams of one day taking on the greats of world cricket. |
| "Imagine if we had the equipment and the facilities, we would be challenging England or South Africa," said Alusae Dumbuya, who, when he is not coaching the national cricket team or the police football team, is a police officer. | "Imagine if we had the equipment and the facilities, we would be challenging England or South Africa," said Alusae Dumbuya, who, when he is not coaching the national cricket team or the police football team, is a police officer. |
| Such confidence requires enthusiastic imagination. At Sierra Leone's only cricket ground, overlooked by forested hills, the roof of the commentary box has caved in. Practice nets have been carved out of the wall of weeds that has encroached on the edges of the field. | Such confidence requires enthusiastic imagination. At Sierra Leone's only cricket ground, overlooked by forested hills, the roof of the commentary box has caved in. Practice nets have been carved out of the wall of weeds that has encroached on the edges of the field. |
| "We have another small problem with the pitch – the police use the grounds for football, too," admitted Salia Kamson Kamara, a development officer with the Sierra Leone Cricket Association, as he surveyed police trainees running across the pitch and raising clouds of red dust. | "We have another small problem with the pitch – the police use the grounds for football, too," admitted Salia Kamson Kamara, a development officer with the Sierra Leone Cricket Association, as he surveyed police trainees running across the pitch and raising clouds of red dust. |
| Cricket arrived in the 19th century with British colonial rulers, who also left a handful of incongruous red phone boxes in districts that have since become muddy slums. But while South Africa is routinely near the the top of the world rankings, Sierra Leone's cricketing record is less illustrious. | Cricket arrived in the 19th century with British colonial rulers, who also left a handful of incongruous red phone boxes in districts that have since become muddy slums. But while South Africa is routinely near the the top of the world rankings, Sierra Leone's cricketing record is less illustrious. |
| When the national team's four tattered kitbags eventually become frayed beyond use, they will have to depend on the International Cricket Council (ICC) or "somebody who has relatives abroad" for replacements. "The amazing thing is that even with all this, cricket has brought us laurels," Kamara said. | When the national team's four tattered kitbags eventually become frayed beyond use, they will have to depend on the International Cricket Council (ICC) or "somebody who has relatives abroad" for replacements. "The amazing thing is that even with all this, cricket has brought us laurels," Kamara said. |
| The game's popularity has surged since the decade-long civil war ended in 2002, and Sierra Leone is now spearheading a campaign to spread the love of cricket in west Africa. | The game's popularity has surged since the decade-long civil war ended in 2002, and Sierra Leone is now spearheading a campaign to spread the love of cricket in west Africa. |
| In 2010, theteam clawed their way into the ICC's Africa Division 2, despite initially struggling to master some of the intricacies. Several players thought the term "howzat" was a helpful translation into Krio, the local creole language. "We thought if we wanted to be proper we should say, 'how is that, Mr Umpire?'" said Kamara, switching to an exaggerated English accent. | In 2010, theteam clawed their way into the ICC's Africa Division 2, despite initially struggling to master some of the intricacies. Several players thought the term "howzat" was a helpful translation into Krio, the local creole language. "We thought if we wanted to be proper we should say, 'how is that, Mr Umpire?'" said Kamara, switching to an exaggerated English accent. |
| Other elements of the game have also been adapted for local tastes, with the limited-over form of the game finding favour. "Classic cricket is too long and boring. Football is the most popular sport, so we have to keep the game modern, only playing Twenty20, if we want to catch the interest of youngsters," Kamson said. | Other elements of the game have also been adapted for local tastes, with the limited-over form of the game finding favour. "Classic cricket is too long and boring. Football is the most popular sport, so we have to keep the game modern, only playing Twenty20, if we want to catch the interest of youngsters," Kamson said. |
| Still, Sierra Leone has produced the region's only professionally trained female umpire. "I just feel it's the most exciting game," said 19-year-old Ann-Marie Kamara, a star bowler who has travelled twice to South Africa for elite training programmes. | Still, Sierra Leone has produced the region's only professionally trained female umpire. "I just feel it's the most exciting game," said 19-year-old Ann-Marie Kamara, a star bowler who has travelled twice to South Africa for elite training programmes. |
| Under an agreement signed this year, backed by Pakistani sponsors, Sierra Leone will introduce the game to other countries in the Mano River Union, a four-nation bloc that includes Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast. That may be the hardest challenge yet. | Under an agreement signed this year, backed by Pakistani sponsors, Sierra Leone will introduce the game to other countries in the Mano River Union, a four-nation bloc that includes Liberia, Guinea and Ivory Coast. That may be the hardest challenge yet. |
| Liberia, which began as an American private colony, has previously ducked regional tournaments, according to officials. "The team just never turned up; only British expats living there would come," a sports ministry official said. | Liberia, which began as an American private colony, has previously ducked regional tournaments, according to officials. "The team just never turned up; only British expats living there would come," a sports ministry official said. |
| And few French-speaking African countries have shown interest in the game. Rwanda, an exception, established a cricket board in 1999 as the country strengthened its ties with English-speaking Africa, in response to France's support for the Hutu regime that oversaw the 1994 genocide. | And few French-speaking African countries have shown interest in the game. Rwanda, an exception, established a cricket board in 1999 as the country strengthened its ties with English-speaking Africa, in response to France's support for the Hutu regime that oversaw the 1994 genocide. |
| Junior Diade, who spends his afternoons playing football at Ivory Coast's Bassam beach, sounded confused when asked about cricket. "I don't know any game called cricket," he said. After reflecting, he said brightly: "The game with a stick to hit the ball. Isn't that golf?" | Junior Diade, who spends his afternoons playing football at Ivory Coast's Bassam beach, sounded confused when asked about cricket. "I don't know any game called cricket," he said. After reflecting, he said brightly: "The game with a stick to hit the ball. Isn't that golf?" |
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