Madrid CC’s “Get into Cricket Day”On Friday the 7th of May, it was raining when I went to bed.  My hopes of having sunny weather for the club’s big day out seemed to have been dashed. Those damn raindrops peppered my window, with a “Ting, ting, ting”.   Before going to sleep I decided to say those magic words, "Rain, rain, go away. Come back another day" and made an appeal to the umpire in the sky, but my expectations were not very high.  Saturday morning I woke up with a burst of energy and ripped the curtains open. Dark clouds, but no rain. Wow! We’d have cricket! But how many would dare to turn up after the previous night’s downpour and that threatening grey sky?  We’d have to go and find out.  When I got to the ground, Madrid Cricket Club’s "Get into Cricket Day" was just getting underway. The second team was starting a match against the newly-formed Triskel Taverners. Madrid put Triskel into bat. The sounds of clapping hands and excited shrieks of “Howzat!” were quickly drifting across the field.   The Youth Development Program was not creating nearly so much noise. Only two juniors had turned up. Oooppsss! Now what were the three coaches meant to do with two players for two whole hours?  They decided to start with some exercises. A little stretch here and a little stretch there. And guess what? Before they knew it, the numbers were stretched by two more little members joining the group. As if by magic, the more they all stretched, the more young cricketers appeared.

Whilst the 1st XI practiced in the nets, the 2nd XI dismissed Triskel and took their turn to bat. There was a buzz of expectation as the home team sent its opening pair to the wicket. They started well, with runs flowing steadily.  Triskel’s score seemed within easy reach. At least until the wickets started to tumble!   The pressure started to mount, and the batsmen needed to remember the basics of technique. The very skills that

the ten juniors were displaying. Batting down the “V”.  Front foot forward and a straight bat. That’s the secret of success.   The kids were applying themselves amazingly in every aspect.  The fielding was superb, with some fantastic throwing at the wickets, which would have run out even the fastest of batsmen. The bowling was as accurate as any top class cricket player. After these training drills the youngsters played a small game.   Back with the big boys, the game was reaching a crescendo.  César, a Spanish player, was last to bat. It was his first ever game of cricket, and the stakes could not have been higher, arriving at the crease with two runs needed to win and nine wickets down. Triskel’s devilishly quick bowler seemed to ooze menace as he started his run-up for the crucial ball.   “Thwack”, César’s glorious cover drive dissected the field, allowing an easy two runs. Victory was his! Supporters, players, parents and the kids all cheered loudly and applauded the batsmen from the field. Madrid 2nd XI had triumphed, and the juniors were transfixed by their first experience of the magic of cricket.    Overall, I would call the day a success.  A game of cricket against a new Madrid-based club, opening the door to more regular competitive fixtures in the city. In addition, the Youth Development Program seemed to be well-received. A P.E. teacher from a local Spanish school who attended the day is now even interested in making the sport part of his curriculum. It needs more than grey skies and the threat of rain to hamper the growth of cricket in Madrid.