*Official* Emerging Nations Cricket Thread

[FBU]

Yes, good question. According to the St Helena Cricket website it is the most popular participation sport on the island. They've had a league since 1903.

The team all seem to be islanders, but a lot of Saint Helenans and descendants live in South Africa and the UK, so perhaps some of the players are based there?

EDIT: Article with some more detail about St Helena Cricket from the last qualifying cycle - sounds like all the players are based on the island: https://emergingcricket.com/insight/the-small-island-with-big-cricketing-ambitions/.

Yes, good question. According to the St Helena Cricket website it is the most popular participation sport on the island. They've had a league since 1903.

The team all seem to be islanders, but a lot of Saint Helenans and descendants live in South Africa and the UK, so perhaps some of the players are based there?

EDIT: Article with some more detail about St Helena Cricket from the last qualifying cycle - sounds like all the players are based on the island: https://emergingcricket.com/insight/the-small-island-with-big-cricketing-ambitions/.

Like the story about their mascot Jonathan....

"The team have the support of the whole island back home, but know it will be a challenging tour. To bring a bit of luck they’ve taken a locally made mascot with them. It’s a miniature replica inspired by the island’s senior resident, and oldest living land animal anywhere in the world, 190 year old Jonathan. Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise and was brought to St Helena in 1882 from The Seychelles, their opponents on Tuesday.

This fact has not been lost on Team Manager Derek Richards. “I can’t imagine the look on the face of The Seychelles’ team when we rock up with one of their tortoises, which is older than any of theirs!”

 

[Chubb]

I fed a bunch of baby Seychelles giant tortoises in Mauritius last year

 

[Nintendo]

Why isn't van lingen featuring for Namibia? He'de make this line-up 10x better

 

[SeamUp]

Why isn't van lingen featuring for Namibia? He'de make this line-up 10x better

Who is their coach now?

Big 2 years for them being co-hosts of the CWC.

 

[Nintendo]

Who is their coach now?

Big 2 years for them being co-hosts of the CWC.

Shame there batting is now non-existent. Smit and Erasmus can't buy a run, weise is retires and van lingen isn't playing.

Could honestly see them going past zimbabwe in a few years if the guys I mentioned bar weise are fit and anywhere near form.

 

[SeamUp]

Shame there batting is now non-existent. Smit and Erasmus can't buy a run, weise is retires and van lingen isn't playing.

Could honestly see them going past zimbabwe in a few years if the guys I mentioned bar weise are fit and anywhere near form.

There was a time I thought it was a dead certainty they would. They were making ICC Events and Gerhard Erasmus was an excellent leader. Thought Loftie-Eaton would hit greater heights by now. Haven't seen much of him outside the U19 CWC, but has Jack Brassell gone well? Think there is a younger bro too & they at Durham academy.

 

[SeamUp]

Have to plug this from my old Alma mater

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Shame there batting is now non-existent. Smit and Erasmus can't buy a run, weise is retires and van lingen isn't playing.

Could honestly see them going past zimbabwe in a few years if the guys I mentioned bar weise are fit and anywhere near form.

Erasmus was ICC Associate player of the year in 2024 he's just in bad form but still a quality player. Namibia will go far , they don't have any politics affecting their cricket and have excellent development programmes.As they start to get more investment, building infrastructure (The WC will ensure that) , they are just going to get better and better.

 

[SeamUp]

Erasmus was ICC Associate player of the year in 2024 he's just in bad form but still a quality player. Namibia will go far , they don't have any politics affecting their cricket and have excellent development programmes.As they start to get more investment, building infrastructure (The WC will ensure that) , they are just going to get better and better.

Hope so. Wiese is a massive loss though.

They hosting the U19 CWC with Zimbabwe early next year preparing for the men's event a year later.

 

[Kenneth Viljoen]

Oman vs USA just finished .

Every single over was bowled by Spin. Is that a record for 50 over cricket?

 

[LangleyburyCCPlayer]

Oman vs USA just finished .

Every single over was bowled by Spin. Is that a record for 50 over cricket?

Some early prep for when they draw England in the main event