Cricket in Phuket has a Fabulous new home
“Lala” and Ramiz give CAT a knock
February 13, 2011National Mens & Womens Train To Hit the Sea, August 2011
February 13, 2011Phuket, an island paradise in Thailand, well loved by holiday makers from all over the world, has now been blessed with a magnificent new cricket ground which will see its first matches played this weekend.
The Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) is set in idyllic surroundings next to a lake in the Thalang district of the island and will host matches between the Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) and a visiting Singapore Cricket Club side.
A 35-over match will be played on Saturday 5th November and a 20-over match will follow on Sunday 6th November.
It is a remarkable achievement for Alan Cooke MBE, former British Honorary Consul in Phuket, to bring the island its first custom built cricket ground.
He has long been planning for this moment, after buying the necessary land next to his house at Baan Lipon several years ago, and he has shown the same determination to complete the project that he did when Phuket was faced by the tsunami in 2004.
The reward for his efforts then was the MBE for services to Phuket, and his generosity and decisive leadership should be equally well appreciated by all who take part in cricket on the island in future years.
Work on developing the ground only started in June this year and yet a smooth turf outfield has been laid; the artificial pitch has been provided by the Cricket Association of Thailand; and an impressive two storey pavilion has been constructed.
When work has been completed cricket in Phuket will truly have a magnificent new home that deserves to see standards raised to the highest level on the field.
The Island Furniture Cricket League in Phuket has been expanded to no fewer than seven teams and all fixtures will be staged on the ground and it is hoped that all players involved will be suitably inspired by the quality of the setting.
The first fixture between Patong CC and Laguna CC, the two strongest teams in the league last year, will be played on Sunday 13th November. All league fixtures will be 40-overs per side which should give the youngsters in the Phuket Development team the opportunity to improve their skills.
The development of youth cricket in Phuket is another of Alan Cooke’s passions, and he wants to hold regular coaching sessions on his ground, even acquiring a bus to ferry the youngsters across the island.
The ACG will host the National Youth Cricket Games in March and it is hoped that the Phuket team will give a good account of themselves against the likes of Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Three Thais from the long running Youth Development Program have been selected to play in the 20-over match against Singapore.
Courses have recently been held for umpires and scorers to help them improve standards for the new season on the new ground and Alan Cooke is looking forward to competitive cricket played in the right spirit several times a week.
The ACG will surely soon become a much loved venue for touring teams from across the world, and it just so happens that one of the most famous cricket teams in the world will be coming early in the New Year.
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) are visiting Thailand in February and they will play their first match in Phuket before heading for Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
MCC at the ACG will surely be a very proud moment for Alan Cooke MBE and it must be hoped by all that the ground can be a true legacy for all his hard work for the people of Phuket and for cricket on the island.