Howzat? Top Cricketers Due in Phuket
Former Australian international Trevor Chappell is a regular at the Phuket Sixes
Former international players Trevor Chappell of Australia and Kenny Jackson of South Africa have confirmed they will take part in the sixth Phuket International Cricket Sixes, to be played at Karon Stadium from April 15 to 19.
Other former top-level cricketers are expected to confirm in the coming weeks that they, too, will play in Phuket.
So far, 26 teams are confirmed for the tournament, with another three possibles. Australia is most strongly represented, with nine teams entered. There are five from Thailand – including The Village team and the Karon Seasiders, both representing Phuket.
Three teams will come from the UK, and two apiece from New Zealand and Hong Kong. Also signed up are one team each from India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bahrain and Borneo, though last year’s winners, Calcutta Cricket & Football Club from India, don’t appear on the list.
The Phuket Sixes contest was first played in 2004, with just six teams. It has grown mightily since then, both in terms of the number of teams and in terms of reputation. In 2005 – just the second year – it received the global award for “Best Spirit of Cricket Initiative” from the International Cricket Council.
Alan Mullally (left) and Adam Hollioake played in 2008. They may return this year.
Spectators are admitted into the ground free (though beers must be paid for). There will be a number of associated charity events, including a beach cricket tournament, aimed at raising funds for Child Watch, which looks after children from broken homes or with abusive parents.
PS. For those who are mystified by cricket, here is an explanation by Australian Robert McMartin.
PPS. An academic from Australia (where else?) recently scandalised Britons by suggesting that cricket was not invented by the Brits, but by the Belgians. The BBC has the story here.
