Heritage, Sportsmanship, Charity

On May 2, 1999 at 11 am, a cricket match was held in a most unusual place: Woodley Cricket Field. No, the fact that a cricket match would be held on a cricket field is not unusual, but when the cricket field happens to be in Van Nuys, California — that’s unusual! While we Americans are enmeshed in the NBA finals, the NHL championships and the midst of baseball season, the Los Angeles Social Cricket Alliance XI (LASCA XI) hosted a charity match against the visiting British team, Lord’s Taverners. Cricket is a game that is played with a ball and bat by two sides of 11 players each. It is played on a large field, called a pitch, and centering upon two wickets each defended by a batsman. Each game is called a match. The rules are rather complicated, and although it has never really "caught on" here, cricket is generally considered to be the national game of England. Other countries in which it is popular include Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and the West Indies, although 32 other countries are members of the International Cricket Council, located in London. The rules that govern the game all over the world are those drawn up by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) of London in about 1788.

This match was a pro-celebrity combined effort on behalf of various sports charities. According to Julian, the Lord's Taverners is a British club and charity, founded in 1950, that raises money "to give young people, particularly those with special needs, a sporting chance." In July 1995, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom launched the Government's sports policy: Sport - Raising the Game. These plans were the most important set of proposals ever published for the encouragement and promotion of sport in the United Kingdom. To this end, the Lord's Taverners raise more than #1 million (# =British pounds, sterling) each year for charity.

If you think Americans comprise the LASCA XI team, you’re mistaken. A very famous and athletic bunch of British expatriates including Patrick Stewart (Captain Jean Luc Picard, of Star Trek fame), David Warner, John Rhys Davies, Michael York, our very own Julian Stone and others, make up the team. Eric Idle, Colm Meaney ,and John Taylor of Duran Duran were supporters of the event, as was former Sex Pistol, John Lydon, who donated a flourescent suit for the silent auction. The British Lord’s Taverners' team included former cricket and rugby stars, and BBC television personalities including Sir Tim Rice, David Essex and Robert Powell.

Julian says, "It was a fun game and was played with a great spirit. The Taverners won in the end...but it was competitive! I haven't really played cricket since high school so it was a trip down Memory Lane! Everyone on the LA team seemed very enthusiastic about doing it again, so who knows?"

Well, Julian, next time invite us, and the LA team is sure to have a very lively cheering section!