Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Saturday, March 25
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Donate
    • Subscribe
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»Sports»Play! Interest in cricket growing in Eden Prairie
    Sports

    Play! Interest in cricket growing in Eden Prairie

    By Daniel HussJune 22, 2021Updated:June 22, 20213 Mins Read
    Thirteen-year-old Mayank Jain's approach to cricket was simple: See the ball, hit the ball. Photo credit Dan Huss
    Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on EP Sports!

    The game of cricket is the world’s second most popular sport

    When asked what he likes most about playing cricket, 13-year-old Mayank Jain mentions bowling and batting before deciding on  “everything.”

    Jain, whose dad used to play the sport, was attending an MVP Youth Cricket Try-it Free event held at Eden Prairie’s Nesbitt Preserve Park.

    A number of local youth were in attendance, some even not so local.

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn-McReavy

    “I’m not surprised by the interest,” said organizer Sanjaya Ranasinghe. “There’s a need and there are few local programs.”

    MVP Youth Cricket’s first summer session, which runs through the middle of July, is completely full. A second session, which begins July 22 and runs five weeks through August 19 is filling fast. Instruction takes place Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. at Nesbitt Park. Register through the City of Eden Prairie (edenprairie.org).

    Interest in cricket, the world’s second most popular sport, is exploding.

    My Youth Cricket is introducing area youth to the sport of cricket. A second summer session is set to begin July 22. Photo credit Dan Huss

    USA Cricket plans to launch a professional league in 2023. A minor league, which is operating now, consists of 22 teams.

    New York and New Jersey both have minor-league programs, as do Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Houston.

    Minnesota?

    “We’re not quite top-22 yet,” said Ranasinghe, “maybe top-30.”

    At the grass roots level, interest is dependent upon opportunity.

    “More programs lead to more interest,” said Ranasinghe, “and more interest leads to more programs.”

    There are less than cricket 10 “official” cricket pitches (fields) in Minnesota. Brooklyn Park has five. Minneapolis has two and Eden Prairie has one. Soon, Maple Grove will have one as well.

    Similar, but different

    While baseball and cricket share similarities, its differences are plain as night and day.

    One, cricket is played on a round field.

    Two, a cricket bat is wider than a baseball bat.

    “You have more control,” said Ranasinghe. “which means you can hit the ball where the other team doesn’t have a fielder.”

    A cricket team consists of 11 players and all 11 players bat.

    Bowling, like pitching in baseball, is either speed or spin. In cricket, however, the ball hits the pitch before it reaches the batsman.

    Common ground

    While most MVP Youth Cricket’s Try-it Free participants came to the event with cricket knowledge or experience, there were a few “first-timers.”

    “The program is open to boys and girls ages 5-16,” said Ranasinghe, “but most are in that 6-13 range.”

    Most, but not all, have parents who come from countries where cricket is more common.

    “A lot of our players come from first-generation immigrant families,” said Ranasinghe. “If they know cricket, and they travel back home, they’ll have something in common. It’s an instant.connection.

    And?

    There’s bowling, batting and, well, “everything.”

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe

    Comments

    Comments aren’t allowed on our site, but we do offer several ways to provide feedback, and have your voice heard. If you believe the story has an error, or would like to get in touch with the author, please contact us. If you would like to respond directly to this article, we welcome and encourage Letters To the Editor. You can find details on how to submit a letter on our contact page.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleThe health assistance journey: Patience and persistence to find options
    Next Article Final spring sports week: EP champion emerges and other results

    More to READ

    2 Mins Read

    Race doesn’t go Sawalich’s way, but he has hope for the future

    March 21, 2023
    16 Mins Read

    Summer camp options in and around Eden Prairie

    March 15, 2023
    5 Mins Read

    Annika Anderson: Eden Prairie’s Athena Award winner

    March 10, 2023
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    Highway 101 to undergo pavement resurfacing in 2024

    March 25, 2023

    Noble Hill court case dismissed

    March 24, 2023

    Dean Phillips visits dad’s Vietnam War crash site; rubs elbows with South Korean stars

    March 24, 2023

    EP man seriously injured in Stearns County crash

    March 23, 2023

    EP accepting nominations for 2023 Heritage Preservation Award

    March 23, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2023
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

     

    Loading Comments...