Cricket at the Gymkhana

Between the 29th March and the 4th April 2009 Chiang Mai was invaded by cricketers from all over the world, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, Bahrain, Hong Kong, all south east Asia countries, all playing, supporting or spectating an event at the Gymkhana Club. The Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes is one of the world's most popular amateur cricket tournaments. This year is the 22nd this event has been held. One of the cricketers involved is Trevor Chappell from Australia. It is amazing that he had a great career but the one incident that he is remembered for is when his brother Greg told him to bowl underarm in a one day international against New Zealand. The murmur around the Gymkhana crowd was "Oh yes he is the one who bowled underarm." I went along and watched a number of very exciting matches and some not so exciting, particularly the game between 2 teams of over 60's, the oldest being 85. The organisers had a go at giving the event energy by the use of commentators and the playing of rock music when a six or four was scored. The music being from the 1970's songbook, much playing of Led Zeppelin, Lynard Skynard, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart et al. The last photo was of a team turning up late in a tuk tuk and going strait onto the pitch. Six in a tuk tuk takes some doing particularly when some of the team had expanded waists.