Cricket a real hit with junior high students in Edmonton

Who would've thought playing on a junior high school cricket team inEdmonton would carry so much prestige?

But over the last few years, that's exactlywhat's been happening.

"If you make the cricket team, like, basically you're cool now," said ShahmeerKhan, captain of the reigning city champion Vernon BarfordBlues.

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Before 2011, a cricket league in thepublic systemdidn'texist. Today,seven junior high school teams play during the springtime.

"It's been thriving," said Vernon BarfordBlues coach Josh Robbins,who saw the game'spopularity take off a couple of years ago while he was teaching at Kate ChegwinSchool in Mill Woods.

"It's diverse, and we've noticed that in our schools as well, it's a very diverse population that's awesome because it brings lots of different interests."

'The keenness is there'

Thepassion for cricket has existed in Edmonton foryears, according to Christie Marathalingam.Since 1995, hehas been helpingkids learn how to play the gamethrough the Alberta Schools Cricket Association.

"Thekeennessis there that's the most important they're keen,"saidMarathalingam, who has represented Canadaon a six-a-side internationalcricket team andplayed for anAustralian masters' team that won gold in 2002.

"Where the Canadian kids are concerned, they have to get a liking to it."

Marathalingam said kids fromIndian, Pakistani, and Sri Lankan backgroundsare already into the sport, but he wants to get others involved too.

"Whenever I go to schools, I talk to them and then they tend to get attached to the sport, but we can still improve that further," he added.

The message got through to Grade 7 Vernon BarfordplayerDrew Bowling.He'sthe onlyCaucasianplayer on his team.

'I'm starting to get the grasp of it'

"I think it's really fun and the people on my team are really nice," said Bowling, who tried the sport after his gymteacher suggested it. "A little bit of the rules are confusing but I'm starting to get the grasp of it."

The level of interest in the game surprised Edith Rogers coach Iqbal Bhandal. By day he's the schoolcustodian, but once the bell rings he hits the cricket pitch.

"The first day I was at the playground Iwas like, 'Do you guys know the rules?'

"They were like, 'We've been playing for three years.' I was like, 'Whoa!' "

The other schools withteams in the league are Dan Knott, T.D. Baker, Kate Chegwin, Svend Hansen, andA. Blair McPherson.

Unlike professional teams, where games can last for several days, the teams only play for 2 hours after school.The main field is at the Mill Woods Park cricket pitch near the Mill Woods Recreation Centre.

Teams have 10 players and can be made up of boys and girls.

This year'splayoffs take place at the Coronation Cricket Oval on Monday and Tuesday. Two semi-final matches are scheduled.

The winners face each other in the final game, which is scheduled forJune 11.