Not in your wildest dreams would you ever imagine when you come to Germany that you'll end up playing cricket. Most ex-pats were in my boat and presumed cricket didn't exist here in Germany - a land of fine ale, fast cars, fussball and Formula One freaks. Cricket was actually banned by a certain Adolf H in the 30's on account of being 'too British'.

Bizarrely enough, Germany is ranked just outside the top teams in the world and could in theory have qualified for 2007 Cricket World Cup now being held in the Caribbean. In Germany cricket is keenly played by 2000 hardy souls all across this vast country of 80 million sports fanatics.

My first experience of cricket was having fled from another well-timed weekend blazing argument with my (ex) girlfriend. I decided to head down to the English Garden on my bike in a vain attempt to clear my head of all that relationship stress, baggage and garbage. We've all been there, right? As I approached one secluded leafy corner of the massive English Garden (aptly named for cricket) from the 'Haus der Kunst' end, it suddenly happened. I heard that unique sound of bat on ball, the hard sounding clump of red leather on willow. I even heard a strangled appeal. Well I thought I did anyway. This is Germany, it can't be, can it? At first I didn't trust my ears and just carried on cycling on aimlessly. And then the sound became more distinctive as I got nearer the action. I saw men actually dressed in varying degrees of 'whites' diving around on a very nice ground. So I went to the ground and watched, got talking to Munich cricket legend and our illustrious Chairman Desmond Bradley and that was that. I was hooked. After years of creeping and buying drinks for the right people I am now club captain (for my sins).

About the Munich Cricket Club

Our club, the Munich Cricket Club (MCC), was founded in 1982 and is one of the oldest clubs in Germany – celebrating a magnificent 25^th anniversary this year with some special events.

Initial games were actually played on the vast open areas of the English Garden. A local rule back then meant that a batsman could not be given out if he had been distracted by one of the local 'maidens' who often 'inconveniently' disrobed behind the bowler's arm. Of course, nude sunbathing was and still is quite a popular pastime in Munich.

Apart from organising the first competition - the MCC Knockout Cup - and running the local league for the first few years, the club is a founder member of the Bavarian Cricket League and Deutsche Cricket Bund. It also played a formative role in the initial movements to set up the European Cricket Federation, which subsequently became the European Cricket Council in 1997, and operates under the auspices of the ICC Development Program.

Grounds and training days

Home games are played at the 'Hirschanger' in the Englischer Garten, arguably one of the most picturesque grounds in Germany, just a lofted off drive from the famous Chinese Tower biergarten. Our squad consists of a nucleus of 25 players from all far-flung reaches of the globe - especially England and Australia. We have two German internationals in our squad too. Home games are played on ICC approved matting Flicx pitches.

The training grounds are in the south east corner of the English Garden. Five minutes walk away from the Chinese Tower. Ten minutes walk north from Lehel U-Bahn station. Nearest tram stop is Paradiesstraße opposite the ground - tram 17 direction Effnerplatz.

Friday Training is at our home ground at the Hirschanger, Himmelreichstrasse 5 (1630-1900hrs). You'll find latest cricketing info on our website www.munichcricket.net. Players, tea ladies, umpires, scorers and cricket groupies are always welcome - even footballers, as long as they don't support Man Utd.!

Mark Lovell, Captain Munich CC
www.munichcricket.net

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What do you do in the training? Is there coaching? I have an able defence but struggle to get it of the square a bit similar to Yardy in the ICC Trophy.

this years pre-season training plan involves lots of bike riding to strengthen muscles to prepare properly for pedalo pursuits, quick singles or doubles and even cricket.

we do of course have a qualified coach.

Sorry this is a bit off-topic, but could you provide some more info/sources? Did he really ban it or did the war get in the way?

Just curious, as the German cricket website mentioned a game in 1937 in Berlin, and that there were four remaining clubs in Berlin after 1945:

thanks for your interest

rumours abound that he banned it after a drinking session with rommell and goebbels the nightwatchman went sadly wrong when they capsized a boat/pedalo in the wannsee at 4am in the summer of 1937.

my grandfather is not around to confirm though.

Whats the club's policy on full time professional drinkers who occasionally end up going on all out cricket binges a la Freddie Flintoff. Is it tolerated?

i cannot speak for the committee but as long as they are not late with the teas it is surely to be encouraged.
they can bring fresh early morning semmel (and a crate of cold fresh from the tankstelle) with them that way

Munich CC in 2008 will take part in international tournaments in Switzerland (Zuos and Winterthur) and Austria (Vienna 6aside World Cup). Further likely exotic tours include Amsterdam (Holland), Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Budapest (Hungary). Munich CC will also be welcoming touring sides from UK and Europe as well as fulfilling allegedly a full programme of fixtures all around Germany.

Friendly matches will start end of March 2008 with training planned to commence end of April 2008.

Annual General Meeting is to be held this Friday February 22nd at Florianseck in Thalkirchen, Pullacherplatz 6 at 1900.

For further details please contact floggerpafc@aol.com or visit the website www.munichcricket.net

Last night I had a dream about taking a magnificent leg-side stumping off the bowling of ex rockstar Bunty Blades. Would this kind of dream become a weekly reality were I to join the MCC? Would there be a tour bus to take us to the abovementioned European places? What kind of games would there be on the bus?

Bob

Im kinda interested in playing! I haven't played in years but i am Australian so it should come back to me. How old is the general age of the team?

thanks for your interest.

sadly ex rock star bunty has left these shores to fight flash floods in his native queensland so you will have to make due with leg side stumpings off other former rock stars, even a kiwi perhaps. i realise this may be of little solace to you bob.
tour transport is normally deutsche bahn where the bufffet bars are said to rank amongst the finest in western europe. failing that transit (tranny) vans for shorter trips.
cards schools, pointless word games, snap, wife swapping are rumoured to be favoured games whilst travelling to pass the time.

we cater for all ages, last year youngest player was just out of nappies (16) and oldest at retirement age (due) . but at this advanced age he obviously has the experience to also act as umpire, scorer and tea lady in that order. age however isnt a restriction at all. remember you are only as old as the woman you feel.
the social side of the game is high on the agenda as we head into the new decade.

For the past 2 years I've been saying I'll come along, but this is the year of action.
I miss my cricket, so see you at nets when the season starts!

Dear Mr Flogger, as wife swapping is on the list of pastimes, would it be possible to swap my wife for one of those nice big fridge / freezers, preferably in silver??

this is simply not possible due to demand/being out of stock.
as a popular alternative though we do however offer a nice line in fashionable jockstraps.

I cant make the meeting so when is first practice/game? And do you guys have all the gear or am i gonna have to have some sent over?

club has a large kit bag with all sorts of useful/useless stuff..you might need a nice white fred perry shirt though to fit in to the surroundings in the english garden.

Dont gucci make polos?

graham gucci?

Could you tell me if the level of cricket is very competitive? Will there be pace bowling a la Wasim Akram that will have me visiting a Krankenhaus a la Mike Gatting in the Windies? Is there much of a social scene after practice/matches etc?

hey lads. looks like i just missed the AGM but i'm dead keen to roll the arm over again. lookin forward to meeting the crew when it all kicks off.

thanks for all interest

re goats question
standard is up and down like a whores drawers. some good, some not so, some make up for general lack of form with bribes, buying drinks that sort of thing.
this often improves team spirit and your place in the batting order.

re mike gatting. some wkts are obviously better than others and helmets are there for you should you be a wuss or have poor eyesight...or have insufficient faith in your insurance...

the main idea though as a club is that we enjoy the game and make the most of playing in different circumstances all over europe...
we are very lucky in that respect, here's hoping for a dry summer (but not in chinese tower)

May be it is presumptuous of me to still believe I can play some cricket. But being an Indian, being passionate about cricket comes more naturally to me than the capability.
Or may be I will just watch you guys play Am I allowed?

training starts this friday 18th april at our ground from 1645 onwards till 1900.
and will continue every friday until late september.
http://www.munichcricket.net/training.html

season underway..further dates of possible interest
april 19 friendly v pak orient
april 25-27 tour to ljubljana, slovenia (boot camp no2)
may 3 friendly v allen overy uk
may 4 friendly v ccb

all friendly faces and creeds welcome, particularly those with a keen interest in swinging the willow, taking middle hob out and pointless banter over a mass or two...

www.munichcricket.net

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training continues without respite..meet at ground 1645-1700 this friday 23may.

next league match mcc v serendip sc
sat may 24
1230start at ground in english garden

sat may 31
mcc v anzacs

june 1
20-20 fixture away to pak orient

www.munichcricket.net

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game this saturday may 31 in english garden.
munich cc v anzacs
game starts 12.30 meet 12 sharp.
http://www.munichcricket.net/training.html
the anzacs need some help as they are a few short of aussie/kiwi passport holders.

if you'd like to play pls contact dan weston on 016096986290 or on westymate@mac.com