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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Cricket in Croatia?


Last weekend I was invited to cover a Cricket match in Zagreb.  When I told people where I was going I got a lot of surprised looks and head scratching.  Cricket in Croatia?
The sport, born and bred in England, was brought to the British colonies where it became extremely popular and an important part of their cultures. Over the years that popularity has spread around the world including the United States, China and Japan.  But still, many are surprised that a well organized Cricket club exists in this part of Europe.
Cricket is similar to baseball in that it is a bat-and-ball game, played by two teams who either try to score runs or get the runners out. But this is where the similarities end.  Terminology such as wickets, stumps and creases, number of players and field size are just some of the differences. Cricket is normally played outdoors but here in Croatia it moves indoors in the winter.
The sport has been called a “gentlemen’s game” because there is an expectation of no cheating, temper tantrums or arguing with the umpire. But don’t let the word “gentleman” fool you. These players show up with one thing on their mind and that is to win.   As you can see from some of my pictures, players aggressively chased balls, often diving into the ground and each other.  I spent much of the time trying to avoid getting tackled or protecting my gear.  I’m afraid one catch was missed because I was in the way and the player chose not to slam into me.  While I appreciated it, I felt a little guilty. He must have read this on my face because he responded with, “It’s just a game”.  So it appears to be a gentlemen’s game after all. 

 
I loved watching the bantering and camaraderie between the players.  I especially enjoyed listening to it in a multitude of accents and languages, switching back and forth between Croatian and English. 
But for me, the more interesting story is how the players all came together.  The team consisting of men from Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, Canada, Croatia, the United States and Jamaica all share an immense passion for Cricket and a love for Croatia. Each has a different story as to why they are here.  Some met Croatian women and moved here to get married.  Some are Croatian by heritage but were raised in other countries and then returned as adults.  Some moved here for education or work.  But all have the common appreciation for the lifestyle here.
I got a chance to interview some of the players after the match. They shared with me what they liked most about the sport and how they got involved in the club. Eventually the conversation came around to life in Croatia.   One of the players told me where he is from the attitude is to "live to work" and sneak in a small break on Saturdays.  Here they "work to live" and always find time for family and friendship.  No matter if it’s a Monday or Thursday there is time for a coffee or beer to catch up.  Another player told me it was a fantastic place to raise children and loves the school system.   His friends back home in South Africa can't believe he only travels 10 minutes to work and conducts his business meetings in coffee shops. As I’ve written in earlier blogs, people have shared with me similar stories about this relaxed lifestyle. But this was the first time I heard of so many people who moved half way around the world to return to this way of life.  This shouldn’t surprise me, though.  I returned here, didn’t I?
The passion for Cricket may have brought these men together but the love of the country has sealed the bond.   Or possibly it is vice versa. 
For more information on the Zagreb Cricket Club go to www.zagrebcricket.com

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