The San Diego Surf Riders are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team based in San Diego, California, that competes in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team's home ground is Canyonside Park, located in the community of Rancho Peñasquitos.[1] The Surf Riders began play in the 2021 season.
 | ||
| League | Minor League Cricket (MiLC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Conference | Western Division (Pacific Conference) | |
| Personnel | ||
| Captain | Marty Kain | |
| Owner | Rajinder Ghai | |
| Chief executive | Gangaram Singh Sanjit Menezes Jimmy Ankelsaria Ram Madabushi | |
| Team information | ||
| City | San Diego, California | |
| Colours | Light Blue, and Yellow. | |
| Founded | 2020 | |
| Home ground | Canyonside Park, San Diego | |
| ||
Franchise history
editThe Surf Riders were formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket.[2] The team is co-owned by Rajinder Ghai, Gangaram Singh, Sanjit Menezes, Jimmy Anklesaria, and Ram Madabushi.[2]
Background
editTalks of an American Twenty20 league started in November 2018 just before USA Cricket became the new governing body of cricket in the United States.[3][4] In May 2021, USA Cricket announced they had accepted a bid by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) for a US$1 billion investment covering the league and other investments benefitting the U.S. national teams.[5]
In an Annual General Meeting on February 21, 2020, it was announced that USA Cricket was planning to launch Major League Cricket in 2021 and Minor League Cricket that summer,[6] but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[7] and due to the lack of high-quality cricket stadiums in the USA.[8] Major League Cricket was pushed to a summer-2023 launch[9] and Minor League Cricket was pushed back to July 31, 2021.[10]
USA Cricket CEO Iain Higgins also pointed out cities such as New York City, Houston and Los Angeles with a large cricket fanbase, and targeted them among others as launch cities for Minor League Cricket.[11]
Exhibition league
editIn July 2020, the player registration for the Minor League Cricket exhibition league began.[12] On August 15, 2020, USA Cricket announced the teams participating in the exhibition league matches, also listing the owners for each team.[13] The draft for the exhibition league began on August 22, 2020,[14] with the Surf Riders releasing their squad on August 24.[15] Marty Kain was later named as captain for the Surf Riders for the exhibition league.[15]
2021 season
editAfter the conclusion of the exhibition league, USA Cricket announced that they were planning to launch the inaugural season of Minor League Cricket in spring 2021.[16] Ahead of the official season, which was announced to kick off on July 31,[17] the Lashings announced Marty Kain to continue his role as captain with Mrunal Patel helming vice-captain duties.[18]
In their first match of the season, the Surf Riders defeated the Master Blasters by 5 wickets in a low-scoring game, but then lost to the Lashings by 4 wickets the same day.[19] The Surf Riders, however, only won three times after their opening match victory, once against the Thunderbolts,[20] once against the Master Blasters,[21] and once against the Irving Mustangs.[22] They lost against the Thunderbolts,[23] the Strikers twice,[23][24] the Blazers twice,[23][24] the Lashings,[21] Hurricanes,[22] and the Athletics.[22] The Surf Riders finished on top of the Master Blasters, and finished 6th, thus not qualifying for the finals.
2022 season
editAhead of the 2022 season, Major League Cricket announced that the draft for that season would take place on May 12.[25]
Current squad
editMarty Kain is helming captaincy duties, with American cricketer Mrunal Patel helming vice-captain duties.[18] Americans Sri Krishna A and Timil Patel lead the batting and bowling leaderboards for the team, with 344 runs and 18 wickets.[26][27]
- Players with international caps are listed in bold.
| Name | Nationality | Birth date | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batsmen | ||||||
| Marty Kain |  United States |
16 May 1988 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2021 | |
| Sri Krishna |  India |
13 June 1990 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast medium | 2021 | Overseas |
| All-rounders | ||||||
| Abhinay Reddy | United States |
8 June 1991 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium fast | 2021 | |
| Adnesh Tondale | United States |
17 January 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium fast | 2021 | |
| Ajay Sharma | United States |
19 September 1982 | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2021 | |
| Ayan Desai | United States |
3 April 2002 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast medium | 2021 | |
| Brynley Richards |  Australia |
1 February 1991 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2021 | Overseas |
| Devam Shrivastava | United States |
9 August 2004 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | 2021 | |
| Dillon Heyliger |  Canada |
21 October 1989 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2021 | Overseas |
| Jaideep Reddy | United States |
13 April 1987 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2021 | |
| Mrunal Patel | United States |
28 October 1986 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2021 | |
| Mohammad Sadiq |  Pakistan |
9 September 1981 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | 2021 | Overseas |
| Ravi Timbawala | United States |
8 June 1989 | Right-handed | Right-arm medium | 2021 | |
| Timil Patel | United States |
1 December 1983 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | 2021 | |
| Zubair Murad | United States |
11 June 1986 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast medium | 2021 | |
| Wicket-keepers | ||||||
| Siddarth Matani | United States |
3 June 1990 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | 2021 | |
References
edit- ^ "Minor League Division Preview Series - Eastern". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. August 1, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ a b "Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update". USA Cricket. August 15, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ Penna, Peter Della (January 8, 2019). "USA formally approved to rejoin ICC as Associate Member under USA Cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ Penna, Peter Della (November 27, 2018). "USA plan to launch their T20 League in 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "USA Cricket Chooses Partner to Fund and Develop U.S.-Based Professional T20 Cricket League". USA Cricket. May 23, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "USA Cricket Board Meeting February 2020". USA Cricket. February 27, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "USA Cricket re-evaluating Major League Cricket debut timing due to Covid-19 concerns". SportBusiness. August 2, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "American Major League Cricket tournament launch pushed to 2023 at Annual General Meeting". Inside the Games. May 24, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ Penna, Peter Della (May 21, 2021). "USA's MLC T20 tournament pushed back to 2023 at AGM". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ Penna, Peter Della (July 30, 2021). "Minor League Cricket: T20 league in USA kicks off with Sami Aslam, Corey Anderson in the mix". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ Penna, Peter Della (February 27, 2020). "New York, Boston, Chicago, LA among 22 targeted launch cities for USA T20 competition". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "Minor League Cricket Announces Player Registration Opening". USA Cricket. July 7, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update". USA Cricket. August 15, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "Inaugural Minor League Cricket Draft to Take Place Today". USA Cricket. August 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ a b "Minor League Cricket Draft results with 15 Squads Selected". USA Cricket. August 24, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "USA Cricket Launches Foundational Plan". USA Cricket. October 15, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "American Cricket History to be Made on Minor League Cricket Opening Weekend". Major League Cricket. USA Cricket. July 29, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Hays, Nate (August 18, 2020). "Minor League Cricket announces teams and owners list, draft on August 22, exhibition games tentative". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ "Dramatic Finishes Highlight Historic Minor League Cricket Championship Opening Weekend". Major League Cricket. USA Cricket. August 5, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "The Monday All Rounder - Week Two". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. August 9, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Monday All Rounder - Week Seven". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. September 13, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c "The Tuesday All Rounder - Week Six". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. September 7, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c "The Monday All Rounder - Week 3". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. August 16, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ a b Patel, Smit (September 2, 2021). "Minor Cricket League Week 5: Ricardo Powell turns back the clock". CricBuzz. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
- ^ "Title and Presenting Partners Announced for 2022 Minor League Cricket Championship". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
- ^ "San Diego Surf Riders - Batting". CricClubs.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
- ^ "San Diego Surf Riders - Bowling". CricClubs.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022.