The Cricket Revolution

There was nothing unusual when New Zealand batsman Brendan McCullum took the field at Bangalore’s M. Chinnaswarmy Stadium dressed in his traditional black uniform in April 2008.

From there McCullum quickly broke the record for the highest individual score in a twenty20 match, scoring 158 off 73. This wasn’t unusual either.

NZ Batsman Brendan McCullum during a match for IPL team the Kokata Knight Riders.

What was unusual was that the way the Indian crowd reacted, cheering as he dispatched Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan to the boundary for four successive deliveries. McCullum’s innings for Kolkata in the inaugural match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) announced that cricket had changed forever.

During its six weeks the IPL played to packed stadiums, in stark contrast to dwindling test match attendances. According to Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Public Affairs, Peter Young, the longer format is in need of an overhaul.

Lalit Modi, the man responsible for the IPL.

“We’re looking at playing test cricket at night because the public tells us that its favourite time for consuming sport and entertainment is in the evening, and they tell us that because 9-5 they’re at work, or at school,” Mr Young said.

One of the problems with playing test cricket at night has been the lack of a suitable ball. The red balls currently used in test cricket are difficult to see under lights.

Cricket Australia has also been at the forefront at the push for a test championship, where teams would compete in a league format over a number of years that would see one team crowned test champions.

“We get criticised a lot by customers, by media, by other commentators for too much cricket which is, in the view of some, meaningless. If we could figure out a championship model it would mean that every game suddenly has context” Mr Young said.

“So an Australian cricket fan watching Australia’s progress towards the finals would start to take an interest in non-Australian cricket because that non-Australian cricket might impact on Australia’s chances.”

Shane Warne takes his 700th test wicket - scenes like this could soon be a thing of the past.

So far, none of this has yet to eventuate, with cricket’s increasingly hectic scheduling coming to dominate international discussion.

In recent times star all-rounders such as England’s Andrew Flintoff and New Zealand’s Jacob Oram have broken down with major injuries, prompting concerns about player burn-out.

Both have since retired from test cricket to focus on one-day cricket and twenty20.

“You won’t see so much player burnout as player management and it will most likely keep the biggest stars of the game out of the lesser tournaments” says cricket coach Steven Broberg.

An injured Andrew Flintoff presents a bat to a fan - injuries have become a major concern for all-rounders.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting was rested from the first half of Australia’s one-day series in England. The loss of big names has raised questions about the place of one-day cricket, which still drives generates most cricket revenue.

Cricket Australia does not agree.

“We have a passionate view that three formats are viable, as long as Twenty20 develops principally as an inter-state or domestic competition. We are passionately convinced that we need to nurture and protect the 50-over format,” Mr Young said.

With the success of the IPL and Australia gearing up to face a West Indian side that has been further weakened by industrial disputes, this view will soon be put to the test.

Map

The following map contains a number of sites pivotal in the rise of Twenty20.

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Where to Play Floorball in Victoria

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The Next Olypmic Sport

Floorball has been recognised by the IOC and is sweeping the globe; it could be the next big thing to hit the Olympics.

Australian Mens APAC celebrate after scoring!

Floorball has been tipped by some unofficial sources as the fastest growing indoor sport in the world. It is clearly debatable whether this is true because official numbers are so hard to come by.
However, what cannot be debated is the rising popularity of this new sport.
On a world scale there are 48 countries REGISTERED to play Floorball across America, Europe, Asia and Africa. Floorball is also attempting to develop and become a recognised sport in further countries, such as Sierra Leone, where Floorball is played mostly in schools.

Floorball Development in Sierra Leone

Already there are millions playing in Europe (International Floorball Federation 2009), and the game is now in a process of great growth.
Earlier this year the International Olympic Committee officially recognised Floorball as a sport which allows for it to be initiated into the Olypmics. On top of this, the Australian Sports Commission in July also recognised Floorball as a sport and now entitles the sport to funding.
In Australia the game is taking off.
Unlike many sports that have been around for decades, Floorball was only introduced in Australia in 1996.
13 years on, Australia has, according to the Australian Sports Commission on behalf of the Australian Floorball Association (AFA), between 5,000 and 7,000 people playing Floorball at the moment.
President of the AFA, Barb Summers believes that it is only time before Floorball become a flourishing sport in Australia.
Played competitively in Victoria, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, Western Australia and socially elsewhere, Floorball is quickly becoming an addiction for many.
“We just need people to start playing because once they play they are hooked,” Barb Summers.

Aus 2009 Mens APAC in South Korea - Silver Medalists

Grant Mead, coach of the National squad has no doubt that the sport will boom.
“Floorball has unlimited potential to grow. But it lies with the juniors.:”
Since first starting to play in 2002, Mead says that the game has “grown by 300 to 400 per cent easily”. If this type of growth continues then Floorball in Australia can expect to have well over 100,000 players playing within 15 years.
“It could be a major sport in Australia but the challenge is getting the word out there.
When we first started when we would throw our sticks into the middle and split them up into two sides. That was how we played. Now we have competitions growing everywhere, Mead said.

The Whole 2008 Mens Australian Squad in Perth

One of those people is Mark Benfield, who is starting up a new social competition in Sale, Gippsland.
He hopes to continue to grow the sport not only in schools but also out of school too.
In Victoria, there are five different places to play Floorball, which also includes men’s, women’s and junior comps.

Womens Huskies Floorball team at the Canberra AFO

You can view your nearest location to play Floorball by checking out the maps.

Floorball Skills

Chinese badminton world champion in Australia

Life is unpredictable, full of various encounters all the time. No one could image

that, Ailing Zhang, a world badminton championship,  who chose to retire and

married at the most glorious moment of her life.

Photo: Ailing Zhang in the game

Her husband, Changjie Chen,  is another world badminton championship, too.

He once won the championship of men’s badminton singles in the first world games,

1981. Next year, he also won the ”Thomas Cup Badminton”. In 1983,  He also

won the Asian badminton champions in Calcutta, India.

Photo: Changjie Chen——Ailing’s Husband, a badminton world champion as well.

Many years ago, Ailing Zhang ever represents China to take part in the games all over

the world.  When she had been first time in Perth, which is one of most suitable

city of living in the world left a fantastic impression on her. She considered that,

if one day she would achieve great success in badminton and get ready to retire,

she’d like to emigrate to Australia and live in perth. ”Sometimes, I thought, it is

destiny.” she said in telephone interview.

In the Chinese badminton team, Ailing Zhang, the young girl came from Shanghai

first met Changjie Chen, he came from North East of China. As team members,

they attracted to each other with each other at first glance.Changjie played very

well with fantastic skills.  His merry paces, powerful attack and effective defenses,

made her actively learn from him. In this processes, they fell in love.

After they got married, the couple gradually withdrew various badminton games.

Three years later, an accidental opportunity that Malaysia invited couples as the

badminton coach of national team. Through careful consideration, they arrived in

Malaysia with the idea of ”Sports without borders”. In 1992, they led Malaysia to

defeat China and Indonesia, won the  ” Thomas Cup” as coaches.

Video: Badminton 1992 Thomas Cup Final – Malaysia vs Indonesia

Once again, Ailing felt enough satisfaction for her career. She remembered the

promise of emigrating to Perth. Her husband was willing to help his wife to complete

the long-cherished wish. In 1998, they arrived in Perth,WA.

In 2000, the champion couple established their own badminton club—Future Stars Badminton

Club WA.” Wherever I go, whatever I do, I can’t give up badminton actually.” Ailing said. “My

husband and I pay most attention to discover genius of  young generation, and training them.

I hope that badminton can be more popular in Australia as well.”

Photo: Ailing zhang

From 2005, the Future Stars Badminton Club held the first Badminton Games in WA, year by year,

the ” Future Stars Badminton Games WA” gradually became one of grand occasion in West Australia.

Many local referees consider this games as a good opportunity to practice, even there were some

professional players who take part in this games, too.”I am glad to do some contribution for Australia’s

sports. ”

Photo: Weixuan Lu with her team mates  in University Games

Weixuan Lu, who is a year three student of Victoria University. Last year, she took part in

Australian University Games and won a silver medal of badminton. ”My team mate represents

Australia to take part in Beijing Olympic Games, I am so proud to be her partner in past days.”

she said. ”I thought more players from other countries emigrate to Austria is a good thing,

definitely promotes the level of specific sports,  Chinese badminton players come to Australia, and

Australian basketball players come to China. ”

photo: Weixuan Lu shows her  silver medal of badminton in University Games 2008

“Australia is a diverse country, with more and more immigrants arriving in Australia,

local sports will become more diverse as well.” the social researchers in Latrobe

University, Dr Can Qin said.

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Ailing Zhang’s path 1954~1998

Cycling Meets Social Networking in Tokyo’s Kitasando

Cycling is making a comeback, and cycle cafes are springing up in trendy cities around the world, but the social changes that get bottoms on bike saddles are very much 21st century phenomena. In Melbourne, Bicycle Boutique and Café Racer are creating a buzz, and so is Cycle Square which opened in Tokyo in July. The Tokyo hub for cyclists incorporates bicycle rental and repairs, cycling concierge services, a nutritionally balanced menu and purpose-specific relaxation massage designed for cyclists, computers and internet access, events including Bicycle Film Festival Tokyo 2009 and guided cycling tours, and guests ranging from a cycling gold medalist to a Bossa Nova singer.

Fashion is a big factor in cycling’s growing popularity in Tokyo, Cycle Square concierge Emi Sasaki said.

“Commuting by bicycle is quite fashionable now, and is increasingly popular with women, not just men.”

Reasons for the trendy status of the bicycle include increased awareness of both obesity and environmental issues, Ms Sasaki said. Both issues result largely from the technology-reliant 21st century way of life.

“People want to go back to the way things were before the technological revolution. We feel that although we have gained a lot, we have lost something precious too. Pedaling is simple, but it is done with your own power, and that represents the simplicity that people want,” Ms Sasaki said.

The number of low-tech “mama-chari” bikes with shopping baskets, sometimes seats for a child or two but usually no gears, and slightly more high-tech compact collapsible bikes for commuters in Japan astonishes Australian visitors to Cycle Square. But the ratio in Japan of bicycles of convenience versus other types may be on the move too, Ms Sasaki said.

“Mountain biking may be the next boom waiting to happen I think. People in their 30s and 40s are attracted to cycling because it is a classic pastime that addresses issues such as metabolic syndrome and health, and is cheap and something you can do yourself. For a long time convenience was the priority, but now people are finding that inconvenience can be fun.”

The café offers advice on purchasing cycles, and has several brands available for test rides for a few hours or a day, from a versatile Bridgestone hybrid (just under $1000 AUD) to a tiny, trendy Cannondale mini velo (just under $2000 AUD).

The multimedia nature of the café is also a response to the 21st century lifestyle. Miho Shirai, massage therapist in Cycle Square’s relaxation therapy centre, said there is a connection between technology and physical health awareness.

“There is currently a cycle café boom, partly due to stress from the computer world and a need for relaxation.”

The massage her team offers promises relaxation as well as increased metabolism which can lead to a slimmer figure.

“Many people don’t warm up before exercise, so massage is an effective way to bring muscles to a neutral state which will give a fuller workout during and after exercise. We also offer a hip area massage that is popular as a slimming method with both men and women,” Ms Shirai said. 

Massage therapist Miho Shirai explains the benefits of massage before exercise

Nutrition educator and bicycle reviewer Emi Sasaki is cycling concierge at Tokyo's Cycle Square

The café’s concierge believes people are using the concierge services and joining the cycling tours organised through the café for reasons unique to the this century too. 

“There is lots of information overflowing everywhere, whether it is advertisements in the street or digital information, but it’s hard to find the specific information you want. That’s why the analog type of information we provide at the café is valued – it is tailored to the individual,” Ms Sasaki said.

“If we were just a café, there would be no particular facility for interpersonal contact, and that’s why we offer events such as cycling excursions. People – mostly in their 30s and 40s – tend to join alone, spend a half day sharing an experience with strangers, seeing the same scenery, and by the time we return to the café after the cycling trip, there are a lot of friendships built on these shared experiences.” 

Some café patrons have contrasting views on the interactions between customers and the multiple media cycle cafes are beginning to incorporate. Andy White, a Melbourne cyclist who travelled to Tokyo specifically for the World Bike Messenger Championships in September 2009, said that having wireless internet available in such venues facilitates further isolation, rather than interaction. People bring computers or use those provided for entertainment, stimulation and virtual socialising, and this decreases motivation to interact with others who are physically present. Gazing into computer screens doesn’t increase the chance of eye contact which could lead to a spontaneous interaction either.

Mr White and his fellow World Bike Messenger Championships attendees who were dining at the café said it was the Erik Zo exhibition that had attracted them to Cycle Square, but that they were pleasantly surprised by the high quality of the food. Alan MacGill of Melbourne said his dry curry and brown sugar pudding were “excellent”, while Mr White commented that the coffee was “drinkable” which he said was quite an achievement based on his previous experiences in Japan. Head chef Katsuaki Akanuma said that the modern Japanese menu was designed to offer nutritionally balanced options suitable for cyclists, without sacrificing flavour, and that quality ingredients were a priority. Mikey Dodds of Sydney said that the quality of food offered at cafés targeting cyclists was extremely important. “It’s our fuel,” Mr Dodds said.

Chef Katsuaki Akanuma and his team serve healthy modern Japanese cuisine to suit cycling enthusiasts and others

International visitors to Cycle Square Kitasando talk cycle cafe culture (video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8cz9-IlQ0s

 

An Erik Zo art and design exhibition draws visitors from all corners of the globe

Cycle Square meets practical needs of pedal pushers too, offering bicycle maintenance gear and advice on how to use it

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Gav’s Proposal

To contribute to the Ragin’ Cajuns, I’ve decided to write about the fastest growing indoor sport in the world – Floorball.

Basically, it is a mix between indoor hockey and ice hockey. At a social level it is a safe, fast sport that has taken over in places like Scandinavia where it has become their number one sport. As our theme is on the 21st century sport and leisure activities, I think Floorball would be perfect to write on as it shows a relatively new sport developing and growing popularity only over the span of a few decades. I also plan to include a broad international section in my piece, then follow it on to the national level, then end up pulling it all together with what is happening at the local level of Floorball. I will write about the sport’s brief past and expanding future, including its recent recognition by the Australian Sports Commission as well as the International Olympic Committee.

To add to our page on wordpress.com I plan on getting together video footage of Floorball, and even explaining over video footage what Floorball is. This will add to the page’s credibility and save me having to write a lot about the basics of the game.

I would love to include a phone interview from some of the big names from the IFF (International Floorball Federation). I will also seek out interviews from Australian sources as well as local sources. I plan on interviewing the president of the Australian Floorball Association (AFA) Barb Summers, as well as the Australian representative to the Asia Oceania Floorball Confederation, Jerug Kim. These interviews will cover the national and international level and I plan on interviewing the main organiser of Floorball in Sale, Mark Benfield. This will string together everything at the local level.

I plan to get quotes that are flamboyant in order to break up a lot of the new information that will be presented through my article. Although this piece should be interesting in that the piece itself is new, I still aim to use different tools (such as video, audi and photography) whilst writing in an informal and interesting way, enough for the average person to be genuiely interested.

The New Shape of Cycling

Story coming soon:

Cycling Meets Social Networking in Tokyo’s Kitasando

NEWS VALUE: Unusualness: A multimedia café dedicated to cyclists? Complete with cycling- and health-expert concierges and handlebar chandeliers?! Not something you stumble over every day.

Sportal reporter Anna travels to Tokyo’s Cycle Square, a new multi-media café for cyclists. The investigation provides a port-hole to rapidly changing sports, recreation and lifestyle trends in Japan. Being a world leader in fashion and technology, Tokyo’s trends may give a hint as to the direction of Australian trends too.

Cycle Square opened in July with an original concept incorporating bicycle rental and repairs, cycling concierge services, a nutritionally balanced menu and purpose-specific relaxation massage designed for cyclists, computers and internet access, events including Bicycle Film Festival Tokyo 2009 and guided cycling tours, and guests ranging from a cycling gold medalist to a Bossa Nova singer.

Anna investigates Japan’s evolving recreation trends, including the cycling boom, and these trends’ connection with the reliance on technology for entertainment and socialization. Are these factors combining to inspire the boom in health awareness and the subsequent buzz-word status of “metabo” or “metabolic syndrome”?

Anna interviews cycling concierge Hiromi Yamamoto, and health, environment and food consultant Emi Sasaki to find out why the needs arose for such a facility, as well as speaking with head chef Katsuaki Akanuma about the lifestyle changes that led to the menu on offer, and the massage therapist and customers to get an insight into how customers are interacting with the facitilies and each other.

Join Anna for a virtual visit to the world’s trend-leading hub, and find out why the technology-crazy generation is turning to pedaling for a physical, mental and social connection.

Cricket Story Concept

Concept

In a sports mad country, cricket is the only game that can truly claim to be Australia’s national sport. On summer afternoons, from Melbourne to Brisbane, Sydney to Perth, men and women can be found in fields around the country taking part in the summer game. Although it lacks the fanatical devotion of football, Australia’s cricketers are the only sportsmen who have name recognition throughout the whole country.

Like all things, cricket does not exist within a bubble. The past few years have seen dramatic changes in the game, with the emergence of the Twenty20 format and speculation about the decline of test cricket.

Analysing just what’s happening to the game and looking at where cricket is headed in the future will generate the overall news value of the article. At the moment cricket is a game undergoing unique transformation, with many pundits speculating that we might be watching the decline of either test or one-day international cricket.

The big issue in cricket is the rise of Twenty20. This article will look at the implications involved in the rise of Twenty20, including the rise of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 competition. The article will look at the implications for players, cricket administrators and other stakeholders in cricket.

This article will look at some of the major issues affecting cricket today. What does Twenty20 mean for test and one day international cricket? Are domestic leagues like the Indian Premier League a threat to international cricket? What are the implications of such a hectic playing schedule?

To answer these questions I will be talking to representatives of Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers Association. This will allow for the views of Australian cricket’s peak body and the players representative. I presently have an interview confirmed with the Australian Cricketer’s Association, which I have just confirmed. I have also confirmed an interview with Cricket Australia’s General Manager for Public Relations.

Due to the popularity of cricket, there are no shortages of documentary sources. The extensive archives of cricinfo.com provide access to large amounts of cricket news, discussion and analysis from ex-players and the greatest cricket journalists in the world. This would be supplemented by the work of former Australian coach John Buchanan, who has recently published a book titled “The Future of Cricket: The Rise of Twenty20”. As a former international coach who has coached in the Indian Premier League, his insights into the future of the game will be valuable.

Resources

This article is made easier by a wealth of online resources. Cricinfo.com already provides a comprehensive archive of cricket news and analysis, including news items and opinion pieces covering the rise of Twenty20 cricket and the Indian Premier League. It also contains a comprehensive database of images. This website also includes scorecards from nearly every match played, including domestic games.

It is my intention to supplement the story with documentary sources, including highlights from important moments from cricket’s recent history that chart the changes that have been occurring in cricket. This will all be sourced from websites such as Youtube. It is my intention to include footage of New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendan McCullum’s century from the first IPL match to provide readers with an insight into the transformation that cricket has undergone over the past decade.

I will be supporting this by weaving edited excerpts from my interviews into the article. This could also be supported with a Google map which would chart the locations of key events in cricket’s recent history.

Most of the facts for the story will be sourced from the archives of Australia’s major daily papers and the Cricinfo archives, which without doubt contain the most extensive range of information on cricket found anywhere.

The use of John Buchanan’s book will provide insight into the thoughts of a man involved in international coaching throughout cricket’s transformation. The book also chronicles Buchanan’s experience coaching the Kolkata Knight Riders in the inaugural IPL. This alone makes him an authoritative source on the subject.

Additional information will be sourced, and I am still awaiting a response from Cricket Victoria following a request to speak to a member of their playing squad.

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