Web Site Re-design

The MCA web site, hosted by WordPress.com, has recently undergone some minor changes, partly enforced by the decision of the host to retire the template or “theme” which was previously used. Please let MCA know your opinion of the new look. Any web site is always a work in process, and thus open to modifications, especially modifications that will make it more appealing to its users – your opinions and your recommendations are important, please share them with MCA. The site is, of course, a blog, so it is an ideal place for interaction and for contributions from members and friends. If you would like to write a post, or to contribute in any other way, please do not hesitate to contact the Academy.

Happy Thanksgiving

MCA wishes all members and friends a very Happy Thanksgiving. For a few days, even the most active cricketers will not, perhaps, worry too much about their waist lines, and some armchair followers of the game will have ample opportunity to indulge themselves while keeping an eye on major cricketing events overseas…

Florida U-19 Tournament, Preliminary Details

MCA has now confirmed its participation in the Florida Cricket Academy Annual Tournament, which will take place over the long weekend of Martin Luther King Day (17 January, 2011). The tournament will open with a banquet on Thursday, 14 January, and will conclude with a championship match on Sunday, 16 January. FCA writes that “matches versus our development team will be 40 overs. All others will be 50 overs”. Current plans are to play all matches at Miramar Regional Park, where the wickets (on the two cricket fields) are artificial turf — no metal spikes allowed. FCA writes of hotel accommodation that “The best hotel prices as of now are $59.00 per night, with 2 queen beds and breakfast.” MCA, under the leadership of Joint Head Coach Shyam Mayasandra, supported by CER U-19 player (and MCA stalwart) Kishan Patel, has formed a preliminary squad of 12 players. Several players have already bought their tickets, while others have confirmed participation. MCA reminds participants that they will be responsible for all their own expenses (although it is hoped to keep them to a minimum). More details to follow.

MCA Recruitment

MCA has enjoyed a very successful period, with players nurtured by the Academy graduating to senior teams, thriving at age-level tournaments, and also making significant progress as members of MCA’s own league and tournament teams. However, our youngest regularly active players are now teenagers, and MCA is anxious to see an influx of younger players to form the next generation of Academy cricketers. We rely in part on our own members to promote MCA activities and bring in new members. Thus we ask you to let all young cricketers and potential young cricketers know about MCA. The winter indoor sessions provide a good place to learn the game, and if MCA knows that younger players will be joining and coming regularly to MCA practices and other events, it is much easier to develop a coordinated curriculum for novices and other younger cricketers. If you have suggestions for new ways to attract younger players please share them with the Academy, and please distribute our flyers as widely as you can, and remind your friends, fellow parents, class mates, and others that MCA provides a special arena for the development of cricket (and life) skills.

MCA Flyer 2010

MCA Winter Plans

MCA Joint Head Coaches Shyam Mayasandra and Vasanth Krishnaswami are currently working on plans for the winter months. MCA hopes to announce the schedule and location for winter practice sessions soon. It is also hoped that MCA will be able to enter a team in an indoor tournament (times and locations also yet to be announced). Watch the web site for further announcements, and share with MCA your own suggestions for the winter.

Florida Cricket Academy U-19 Tournament, 15-17 January

The Florida Cricket Academy has announced its annual U-19 Tournament, which will take place over MLK Day Weekend, 15-17 January, 2011. MCA is considering the possibility of entering a team, based around a core of MCA players, plus others recruited from sister academies and programs. Anyone interested in participating should contact MCA immediately. It is unlikely that MCA will be able to provide any financial support to participants, while FCA is able to guarantee only match costs (including refreshments) and a low hotel rate, to be paid by participants themselves, although the hosts are looking for ways to provide further support. Thus, potential participants should work on the assumption that they will be responsible for all expenses. However, air fares to Fort Lauderdale over that weekend should not be too high (perhaps as low as just over $200), while sharing hotel rooms will keep the cost of accommodation down. Thus it might be possible to make the trip for under $500 in total. FCA points out that anyone hoping to attract the attention of national selectors before the ICC Americas tournament in February might find this a particularly interesting opportunity. For the purposes of the tournament, FCA considers anyone born on or after 1 June, 1990, to be “under-nineteen”.

Please let MCA know of your interest in participating as soon as possible.

FCA Tournament Flyer