MCA Dormant, But Not Forgotten

As will be very obvious once you start to scroll through this web site, Michigan Cricket Academy has not been active for some time.  Its fate is very typical of small, volunteer-run organizations — MCA depended on the tireless enthusiasm of just a few people (most notably, its joint head coaches Vasanth Krishnaswami and Shyam Mayasandra) to keep it going and it only ever had a relatively small membership.  In the end, as so often in such cases, the model was unsustainable.

Yet, at least in my opinion, it achieved great things (scroll through these pages and you will see…) and it has left a legacy.  In the last two weekends — the first two of the 2017 cricket season in Michigan — lots of teams competed in the Michigan Cricket Association‘s season-opening tournament.  If you look at the score cards, you will get a sense of adult cricket in the state of Michigan.   And if you look very carefully, you will see that some MCA graduates have played in the opening rounds of the 2017 Great Lakes Tournament.  What you won’t be able to tell from the score cards, however, but what you might guess, if you know anything about American cricket, is that the forty-something clubs playing in Mich-CA this season are almost entirely populated by expatriates — men who grew up playing the game in major cricketing countries.  And then there are the MCA boys — some born in the USA, some born elsewhere, but all of them playing in Mich-CA today because when they were young (even very small boys), they had a chance to learn the game with MCA.

I feel that it is not arrogant to say that MCA provided a model of how the game could be grown in this country and I believe that we showed how boys (and girls would have been very welcome, too, let me emphasize) who were born or grew up here could become serious and competent cricketers, and could learn to love a game so alien to most Americans today.  Personally, I am very proud of what we achieved.  And that is why I have not taken down this web site, even though there has been no MCA activity for some four years.

If you are looking for a place in Michigan to play the game or even to learn the game now, you should definitely turn to the Michigan Cricket Association which, with the benefit of critical mass (always a key) has gone from strength to strength in the last few years.  But before you leave this site, I warmly recommend that you spend some time looking at what we did — indeed, at what we achieved.

Motown-MCA Practice Thursday, Instructional League Friday

Although the Motown-MCA team does not have another match until 9 July, a practice has now been arranged for Thursday, 23 June at Lyon Oaks (starting at 6pm).  It will be led by Drs Vasanth Krishnaswami and V. V. Giri.  All MCA (and Motown) players in town are encouraged to attend. The Junior Instructional League will take place as usual, at 6 pm on Friday, Lyon Oaks Cricket Ground. Please don’t forget that you need a park permit to enter Lyon Oaks.

New Program: One-on-one Coaching with Dr V. V. Giri

MCA is delighted to announce a new program. Most Tuesdays, from 4-7pm, MCA will run a net, accompanied by one-on-one coaching from one of the most distinguished members of our local cricketing community – Dr V. V. Giri. Dr Giri will be familiar to many MCA cricketers – not only is he one of Michigan’s premier umpires and a senior (and very effective) member of Troy C. C., but he is also, of course, a former first-class cricketer with many years of playing experience at the highest level, and the former coach of a spin academy in his home town of Chennai. This program is aimed first and foremost at MCA’s most advanced players, but is open to all. Dr Giri analyzes every batsman and bowler in depth, gives weekly assignments, and works carefully on individual development.

MCA is profoundly grateful to Dr Giri for his work with the area’s young cricketers.

For more details, including fees, please contact MCA Joint Head Coach Shyam Mayasandra or MCA Information Director Michael Makin.

Motown-MCA Joint Practice, Upcoming Match

The Motown-MCA joint practice will take place on Thursday, 16 June, at the Lyon Oaks Cricket Ground, beginning at 6
pm. All squad members are urged to attend. Non-squad members are welcome, too (cost — $5 per session).

Motown-MCA will play Windsor Dominion C. C. at Lyon Oaks (note change of ground), on Saturday, starting at 10 am. Spectators are very welcome.

Please don’t forget that you need a vehicle pass to enter Lyon Oaks park. You can purchase an annual pass for $30 at the golf pro shop in the clubhouse of the golf course at Lyon Oaks, or online.

MCA Instructional League, Friday, 17 June, Lyon Oaks

As usual, the MCA Instructional League (for junior players and for novices, using “hard tennis balls” for practice and small-sided games) will take place on Friday, at the Lyon Oaks Cricket Ground, 52221 Pontiac Trail Wixom, MI 48993-1917, starting at 6 pm. The cost for ten sessions is $100. For more information, please contact Shyam Mayasandra, MCA Joint Head Coach, or Michael Makin, MCA Information Director.

Please don’t forget that you need a vehicle pass to enter Lyon Oaks park. You can purchase an annual pass for $30 at the golf pro shop in the clubhouse of the golf course at Lyon Oaks, or online.

Motown-MCA Defeats Grand Rapids by 9 Wickets

On Saturday Motown-MCA recorded the team’s second successive victory of the season (two wins, one loss so far), despite travelling to Grand Rapids without several regulars. The hosts were skittled out for just seventy in 24 overs, with Vice Captain and MCA member Anurag Yerabati (Man of the Match) taking 5/17 and fellow MCA members Deepak Chilla and Chamila Kannangara taking 3/15 and 2/5 respectively. In reply, Motown-MCA knocked off the runs in 17 overs, for the loss of only Lalu Patel, with MCA Member and Motown-MCA wicket keeper Gordon Makin (22 not out) and Anurag Yerabati (27 not out) surviving a hostile opening spell by Joydeep Singh to ensure victory.

Earlier in the week Captain Sathish Thandapani had struggled with a problem familiar to captains preparing MichCA teams for long road trips – player shortages, in this case exacerbated by enforced absences: academic obligations kept MCA’s Ani Mayasandra at home, while professional duties detained both of MCA’s Head Coaches, Shyam Mayasandra and Vasanth Krishnaswami. But eleven men duly made the trip (a 280-mile round-trip for a Farmington Hills resident, significantly more for anyone coming from the Eastern suburbs of Detroit), of whom six were MCA players: Yerabati, Kannangara, Chilla, Makin, Rohit Mogalayapalli, and Pawan Canchi. When Grand Rapids came out to bat there must have been some anxiety in the Motown-MCA skipper’s mind – the bowling a little thin, few experienced batsmen, a very young team – and when the first two chances went down he must have wondered if he was in for a long day out West. But opening bowlers Rohit Mogalayapalli and Chamila Kannangara were not perturbed, fourteen-year-old Rohit bowling four tidy overs for just 13 runs (with more luck he would have had wickets, too), and Chamila also bowling well, rewarded with two late wickets (2/5 with one maiden). Deepak Chilla (8-2-15-3) followed, removing the only Grand Rapids player to reach double figures – opener Khorsud, well caught by Rohit at midoff for 26 (one four, two sixes). Deepak bowled in partnership with Anurag Yerabati, whom Grand Rapids could not play (8-1-17-5). Accuracy and swing did the damage, with six wickets bowled and one lbw (Rohit Mogayapalli, Wallace Rao, and wicket keeper Gordon Makin took the three catches), and only four bowlers called upon. Anurag, in particular, swung the ball both ways, and once Deepak had removed Khorsud, making the score 39/1 in the tenth over, Motown-MCA were able to strangle Grand Rapids, and take wickets regularly. After twenty overs, with Grand Rapids on 59/5, the home team must have still been hoping to rebuild, but Anurag’s two wickets in the twenty-first over took the score to 62/7; Deepak then bowled a wicket maiden; and when the twenty-fourth over, bowled by Chamila, turned into a double-wicket maiden, Grand Rapids’ innings, which fifteen overs ago had seemed to have a solid base built by the openers, was finished.

Back home, MCA officers shared the good news of a stellar performance in the field out in Grand Rapids, but called for caution when Motown-MCA batted. The batsmen duly obliged, with opener Gordon Makin playing out an initial maiden to Joydeep Singh, who bowled with real aggression, bouncing the fifteen-year-old repeatedly. Lalu Patel fell lbw to Singh in the third over, and after four overs the score had reached a modest 5/1, with only three runs off the bat. But patience, as urged by the Motown-MCA Captain, paid off. Gordon (one four) and Anurag (also one four) saw off opening bowlers Singh (5-1-22-1) and Grand Rapids Captain Fahad Ilahi, who swung the new ball effectively (4-1-6-0), played the remaining six bowlers with some confidence, and took Motown to the club’s best start to the season in three years.

Next up is a cross-border clash by the Detroit River on Saturday, 18 June, at the picturesque but bumpy Belle Isle ground, against new club Windsor-Dominion.

Grand Rapids C. C. 70 a.o, 24 overs (Yerabati 5/17, Chilla 3/15, Kannangara 2/5); Motown-MCA 72/1 (Yerabati 27 n.o., Makin 22 n.o.). Motown-MCA won by nine wickets

Lyon Oaks Permits

Users of Lyon Oaks and other Oakland County Parks are required to buy a vehicle pass. Sometimes you can buy a day-pass at the park entrance, and during the working day you can buy an annual pass at the golf pro shop in the Banqueting Center at the Lyon Oaks golf course (turn right before the entrance to the park proper).

You can also buy a pass online (small extra fee applies) or at any of the following locations:

(Parks Perks Pass – ie, passes for both Oakland Parks and the Metroparks — available only where indicated by an “*”)

*Addison Oaks County Park
1480 West Romeo Road, Leonard
248-693-2432
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (daily) May – September

Auburn Hills Parks and Recreation
1827 North Squirrel, Auburn Hills
248-370-9353
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World
4500 Baldwin Road, Auburn Hills
248-209-4200
10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Monday – Friday
9 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday
10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday

*Birmingham City Parks & Recreation
2300 East Lincoln, Birmingham
248-645-0731
8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday

* Colasanti’s Marketplace & Snook’s Butcher Shoppe
468 S. Milford Road, Highland
248-887-0012
Note: Daily vehicle passes available.

Winter Hours: Halloween – February
8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday – Saturday
8 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday

Summer Hours: March – October
8 a.m. – 8 p.m., Monday – Saturday
8 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sunday

*Groveland Oaks County Park
14555 Dixie Highway, Holly
248-634-9811
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (daily) May – September

*Independence Oaks County Park
9501 Sashabaw Road, Clarkston
248-625-0877
8 a.m. – 4 p.m. (daily)

*Lyon Oaks County Park
52221 Pontiac Trail, Wixom
248-437-7345

*Madison Heights Recreation Department
Madison Heights City Hall
300 W. 13 Mile Road, Madison Heights
248-589-2294

Oakland County Animal Control
1700 Brown Road, Auburn Hills
248-391-4100
10 a.m. – 5:45 p.m., Monday and Friday; 10 a.m. – 4:45 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday, Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Daily vehicle passes available.

*Orion Township Treasurer’s Office
2525 Joslyn Road, Orion Township
248-391-0304
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
Note: Credit cards not accepted. Daily vehicle passes available.

Phil’s Party Store
20015 Hickory Ridge Rd., Holly
810-629-7189
Note: Daily vehicle passes available

Red Oaks Dog Park
31353 Dequindre, Madison Heights
On Dequindre just North of 13 Mile
248-541-5030 or 1-888-OCPARKS

Red Oaks Golf Course
29600 John R Road, Madison Heights
248-541-5030 or 1-888-OCPARKS

*Rose Township Office
9080 Mason, Holly
248-634-7551
Monday – Thursday

*Valero Gas Station
20 Rochester Rd., Addison Township
Note: Daily vehicle passes available

*Waterford Oaks (Recreation Services)
2800 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford
248-858-0916
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday

*City of Wixom Community Services
49015 Pontiac Trail, Wixom
248-624-2850
8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday

*Joint permits available at these locations

Additional locations to purchase joint permits:

Indian Springs Metropark
5200 Indian Trail, White Lake
248-625-7280 or 800-477-3192

Kensington Metropark
2240 W Buno, Milford
248-685-1561

Stony Creek Metropark
4300 Main Park Road, Shelby Twp
586-781-4242 or 800-477-7756

HCMA Main Office
13000 High Ridge, Brighton
800-477-2757

Extra Instructional League Session Saturday

MCA Joint Head Coach Shyam Mayasandra has announced that, because today’s Instructional League session was badly affected by rain, he will hold an extra session tomorrow (Saturday, 11 June) at Lyon Oaks Cricket Ground, 6 pm.   New recruits, including novices, are very welcome. Please note, however, that the instructional league is now normally scheduled for Fridays.

Motown-MCA’s 40-overs team will be away in Grand Rapids tomorrow; if you happen to be in the area, please drop in to cheer them on (399 84th ST , Byron Center MI 49315 www.grandrapidscricketclub.com). Note, too, that, for the first time, cricket will feature in the Meijer State Games of Michigan, to be played over the weekend of 25/6 June, also in Grand Rapids.

Motown-MCA team vs Grand Rapids C.C., Saturday, 11 June

Motown-MCA’s 40-overs team plays its third match of the season tomorrow at Grand Rapids. The longest road-trip of this season will take a XII missing some of the usual stalwarts, but full of junior talent (there are six MCA players on the team sheet), to face Fahad Ilahi’s men, who have made steady progress in the two years since Motown last went west and won. This year’s Grand Rapids team will almost certainly provide a sterner challenge for Sathish Thandapani’s young group. The playing XII, as announced yesterday, will be:

1) Lalu Patel

2) Gordon Makin (WK)

3) Anurag Yerabati (VC & WK)

4) Vijay Patel

5) Sathish Thandapani (C)

6) Deepak Chilla

7) Wallace Rao

8 ) Chamila Kannangara

9) Sanjay Patel

10) Rohit Mogalayapalli

11) Pawan Canchi

12) Vasanth Krishnaswami

Motown-MCA Practice, Lyon Oaks, Thursday, 6 June

Motown-MCA recorded its first win in the MichCA 40-overs league last Saturday against Troy C.C., with MCA Joint Head Coach Shyam Mayasandra leading the batting and MCA players Ani Maysandra (3/7) and Rohit Mogalayapalli doing a lot of the damage with the ball. The team will hold its regular practice at Lyon Oaks tomorrow, Thursday, 8 June, at Lyon Oaks Cricket Ground, 6 pm.