San Diego Surf Riders

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San Diego Surf Riders
LeagueMinor League Cricket (MiLC)
ConferenceWestern Division (Pacific Conference)
Personnel
CaptainMarty Kain
OwnerRajinder Ghai
Chief executiveGangaram Singh
Sanjit Menezes
Jimmy Ankelsaria
Ram Madabushi
Team information
CitySan Diego, California
Colours  Light Blue, and   Yellow.
Founded2020; 4 years ago (2020)
Home groundCanyonside Park, San Diego

T20 kit

The San Diego Surf Riders are an American professional cricket team based in San Diego, California, playing in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The Surf Riders began play in the 2021 season. The team's home ground is Canyonside Park, located in San Diego's Rancho Peñasquitos neighborhood.[1]

Franchise history

The 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

Talks of an American

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

In 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

After 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

Ahead of the 2022 season, Major League Cricket announced that the draft for that season would take place on May 12.[25]

Current squad

Marty 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 (1988-05-16) 16 May 1988 (age 35) Left-handed
Slow left-arm orthodox
2021
Sri Krishna  India (1990-06-13) 13 June 1990 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm fast medium 2021 Overseas
All-rounders
Abhinay Reddy  United States (1991-06-08) 8 June 1991 (age 32) Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 2021
Adnesh Tondale  United States (2002-01-17) 17 January 2002 (age 22) Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 2021
Ajay Sharma  United States (1982-09-19) 19 September 1982 (age 41) Right-handed
Slow left-arm orthodox
2021
Ayan Desai  United States (2002-04-03) 3 April 2002 (age 22) Right-handed Right-arm fast medium 2021
Brynley Richards  Australia (1991-02-01) 1 February 1991 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm medium 2021 Overseas
Devam Shrivastava  United States (2004-08-09) 9 August 2004 (age 19) Right-handed Right-arm
off break
2021
Dillon Heyliger  Canada (1989-10-21) 21 October 1989 (age 34) Right-handed Right-arm medium 2021 Overseas
Jaideep Reddy  United States (1987-04-13) 13 April 1987 (age 37) Right-handed Right-arm
medium
2021
Mrunal Patel  United States (1986-10-28) 28 October 1986 (age 37) Left-handed
Slow left-arm orthodox
2021
Mohammad Sadiq  Pakistan (1981-09-09) 9 September 1981 (age 42) Right-handed Right-arm
leg break
2021 Overseas
Ravi Timbawala
 United States (1989-06-08) 8 June 1989 (age 34) Right-handed Right-arm
medium
2021
Timil Patel  United States (1983-12-01) 1 December 1983 (age 40) Right-handed Right-arm
leg break
2021
Zubair Murad  United States (1986-06-11) 11 June 1986 (age 37) Right-handed Right-arm fast medium 2021
Wicket-keepers
Siddarth Matani  United States (1990-06-03) 3 June 1990 (age 33) Right-handed Right-arm
off break
2021

References

  1. ^ "Minor League Division Preview Series - Eastern". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. August 1, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update". USA Cricket. August 15, 2020. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Penna, Peter Della (January 8, 2019). "USA formally approved to rejoin ICC as Associate Member under USA Cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  4. ^ Penna, Peter Della (November 27, 2018). "USA plan to launch their T20 League in 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  5. ^ "USA Cricket Chooses Partner to Fund and Develop U.S.-Based Professional T20 Cricket League". USA Cricket. May 23, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  6. ^ "USA Cricket Board Meeting February 2020". USA Cricket. February 27, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  7. ^ "USA Cricket re-evaluating Major League Cricket debut timing due to Covid-19 concerns". SportBusiness. August 2, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  8. ^ "American Major League Cricket tournament launch pushed to 2023 at Annual General Meeting". Inside the Games. May 24, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  9. ^ Penna, Peter Della (May 21, 2021). "USA's MLC T20 tournament pushed back to 2023 at AGM". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ "Minor League Cricket Announces Player Registration Opening". USA Cricket. July 7, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  13. ^ "Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update". USA Cricket. August 15, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  14. ^ "Inaugural Minor League Cricket Draft to Take Place Today". USA Cricket. August 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Minor League Cricket Draft results with 15 Squads Selected". USA Cricket. August 24, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  16. ^ "USA Cricket Launches Foundational Plan". USA Cricket. October 15, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  17. ^ "American Cricket History to be Made on Minor League Cricket Opening Weekend". Major League Cricket. USA Cricket. July 29, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Dramatic Finishes Highlight Historic Minor League Cricket Championship Opening Weekend". Major League Cricket. USA Cricket. August 5, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  20. ^ "The Monday All Rounder - Week Two". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. August 9, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  21. ^ a b "The Monday All Rounder - Week Seven". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. September 13, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  22. ^ a b c "The Tuesday All Rounder - Week Six". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. September 7, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  23. ^ a b c "The Monday All Rounder - Week 3". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. August 16, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  24. ^ a b Patel, Smit (September 2, 2021). "Minor Cricket League Week 5: Ricardo Powell turns back the clock". CricBuzz. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  25. ^ "Title and Presenting Partners Announced for 2022 Minor League Cricket Championship". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  26. ^ "San Diego Surf Riders - Batting". CricClubs.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  27. ^ "San Diego Surf Riders - Bowling". CricClubs.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022.