 |
| CRICKET CAPTAIN: Dominic Gomes plays for Newcomers High. ANDY NELSON – STAFF |
Cricket's new wicket: American high schools
The first league, which has its championships next week, is fully subscribed by teens from the far reaches of the former British Empire.
from the May 23, 2008 edition
Page 3 of 3
"Six!" screams Mustafa Afzaly. "Six!"
For a moment, the ball arcs lazily through the gray sky, and the Lions – assembled on a bench at the edge of the field – rise to their feet willing the ball to hit the outfield fence mid-air, which would earn six runs. It's been a grim match, in some ways a hopeless match, and six runs, smiles Dominic Gomes, "would really, really help."
The ball lands in the grass at the edge of the field, and then smacks into the fence – earning only four runs. Dominic sits back down, his head hanging down between his knees.
Like Saiful, Dominic is a skilled athlete, and is frequently mentioned as a prospect for the national team. "What people don't understand is that good players have bad games," he says. "Take football. A good football player will be good most of the time, but a good cricket player has bad matches. We are having a bad match. That's OK," he continues, as a teammate wanders past him on his way to take a swing for the Lions.
The team has played valiantly, but the boys from Richmond Hill High School (Queens) have played more skillfully. They're already cheering, anticipating a quick win a couple of outs away.
Amdadhul Chowdhury, a slight kid, swallowed by the uniform that hangs loosely over his shoulders, frowns. "Don't hit it in the air," he whispers. "Hit it on the ground. I've told him. Hit it on the ground."
Dominic clamps a hand on Amdadhul's shoulder, consoling him: "No one is perfect."
As the game winds down and the losing Lions wander off the field, he explains that, "Cricket is cricket. You can't argue with the rules of cricket. But being a captain is a nervous feeling.... You're worried about your team. You try to be happy, but you give your support, and then you keep playing, and try not to let them see you worry."
"It's tough for them," says Cavaliere. "There's a lot of pressure. Some parents understand cricket, but some don't. The teachers certainly don't. [The kids] have got these crazy schedules and they put so much into the game."
RSS feed
