UCA set to establish grass wicket in Entebbe
Oct 12, 2002
OVER the years, Uganda has lacked the depth in the batting department on various international tours with the main scapegoat being the lack of a grass wicket at home
By Ronnie Kintu
OVER the years, Uganda has lacked the depth in the batting department on various international tours with the main scapegoat being the lack of a grass wicket at home.
That however seems to be coming to an end, now that the game’s body intends to take heed.
The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) is set to establish the first grass wicket at the newly acquired Entebbe ground, a strategy that could uplift the batting department.
Uganda’s weakness was exposed in the recent Africa Cricket Cup championships early this month in Lusaka, Zambia where Uganda failed to hit the mark.
The side that started the tournament with a sparkling 112 run victory against Nigeria faded away with disgraceful 76/10 to and 42/10 losses to Kenya and South Africa respectively.
“The grass wickets never favoured us, the ball always kept so low and many of us failed to prove our skills,†international and semi-professional Frank Nsubuga remarked during the dismal performance while in the Zambian tournament.
Uganda, which became an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1998 has three turf wickets at Jinja, Lugogo and Kyambogo with no grass wicket.
The national players have always faced a challenge training on turf wickets and then playing on grass wickets at various international competitions.
UCA hopes that the grass wicket at Entebbe would not only give the national players an opportunity to perform well on international tours but also attract big sides to tour the nation.
Kenya is currently the only East African nation with grass wickets and plenty of cricket ovals.
Meanwhile, UCA has acquired a new e-mail address to link it to the media and other associations throughout the world.
The new website is already operating and can be reached at ugandacricket@online.co.ug.
OVER the years, Uganda has lacked the depth in the batting department on various international tours with the main scapegoat being the lack of a grass wicket at home.
That however seems to be coming to an end, now that the game’s body intends to take heed.
The Uganda Cricket Association (UCA) is set to establish the first grass wicket at the newly acquired Entebbe ground, a strategy that could uplift the batting department.
Uganda’s weakness was exposed in the recent Africa Cricket Cup championships early this month in Lusaka, Zambia where Uganda failed to hit the mark.
The side that started the tournament with a sparkling 112 run victory against Nigeria faded away with disgraceful 76/10 to and 42/10 losses to Kenya and South Africa respectively.
“The grass wickets never favoured us, the ball always kept so low and many of us failed to prove our skills,†international and semi-professional Frank Nsubuga remarked during the dismal performance while in the Zambian tournament.
Uganda, which became an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1998 has three turf wickets at Jinja, Lugogo and Kyambogo with no grass wicket.
The national players have always faced a challenge training on turf wickets and then playing on grass wickets at various international competitions.
UCA hopes that the grass wicket at Entebbe would not only give the national players an opportunity to perform well on international tours but also attract big sides to tour the nation.
Kenya is currently the only East African nation with grass wickets and plenty of cricket ovals.
Meanwhile, UCA has acquired a new e-mail address to link it to the media and other associations throughout the world.
The new website is already operating and can be reached at ugandacricket@online.co.ug.