By WO   Published: November 10, 2009   Print    Email

In a statement that may raise eyebrows amongst many Indian's, China has announced a heavy development program for cricket and has said it aims to become a full Test nation by 2020.

Having cricket test nation status authorizes countries to play the longest and most prestigious form of cricket, and is generally accepted as being the ultimate test of playing ability between nations. There are currently just nine countries recognized as having this status: England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Cricket in China in fact has a long history, dating back to the days when parts of China was colonized, and especially by the British, who first introduced the sport in Hong Kong in the late 18th century. The first game of cricket on the mainland took place between a team of officers from HMS Highflyer and a Shanghai eleven on April 22, 1858 in the Hongkou district of Shanghai. The Shanghai Cricket Club built its ground in 1863, situating it in the center of the Shanghai racetrack - the current site of People's Square and People's Park. Regular Interport matches were played annually with Hong Kong until discontinued when the communists took control of the city.

Cricket was not played in China again until recently, with China joining the International Cricket Council in 2004. The Chinese government has begun to invest heavily in the sport, with 150 schools in nine cities - Beijing, Tianjin, Shenyang, Jinan, Dalian, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen all participating in the scheme, which intends to have 20,000 players and 2,000 coaches by 2015. China most recently competed in January this year at the Asian Cricket Club Trophy in Thailand, where they finished seventh of eight countries participating. Forthcoming goals identified by the Chinese Cricket Association, as part of the Ministry of Sport may prove ambitious however. These include qualifying for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, and obtaining full test nation status a year later.

Hong Kong has its own membership of the International Cricket Council, having been a member since 1969, and enters its own, separate teams in competitions.

The Shanghai Cricket Club meanwhile, was reestablished in 1994 by expatriates living in the city and has since grown to over 100 players in three divisions including a developmental league for local university students. The club continues the tradition of annual matches with Hong Kong, and has hosted, for the past ten years, an international invitational sixes tournament. The clubs also host regular touring sides that stop in Shanghai including the Marylebone Cricket Club.

According to the president of the Shanghai Cricket Club, Jon Newton, the organization's mission is "to provide playing opportunities for all players of all levels regardless of ability, age or economic background."

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