Argentina national cricket team

Infobox non test cricket team
country_name = Argentina


image_caption = Esteban MacDermott, Argentine captain
icc_member_year = 1974
icc_status = Associate Member
icc_region = Americas
current_captain = Esteban Macdermott
WCL_division = Two
regional_tournament = ICC Americas Championship
regional_tournament_division = Two
first_match = 1868 v Uruguay
world_ranking = 22nd
regional_ranking = 3rd
icc_trophy_apps = 6
icc_trophy_first = 1979
icc_trophy_best = Plate competition, 1990 and 1994
fc_matches = 13
fc_win_loss_record = 3/6
asofdate = 15 July 2007

The Argentina national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Argentina in international cricket matches. They are currently an associate member of the International Cricket Council.

History

Cricket has been played in Argentina since 1806, with the international side making its first appearance in 1868 against Uruguay. Argentina played Uruguay 29 times up until World War II, winning 21 of the matches. They first played Brazil in 1888 and Chile in 1893. For their first match against Chile, they had to travel to Santiago by crossing the Andes by mule, taking three and half days.

First-class cricket

Argentina first played first-class cricket in 1912 against the MCC [http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/NATIONAL/ICC_MEMBERS/ARG/HISTORY.html Cricket in Argentina] at Cricinfo] . They played a three match series against the visitors, winning the first game [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/8/8627.html Scorecard] of Argentina v MCC, 18 February 1912 at Cricket Archive] , but losing the second [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/8/8631.html Scorecard] of Argentina v MCC, 24 February 1912 at Cricket Archive] and third [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/8/8632.html Scorecard] of Argentina v MCC, 2 March 1912 at Cricket Archive] . The teams were made up almost exclusively of British ex-patriots who were mostly employed on the railways, in export or in farming KR Bridger. North v South 1974] .

Between the wars, infrequent fixtures were played against Brazil and Argentina, and were at that time included in Wisden's cricket records [Wisden 1937 Records Section] . First-class matches were played against an elderly [Cricketer Spring Annual 1927 (including photograph] MCC side in 1926/27, Sir Julien Cahn's XI in 1930 and Sir Theodore Brinckman's XI in 1937/38 . The four-match series against the MCC was lost 2-1, with one game drawn [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/ARG/1926-27_ARG_Marylebone_Cricket_Club_in_South_America_1926-27.html MCC in South America 1926/27] at Cricket Archive] . The three-match series against Sir Julien Cahn's XI finished with two draws, Cahn's XI winning the first game [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/ARG/1929-30_ARG_Sir_J_Cahns_XI_in_South_America_1929-30.html Sir J Cahn's XI in South America 1929/30] at Cricket Archive] and the series against Brinkman's XI was drawn 1-1 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/ARG/1937-38_ARG_Sir_TEW_Brinckmans_XI_in_South_America_1937-38.html Sir TEW Brinkman's XI in South America 1937/38] at Cricket Archive] . That series was Argentina's last involvement in first-class cricket to date .

Players and clubs

In 1932 a South American team toured England consisting mainly of Argentine based players. It played seven first class matches and twelve other fixtures [Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1933] .

A two match series against Chile in December 1938 was won by Argentina [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/CHILE/1938-39_CHILE_Argentina_in_Chile_1938-39.html Argentina in Chile 1938/39] at Cricket Archive] , the second match of which saw the interesting occurrence of Argentina's Alfred Jackson playing against his brother John Jackson [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/122/122553.html Scorecard] of Chile v Argentina, 29 December 1938 at Cricket Archive] .

Leading players during this period were the Ayling brothers, K Bush (who also played for Brazil), D Cavanagh, Herbert Dorning (the so called "Grand Old Man of Argentine Cricket") and Donald Forrester .

A strong club scene existed until the 1950s with Belgrano, BACA, Lomas and Hurlingham. This resulted in a relatively strong national side. Railway and Bank teams disbanded after the war along with the formerly strong San Isidro side. The national side sank to a low level, being heavily beaten by MCC in 1958-59 [Cricketer Spring Annual 1959] .

ICC Trophy

Argentina participated in the first ICC Trophy in 1979 [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT79/ 1979 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] but missed the second in 1982 which was played in England and started only two days after the conclusion of Falklands War [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT82/ 1982 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] . They returned for the 1986 ICC Trophy [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT86/ 1986 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] and played in every one following that until the 2001 event. They did not qualify for the 2005 tournament [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT2005/ 2005 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo] .

Americas Championship

Argentina hosted and won the first South American Championship in 1995 [ [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/development/americas/south_american.html South American Championship history] ] and still play in the tournament today, though they now send an "A" team [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000042/004235.shtml Guyana Masters win South American Championship] by Andrew Nixon, 12 April 2007 at CricketEurope] . They also participated in the first ICC Americas Championship in 2000, finishing 5th [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2000/OTHERS+ICC/AMERICAS_CUP/AMERICAS_CUP_TABLE.html 2000 Americas Championship points table] at Cricinfo] . MCC visited again in March 2001, winning both matches [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/ARG/2000-01_ARG_Marylebone_Cricket_Club_in_Argentina_2000-01.html MCC in Argentina 2000/01] at Cricket Archive] .

Argentina hosted the Americas Championship in 2002, finishing sixth [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/Tables/Americas_Championship_2001-02.html 2002 Americas Championship points table] at Cricket Archive] . MCC toured again in 2004, drawing the series 1-1 [Report of [http://www.lords.org/fixtures/touring-programme/mcc-on-song-against-argentina,613,AR.html first] and [http://www.lords.org/fixtures/touring-programme/argentine-tour-ends-on-damp-note,614,AR.html second] match on 2004 MCC tour of Argentina] . Later that year, Argentina finished 5th in the Americas Championship [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/Tables/Americas_Championship_2004.html 2004 Americas Championship points table] at Cricket Archive] .

In 2006, the Americas Championship was split into two divisions and Argentina were placed in Division Two. They won the Division Two tournament and were promoted to Division One in Canada that August [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Articles/4/4150.html Argentina Triumph in Americas Division Two] at Cricket Archive] , where they finished 5th [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/Tables/ICC_World_Cricket_League_Americas_Region_Division_One_2006.html 2006 Americas Championship Division One points table] at Cricket Archive] .

World Cricket League

This originally qualified them for Division Five of the World Cricket League, but they were placed in Division Three following the suspension of the USA from international cricket [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000042/004229.shtml Argentina to play in WCL Division Three] by Andrew Nixon, 11 April 2007 at CricketEurope] . They finished as runners-up to Uganda in the tournament and qualified for Division Two in Windhoek, Namibia.

Following their promotion, in November 2007, Argentina travelled to Namibia to take part in Division Two of the ICC World Cricket League. They played Denmark, the hosts, Oman and the UAE in addition to the other qualifer from Division Three; Uganda. Division Two proved to be a step too far for Argentina, as they lost all their group matches and then lost to Uganda in a positional playoff and finished sixth. On the basis of their sixth place finish in this tournament, Argentina were relegated back to Division Three. A tournament provisionally scheduled to be played in January/February 2009 and a tournament Argentina are likely to host.

Tournament History

World Cricket League

* 2007: Division Three runners-up [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000046/004698.shtml Uganda lift Division Three title] by Andrew Nixon, 2 June 2007 at CricketEurope]
* 2007: Division Two Sixth place

ICC Trophy

* 1979: First round
* 1982: Did not participate
* 1986: First round
* 1990: Plate competition [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT90/ 1990 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
* 1994: Plate competition [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT94/ 1994 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
* 1997: 20th place [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT97/ 1997 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
* 2001: First round [ [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT2001/ 2001 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
* 2005: Did not qualify

ICC Americas Championship

* 2000: 5th place
* 2002: 6th place
* 2004: 5th place
* 2006: Division Two winners, 5th place (Division One)

ee also

* Argentina national women's cricket team

External links

* [http://www.cricketargentina.com/index.php Cricket Argentina official site]

References