A small group of cricket fans went to the Strathmore Motor Products Sports Centre on Saturday (Aug. 24) to take part in an intro to cricket program.
The objective of the event was to introduce non-cricket players to the sport.
Theunis Van Der Linde says cricket is gaining popularity in Canada, "This was a sport introduced by England in the 1800s and it's growing rapidly."
Van Der Linde says the setup included a brief background about cricket along with the rules and fundamentals.
Following that the group was broken up into a couple of coaching stations to look at how to bat, a bowling station, and a fielding station.
"We try to make it fun and interactive and have the group work and practice with each other as much as we can," added Van Der Linde.
At the end of the event, a friendly game was held to showcase the skills players learned from earlier sessions.
Van Der Linde explains that the group was curious and asked many questions. He also told StrathmoreNow he moved to Canada from South Africa eight years ago.
"In South Africa cricket is a big sport and I'm really excited to see the passion and the excitement and the growth that we have for cricket."
Van Der Linde competes with the Glenmore Cricket Club in Calgary. The organization was founded in 2001 and plays in the Calgary and District Cricket League.
"We have six teams that are participating in various leagues across the Calgary area," mentions Van Der Linde.
The number of players ranges anywhere from 80 to 90.
According to Van Der Linde, the club is one of the most diverse sporting groups in Calgary with players coming from Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The group also has a youth and women's teams as well.
