Pictures from fans
Pictures from fans
Hassan Kausar: Multiple cricket matches in progress under venerable, old trees on a late summer evening at dusk at the Walled City of Lahore. The adjoining areas provide badly needed lung space for the cricket loving inhabitants living in the well-populated Walled Street. The game goes on for as long as there's sunlight.
Kaushal Adhikari: This picture was taken during the time of Dashain - Nepal's largest and most popular festival. Schools remain closed for nearly a month during this time of the year, and children enjoy their time playing cricket during these holidays. Given the lack of open space in the capital city of Kathmandu, children make use of any available space, and trash cans double up as wickets - anything to pursue their passion.
Ajay Padwal: It was the month of March. I was at my native place Rajapur, almost 400 km to the south of Mumbai. One morning I was trying out my new point and shoot camera. I found my nephew and his friends aged around 10-12 years playing cricket in the nearby empty rice farms. It was box cricket with lot of modified rules to suit the players and the ground. There were no spectators and no cheering. The only sound came from the mothers shouting at the kids, asking them to get ready for school, and suddenly they all disappeared.
T Jeyanthan: It's lunch at the South Africa v Sri Lanka Test at the SSC, but fans continue to play on the sidelines
Harish Kumar: Cricket can be played anywhere. Even this tiny opening in the midst of thickly wooded hills at Haflong in southern Assam. The players are clearly unmindful of the approaching locomotive. The game continued until the train chugged into the platform, and resumed soon after.
Joanna Konczak: On June 4, I was asked by friends to take few photos of their cricket drills in a park in Warsaw. The day marked the 25th anniversary of the first free parliamentary elections in Poland that happened after years of communist rule.
I noticed a hint of red on a friend's white outfit - the national colours. And suddenly I realized that if not for 25 years of freedom, we probably wouldn't be here, playing a strange foreign game we came to know because of the travels. On that lazy sunny afternoon, with warm light giving the bowler a fairytale look, cricket seemed such a perfect metaphor of freedom.
Faizan Ahmad: Youngsters playing cricket at a busy street in Lahore on a Sunday morning isn't unusual. But their usage of crates in place of stumps, is.
Arjun Nageswaran: I am a 11 year-old boy who lives in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. This is a picture of me playing cricket with my two friends. I am the batsman. We played in the snow and the rule was that if it went past the snow, it would be a 4. Whenever the ball landed in the snow, we would pick it up and in the process create footprints in the snow that would last a long time. I hit the next ball past the snow and got a 4, but got my trousers wet from the snow.
J O Chowdhury:This photo was taken during a visit to Panam, one of the oldest cities (now abandoned) in South Asia. As the civilisation encroached the ancient with its bleakness, this newly filled-up marshland became a de facto cricket field.
I am a war theorist and a photographer. My work has been featured in Vogue Italia, Light and Composition Magazine among many other outlets. My work can be found on www.omigraphy.com
Shwetank Upadhyay: The hills of Leh in the background and the sun in our eyes made this one of the most enchanting settings for cricket. For the record, the team batting first scored a modest score 13 in 6 overs, and then went on to successfully defend it as well.
Mukesh Kaneri: This picture was taken at Gopeshwar in Uttarakhand, India. After an intense game of cricket, the joy of victory spills over as fans and players run into each other to celebrate.
Arifuddin Ahmed: Kids in India can be quite inventive in finding venues to play their favourite game. This group has set up a pitch within the ancient ruins of the Mahakala temple in Ratnagiri, a Buddhist site in the state of Odisha in India. Guess what are they using as stumps - a votive stupa which dates back to around the 10th century AD!
Rameez S: It rained the previous night in Sharjah, but that didn't stop me and my friends from heading to Dubai through flooded roads for a possible game. When we reached, only one ground in this area was in playing condition, and it was already taken. While we waited, I decided to take a picture with cricket, the Dubai skyline and the rolling clouds - all in one shot.
Wajid Jasnaik: Kokan Star CC prepare for a match against the Sharjah Cement Factory team, at the Sharjah Cement Factory Ground
Julian R: Wonder what Geoffrey Boycott would have said in the pitch report. Julian and his friends were on a trip to Ruby Beach in Northwest Washington last year when they decided to play a game. The rocky pitch showed its true colours rather quickly - the next ball reared up and nearly hit Julian in the eyes
Gajendra Dadheech: An impromptu game of cricket underway near the Gateway of India in Mumbai, on the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birthday. The bowling captain seems to have done his best to plug the holes in his field with his team-mates' rides
Amin Huq: This is a photo of me playing a forward defence for Gymkhana Cricket Club against a local Thai team, Doi Saket Cricket, in Chiang Mai. In the background is the granite mountain, Doi Suthep
Abdul Gafoor Mohamed Hassan: An afternoon's cricket gets underway in Colombo, with the sea as a backdrop
Sachin Bamare: I clicked this photo on my recent visit to Kumbhalgarh fort near Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. Players in the photo are children of caretakers and employees at the fort who live on the premises. Lots of passion, but one hopes it doesn't destroy structures at the monument.
Aadya Sharma: Don't we all want to have a picture of going airborne and fully horizontal when diving for a catch. Aadya is no different. Being a big fan of Jonty Rhodes, he's always yearned for the perfect catch. The moment came in the beaches of Maple, close to Manipal in south India. As Aadya took off for a catch, his friend Rohan Sreekumar had the presence of mind to click at just the right moment.
Romel Bishop: This photo was taken at Bath, St.John, Barbados during a picnic in March 2013. Amateur cricketers are known to be quite innovative in finding substitutes for cricketing gear. Here, the group placed a barrel behind the batsman since they didn't have stumps. A pretty huge barrel at that, tilting the scales in the bowler's favour.
Vibhash Awasthi: This picture was taken during the final of a corporate cricket tournament in Pune. There are fewer things more glamorous than a fast bowler bouncing out a batsman. The sharp bounce from the good length forces the batsman to arch back in a C-shape in order to save his head. Sometimes such scenes are more satisfying for a pace bowler than getting a batsman out - more of an ego boost to the bowler. As it often happens, the next ball was a perfect yorker and the batsman missed it completely.
Vibhash describes himself as a cricket fan caught up in corporate life.
Umang Shah captured this image of Indian army men playing cricket at D'Zojila Pass in Ladakh, at an altitude of 3528 metres (11,575 feet) above the mean sea level. One wonders if the vehicle parked down the ground marks the boundary. The bowler - a slinger with an almost Malinga-esque tilt - is on the verge of releasing the ball.
Saumava Mitra: I was filling in an Eid day afternoon with a visit to the ruins of the Darul Aman palace in Kabul, Afghanistan, where I am presently staying for my PhD research. I had heard and read much about the emerging cricket scene in Afghanistan but had not seen much of the game being played till then. I was pleasantly surprised when I looked over the ridge in front of the palace and saw a game in progress at the promenade. The field setting was sparse and the spectators only a couple of kids with a bicycle. The sun was burning and the pitch too dusty. But the setting... only in Kabul are such majestic vistas possible.
Rohit Verma: Life at the Nesang village, in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district, is still bereft of shopping malls, bars and pubs. The village lads play cricket day in and day out. As can be seen in the picture, the field is heavily packed on the offside, to stop the ball going down the cliff on that side. Fields are set according to that and so are the bowling lines. Swipes across the line are manufactured, but there is no next level for the Glenn Maxwells and Ross Taylors that emerge here.
Niyantha Shekar: My friends and I were in the village of Tosh in Himachal Pradesh when we saw a kid, bat in hand, throw a ball up onto a corrugated metal roof and then slam the ball back up when it rolled down.
"Can we join you?" I asked.
"Cricket!" shouted the boy in joy, and then yelled for his brother to come out and play.
"Can we join you?" I asked.
"Cricket!" shouted the boy in joy, and then yelled for his brother to come out and play.
Usman Jami: The last man was in, and everyone came in for the catch during this Southern California Cricket Association league game between the Regal CC and the Casuals CC, circa June 2014 at Highland
Jonathan Campion: A scene from the first ever competitive game of cricket to be played in Budva, Montenegro. It was won by the British side Carmel & District CC. The Montenegro XI featured Antipodean and English expat yachtsmen from the local port. The bowler in this photo is Saša Ilić, the former goalkeeper for Charlton Athletic and the Serbian national team.
Raj Verma: The boys play at Bowral - Raj shot this snap at the Bradman Oval in Bowral where their son's team was playing in end of autumn. The orange leaves provide a nice backdrop to the scene.
Liam Burnell: Inclusivity - that's the name of the game. This picture was taken at an orphanage run by the Roger Milla foundation on a recent Cricket Without Boundaries trip to Cameroon. The nun who ran the orphanage, was so interested in what was going on she wanted to have a bat herself. This is the second ball she faced, and she decided to dance down the wicket to one of our team members, much to their bemusement. Cricket Without Boundaries works in Africa to develop cricket in Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Botswana and Cameroon, while also helping to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among the younger population.
This was my 2nd CWB trip, and I've loved every minute. I'm currently on my gap year before I head to the University of York to study Psychology in September. Looking forward to another summer of cricket with Steeple Langford CC in the heart of Wiltshire!
Sarvesh Joshi: Kids on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi, India, don't let the lack of equipment to dampen their enthusiasm for a game of cricket
Hautahi Kingi: This photo was taken at Dryden Lake in upstate New York - not your regular cricketing outpost. We were ice-fishing in -20 degree Celsius weather and the fish weren't biting. So I thought we could crack out the cricket bat and roll the arm over for a few overs to warm up. Needless to say, the icy pitch didn't provide too much assistance for the bowlers.
I am a New Zealander studying at Cornell University as a graduate student. My mates in the picture are Americans and Canadians who are slowly learning the subtleties of the beautiful game.
Abhishek Rana: What could be better than the combination of sun, sand, sea and cricket? This tourist has it all, as he enjoys the afternoon calm on Nirvana Beach in Gokarna
Aman Jain: Mumbai is widely believed to be the spiritual capital of cricket in India. And Mumbai's cricketing heritage can be traced back to the gullies and maidans in the city. Even rains can't stop a game of cricket on the city's streets.
Saransh Sehgal: This picture was taken during a visit to the sacred town of Varanasi in India. This game of tennis-ball cricket was in progress close to the holy Ganges river. There were a few fielders patrolling the edge of the playing area, just to stop the ball from rolling into the bouncing into the river. Six into the river was out.
Aayush Modi: A spectacular catch being completed on the North California beach, in the backdrop of a few beach volleyball courts. Falgun, the photographer, was alert to click at just the right moment.
Matt Murray: Beach cricket at Victoria Point in the Redlands, about a 45-minute drive from the Gabba. You need to check the tide times before you set out for game, though, as you can only play here at low tide
Asif Zain: A friendly match in North London, between Strongroom CC and Pacific CC. The teams are making good use of every bit of the extended summer. Thanks for the weather indeed.
Hamza Safdar: Cricket gear, cricket equipment and a cricket field are all strictly optional when playing in the Pakistani countryside
Usman: Boys play tennis-ball cricket in Fairy Meadows, Pakistan, near the base camp of ninth-highest peak in the world - Nanga Parbat, also known as the killer mountain because of how notoriously difficult it is to climb
Ali Asgar Babuji: A bunch of kids somewhere in India get around a paucity of stumps quite ingeniously. Lack of equipment is never a constraint for a game of street cricket in the subcontinent.
Naveen Gupta: Earlier in July I was visiting a congested part of the old city in Calcutta - the famous Burrabazar. Hidden between dilapidated buildings was this playground where local kids - most of them living in the tenements around - were enthusiastically playing a game of cricket. Irrespective of the age and size of the players, almost every ball was being dispatched towards the windows in front. (PS - Can you spot the ball?)
Joanna Konczak: One does not expect to see much cricket in Poland. However, there is a small but loyal group that plays the game here. This shot was taken during the Piotrowice Nyskie Cricket Festival, in the picturesque countryside surroundings near the Czech border. The players experienced some confusion caused by an uncommon group of extra fielders in traditional whites that invaded the pitch to stealthily join the game.
Siddhartha Ray: It's a hot summer day in Ahmedabad in India, and it's business as usual at the bat market. Have you ever seen so many bats bunched together?
Bappaditya Gole: The Kudle beach near Gokarna in Karnataka is known for scenic sunsets, especially when the sun is sheltered by clouds. On this particular evening, a cricket game on the sands presented an interesting photo-op: the sunlight reflecting off the wet sand makes it look like the silhouetted batsman is playing on a shiny pitch. And he's playing a rather photo-perfect flick shot, invoking some of Azharuddin's insouciance.
A rainy day at Mattathur in Malappuram in Kerala, India, rendered the ground conditions seemingly less than ideal for cricket. Or so you'd have thought. The game went on despite an inundated outfield, with the bowler possibly restricted to bowling only on the full. It takes more than a mere deluge to stop some from playing cricket. This picture was contributed by our reader Siva Kumar.
Ajinkya Jain: It's a beautiful monsoon evening, and Mumbaikars need no invite to play their favourite game. This picture depicts a game of club cricket being played at the historical Oval Maidan of Mumbai. The famous Rajabai Clock Tower and the Bombay Stock Exchange can be seen in the background.
Syed Hasnain: Locals enjoy a spot of summer afternoon cricket at Fairy Meadows in Pakistan, with the mighty mountain Nanga Parbat as the backdrop, and a pinetree forest as the sightscreen.
Ananth Nibhanupudi: On a Goan beach, a sand castle at short third man doesn't seem to affect the action
Walter Mears: Joanna Konczak's photograph of cricket in Warsaw brought back memories of an 'England versus Australia' match which was played at the National Stadium in Warsaw in 1980 when the country was far from free. The players were all expatriates or diplomats working in Poland. As you can see, the match did not draw a big crowd and the batsman (me) did not have an elegant forward defensive shot. Not long after the match, Poland descended into martial law.
So much has happened since then. I am delighted to see that cricket continues to expand its frontiers.
Venkat Madhav is a software professional in an MNC. He plays cricket with friends regularly during weekends to compensate for five-day long hectic work schedules. They have an open area near their residential apartments good enough for playing competitive cricket. In order to occupy the ground, they have to wake up as early as 5 AM in the morning and rush to occupy the playing field by planting their stumps. What ensues is a game between a gang of 13 software professionals and a bunch of cricket enthusiasts who work for different software firms. They play a monthly series of friendly T20 matches. Who ever arrives last is handed the responsibilities of funding refreshments for the group. This ensures that no one turns up late and the games begin on time.
Suresh Haridas: One morning during my short vacation in February this year, I was at a beach in Kozhikode, Kerala, when I chanced upon a highly competitive tennis-ball cricket match. The players looked like regulars, and I was lucky enough to capture an action shot of the moment after the bowler has released the ball, and before the batsman has played a shot.
Waseem Ahmed: A nice looking check drive lights up a game of cricket at the high-altitude Rakaposhi base camp in the Hunza valley, Gilgit, Pakistan
Musab Omer: It's tough to find large, open spaces to play cricket in Delhi. Musab and his friends got lucky when they discovered this park in the Hauz Khas Village, right behind an old historic fort. It's now the venue for frequent tennis ball matches - mostly a series of five games of 5 or 6 overs each. Refreshments are on the losing team, so these games are quite intensely battled.
This picture was taken by Sameer, one of Musab's friends. Sameer was transiting through Delhi to take an outbound flight at 12 pm, but his incoming train was delayed so much that he missed the flight. He ended up joining the gang at their game, and clicked this picture when Musab was in the middle of a double-wicket maiden.
Ansal: A boy attempts to dispatch a tennis ball into the crowded settlement on the banks of the River Ganga, in Varanasi
Aman Jain: A slippery pitch on the hill roads of snow-capped Pahalgam in Kashmir in India
Ananthasubramanian N: A white-browed wagtail is about to step into the playing field. Its scientific name, Motacilla maderaspatensis is derived from Madras (now Chennai). A Chennai Super Kings fan perhaps?
Kaushik H Sivaj: My friends and I settle down to a game of cricket during the summer vacations in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu
Abhishek Srivastava: This is a photo taken at an altitude of 12,000ft in Kashmir, near Lake Satsar. We were hiking there and we played a cricket match with our tour guides. Hiking poles became the stumps, a log of wood became a bat and we had a tennis ball with us
Supahan Manchanayake: An afternoon of cricket at the University Of Sabaragamuwa in Sri Lanka
Adeel Ahmed: What do you do at 8am on a misty Canadian morning? Play cricket, of course. Here a few players warm-up before the final game of the season, between Mississauga Dolphins Cricket Association and SuperStars Cricket Club, in Mississauga, 20kms away from Toronto
Praneeth SMK: A group of students play on at a Hyderabad college campus, regardless of the poor visibility
Jijin Raveendran: Evidence of a childhood spent well in Kannur, Kerala. The pitch is a naturally barren patch in the village. The game ends only when the last rays of sunlight have faded.
Sadananda Aithal: "We started our trip from Manali [a hill-station in north India], incessant rain and bad roads notwithstanding. Extreme cold and mini-land slides greeted us at Rohtang Pass. We were forced to halt at Koksar for a day and a half, with no sign of the sun. On the second evening, the sun, pretty streams and the mountains greeted us with rainbows. We couldn't have asked for a better setting for a game between us and the locals. The batsman in the picture is me, flicking into the legside."
Venki Umamaheswaran: Chennai is arguably the capital of the beach cricket scene in India. The sheer length of the Marina beach is perfect for hit-and-giggle games that feature lots of robust slogging across the line. This picture was shot at sunrise. The bowler is a fan of Dale Steyn, and his action does have some resemblance to Steyn's.
Razzaq Siddiqui: The Bidar Fort on the northern plateau of Karnataka in India dates back to the 15th century AD. The place is known for its salubrious climate, but on this day the sun was out in full force at midday. Not that it had any impact on the players - the game progressed, oblivious to the weather and the rich history of the surroundings.
Mariappan Subramanian: The Mararikulam beach on the south-western coast of India is known for its breath-taking scenery. Mariappan Subramanian was taking the sun and the sands in when he chanced upon a game of beach cricket. There was a lot of joy and bonhomie in the game, which isn't hard to imagine considering it was being played in such a lovely setting. The sun rays piercing through the clouds give the picture a rare other-worldly charm.
Will Sobczak is on the Somerset academy for cricket. He goes to the Millfield school. One day, the training session was called off for fairly obvious reasons. So Will teamed up with one of his coaches, Chris Greenwood, to construct a cricket snow man. He's padded up and ready to go out for a bat. Move over Steve Waugh - here is the real ice-man.