Slovakians in Austria

On Saturday 24th May 2003 Slovak cricket team played its second international one-day game in Vienna against Concordia CC Juniors. The weather was good and both captains decided to play a 30 over match. SCC won the toss and elected to bat. The team batted well, and SCC finished their 30 overs SCC on 148 for nine. Their bowling, unfortunately, was not quite up to scratch, and Concordia CC reached the target 149 (including 40 extras) for four in 24.2 overs, winning the match by 6 wickets. After the match everyone enjoyed an excellent barbecue. The Slovakians were delighted to have found new friends and cricket partners just 150km from their home ground, and have already invited Concordia for a return fixture.

Slovakia is one of the European Development Program's Prospective Member countries, and the driving force behind development there is Vladimir Chudacik, who played for Frampton CC (Gloucestershire) while staying in the UK. Upon returning home, Vladimir discovered that there was no cricket played in Slovakia, and, inspired by a tour to Mallorca with Frampton CC in 1999, he decided that he would have to address this. Cricket in Slovakia started on a football ground, using a single bat, with the players coming from the football club in Vladimir's home village of Hajske. There are now in excess of twenty players involved, many of whom are children. Contact was established with Vienna CC and Prague CC at the Vienna Wintercup, and Slovakia has played against the Czechs in a fixture which is becoming a regular affair. This season, as well as playing against Concordia CC, they will be playing in Ljubljana in a six-a-side tournament, and will also hopefully be attending the Youth Coaching Camp to be held in Markommannenstrasse in mid-June.