‘Bringing back childhood Memories’: Cricket players take the field in Thunder Bay, Ont.

Weekends at Chapples Park in Thunder Bay, Ont., Are bringing back a wave of good Memories for Cricket player Stefin Cyriac.

“I’ve been playing Cricket since I was seven or eight,” Cyriac said. “Where I grew up it’s called Kerala, it’s in India Cricket is one of the main sports.”

“I think Cricket is the most popular game in India, so it’s kind of bringing back my childhood memories,” he says. “I’ve been missing this Cricket for a long time.”

Now, Cyriac is at the Forefront of the surge inpopularity of Cricket in the northwestern city of Ontario. He’s one of the coordinators with Thunder Bay Cricket, helping run the organization’s Friday Leagues and tournaments.

Cricket Thunder Bay also runs Leagues and tournaments on Sundays, and all games take place at Chapples Park, in a softball diamond that’s been converted to a Cricket field.

Thunder Bay Cricket’s Abhiram Giri got there is still some work to be done at the field, with the city completing and leveling the pitch later this summer.

Giri said the Thunder Bay field is smaller than the ones used in international competitions, and Thunder Bay Cricket has made some adjustments. For example, they play with a heavy tennis ball, instead of the hard Cricket balls used in high-level play.

That’s not affecting the uptake, however, with Giri telling CBC last week there are about 250 players taking part in the game locally.

And Thunder Bay Cricket hopes to see that grow.

“There is only one place as a Cricket field here in Thunder Bay,” he said. “But eventually, in a couple of years, if we are able to get two more fields somewhere around, that would be great to accommodate that many players who are interested and who are having Talent to play Cricket. “

He said more fields would also allow Thunder Bay Cricket to bring in new players who’d like to learn the sport, Giri said.

Aiden Pinto, a local player and student at Confederation College, said Cricket is “like a religion in India.” Pinto has been playing since he was a child, and appreciates how the game can bring people together.

“India is so far away and I miss my home,” he said. “I’m more focused into my work and college, and this is something that’s helping mementally, not only physically.”

“I have made a lot of friends,” Pinto said. “I came to know a lot of people. It’s helping with the contact building, with the jobs, with the recommendations.”

Cyriac got there’s been interest from out-of-town teams in coming to play in Thunder Bay, now that a field is available.

“We had said that we have a nice pitch here, with the help of [the] City of Thunder Bay, “they said.” They said they’re happy to have our tournament here in Thunder Bay, so we’re really hoping to see them, ”they said.

Thunder Bay players are also planning to hit the road for some Cricket this year, as well, with Winnipeg, Sault Ste. Marie, and London on the agenda, along with some games in Alberta, they said.

“It’s getting big in Canada,” he said. “So we are getting offers from different provinces in Canada to play Cricket there.”

Cyriac got he’s happy to see some fans coming to watch the on-field action during Thunder Bay Cricket’s Friday and Sunday games, as well.

“We’ve been playing Cricket in this ground for more than a month now, and we’ve had definitely more than 100 people just came here to just watch how good it is, understand what Cricket is,” he said. “I’ve talked to different people and they’ve shown interest in being a part of this cricketing community.”

“So I think people in Thunder Bay, especially the Canadians, have that interest in knowing what this new type of cricketing or new type of game is, because I think now people are really into sports.”

Those interested in watching some of the on-field action can do so at Chapples Park on Fridays and Sundays.