The Spanish national cricket team is the team that represents Spain in international cricket. They became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1992 and an associate member in 2017.[1] They made their international debut in the ECC Trophy in 2001, finishing in 6th place. They played in the tournament again in 2001, this time finishing seventh. In the equivalent tournament in 2005, the European Affiliates Championship, they put in a much improved performance to finish third, just missing out on promotion to Division Two of the European Championship. They played in Division Three of that tournament in 2007 and again in 2009.
 Flag of Spain | ||||||||||
| Association | Cricket Spain | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel | ||||||||||
| Captain | Christian Munoz-Mills | |||||||||
| Coach | Corey Rutgers | |||||||||
| International Cricket Council | ||||||||||
| ICC status | Associate member[1] (2017) Affiliate member (1992) | |||||||||
| ICC region | Europe | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| International cricket | ||||||||||
| First international | 13 August 2001 v Portugal at Seebarn Cricket Ground, Austria | |||||||||
| Twenty20 Internationals | ||||||||||
| First T20I | v  Malta at La Manga Club, Cartagena; 29 March 2019 | |||||||||
| Last T20I | v  Finland at King George V Sports Ground, Castel; 28 August 2024 | |||||||||
| ||||||||||
| As of 28 August 2024 | ||||||||||
In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Spain and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 were to have the T20I status.[5]
History
editCricket is first recorded as being played in Spain in the year 1809 by soldiers of General Lord Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington). During the Peninsular War the soldiers played the game in and around Ciudad Rodrigo, Lugo and Orense. There are many records of the game being played by visiting British land and sea forces, either among themselves or against local British expatriate communities.
The game entered a new era in Spain with the founding of Madrid Cricket Club in 1975. It was based at first on British and Indian players, but soon West Indian and Spanish members joined.[6]
In June 1989, a National Executive Committee was formed and the first steps were taken to unify all of the cricket playing clubs in Spain.
First International Tournament (ECC Trophy/ICC Europe Championships)
editSpain played their first tournament in 2001 in Austria. It was the ECC Trophy 2001. They also played their first match of their international cricket history in that tournament. They were in the Seebern Group amongst 2 groups. In their group there were Portugal, Malta, Finland and Sweden. Every match of the tournament was 35 overs.
They played their first match on13 August 2001 at the Seebarn Cricket Centre No 1 Ground, Lower Austria against Portugal. After winning the toss Portugal came down to bat and scored 229/6 in 35 overs. Opener Nadeem Butt scored 69. But due to their slow overrate Spain could play 32 overs. In 32 overs Portugal made 166/7. G Howe made 40 the highest score of Spain's innings. Portuguese bowler Bagvanadaia made 3/19 in 4 overs. So Spain lost their 1st international match against Portugal by 63 runs.
Spain's next matches was against Finland. It was on 14 August 2001 at Seebarn Cricket Centre No. 2 Ground, Lower Austria. After winning toss Spain came down to bat. They made 222/3 in 35 overs. Batsman G Howe made 103 which was the highest of Spain's innings. Finish bowler Scott Thurling took 2/36 in 7 overs. In bowling Spain smashed their opponent Finland. Finland could make 141/9 in 35 overs. Scott Thurling made highest 43 in Finland's innings. G Howe took 3/29 in 7 overs. Spain got a victory of 81 runs and got their first win in international cricket.
2018–present
editIn April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Spain and other ICC members since 1 January 2019 have been full T20I.[5]
Spain played its first ever T20I against Malta on 29 March 2019, during the 2019 Spain Triangular T20I Series. The match was played at La Manga Club, Murcia, Spain.[7]
Grounds
edit
Tournament history
editEuropean Cricket Championship
edit- 2001: 6th place
- 2003: 7th place
- 2022: 3rd place
- 2023: 3rd place
European Affiliates Championship
edit- 2005: 3rd place
ICC Europe Division 3 Championship
edit- 2007: Runners-up
- 2009: 3rd place[8]
Iberia Cup
edit- 2019: Winners
Current squad
editThis lists all the players who have played for Spain in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad. Updated as of 28 August 2024.
| Name | Age | Batting style | Bowling style | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batters | ||||
| Christian Munoz-Mills | 33 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | Captain |
| Daniel Doyle-Calle | 26 | Right-handed | ||
| Mohammad Ihsan | 28 | Right-handed | ||
| Hamza Dar | 29 | Left-handed | Right-arm medium | |
| Mohammad Yasin | 35 | Left-handed | ||
| All-rounders | ||||
| Yasir Ali | 33 | Right-handed | Right-arm off break | |
| Shafat Ali Syed | 28 | Left-handed | Left-arm medium | |
| Wicket-keeper | ||||
| Alec Davidson-Soler | 20 | Right-handed | ||
| Spin Bowlers | ||||
| Lorne Burns | 31 | Right-handed | Right-arm leg break | Vice-captain |
| Charlie Rumistrzewicz | 19 | Right-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| Sebastian Hughes-Pinan | 18 | Left-handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | |
| Pace Bowlers | ||||
| Atif Mehmood | 37 | Right-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | |
| Mohammad Kamran | 37 | Right-handed | Left-arm medium-fast | |
| Raja Adeel | 37 | Right-handed | Right-arm fast | |
| Mohammad Atif | 24 | Right-handed | Left-arm medium | |
Head coach
editCorey Leigh Rutgers (born 28 May 1989 in Footscray, Victoria) is a former Western Australia country and grade cricketer.[9] He was cricket academy head coach for VOC Rotterdam in the Netherlands and also worked as assistant coach for Pakistan Super League team Islamabad United for almost two years.[9]
In August 2019, Rutgers was appointed head coach of the Belgium national cricket team.[10] He resigned in July 2021 after a dispute with Belgium cricket board officials over team selection.[11] In November 2021, Rutgers signed with the Espana National cricket federation as head coach.[12]
Records and statistics
editInternational Match Summary — Spain[13]
Last updated 28 August 2024
| Playing Record | ||||||
| Format | M | W | L | T | NR | Inaugural Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twenty20 Internationals | 44 | 35 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 29 March 2019 |
Twenty20 International
edit- Highest team total: 230/4 v Croatia, 4 August 2024 at Mladost Cricket Ground, Zagreb[14]
- Highest individual score: 102*, Awais Ahmed v Malta, 30 March 2019 at La Manga Club, Murcia[15]
- Best individual bowling figures: 6/28, Yasir Ali v Croatia, 2 August 2024 at Mladost Cricket Ground, Zagreb[16]
|
Most T20I runs for Spain[17]
|
Most T20I wickets for Spain[18]
|
T20I record versus other nations[13]
Records complete to T20I #2821. Last updated 28 August 2024.
| Opponent | M | W | L | T | NR | First match | First win |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| vs Associate Members | |||||||
 Belgium |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 July 2022 | |
 Croatia |
5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 August 2024 | 2 August 2024 |
 Cyprus |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 August 2024 | 21 August 2024 |
 Czech Republic |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 August 2024 | 22 August 2024 |
 Denmark |
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 July 2022 | |
| Finland |
4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 August 2019 | 17 August 2019 |
 Germany |
7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 March 2020 | 8 March 2020 |
 Gibraltar |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 October 2019 | 26 October 2019 |
 Greece |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 August 2024 | 25 August 2024 |
 Guernsey |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 30 April 2022 | 30 April 2022 |
 Isle of Man |
6 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 24 February 2023 | 24 February 2023 |
 Israel |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 June 2022 | 29 June 2022 |
 Italy |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 November 2022 | 5 November 2022 |
 Jersey |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 April 2024 | 14 April 2024 |
| Malta |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 March 2019 | 29 March 2019 |
 Norway |
2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 April 2022 | 30 April 2022 |
 Portugal |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 October 2019 | 25 October 2019 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Ireland and Afghanistan ICC newest full members amid wide-ranging governance reform". International Cricket Council. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "ICC Rankings". International Cricket Council.
- ^ "T20I matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ "T20I matches - 2024 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
- ^ a b "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". International Cricket Council. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
- ^ "History".
- ^ "Malta vs Spain, Men's European T20I Tournament (Match-3)". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
- ^ "Tournament".
- ^ a b "National head coach role for ex-Karratha cricketer". Pilbara News. 24 October 2019. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Belgium: Back on track and aiming high". Emerging Cricket. 3 September 2020. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ "Rutgers resigns Belgium role amidst selection turmoil ahead of Austria T20I series". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ "COREY RUTGERS NAMED THE NEW COACH OF CRICKET ESPAÑA – Cricket Spain". Retrieved 14 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Records / Spain / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 November 2022.
- ^ "Records / Spain / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Records / Spain / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Records / Spain / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
- ^ "Records / Spain / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- ^ "Records / Spain / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
- Spain in ICC's Official Site
- ECC Trophy 2001 Archived 19 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine