09/06/2022
Karlskrona is a small town with a renowned university (BTH) and a few companies. Most of the Karlskrona Cricket Club (KCC) members are from the university. Thanks to the BTH University for giving us players every year. The uniqueness of our team is that every year the team is almost refreshed with new players. Most people (students) who played last year would move to different cities for jobs, PhDs, Internships, etc. So we would welcome a new set of students/employees and other cricket aspirants every year and we start building the team for that year.
How do we succeed with a new set of players every year? The season just lasts for four months and within these four months, the new players who are not only new to the team but also new to Sweden should adapt themselves to be part of this community. How is that possible? It doesn’t stop there. We have a very tight schedule with matches on almost every weekend starting from the last week of April to the 1st week of September. The club has to perform as a team to hold on to our position in the table, both in the longer format and the T20s. How do we do that?
It all begins with the culture and attitude of the team. Though there is a mutual need, that is, We as a team are looking for new talents and the talents are looking for a team in the new country they have come into, the first thing we do is, welcome the talents/aspirants to try the game with us. We build a relationship and trust right from day one with any aspiring talent looking to join our club. It doesn’t matter if they don’t end up playing for our club. All that matters is do we enjoy each other's company while we are on the ground. Do we learn from each other? do we trust each other? do we enjoy playing together? All these are not answered on day one, it takes time and effort from each one of us to build such relationships. Yes, we are short of time every year, but that doesn't stop us from doing what is best for this community.
The prime responsibility of the club is to create that atmosphere for its members and eventually a team is born out of it. When such a team is born, the bonding is beyond the boundaries of victories and losses. Every year we have a newborn team that learns to crawl, walk and run and the cycle keeps repeating. What nourishes and nurtures this newborn team every year is the attitude and trust we keep building day after day.
We at KCC, love this game of cricket with all our hearts and our doors are always open for the aspirants of the game.
We are midway through the Longer format (40 overs) in this 2022 season with three wins and a loss out of the four games we have played so far. A big cheers to all those KCCians who helped us to bounce back from the loss in the first game and win three matches in a row. Everyone is important in this team. This is not just the effort of the playing XI. Every member of the team matters and their contribution in any way is the reason for such victories. We have three more matches to go and we would do our best to enjoy the game!!!
Let's keep making memories…. Go KCC!!!
Karlskrona cricket club Sweden Cricket ICC - International Cricket Council Cricket Sweden
