It is a corner of England right in the middle of Périgord Blanc just out of St Aulaye (in France). On this field surrounded by sunflowers and haystacks, several British gentlemen of all ages let off steam: they are playing cricket. Wynford Hicks has been living here for over three years, he has always played cricket and could not think of giving it up just because he had crossed the Channel. "Here, the conditions are ideal to play cricket, the weather is often fine and there is plenty of room to play". But Wynford does not just want to practice on Sundays, he wants to develop his sport in the Dordogne.
"When I arrived, I wanted to form a club and had to find a playing field", he remembers. For the club, it was not too difficult because the strong local English community allowed him to build up the numbers quickly. Today, the St Aulaye cricket team numbers about twenty players of all ages.
A figure which increases in summer. "During
the holidays, many English friends come to visit us and play with us",
explains Wynford. The job of finding a playing field was more difficult.
A FIVE TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Indeed, cricket requires a lot of space. "In the beginning the municipality gave us the use of the football grounds but it was too small as cricket is played on an oval field" he remembers. Then Wynford found a solution, he bought a field which he prepared himself.
Wynford's case is not unique in the Dordogne. In St Astier, a private individual also bought a field to play cricket on. At Damazan (Lot-et-Garonne), the players hit the ball in a field next to the camping grounds. Because the popularity of cricket is increasing in the whole Southwest, a championship league was started a few years ago.
The Dordogne with its three clubs (St Astier, St
Aulaye and Eymet) takes advantage of the large number of English residents.
These teams also play against others from Bordeaux and Damazan. And even if
this competition could remind some of ancient jousts, it is not the case. "The
atmosphere remains always convivial, however the games are tough, there is no
mercy !" explains Wynford.
GERARD
IN THE FRENCH TEAM
The English residents in the Dordogne would like to see this craze shared by the French. "We are not trying to isolate ourselves. On the contrary we would like to open our game to the French." insists Paul also recently settled in the area. This effort of communication and integration, Wynford lives it every day : "I have been doing initiation work at the St Aulaye college for two years now. But there are many rules and that requires a lot of practice".
Cricket is indeed a rather complex sport in regards to rules. "We have been playing it at home for centuries, and along the way, new rules have been constantly added", explains Mally, who came to the Dordogne on holidays. "It is a bit like base-ball but more subtle, more British"!
But French exception exists also in the world of cricket. Gérard Petit a 16 year old, starts senior high school in Bordeaux and plays for St Aulaye. He lived in Australia for a long time, which is where he learnt to play. (Australia is world champion). "I never talk about cricket with my friends, they prefer soccer. I like coming here as it gives me the opportunity to speak English." Gérard is the pet of the team. He is the youngest and the most promising and he has been selected for the French junior team. "I am still only a substitute, but I'm progressing fast. Our championship is weak compared to the north of the country where there are lots of good teams".
On Saturday afternoon, Gérard trained with his team. On the side line, the players' wives are the supporters. "I've come to watch my husband. When he found out that he could play cricket here, he absolutely wanted to come here on holidays. It was just as well as we wanted to go to the Southwest anyway."
We are still a long way from the atmosphere of
the big stadiums. The change rooms are in a caravan, the training nets a small
cage lost in the sunflowers... but even far from London, traditions are respected.
God save the Cricket!