World Cricket Tsunami Appeal

The World Cricket Tsunami Appeal was an effort by the International Cricket Council to raise funds to support the humanitarian relief efforts following the Indian Ocean tsunami of 26 December 2004. It was scheduled to be held over two games but was reduced to one due to an over-crowded international playing schedule and concerns for players' health playing in the April heat in Kolkata. The match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 10 January 2005.

Other Fundraising

Cricket also engaged in other fundraising efforts.

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New Zealand vs FICA World XI one-day series

Notable among these was a series of three one-day matches in late January between New Zealand and a FICA World XI. Unlike the World XI vs Asian XI matches, these three games were not granted official status as one-day internationals.

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At the time of the tsunami, the Sri Lankan national team was touring New Zealand (the two sides are currently ranked second and third in the world in one-day cricket). The departure of the team not only saw a desperate need for fundraising, but also saw the New Zealand team faced with an absence of a major cricket series. In order to fill the gap in the schedule and provide more funds for disaster relief, a series was hastily arranged between the New Zealand national team and a team drawn from top international players from overseas, captained by Australia's Shane Warne.

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The three matches raised a total of $NZ 1,088,563 ($US 772,000).

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• Cricinfo pre-series report
• Cricinfo post-series report

The first match

The first match, at Jade Stadium, Christchurch on 21 January, 2005, was a one-sided match. The world team batted first and lost early wickets. At one stage they were reduced to 20 for the loss of four wickets, before a partnership by Graeme Hick and Jonty Rhodes helped the team a less embarrassing, yet still low, total of 158. Any fear that spectators would not get their money's-worth from a truncated match were soon allayed by an astonishing innings from New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who bludgeoned the bowling in scoring 106 from just 57 deliveries, including nine sixes and ten fours. Muttiah Muralitharan, arguably the world's best spin bowler, came in for most of the punishment, being hit for seven sixes in just three overs. New Zealand reached the winning total for the loss of only one wicket.

Related Topics:
Jade Stadium - Christchurch - 21 January - 2005 - Graeme Hick - Jonty Rhodes - Stephen Fleming - Muttiah Muralitharan

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First match

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The second match

The second match was a more even affair. It was held at Westpac Stadium, Wellington, on 24 January. New Zealand batted first and scored well in the early stages, but lost wickets at vital times, much of the damage being done by bowlers Andrew Bichel and Lance Klusener. Only Nathan Astle was able to produce a large score, finishing on 109. New Zealand were all out for 256, a respectable score, but less than they would have wanted on what was a good batting pitch. The total was never going to be enough, however, especially after Matthew Elliott and Nick Knight got the World XI off to a flying start. Elliott was particularly belligerent, his 57 runs including three sixes. Although the World XI lost several wickets, their batting continued at a fast pace, and they reached the required target in the 48th over for the loss of seven wickets.

Related Topics:
Westpac Stadium - Wellington - 24 January - Andrew Bichel - Lance Klusener - Nathan Astle - Matthew Elliott - Nick Knight

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Second match

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The third match

The third match was somewhat disappointing. It was played at Westpac Trust Park, Hamilton, on 26 January. The World XI struggled to deal with a variable pitch, and were bowled out for 81 in 20.5 overs. Nick Knight scored 43, but the rest of the batsmen fell quickly. Chris Cairns took 6 for 12 and Jeff Wilson 3 for 6. The New Zealand batsmen did not find conditions much easier, as Ian Harvey took 4 for 17, but managed to reach 83 for 6 in the 16th over, winning the series 2-1.

Related Topics:
Hamilton - 26 January - Nick Knight - Chris Cairns - Jeff Wilson - Ian Harvey

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To compensate the crowd for the unusually short game, the players agreed to play a 10 over-a-side match later in the day. More than 30 sixes were hit, as the game finished in a tie with both sides scoring 178.

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Third match

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Asia vs Rest of the World Twenty20 match

Surrey County Cricket Club hosted a Twenty20 game between Asia and the Rest of the World in aid of the tsunami appeal on 20 June, 2005 at the Oval. The game won approval from the England and Wales Cricket Board and the International Cricket Council. The Asia XI won the toss and decided to bat, but the International XI won by 6 wickets with Australian Greg Blewett declared man of the match for his innings of 91 not out. The match attracted a crowd of 23,000 and raised £1.1 million pounds.

Related Topics:
Surrey County Cricket Club - Twenty20 - 20 June - The Oval - England and Wales Cricket Board - International Cricket Council

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ICC report

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BBC match report

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