Bay Blazers

The East Bay Blazers (more commonly known as the Bay Blazers) are an American professional Twenty20 franchise cricket team that compete in Minor League Cricket (MiLC). The team is based in San Jose, California. It was formed in 2020 as part of 24 original teams to compete in Minor League Cricket.[1] The franchise is owned by Biju Nair and Vivek Tummalapalli.[2]

East Bay Blazers
Bay Blazers
LeagueMinor League Cricket
ConferenceWestern Division (Pacific Conference)
Personnel
CaptainAngelo Perera
OwnerBiju Nair & Vivek Tummalapalli
Chief executiveBiju Nair
Team information
CitySan Jose, California
Colours  Dark Blue, and   Yellow.
Founded2020 (2020)
Home groundSanta Clara Cricket Field

T20 kit

The team's home ground is Santa Clara Cricket Field, located in Santa Clara, California.[3] Former Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Perera currently helms captaincy duties,[4] while American international Sanjay Krishnamurthi helms vice-captaincy duties.[5]

South African cricketer David White and American international Sanjay Krishnamurthi currently lead the batting and bowling leaderboards with 1,001 runs and 29 wickets respectively.[6][7]

Franchise history

Background

Talks of an American Twenty20 league started in November 2018 just before USA Cricket became the new governing body of cricket in the United States.[8][9] In May 2021, USA Cricket announced they had accepted a bid by American Cricket Enterprises (ACE) for a US$1 billion investment covering the league and other investments benefitting the U.S. national teams.[10]

In an Annual General Meeting on February 21, 2020, it was announced that USA Cricket was planning to launch Major League Cricket in 2021 and Minor League Cricket that summer,[11] but it was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic[12] and due to the lack of high-quality cricket stadiums in the USA.[13] Major League Cricket was pushed to a summer-2023 launch[14] and Minor League Cricket was pushed back to July 31, 2021.[15]

USA Cricket CEO Iain Higgins also pointed out cities such as New York City, Houston and Los Angeles with a large cricket fanbase, and targeted them among others as launch cities for Minor League Cricket.[16]

Exhibition league

In July 2020, the player registration for the Minor League Cricket exhibition league began.[17] On August 15, 2020, USA Cricket announced the teams participating in the exhibition league matches, also listing the owners for each team.[18] The draft for the exhibition league began on August 22, 2020,[19] with the Bay Blazers releasing their squad on August 24.[20] Rusty Theron was later named as captain for the Bay Blazers for the exhibition league.[20]

2021 season
See also: 2021 Minor League Cricket season § Pacific Conference

After the conclusion of the exhibition league, USA Cricket announced that they were planning to launch the inaugural season of Minor League Cricket in spring 2021.[21] Ahead of the official season, which was announced to kick off on July 31,[22] the Grizzlies announced David White as captain with Rusty Theron helming vice-captain duties.[23]

Throughout the group stage, the Blazers lost to the Strikers, the Grizzlies twice, and the Stars once,[24][25] but won against the Catchers once, and the Blasters, the Lashings, the Surf Riders, and the Seattle Thunderbolts twice.[26] The Blazers finished 3rd at the end of the group stage, thus not qualifying for the finals.

2022 season
See also: 2022 Minor League Cricket season § Pacific Conference

Ahead of the 2022 season, Major League Cricket announced that the draft for that season would take place on May 12.[27] Ahead of the official season, it was announced that former Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Perera and American international Sanjay Krishnamurthi would replace David White and Rusty Theron as captain and vice-captain respectively throughout the season.[28][29]

Throughout the season, the Blazers lost once against the Mustangs, won once and lost once against the Strikers and the Thunderbolts,[30][31] won once against the Lashings, Blasters and the Lone Star Athletics,[32] and won twice against the Blasters, Grizzlies, and the Surf Riders.[33][29] The Blazers finished third overall in their division, marginally missing out on the play-offs to the Seattle Thunderbolts due to an inferior net run rate (NRR).[34]

Current squad
  • Players with international caps are listed in bold.
Name Nationality Birth date Batting style Bowling style Year signed Notes
Batsmen
Arshdeep Brar United States (2002-04-21) 21 April 2002Right-handedRight-arm off break2021
Navanpreet Brar United States (2003-06-08) 8 June 2003Right-handedRight-arm leg break2022
David Bunn South Africa (1992-04-09) 9 April 1992Left-handedSlow left-arm orthodox2021Overseas
Nawaz Khan Afghanistan (1995-10-29) 29 October 1995Right-handedRight-arm fast medium2021Overseas
Mark Deyal Trinidad and Tobago (1993-04-07) 7 April 1993Left-handedRight-arm off break2022Overseas
Kieran Powell Saint Kitts and Nevis (1990-03-06) 6 March 1990Left-handedRight-arm medium
Right-arm off break		2022Overseas
Vikash Mohan Trinidad and Tobago (1994-09-22) 22 September 1994Right-handedRight-arm off break2022Overseas
Kuldeep Singh India (1978-10-26) 26 October 1978Left-handedSlow left-arm orthodox2021Overseas
All-rounders
Angelo Perera Sri Lanka (1990-02-23) 23 February 1990Right-handedSlow left-arm orthodox2022Overseas captain
David White South Africa (1991-05-22) 22 May 1991Right-handedRight-arm medium fast2021Overseas
Sanjay Krishnamurthi United States (2003-06-02) 2 June 2003Right-handedSlow left-arm orthodox2021Vice-captain
Srinivas Mohan United States (2001-07-17) 17 July 2001Right-handedRight-arm fast medium2021
Jahron Alfred Trinidad and Tobago (1991-05-22) 22 May 1991Right-handedRight-arm fast2022Overseas
Prumjot Panesar United States (2001-01-03) 3 January 2001Right-handedRight-arm off break2022
Aarnav Iyer United States (2002-10-11) 11 October 2002Right-handedRight-arm medium2022
Bowlers
Rusty Theron United States (1985-07-24) 24 July 1985Right-handedRight-arm medium fast2021
Carmi le Roux South Africa (1993-03-30) 30 March 1993Right-handedLeft-arm medium fast2022
Shashank Vittaladevaram United States (2001-04-02) 2 April 2001Right-handedRight-arm leg break googly2022
Mohammad Tariq United States (1998-06-26) 26 June 1998Right-handedRight-arm fast2022
Wicket-keepers
Saideep Ganesh United States (2001-02-21) 21 February 2001Right-handed2022

References
  1. "Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Owners". USA Cricket. August 15, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  2. Hays, Nate (August 18, 2020). "Minor League Cricket announces teams and owners list, draft on August 22, exhibition games tentative". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  3. "Minor League Division Preview Series - Western". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. August 1, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  4. "The MiLC All-Rounder - Week Six". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. August 2, 2022. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  5. Dunmore, Tom (June 24, 2022). "MILC PREVIEWS – WESTERN DIVISION". Major League Cricket. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  6. "East Bay Blazers - All Time Bowling". CricClubs. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  7. "East Bay Blazers - All Time Batting". CricClubs. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  8. Penna, Peter Della (January 8, 2019). "USA formally approved to rejoin ICC as Associate Member under USA Cricket". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  9. Penna, Peter Della (November 27, 2018). "USA plan to launch their T20 League in 2021". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  10. "USA Cricket Chooses Partner to Fund and Develop U.S.-Based Professional T20 Cricket League". USA Cricket. May 23, 2019. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  11. "USA Cricket Board Meeting February 2020". USA Cricket. February 27, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  12. "USA Cricket re-evaluating Major League Cricket debut timing due to Covid-19 concerns". SportBusiness. August 2, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  13. "American Major League Cricket tournament launch pushed to 2023 at Annual General Meeting". Inside the Games. May 24, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  14. Penna, Peter Della (May 21, 2021). "USA's MLC T20 tournament pushed back to 2023 at AGM". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  15. Penna, Peter Della (July 30, 2021). "Minor League Cricket: T20 league in USA kicks off with Sami Aslam, Corey Anderson in the mix". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  16. Penna, Peter Della (February 27, 2020). "New York, Boston, Chicago, LA among 22 targeted launch cities for USA T20 competition". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  17. "Minor League Cricket Announces Player Registration Opening". USA Cricket. July 7, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  18. "Minor League Cricket Announces Franchise Owners and Draft Update". USA Cricket. August 15, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  19. "Inaugural Minor League Cricket Draft to Take Place Today". USA Cricket. August 22, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  20. "Minor League Cricket Draft results with 15 Squads Selected". USA Cricket. August 24, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  21. "USA Cricket Launches Foundational Plan". USA Cricket. October 15, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  22. "American Cricket History to be Made on Minor League Cricket Opening Weekend". Major League Cricket. USA Cricket. July 29, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  23. Sawkar, Abhai (February 1, 2021). "Red, White and Blue: David's American journey". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  24. Patel, Smit (September 23, 2021). "Minor League Cricket Week 8: Rovman Powell hits 38-ball 71". CricBuzz. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  25. Hays, Nate (November 7, 2021). "Ali Khan returns; USA Men head to Antigua qualifiers for first T20I action in two years". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  26. "Santa Clara County Fairgrounds could get a cricket stadium by 2024". The Mercury News. January 20, 2022. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  27. "Title and Presenting Partners Announced for 2022 Minor League Cricket Championship". Minor League Cricket. Major League Cricket. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  28. "Carmi le Roux joins Rusty Theron at East Bay Blazers in USA". Club Cricket SA. May 22, 2022. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  29. Krueger, Henry (July 27, 2022). "Cricket: Grizzlies blow lead, fall to Blazers". Davis Enterprise. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
  30. Patel, Smit (August 3, 2022). "MiLC Week 6: East Bay Blazers end Silicon Valley Strikers' 11-game winning streak". Cricbuzz. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  31. Cassidy, Benjamin (July 26, 2022). "Cricket's Up to Bat in Seattle". Seattle Met. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  32. Bruce, Jonathan (July 22, 2022). "Cricket takes center stage in Houston, a hot spot for growth of sport in the US". ABC13. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  33. Patel, Smit (August 9, 2022). "Minor League Week 7: Teams tantalizingly poised for final round of league stage". Cricbuzz. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  34. Patel, Smit (August 17, 2022). "MiLC Week 8 Wrap: Harmeet carnage takes Seattle Thunderbolts to playoffs". Cricbuzz. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
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