Gibraltar national cricket team

The Gibraltar national cricket team is the team that represents the British overseas territory of Gibraltar in international cricket. They have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 1969.[4]

Gibraltar
AssociationGibraltar Cricket Association
Personnel
CaptainAvinash Pai
International Cricket Council
ICC statusAssociate member (1969)
ICC regionEurope
ICC Rankings Current[1] Best-ever
T20I 75th 68th (2-May-2022)
International cricket
First internationalGibraltar Gibraltar v. Kenya 
(Solihull, England; 16 June 1982)
One Day Internationals
World Cup Qualifier appearances6 (first in 1982)
Best resultFirst round (1982–2001)
Twenty20 Internationals
First T20Iv  Portugal at La Manga Club, Cartagena; 26 October 2019
Last T20Iv  Luxembourg at Europa Sports Park, Gibraltar; 15 October 2023
T20Is Played Won/Lost
Total[2] 38 9/28 (1 tie, 0 no results)
This year[3] 15 6/9 (0 ties, 0 no results)
As of 15 October 2023

Gibraltar played in the ICC Trophy (now replaced by the ICC World Cup Qualifier) from 1982 to 2001, with little success. The team has played in the top-flight of the European Cricket Championship on four occasions, and placed sixth (out of eight teams) at 1996 European Cricket Championship held in Denmark in 1996. After the creation of the World Cricket League, Gibraltar was placed in the 2009 Division Seven. It was subsequently relegated to 2010 Division Eight, where another low finish saw the team again relegated, to regional qualifying tournaments.

With approximately 34,000 residents, Gibraltar has one of the smallest populations of any ICC member. Only three members, all fellow dependencies of ICC full members, have a smaller population – in order from largest to smallest, the Cook Islands, Saint Helena, and Falkland Islands.

History

Early years

Cricket has been played in Gibraltar by British servicemen since the late 18th century. A cricket ground is known to have existed north of the Rock of Gibraltar in 1800. Civilians were playing the game as well as servicemen by 1822. The Gibraltar Cricket Club was formed in 1883, and formed the backbone of civilian cricket until well into the 20th Century.[5]

In 1890, a ship carrying the Australia national cricket team on the way to a tour of England, docked in Gibraltar Harbour after a collision with two other ships. The Australians played a game against a Gibraltar Garrison team. The local side were dismissed for just 25, and the Australians won the game, scoring 150/8.[5]

The game was flourishing in the 1930s, with Gibraltar producing many locally born players. However, the Second World War meant a cut back in the game, with many cricket fields giving way to the military, one even being converted into an airfield.[5]

Post-war years
Cricket being played in Gibraltar in 1960

The 1950s saw an increase in clubs, and the Gibraltar Cricket Association was formed in 1960.[5] They were elected to associate membership of the ICC in 1969.[4] Essex County Cricket Club visited after the conclusion of the 1973 English domestic season, and played a Rock XI in a one-day game, winning by 178 runs.[6] Visits by English sides of various ability levels have continued ever since.[5]

In 1982, Gibraltar took part in the second ICC Trophy, without winning a match. They improved on this performance in the 1986 tournament, gaining their first international win against Israel. They performed even better in the next tournament, beating East and Central Africa, Singapore and Israel[5] reaching the plate competition.[7] Israel toured Gibraltar in 1992, winning the match they played against the national side.[5]

Gibraltar finished in 20th place in the 1994 ICC Trophy,[8] and played in the first European Championship in Copenhagen in 1996, finishing sixth after losing to Scotland in a play-off.[9] They finished 19th in the following years ICC Trophy[10] and played poorly in the 1998 European Championship, finishing last in the ten team tournament.[11]

In 1999, Gibraltar hosted a quadrangular tournament also involving France, Israel and Italy,[5] losing in the final to Italy.[12] The European Championship was split into two divisions in 2000, with Gibraltar placed in Division Two, which they won.[13] The following year they travelled to Canada to take part in the 2001 ICC Trophy. A withdrawal by Italy and the non-arrival of West Africa left Gibraltar with just three matches to play against Germany, Namibia and Nepal, losing all of them and not progressing beyond the first round.[5]

Gibraltar defended their European Division Two title in 2002,[14] but could not continue this success in 2004, finishing fifth out of six teams.[15] They did not qualify for the 2005 ICC Trophy,[16] and finished fourth in Division Two of the European Championship in 2006 after losing a play-off to Germany.[17]

Gibraltar placed sixth at the 2009 Global Division Seven tournament and was relegated to Division-eight.

2018-Present

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Gibraltar and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 will be a full T20I.[18]

Gibraltar played their first T20I on 26 October 2019, against Portugal, during the 2019 Iberia Cup.

26 October 2019
08:45
Scorecard
Gibraltar 
113/6 (20 overs)
v
 Portugal
116/4 (18.3 overs)
Avinash Pai 52 (52)
Paolo Buccimazza 2/18 (4 overs)
Zohaib Sarwar 33* (21)
Avinash Pai 2/18 (4 overs)
Portugal won by 6 wickets
La Manga Club Bottom Ground, Cartagena
Umpires: Gordon Ashford (Esp) and Adnan Khan (Esp)
  • Gibraltar won the toss and elected to bat.

Gibraltar achieved a first T20I victory during the 2021 Valletta Cup in a match against Bulgaria. This win came on the back of a century from captain Avinash Pai accompanied by a half century from 16 year old Louis Bruce.

23 October 2021
Scorecard
Gibraltar 
217/4 (20 overs)
v
 Bulgaria
180/5 (20 overs)
Avinash Pai 107* (52)
Sulaiman Ali 2/38 (4 overs)
Hristo Lakov 80 (63)
James Fitzgerald 2/37 (4 overs)
Gibraltar won by 37 runs
Marsa Sports Club, Malta
Player of the match: Avinash Pai
  • Bulgaria won the toss and elected to field.
  • * Balaji Pai scored Gibratar's first T20I century.

Records and statistics

International Match Summary — Gibraltar[19][20]

Last updated 15 October 2023

Playing Record
FormatMWLTNRInaugural Match
Twenty20 Internationals389281026 October 2019

Twenty20 International

T20I record versus other nations[19]

Records complete to T20I #2317. Last updated 15 October 2023.

OpponentMWLTNRFirst matchFirst win
vs Associate Members
 Belgium1010028 June 2022
 Bulgaria4220023 October 202123 October 2021
 Czech Republic1010011 May 2022
 Denmark1010029 June 2022
 Estonia2110030 September 202330 September 2023
 Hungary2110010 May 20221 July 2022
 Luxembourg2110015 October 202315 October 2023
 Malta9261021 August 20215 May 2023
 Portugal100100026 October 2019
 Romania1010015 May 2022
 Serbia220005 October 20235 October 2023
 Spain2020026 October 2019
  Switzerland1010022 October 2021

Other records

ICC Trophy

ICC Trophy record versus other nations[20]

OpponentMWLTNRFirst matchFirst win
 Argentina111001 April 19971 April 1997
 Bermuda2020023 June 1986
 Canada1010020 June 1986
 Denmark101008 June 1990
 East and Central Africa2110010 June 199010 June 1990
 Fiji1010016 June 1986
 Germany101002 July 2001
 Hong Kong2020028 June 1982
 Ireland2020016 February 1994
 Israel4310125 June 198230 June 1986
 Kenya2020016 June 1982
 Malaysia1010018 February 1994
 Namibia101004 July 2001
   Nepal101001 July 2001
 Netherlands2020027 June 1986
 Papua New Guinea303002 July 1982
 Singapore3120016 June 199016 June 1990
 United States4030118 June 1982
 West Africa2010123 February 1994

One-Day

Below is a record of international matches played in ICC Trophy, European Cricket Championship and World Cricket League events by Gibraltar between 1982 and 2013.[27][28]

Opponent M W L T NR
 Argentina 1 1 0 0 0
 Austria 2 2 0 0 0
 Bahamas 1 0 1 0 0
 Bahrain 2 0 1 0 1
 Belgium 1 0 1 0 0
 Bermuda 2 0 2 0 0
 Bhutan 1 0 1 0 0
 Canada 1 0 1 0 0
 Croatia 1 0 1 0 0
 Denmark 2 0 2 0 0
 East and Central Africa 2 1 1 0 0
 Fiji 1 0 1 0 0
 France 7 4 3 0 0
 Germany 10 4 6 0 0
 Greece 2 1 1 0 0
 Guernsey 4 0 4 0 0
 Hong Kong 2 0 2 0 0
 Ireland 3 0 3 0 0
 Israel 10 6 3 0 1
 Italy 3 1 2 0 0
 Japan 1 0 1 0 0
 Jersey 1 0 1 0 0
 Kenya 2 0 2 0 0
 Malaysia 1 0 1 0 0
 Namibia 1 0 1 0 0
   Nepal 1 0 1 0 0
 Netherlands 2 0 2 0 0
 Nigeria 1 0 1 0 0
 Norway 3 0 3 0 0
 Papua New Guinea 3 0 3 0 0
 Portugal 2 1 1 0 0
 Scotland 1 0 1 0 0
 Singapore 3 1 2 0 0
 Suriname 3 1 2 0 0
 United States 4 1 3 0 0
 West Africa 2 0 1 0 1
 Zambia 1 0 1 0 0
Total 90 24 63 0 3

Tournament history

World Cricket League Qualifier
  • 2012: 3rd place (La Manga)

World Cricket League
  • 2009: 6th place (Division Seven)
  • 2010: 6th place (Division Eight)

ICC Trophy

European Championship
  • 1996: 6th place[9]
  • 1998: 10th place[11]
  • 2000: Division Two winners[13]
  • 2002: Division Two winners[14]
  • 2004: 5th place (Division Two)[15]
  • 2006: 4th place (Division Two)[17]
  • 2008: 3rd place (Division Two)
  • 2010: 6th place (Division Two)
  • 2011: 9th place (Division One)
  • 2014: 4th place (Division Two)

T20i Tournaments

Current Squad

This lists all the players who have played for Gibraltar in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad. Updated as of 7 May 2023.

Name Age Batting style Bowling style Notes
Batters
Julian Freyone29Right-handedRight-arm medium
Jonathan West42Right-handedRight-arm medium
Bryan Zammitt33Right-handedRight-arm medium
All-rounders
Louis Bruce18Right-handedRight-arm fast
Avinash Pai41Right-handedRight-arm off breakCaptain
Kennedy Nestor35Right-handedRight-arm fast
Andrew Reyes39Right-handedRight-arm medium
Iain Latin39Right-handedRight-arm off breakVice-captain
Wicketkeeper
Kayron Stagno30Right-handed
Joseph Marples32Right-handed
Spin Bowlers
Kabir Mirpuri35Right-handedRight-arm off break
Nikhil Advani36Right-handedRight-arm off break
Pace Bowlers
Samarth Bodha20Right-handedRight-arm medium
James Fitzgerald24Right-handedRight-arm medium-fast
Richard Hatchman37Right-handedRight-arm medium
Jack Horrocks30Right-handedLeft-arm medium

See also

References
  1. "ICC Rankings". International Cricket Council.
  2. "T20I matches - Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  3. "T20I matches - 2023 Team records". ESPNcricinfo.
  4. Gibraltar at CricketArchive
  5. "History of the Gibraltar Cricket Association". Gibraltar Cricket Association. Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
  6. Scorecard of Rock XI v Essex, 12 September 1973
  7. 1990 ICC Trophy at Cricinfo
  8. 1994 ICC Trophy at Cricinfo
  9. 1996 European Championship Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine at CricketEurope
  10. 1997 ICC Trophy at Cricinfo
  11. 1998 European Championship Archived 9 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine at CricketEurope
  12. Scorecard of Gibraltar v Italy, 25 September 1999 at Cricinfo
  13. 2000 European Championship Archived 5 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine at CricketEurope
  14. "2002 European Championship Official Site – results page". Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
  15. 2004 European Championship Division Two Archived 1 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine at the European Cricket Council official website
  16. 2005 ICC Trophy at Cricinfo
  17. 2006 European Championship Division Two Archived 17 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine at CricketEurope
  18. "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". International Cricket Council. 26 April 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  19. "Records / Gibraltar / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  20. "Records / Gibraltar / ICC Trophy / Result summary". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  21. "Records / Gibraltar / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  22. "Records / Gibraltar / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  23. "Records / Gibraltar / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  24. "Records / Gibraltar / ICC Trophy / Highest totals". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  25. "Records / Gibraltar / ICC Trophy / High scores". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  26. "Records / Gibraltar / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  27. "The Home of CricketArchive".
  28. "The Home of CricketArchive".
  29. List of Gibraltar ICC Trophy matches at CricketArchive
  30. "2008 results for ICC associate and affiliate members". home.iprimus.com.au. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  31. "CAMPEONES OF IBERIA – Cricket Spain". Retrieved 21 October 2021.

36°6′38.48″N 5°20′48.6″W

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