MONTGOMERY: Everything is just cricket in township

By Geena Molinaro, Special Writer
MONTGOMERY — Sunday mornings are lazy, unless you are a member of the Montgomery Knights Cricket Club. Come rain or shine, the group is consistently out on their field at Broadway Park each Sunday from 7:30 a.m. to noon, according to club president Kalyan Athota.
The group, which has been around for four or five years, is slowly gaining notoriety, said Mr. Athota. There are approximately 20 members on the team, he said, and although they are not officially part of a cricket league, the team is hoping to join in the near future.
Joining a league will be a big step for the team, as it would require them to play in approximately 16 games per season and volunteer as umpires at other teams’ games, he said.
At this time, the team scrimmages with other groups in the nearby area, said the president. A cricket team needs at least 12 players, he said.
This year, the township helped the team secure its own cricket field, said Mr. Athota. The pitch was ready to use in June 2014, he said. They previously used the baseball fields at Van Horne Park, but it was not ideal for practicing, he said.
The team approached the township about getting a field, and Recreation Director Karen Zimmerman suggested they use land in Broadway Park for their field, he said.
"Cricket is a growing sport, and I’m glad the township was willing to cater to us with the pitch," he said.
Ms. Zimmerman said Broadway Park was the perfect location for the cricket field because baseball enrollment has been low in the recent years.
"The group was appreciative of the township. We worked together to build the field," she said, "and the team funded the project so no tax dollars were used."
Cricket is more than just a sport for the team, it is also a way for first generation immigrants to practice something they love, said Mr. Athota. It brings their community together and promotes diversity, he said.
"The increasing popularity of cricket reflects a changing dynamic," he said.
Mr. Athota said he hopes he and his teammates can get more young people involved with the sport. There are three or four college students on the cricket team, he said, and on Sunday evenings people on the team bring their children out to the field to coach and mentor them. The 10 children typically practice between one and a half and two hours, he said.
The team would also be interested in working with Ms. Zimmerman and the Recreation Department to create a "cricket boot camp" so others can learn how to play the sport, said Mr. Athota.
Last Sunday, the cricket team taught Mayor Rich Smith and Ms. Zimmerman how to play the game. Mr. Athota said the team invited Mayor Smith and Ms. Zimmerman to the field for an informal inauguration of the space.
"They wanted to understand more about the game, so they joined us for practice," he said.
"It was a pleasure to work with the team," said Ms. Zimmerman. "They just enjoy playing, and I learned so much about the sport."
Ms. Zimmerman said the sport is becoming very popular in Montgomery and the surrounding areas.
Mayor Smith also said he had a good time playing with the team and learning about the game.
Of the mayor’s cricket abilities, Mr. Athota said, "the mayor is a natural."
Mr. Athota said anyone interested in playing with the team could stop by the field on Sunday morning for practice or contact him at [email protected].