Cricket World XI undertook a tour of India in November 1990. the party consisted of 17 members. CWXI played in Delhi, Jaipur and Mumbai and also visited Agra, Sariska Tiger reserve as well as the Bharatpur bird sanctuary. CWXI played six matches and won three, no mean feat in India.
There was some misinformation preceding our arrival in that it was announced in the Delhi and India National Press that three touring teams were arriving Sutton CC, Champions of the Surrey Championship that year, Maltamaniacs CC and CWXI. the mix up occurred because Martin Couch when confirming our fixtures with our opponents did so as Sutton CC not CWXI. Bill Frindall had told his India press & broadcasting colleagues that he was coming so they assumed we were his club Maltamaniacs CC. Luckily there were not three grounds and three opposing teams to play!
The party was made up of players from Met Police, Shoreham, Sutton, Abinger, Leatherhead, Old Elthamians, Cockfosters, Nomads & Maltamaniacs with four ladies in support.
SUMMARY Played 6 Won 3 Lost 3
Match 1 at National Stadium Delhi November 17th 1990 SAI XI SAI 160, 29.4 overs(MP Singh 50,WG Dogra 39,M Blumberg 2-3,Tilak Raj 2-18,Paul Lack 2-25,John Bareham 2-35) lost to Cricket World XI 161-4,29 overs( Marcus Robertson 50,Tilak Raj 32*, Marcus Hallam 27) by 6 wickets
Match 2 at National Stadium Delhi November 18th 1990 NSCC XI 233-5,40 overs(Vikas Prasad 103,Sandeep Dogra 60, Martin Couch 2-35,Tilak Raj 2-63) beat Cricket World XI 116-9,40 overs(Paul Lack 24,Clive Huggins 19,Marcus Robertson 16,Maninder Singh 3-11) by 117 runs
Match 3 at Roshana Club Delhi November 19th CW XI 110-5, 35 overs lost to British High Commission XI 111-5,29.1 overs(R Lloyd 44, M McLean 52,M Blumberg 2-21) by 5 wickets
Match 4 at Vidhayshram Jaipur November 24th Surana Cricket Academy 225,28.3 overs(Deepak Mathur 54rt,Kawaljit singh 37,Anil Sinha 32,M Blumberg3-32,Bill Frindall 2-40,Paul Lack 2-42) beat Criket World XI 130,38.5 oves(Clive Huggins 37,Paul Lack 21,Deepak Mathur 3-10, Jyoti Dave 2-3) by 95 runs
Match 5 at Cricket Club of India Mumbai November 27th Cricket World XI 223-3,45 overs(Marcus Hallam 73,Jack Hyams63,K Vasaria 20,A Bhatia 4-29,S Balna 2-34) beat CCI 179 ,42 overs(T.Zaveri 57,S Balna 32,K Vasania 3-4,John Bareham 3-26,Simon Mason 2-28) by 44 runs
Match 6 at Bombay Gymkhana Mumbai November 28th Cricket World XI 188-8,45 overs(Marcus Hallam 45, Andy Edwards 30,David Spokes 28,Clive Huggins 24,R Sanghani 4-28) beat Bombay Gymkhana 152, 32.4 overs(T Sanghani 46,M Hallam 3-11,J Bareham 3-29,M Blumberg 2-29) by 36 runs
Not many clubs touring India win 50% of their matches so we had done quite well.
Tour Party: Michael Blumberg, Bill Frindall, Clive Huggins, Paul Lack, John Bareham, Marcus Robertson, Jack Hyams, Simon Mason, Andy Edwards, Martin Couch, Marcus Hallam, Geoff Moss, David Spokes and in support Jill Couch, Marianne Robertson, Paula Dixon and Helen Simmons. Our Tour Guide was Mohammed Shoukrat . Four local players also played CWXI - Tilak Raj,K Vasania,S Singh and G Bulgar.