Poland: The wavering fortunes of Warsaw CC

For the story of the Warsaw Cricket Club, you only need to follow their path through this season's Austrian Trophy knockout competition.

At full strength, Poland's sole cricket club scored victories on successive days against opposition match hardened by regular fixtures in the the Austrian Cricket Association's Open League season.

Come the Trophy semi-finals, a nine member team stood no chance against Pak CC, losing comprehensively.

It is typical of the fluctuating nature of the club's membership, which has a core of about 12 regulars and 20 others who participate occasionally.

In the season just past, Warsaw's playing staff included Englishmen, Australians, Indians, South Africans, Zimbabweans and Pakistanis, drawn to Poland through careers as diverse as accounting, computing, teaching, textile manufacturing and marketing. In previous seasons, the club has also attracted New Zealanders and Americans (interesting the number of 'outpost' clubs which attract American players).

Poles who come into contact with Warsaw's expats have come to the club's riverside ground to give the game a try, but the only 'local' to remain actively involved became attracted to the game while domiciled in England for an extended period.

Tentative steps at enticing other Poles have been through Warsaw publications and social events arranged by the club.

During the 2000 season, Warsaw played its cricket at a country club near the Wisla River. The ground, which had a pitch of hessian matting, is on two hectares with a setting of trees, a field and the river itself, flowing just 500m. from the outfield. One year the river flooded and the ground was under two metres of water. While that didn't force Warsaw CC to relocate, problems with the country club's management have, and the main focus of the off-season will be finding an alternative venue.

Apart from the Austrian Trophy adventure, the club also entertained a club from England, and played a two match series against Prague CC.

If you would like to play cricket in Warsaw........