Very few people know that cricket – the second most popular sport in the world after football – also has a long tradition in Germany. In fact, the beginnings of the volleyball game on German soil date back more than 130 years. At that time, Englishmen living in Berlin founded the German Football and Cricket Association (DFuCB), one of the predecessor associations of the German Football Association (DFB). Today it is mainly refugees who join the still manageable cricket clubs in this country. SV Lohhof has also had its own department since January 2021. Its manager, Prafull Toke, is happy to have found a long-term sporting home in the Unterschleißheim district.
Before that, he and his fellow campaigners were already in a club in the Munich city area, but the number of members was steadily increasing. “The sport is growing rapidly. We then looked for a sports field where everyone can play,” says the 38-year-old Indian, in whose home country cricket is a popular sport, as it is in many other Commonwealth countries. At SV Lohhof, the department now shares the grass pitch with the footballers. The pitch, the bright stripe that is at the center of cricket sport, is rolled out on the field for training and games. It is a custom made plastic carpet. Normally, the pitch is firmly integrated into the lawn, but then the SV Lohhof footballers would no longer be able to use the field. “Of course we have to make compromises,” explains Toke, but adds that the current situation is something like football without lines.
The man who works in sales for a 3D printer company in Munich likes to compare it with the only sport that is even more popular worldwide than cricket. According to Toke, football requires top athletics. It’s different with cricket. Both large and small, light and heavy players have already dominated the sport. “Cricket is something for everyone,” he says.
Anything but everyone is familiar with the rules of the sport. The executive committee of SV Lohhof also had to familiarize themselves with the rules of the game, as club boss Brigitte Weinzierl confirms. Before the department was connected to the 4,000-strong association, an exchange took place with Toke’s team.
Ball, Gloves, Racket. Few people are familiar with the piece of sports equipment, and the same applies to the set of rules.
(Photo: Alessandra Schellnegger)
The volleyball game is played with two teams of eleven players each. Each team is alternately a field and batting party. In each round, also called an inning, two players from the batting team and eleven players from the throwing team face each other on a usually oval field. In the battle, a bowler (pitcher) and the batsmen (batsmen) face each other. The goal of the pitcher is to hit and destroy one of the two wickets with the ball. The wicket is a wooden construction made of three longitudinal bars and two transverse bars. The batsman, on the other hand, has the task of hitting the ball with the bat as far across the field as possible. As long as the ball is not back at one of the wickets, it tries to bounce back and forth between them as often as possible. Each successful run means victory points. It is the fielding team’s job to recover the ball and throw in a wicket as quickly as possible.
If the batsman is still out when a fielder takes the wicket, or his batted ball is caught straight out of the air, he is “out” and is replaced by another batsman. This process is repeated until all batsmen are eliminated. Then one round (inning) is over and the teams switch sides. A quick game of cricket, which SV Lohhof also plays, lasts around three hours.
Nine hours go by quickly
Most of the time, two games take place one after the other. Toke and his teammates are usually occupied for nine hours with breaks and setting up and dismantling the playing field. The amount of time she spends does not change her dedication to cricket. The upswing in this niche sport in Lohhof has long since made itself felt in terms of quality. A former German national player is part of the squad, another is on the way to the national team. In addition, SV Lohhof reached the semi-finals of the Bavarian championship in its debut season. The department has not only found its place on the field, but also next to it. “The integration of the many players with an immigrant background has been successful in the spirit of our club and without any problems,” says club president Weinzierl.
She also has words of praise for Toke. He is a very dedicated head of department who has invested a lot of time, energy and commitment in the new department. He, in turn, sees his work not yet done. Rather, he wants to further establish cricket around Munich. He places the main focus on youth work. That is why the department specifically goes to schools and offers workshops there. “Admittedly, the rules are not that easy, but it’s a wonderful sport. There are ups and downs like in life,” enthuses the 38-year-old. The department head explains that the special movement sequences are often unfamiliar to the local school children. But the students are very open to the new sport. Cooperation is planned with the Bavarian International School in Haimhausen, which wants to set up a youth group.
Toke hopes that the department will continue to grow, SV Lohhof currently has two teams playing. The other divisions would soon be introduced in person, a day of getting to know each other had to be postponed in 2021 due to Corona. In addition to the presentation of the rules, the basic equipment of a cricket player should also be presented. It consists of leg guards, a bat, gloves and a helmet. All this is available for around 200 to 300 euros. A special honor will be given to the Lohhofers on August 15th. For the 75th anniversary of India’s independence – in addition to Toke, most of the players also come from the country – the SVler are allowed to organize the traditional cricket game in the English Garden under the patronage of the Prime Minister. Another step into the limelight – just as the ambitious head of department likes it.