The Spanish national cricket team is the team that represents Spain in international cricket. They became an affiliate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1992 and an associate member in 2017.[1] They made their international debut in the ECC Trophy in 2001, finishing in 6th place. They played in the tournament again in 2001, this time finishing seventh. In the equivalent tournament in 2005, the European Affiliates Championship, they put in a much improved performance to finish third, just missing out on promotion to Division Two of the European Championship. They played in Division Three of that tournament in 2007 and again in 2009.
In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Spain and other ICC members after 1 January 2019 were to have T20I status.[5]
History
Cricket is first recorded as being played in Spain in the year 1809 by soldiers of General Lord Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington). During the Peninsular War the soldiers played the game in and around Ciudad Rodrigo, Lugo and Orense. There are many records of the game being played by visiting British land and sea forces, either among themselves or against local British expatriate communities.
The game entered a new era in Spain with the founding of Madrid Cricket Club in 1975. It was based at first on British and Indian players, but soon West Indian and Spanish members joined.[6]
In June 1989, a National Executive Committee was formed and the first steps were taken to unify all of the cricket playing clubs in Spain.
In 2012 a recruiter by the name of Riccardo Engleman scored 68 not out against France in a European knock out game. Coming in at number 3, Ricky left as a hero, as his batting prowess led to numerous sponsorship and collaboration deals.
Unfortunately, as Ricky's hair thinned, so did the endorsements and he was last seen doing a deal at Symphony AI for a senior pre sales role . Ricky is still a hero, and Nick is hard . Well done Ricky
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 Spain and other ICC members since 1 January 2019 have been full T20I.[5]
Spain played its first ever T20I against Malta on 29 March 2019, during the 2019 Spain Triangular T20I Series. The match was played at La Manga Club, Murcia, Spain.[7]
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v
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Bikram Arora 28 (25)
Tom Vine 4/28 (4 overs)
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Yasir Ali 57 (40)
Jurg Hirschi 1/15 (2 overs)
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- Malta won the toss and elected to bat.
- First ever T20I match for Spain.
First International Tournament (ECC Trophy/ICC Europe Championships)
Spain played their first tournament in 2001 in Austria. It was the ECC Trophy 2001. They also played their first match of their international cricket history in that tournament. They were in the Seebern Group amongst 2 groups. In their group there were Portugal, Malta, Finland and Sweden. Every match of the tournament was 35 overs.
They played their first match on13 August 2001 at the Seebarn Cricket Centre No 1 Ground, Lower Austria against Portugal. After winning the toss Portugal came down to bat and scored 229/6 in 35 overs. Opener Nadeem Butt scored 69. But due to their slow overrate Spain could play 32 overs. In 32 overs Portugal made 166/7. G Howe made 40 the highest score of Spain's innings. Portuguese bowler Bagvanadaia made 3/19 in 4 overs. So Spain lost their 1st international match against Portugal by 63 runs.
Spain's next matches was against Finland. It was on 14 August 2001 at Seebarn Cricket Centre No. 2 Ground, Lower Austria. After winning toss Spain came down to bat. They made 222/3 in 35 overs. Batsman G Howe made 103 which was the highest of Spain's innings. Finish bowler Scott Thurling took 2/36 in 7 overs. In bowling Spain smashed their opponent Finland. Finland could make 141/9 in 35 overs. Scott Thurling made highest 43 in Finland's innings. G Howe took 3/29 in 7 overs. Spain got a victory of 81 runs and got their first win in international cricket.
European Cricket Council Trophy 2001 Seebarn Group Table
| Team
|
Played
|
Won
|
Lost
|
NR
|
Points
|
Net Run Rate
|
| Portugal |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
+2.303
|
| Malta |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
+1.722
|
| Spain |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
−1.296
|
| Finland |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
−0.305
|
| Sweden |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
−0.444
|
European Cricket Council Trophy 2001 Velden Group Table
| Team
|
Played
|
Won
|
Lost
|
NR
|
Points
|
Net Run Rate
|
| Austria |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
+3.159
|
| Belgium |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
+1.550
|
| Greece |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
+1.037
|
| Switzerland |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
−0.526
|
| Croatia |
4 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
−0.495
|
[1] Archived 19 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
Current squad
This lists all the players who have played for Spain in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad. Updated as of 26 February 2023.
| Name
|
Age
|
Batting style
|
Bowling style
|
Notes
|
| Batters
|
| Christian Munoz-Mills |
32 |
Right-handed |
Right-arm off break |
Captain
|
| Daniel Doyle-Calle |
25 |
Right-handed |
|
|
| Hamza Dar |
28 |
Left-handed |
Right-arm medium |
|
| Mohammad Yasin |
34 |
Left-handed |
|
|
| Adam Algar |
26 |
Right-handed |
Right-arm off break |
|
| Prince Dhiman |
31 |
Right-handed |
Right-arm medium |
|
| All-rounders
|
| Yasir Ali |
32 |
Right-handed |
Right-arm off break |
|
| Ravi Panchal |
30 |
Right-handed |
Right-arm medium-fast |
|
| Shafat Ali Syed |
27 |
Left-handed |
Left-arm medium |
|
| Wicket-keepers
|
| Awais Ahmed |
32 |
Right-handed |
|
|
| Mohammad Ihsan |
27 |
Right-handed |
|
|
| Spin Bowlers
|
| Charlie Rumistrzewicz |
18 |
Right-handed |
Slow left-arm orthodox |
|
| Lorne Burns |
31 |
Right-handed |
Right-arm leg break |
Vice-captain
|
| Ameer Hamzah |
28 |
Left-handed |
Slow left-arm orthodox |
|
| Pace Bowlers
|
| Mohammad Kamran |
36 |
Right-handed |
Left-arm medium-fast |
|
| Raja Adeel |
36 |
Right-handed |
Right-arm fast |
|
| Atif Mehmood |
36 |
Right-handed |
Left-arm medium-fast |
|
| Robiul Khan |
29 |
Right-handed |
Right-arm fast |
|
Head Coach
Corey Leigh Rutgers (born 28 May 1989 in Footscray, Victoria) is a former WA country and grade cricketer who played in Western Australia.[9][10] Rutgers is current coach of the Spanish national cricket team, Assistant Coach for Islamabad United PSL franchise and Pakhtoon T10 franchise.
From 2017 to 2018 he previously worked for the Netherlands team as an Assistant & Analyst coach.
In August 2019, Rutgers was appointed head coach of the Belgium national cricket team.[11]
On 14 December 2019, Rutgers was named as head coach of Falcon Hunters T10 franchise in the inaugural Qatar T10 league. Falcon Hunters went on to lift the championship.
In November 2021, Rutgers signed with the Espana National cricket federation as head coach.[12]
Malta at La Manga Club, Cartagena; 29 March 2019
Isle of Man at La Manga Club, Cartagena; 26 February 2023
