For Chiang Mai's longest running international sporting event, a spot of uncertainty or economic turmoil in world affairs, has never been something to stop the show going on. And this year the 16th Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes is scheduled as always to run for six days packed with sport and socialising from Monday, March 31 to Saturday April 5. As we went to press, 28 teams were scheduled to compete this year for the Sixes Cup, Bowl, Plate and Spoon trophies, in the idyllic cricket field setting at the 105 year-old Chiengmai Gymkhana Club.

Teams are entered from 12 different countries this year and include the return of the 4 teams which provided probably the most exciting Cup and Bowl finals seen in Chiang Mai, at last year's event. Defending Cup Champions the Lords Taverners from Western Australia will be looking to repeat their success. While the Gloucestershire Gipsies from England, very narrowly beaten by the Tav's in last year's finals will be seeking to turn the tables this year. Bowl Champions, England's young Kiteboys who came from behind to snatch a surprise victory last year, will be hoping to go one better in the Cup this time.

While their opponents in last year's exciting final, The Warbler Bunny Club out of Bahrain, may once again belie their good-time off-the-field reputation with on-field heroics. Old favourites like the Wombats, the Drifters, and Darjeeling, who have taken part in every Chiang Mai Sixes since they began in 1988, will of course be back again, together with first timers like Lamma CC from Hong Kong, Javea Wanderers from Spain, and a Worcester Police team from England.

Local interest will be watching out for this year's Chiang Mai Tobacco industry team (yet to be given its annual name as we went to press!), and the CMW Warriors team from CMW Oriental Collection Co. Ltd, both potential winners in the Cup-Bowl-Plate division. Chiang Mai is also ably represented in the more socially sporting contest for the Sixes Spoon trophy, by Gymkhana Cavaliers and the Irish Pub.

As always a number of 'star' international cricketers are expected to play with various teams in the tournament. Among those scheduled to participate are a party of eight from Sri Lanka, including ex- test match stars Roshan Mahanama, Rumesh Rathnayake, and Amal Silva. Also returning once again will be Lanthra Fernando, Ruchira Palliyaguru, S. Jayantha, Malintha Warnapura. Having obviously enjoyed his Sixes's experience of last year, current Sri Lankan test match umpire K.T. Francis will also be here again.

Former Australian test spin bowler Tom Hogan is now a regular favourite in Chiang Mai and returns to play with the Lords Taverners team he helped to win the Cup last year. Also from Australia, it is possible that Trevor Chappell, youngest of the famous cricketing brothers, may also return for his second visit. A large contingent of 'stars' is expected from South Africa including Hugh Page (last here in '94), test bowler Meyrick Pringle, and batsman HD Ackerman, Neil Johnson, and another Sixes's favourite, batsman Kenny Jackson.

Already an important part of Sixes'week in Chiang Mai is the Sixes Sawasdee Cricket Cup competition for local junior school teams. Now in its 4th year, the junior tournament will take place between April 1 - 5th and is also played at Gymkhana Club on an adjacent field to the adult Sixes tournament. The schools's event is part of a year-round program to introduce cricket in local Thai schools the children play a simplified version of the adult sport, called in Thailand, Sawasdee Cricket. The program was begun 3 years ago in Chiang Mai supported by the interest and generosity of Chiang Mai Sixes participants. It has had great success and now enjoys official recognition from the Asian Cricket Council.

The Sawasdee program is also being introduced in Bangkok schools, and it is hoped in the Sixes Sawasdee Cup this year a represntative Bangkok school team will compete along with the ten or more local Chiang Mai schools expected to enter. The next stage of development is of course to move the youngsters up to regular 'hardball' cricket, and local program organisers the Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance are already making strides in that direction. This year's Chiang Mai Sixes finals day on Saturday April 5 should see a 'hardball' exhibition match between Chiang Mai vs Bangkok students. The hope is that in not too many years there will be enough good young players to form an internationally competitive ethnic Thai national cricket team.

Six a side cricket is a short, fast, action packed version of the longer game, and to accomodate all the teams this year, the organisers have scheduled up to 14 matches per day over the full six days. To add to the excitement Castrol are repeating their 'Big Six' challenge begun last year, of cash prizes for batsmen who hit their advertising sign (placed on the boundary), with a clear six run hit. Let's hope the weather behaves itself, as there is little or no slack time in this action-packed schedule. Cricket starts at 8:30 AM each day and the matches go on until around 5:30PM.

Entrance to Gymkhana Club ground is free of charge, there is shaded seating for spectators, and ample supplies of refreshment on sale food by Northern Farm and a full selection of beverages at the Sixes's bar. As the official Sixes's beer this year, the organisers are pleased to welcome for the first time, the sponsorship of Heineken. A packed week of sporting fun and friendly socializing in equal measure is the key to the success of the Chiang Mai Sixes, now surely the world's most well-known and popular amateur six-a-side cricket festival.