By Geoff Thompson

As the temperature begins to rise around our northern hills and most locals think of searching for a cool spot in the shade, club cricketers get an urge to congregate in Chiang Mai and run around in the sun. It isn't only mad dogs and Englishmen either, although there are quite a few of them too. These barmy buggers (or enthusiasts if you prefer) fly in from all over the world for the annual festival at the old Gymkhana Club known, and now internationally well-known, as the Chiang Mai Sixes.

A significantly abbreviated version of the noble game, six-a-side cricket has yet to receive the official blessing of world cricket's governing authorities. However this has hardly held back the popularity of the game. It is ideally suited to tournament format, being short (only 40 min's per match), fast and an exciting game both to play and to watch. Sixes cricket had its first ever international tournament in Bangkok in 1985, came to Chiang Mai in 1988 and has since spread worldwide with tournaments in countries across the globe and with more new teams every year discovering the fun.

So it is that the 18th Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes is scheduled this year from March 27 -- April 2 in the grounds of the 107 year-old Chiengmai Gymkhana Club. A total of 30 teams from 11 different countries are lined-up to play in the tournament, which has been expanded to a full seven days and is on course to be one of the biggest ever. The event also continues to help promote development of cricket in Thailand as it will include the 6th Sixes Sawasdee Cricket Cup for Thai junior school teams.

As we went to press, negotiations were underway to try to bring Sir Viv Richards (the former West Indies captain who was named recently by Wisden as one of 5 greatest cricketers of the 20th Century) to this year's Sixes. Mick Jagger , the

Rolling Stones legend - an avid cricketer - has also been given an invitation. And, as usual, a number of other current and former cricket professionals will be guesting for various teams.

As it turns eighteen, the Sixes is Chiang Mai's most successful annual international sports event. Over 300 cricketers, friends and supporters will be flying into the city for seven days of sport and relaxation. This also makes the Sixes a significant event on the tourism calendar and the Tourism Authority of Thailand continues to be one of the tournament's most loyal supporters. In contrast to recent suggestions that Chiang Mai is just a tourist stopover and lacks any return appeal, teams invited to take part in the Sixes average at least 3 return appearances. The Perth Postels team is making special efforts to celebrate their tenth consecutive tour to Chiang Mai, and three teams - the Wombats (Australia), Darjeeling (Dubai), and Drifters (England) - have participated in all eighteen years of the event. Within the ranks of the teams are many players who themselves have made Chiang Mai virtually a second home. "Make no mistake, these guys don't just come back to play cricket," says Maurice Bromley, who for 15 years has been the event's voluntary Tournament Director. "They love Chiang Mai, spend money around town and enjoy their holiday at what is first and foremost a friendship tournament."

In local team news, the UN Irish Pub have secured the transfer of two skilled (they hope!) cricketers -Wally Pohl and Dean Henderson - and are moving up from the social cricketing Spoon Division with a hope (and a prayer) to compete in the main Cup competition. Also in the mix, the Lions of CMW are entered for their fourth attempt to take the silver spoon and sole local entry in the Spoon Division, the Gymkhana Cavaliers captained by Eric Little, plan to include 3 Thai 'graduates' from the successful Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance (CMSCA) programme which has introduced cricket to local schools. Completing the list of local entries in the Sixes, will be the glamorous and fiercely competitive (in that order) Chiang Mai Chassies, defending their long unbeaten run in the Ladies Challenge competition.

In the 6th Sixes Sawasdee Cricket Cup (March 29-April 2) for junior school teams, up to sixteen teams of local Thai schoolchildren are expected to compete. The competition entry suffers a little from coinciding with the Thai school holidays, but thanks to the help of teachers and parents a good turnout of budding cricketers is again expected. On Saturday April 2, as part of Finals Day at the Sixes, there will be a junior exhibition match between two teams of local youngsters who have graduated from Sawasdee Cricket (a softball, junior version of the sport) to the hardball adult game. This short match is intended to demonstrate the progress being made in Thai junior cricket development in Chiang Mai.

The Sixes makes for a very pleasant day out in the pastoral, idyllic setting of the venerable Gymkhana Club. And yes, there is a spot in the shade to sit in while you watch the action, enjoy a cold beer or soft drink, eat lunch or simply snooze the day away. Even if Sirs Mick and Viv don't get here this year, it should be great fun as always. Entry is free, and there's a friendly all-day bar right on the boundary.

Cricket action runs everyday from Sunday March 27 to Saturday April 2, starting bright & early at 8:30 and running through about 14 matches until around 17:30 in the afternoon. Support your local Sixes if you can, and find out why this little bit of cricket has already gone such a long way.

City Life Chiang Mai, 1 March 2005