Preparations in full swing for Pineapple Cricket Tournament
Organisers pay tribute to late Mike Procter
Pineapple Cricket organisers are ensuring all fields to be used for the upcoming 120th tournament from Saturday March 2 to Saturday March 9 will be in tip-top shape by the time the first ball is bowled.
With the tournament just over one week away, a new carpet has been laid at The Helpers and The Hospital fields.
The crack at the Hospital field has been repaired, with Peter Amm and his son, Simon, having taken on the repairwork, said tournament secretary Megan McCallum.
“Rosehill SPAR has been welcomed as a co-sponsor this year together with Kowie Toyota. They will be hosting the cricketers and invited guests at the prize-giving marquee at one of the venues, Port Alfred Country Club, every evening after matches are concluded,” said McCallum.
Live music and entertainment has been organised for every night of the week’s festivities at the marquee, with the opening night’s entertainment on March 2 provided by Greg Short.
The free tournament booklet/ fixtures are being designed and printed.
Oldies Day, which comprises a fixture between the East v West Legends on Monday March 4 is in the hands of former Pineapple Cricket president, player and MCC member, Ross Purdon.
After the death of SA cricket and Gloucestshire legend, Mike Procter, who was pencilled in as guest speaker on the evening of March 4, Pineapple Cricket organisers are having to make arrangements for a replacement. This would be confirmed by the end of the week, said McCallum.
Six teams will compete for the main trophy in the A league, 10 in the B league, with eight invitational teams.
Tournament director Dave Duncan said it was with deep sadness that the cricket community learnt of Procter’s passing over the weekend. “Mike was an absolute legend on the cricket field in the ‘60s and ‘70s, rated by many as the best all-rounder of his time in world cricket,” said Duncan.
“A few of us had befriended Mike over the past few years and it was while watching the Ashes at Lord’s [London] last year that Mike committed to joining us at the Pineapple Tournament as our guest speaker on March 4.
“He was to spend three days in Port Alfred as our guest of honour.
“Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends who have lost a part of their lives,” said Duncan.
Unfortunately, Hong Kong outfit KaiTak CC are unable to make it to the tournament.
“Their visas could not be ready in time,” said McCallum. “We have replaced them with a new invitational team, the Lower Albany Legends, headed up by Rodney Nightingale and will comprise players from the district.”
Former Southwell CC cricketer and Pineapple Cricket president, Justin Stirk, said the longevity of the tournament was testament to the commitment by the many role players involved in the spectacle. “It’s probably the only cricket tournament in the world where people play cricket for eight solid days.
“There are six games per day in one small town or location. It is incredible that it’s been going this long in its original form since 1904,” said Stirk.
“Some people just for the love of cricket take annual leave to be part of the Pineapple. A lot of young people seem to be coming back to the game after the tournament experienced a dip in younger cricketers participating for a few years.
“It’s probably the highlight and, perhaps, the biggest money-spinner outside of the Christmas season for the town of Port Alfred.
“You’ve got 12 teams playing each day, that’s about 132 players eating lunch somewhere, and you have all the supporters having food and drink it’s a heck of a boost for the town.”
Stirk, who first took to the cricket field for Southwell CC in 1985, playing in many Pineapple tournaments, before retiring from the game in 2020, said the tournament Cup was purchased in England in 1920 and presented for the first time the following year, and was still the prized silverware for A section teams.
“It [Pineapple tournament] started with four teams in 1904 cricketers would go out on ox wagons for twoand-a-half weeks with some games continuing for a day-and-a-half.
“So Pineapple Cricket has really evolved from there and gone from strength to strength up to its present format,” said Stirk.
“And today, with 24 teams involved, it’s a heck of a lot of cricket and a lot of organising one must remember all organisers are volunteers.
“When you have a tournament like this run by volunteers from preparing the fields, organising the tent, sponsorships, payments, the lunch venues, umpires it is a reflection of their commitment to the game.”
Stirk said several talented players had chosen to play Pineapple and club cricket instead of furthering their careers “because they are farmers and can’t spend time away from their farms”.
“There are many who would walk any provincial side, guys like Brandon
Handley and the Norvals come to mind.”
He said rural-based cricketers of the past who had made provincial sides included Lorrie Wilmot, Claude Pittaway and Phillip Amm.
Grahamstown Cricket Board president Leon Coetzee said it was testament to the farming and surrounding community’s love for the game that Pineapple Cricket had survived until its 120th anniversary.
Coetzee himself is a former Willows CC player who has played in at least two Pineapple tournaments.
“The Pineapple Tournament happens at the end of the club season and it’s an opportunity for our 1st and 2nd teams to participate in a tournament which brings all of the rural cricketing communities together.
“Pineapple Cricket has actually promoted the game in our region over many years,” said Coetzee.
“The inclusion of development clubs in later years has been a great and an interesting development.
“The Ngumbela XI vs a Pineapple XI [that takes place later in the year] has been a great development which has strengthened relationships between the respective administrators.
“Pineapple Cricket is also a massive family occasion and boosts the local economy. The younger players have benefited immensely from the older players who are still playing.
“Pineapple has definitely boosted interest and grown the game in Makhanda and the region.”
He said the Makhanda area was proud of its tradition of providing the bulk of the umpires for the tournament.
A book titled Pineapple – an astonishing cricketing story, written by Luke Alfred, which chronicles the history of the tournament, with anecdotes by former and current players and administrators, will be launched at the PA Country Club marquee on the evening of March 4.