Asian Games: ASIAN GAMES: Ambitious China have work to do for cricket dream

LEATHER cracked gently against willow to appreciative murmurs and gentle, if a little bemused, applause. The confused calls of batsman and the frequent howzats of fielders punctuated the silence - while the tranquility was too often ruined by an over enthusiastic public address announcer, the modern curse of many a sporting event.

THRASHED: Pakistan beat China by nine wickets in the women's group match at the Asian Games in Guangzhou (Getty Images)
Close your eyes and you'd be forgiven for thinking that you were on an English village green in the height of summer, rather than deep in China's teething industrial heartland.
Cricket's debut at the Asian Games was seen by many as a major step in the sport's bid to one day earn Olympic recognition, especially for the fast and furious pace of the fledgling Twenty20 game.
The sport has appeared at a major Games before, with a 50-over tournament organised during the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
However, just as that competition was marked by those that stayed away (England were absent, India, Pakistan and eventual gold medallists South Africa sent weak teams), big names from the sub-continent are also missing in Guangzhou.
The powerful Indian cricket board has refused to back the event, citing prior international and domestic commitments, while Test playing rivals Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have sent internationally inexperienced teams.

Completing the line-up of competing nations are hosts China, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Maldives, Nepal and Singapore.
However, it's been reported that the next edition of the world's second largest multi-sport event could drop cricket from its 2014 programme - just as the Commonwealth Games Federation did in 2002 (although the Asian Cricket Council insist pledges have been made to assure its place).
But for the sport to thrive - outside of its traditional strongholds - one country will be vital in the crusade.
Forget about cracking America, for sports to really make it big now there is only one marketplace to target - China.
But on the evidence here, cricket is going to need the sales skills of PT Barnum, the marketing nous of Sir Richard Branson and the all-around savvy of Bernie Ecclestone.
China's women's team were all industry and effort when inserted after losing the toss against Pakistan in their group match.

The 12,000 seater Guangdong Cricket Stadium - an impressive facility with a creditable batting track - bore a striking resemblance to many a county ground with rows upon rows of empty seats.

Forget about cracking America, for sports to really make it big now there is only one marketplace to target - China."
Sportsbeat's Angharad Hughes in Guangzhou

But the small, although vocal, crowd did their best to be encouraging - they cheered dot balls with equal vigour to no balls, were out of their seats at the three leg byes and pretty much erupted at the only six in the match, struck sweetly by Chinese opener Huang Zhou.
In the end the hosts scored just 60 runs from their 20 overs - although lost just five wickets in the process. There is no truth in the rumour that a copy of Geoffrey Boycott's 1976 classic ‘The Book for Young Cricketers' was spotted in their dressing room.
Pakistan set about this target with gutso, dropping just one wicket as they booked their semi-final place by knocking off their runs in just over 12 overs - their cause no doubt helped by some of the worst fielding seen on an international cricket field since Monty Panesar's slip catching practice.
"I know Pakistan won but I don't know how," said 22-year old student Zhoung Wei Shen, one of the few paying customers in attendance, as another day of poor ticket sales dominated the headlines.
"I've picked up some words like wicket and run and I was really happy when China hit the home run or six runs. I was just disappointed it didn't seem to mean much to the match result though."
He was accompanied by a class-mate Houyuan Jiang, who also admitted to being bemused by the rules.
"I was more intrigued than interested in the sport and the tickets were cheaper than other sports," he said. "I watched some cricket clips on the internet before coming and I've ordered a video game, hopefully that will help me learn the rules.
"It's all too slow for me. I know English people love cricket but Chinese youngsters like fast games like football and basketball."