Langer eyes return to ‘fantastic’ Sixes
After the greatest finish in Hong Kong Cricket Sixes history, planning for the 2009 tournament is already underway and Australian legend Justin Langer has marked it in his dairy.

“I’d love to come back next year, I’m just waiting for the invitation!” said Langer, a member of the All-Stars team that proved such a hit with fans.

“It’s a fantastic concept – there’s a lot of excitement, the crowd get into it and the players really enjoy it. It’s been a brilliant weekend. And the hospitality in Hong Kong has been amazing.”

Fellow All-Star Matthew Hoggard agreed. “I’ve enjoyed every moment of it – just an awesome weekend,” said the England fast bowler.

“Hong Kong has a niche. It’s the only big six-a-side tournament in world cricket. An exciting event, a superb venue, the people have been great – it all adds up to a fantastic occasion.”

The two-day tournament, held from 8-9 November at the Kowloon Cricket Club, provided non-stop entertainment for those in the ground and the tens of millions of cricket fans around the world who watched it live on TV thanks to a global distribution deal with Ten Sports.

The All-Stars – featuring Langer, Hoggard, West Indies ace Shivnarine Chanderpaul, South African allrounder Tyron Henderson, former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and Sri Lankan duo Sanath Jayasuriya and Chaminda Vaas – proved massively popular with cricket fans.

They also played their part in promoting cricket in Hong Kong by visiting a school for a cricket lesson with youngsters and travelling to Mission Road Cricket Ground and Hong Kong Cricket Club to conduct coaching clinics for promising young players, both boys and girls.

In the tournament itself, home team Hong Kong pulled off two stunning victories over the All-Stars and defending champions Sri Lanka and wound up fourth – their best ever finish in the Sixes.

Pakistan carried off the Plate after a thrilling final against the All-Stars that went down to the last delivery.

And then England and Australia staged the greatest Cup final in the tournament’s 17-year history, England winning on fewer wickets conceded after a last-ball runout of Australian batsman Stephen O’Keefe left the scores tied.

Tournament director Mark Burns hailed the 2008 Sixes as a huge success in the wake of a financial recession that left the tournament without a title sponsor, causing the Hong Kong Cricket Association to underwrite the event.

“It's been a difficult sponsorship market to operate in this year considering the global financial situation,” he said.

“But the HKCA and the Government made the decision to invest in Hong Kong cricket's showpiece tournament and that decision was totally vindicated by the thrilling events at the weekend.”

Back to News

An overhead view of the Kowloon Cricket Club on Sunday (9 November) during the 2008 Hong Kong Cricket Sixes.
Mandatory credit: Kowloon Cricket Club

Sixes organisers were buoyed by a strong turnout from Hong Kong’s cricket fans. “With 10 per cent more public seating available this year, ground capacity was just over 4,000 and we estimate that on Sunday afternoon we had about 3,800 people watching,” said Burns.

The Sixes was shown live on NOW TV in Hong Kong and, for the first time, had Cantonese commentary.

“It was a fantastic tournament, perhaps the most memorable yet and capped by the greatest finish ever, and the feedback from everybody – players, fans, sponsors and officials – about this year's Sixes is extremely positive,” added Burns.

“Obviously, securing a title sponsor for next year and beyond is the priority and we do have some interested parties we are speaking with.

“Given the support of strong corporate and ticket sales, the incredible excitement and quality of play on the field during the 2008 tournament and the global audience of over 100 million for the event, we are very optimistic looking ahead to the 2009 Sixes.”

About the Hong Kong Cricket Association
The Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA) is responsible for professionally administering cricket at all levels in Hong Kong. It aims to promote, expand and develop the sport, improve standards in all areas of the game and increase the number of participants from all sectors of the local community. It organises competitions throughout the year for all age groups, from primary school children to senior players. The HKCA’s wholly owned subsidiary, China Cricket International Limited, is responsible for the organisation and management of the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes         

明星隊球員蘭格冀重遊香港
打完香港六人板球賽後，澳洲傳奇人物蘭格(Justin Langer)已經在安排他2009年的活動行情。

受球迷愛戴的蘭格表示：「明年我很樂意回來，現在只差大會的邀請了。六人賽太棒了，賽事十分刺激，觀眾和球員都享受比賽。還有，香港的待客之道真的很好。」

另一位明星隊球員快投手豪格(Matthew Hoggard)也表示贊同：「我享受這比賽的每一秒，整個週末都很棒。香港這個地方－天時、地利、人和－都齊了，所以舉辦大型的六人賽才會成功。」

於九龍木球會舉行的兩日賽事，令現場的球迷和經Ten Sports轉播收看的觀眾，提供了一個愉快的週末。

一眾明星隊球員除了出席六人賽事外，還在香港擔任宣傳板球大使，包括與香港女子隊在Mission Road Cricket Ground進行板球指導、在香港木球會與青少年一起打板球。

至於六人賽事，東道主港隊在球迷的支持下，分別擊敗明星隊和衛冕的斯里蘭卡，獲得第四。巴基斯坦打敗明星隊，獲得銀碟賽冠軍。英格蘭在決賽面對澳洲，以較少得失球羸得今年賽事冠軍。

賽事總監貝馬可表示：「在金融海嘯的影響下，今次雖沒有冠名贊助商，但在政府的幫助下，六人賽事成功、完滿的舉行了。今年的觀眾席比去年多了百分之十，一共有大約4000個座位，我們預計星期十下午有3800人入場觀看賽事。」

六人賽事在NOW TV同步現場直播，今年更首次提供粵語評述。

貝馬可續說：「對於今年的賽事，觀眾、球員和工作人員均一致給乎高度評價。我們已經和幾間贊助商接洽，為明年的賽事簽定冠名贊助商。以今年的盛況，我們絕對有信心把明年香港六人板球賽安排得更好。」

回新聞頁

星期日(11月9日)在九龍木球會舉行的2008香港六人板球賽的鳥觀圖。
相片提供：香港六人賽

有關香港板球總會
香港板球總會負責管理全港各級別的板球事務，目標為推廣、擴大及發展板球運動、改善運動各範疇及增加本港社區各階層的參加人數。會方全年為包括學界及年長級別籌辦比賽，其全資附屬機構中國板球國際有限公司負責籌辦及管理香港六人板球賽。