The fifth leg of the 2016 ICC USA Cricket Combine set for Bolingbrook, IL this Thursday through Sunday, May 12-15 will feature a kick-off demonstration of baseball and cricket at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Chicago White Sox will host the International Cricket Council for a sports demonstration, where 1983 American League Rookie of the Year Ron Kittle, international cricket legends, and USA cricket prospects are scheduled to take a swing at cricket and baseball on the iconic green grass at U.S. Cellular Field, located at 333 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL. The demonstration is a kick-off event for the ICC’s four-day Combine in that city, this Thursday, May 12 at 10:00am weather permitting.
In addition to similarities between the two sports, the White Sox first home game was held at the home of the Chicago Wanderers Cricket & Athletic Club, located a few blocks south of U.S. Cellular Field at 39th Street and S. Princeton Avenue. Former owner Charles Comiskey bought the site in 1900 for the team and built a wooden grandstand to seat 15,000 fans. The White Sox played their last game at the park on June 27, 1910.
Ron Kittle, the White Sox great and 1983 AL Rookie of the Year, will join Fahad Babar, USA prospect named 2015 ICC Americas Division One T20 Tournament Best Batsman and MVP, Cathryn Fitzpatrick, former Australian female national cricket coach and recently retired Australian cricketer, recognized as the world’s fastest pace bowler, Ali Khan, USA prospect who recently received a Caribbean Premier League contract for 2016, Graeme West, head coach of the World Cup-winning West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) U19 team, and Mike Young, Chicago native and internationally renowned cricket coach.
It is expected that the baseball and cricket stars will take turns at both sports, swinging for the fences, in the demonstration and kick-off event.