The Democratic Peoples Republic of the Hot Dogs

The Democratic Peoples Republic of the Hot Dogs

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The History of the Republic

2004 – The Legend Begins

Preface

Shanghai Cricket Club’s inaugural 35-over league began in March 2004. Until that point Shanghai cricket had comprised of pick-up matches, sixes tournaments and fiercely contested nationality-based challenge matches. Four teams were formed to compete, with the first three teams being:

The Maharajahs

A popular team of mercurial Indian sub-continentals, with players such as Sanjay Anugula, Deepal Noutiyal and Mayank Purwar to take the fight to any oppostion. The biggest challenge for the Maharajahs though, was to prove the enemy within.

Pudong Dulwich CC

Former SCC President John Kett took three of the club’s ‘galacticos’ - himself, Jason Bird and David Boyle - and recruited a team of Pudong based expatriates to play around them. Their reliance on a few key individuals would make them an unpredictable side, capable of destroying anyone on their day, or folding limply if they misfired.

The Ban Qiu Bashers

A team made up almost exclusively of Australians, who at the time were the predominant nationality within the club. Despite being self-appointed favourites and having a number of the strongest players in the league, it was to prove a tough season for the Bashers – and one which has left many wondering if they will ever recover from their original nickname, “the Gimp Squad”

The Van Hessen Hot Dogs

The Founding Fathers of the Hot Dogs were Mike Tsesmelis, Johan Domela and Joe Hepworth, who took early responsibility to recruit the remaining players and to make up the fourth team. Over the course of the season this included a number of Brits and Australians, two South Africans, two British-Greeks, a Dutchmen, an Indian, a Sri Lankan and a New Zealander.

Nameless right up until the start of the season, the team had been bankrolled by Van Hessen (courtesy of Johan Domela) with other contributions from Sasha’s (Tavis Cairns/Sean McIlroy) and Allens Arthur Robinson (Tim Knowles). After an emergency meeting of the Founding Fathers, the name the Hot Dogs was finally settled upon in recognition of lead sponsors Van Hessen’s ongoing contribution to the sausage industry.

(While recently welcomed Citizens of the Republic may find it difficult to accept that our history is rooted in authoritarian capitalism, rather than re-write the history books the Supreme Council decreed that these beginnings should be remembered and recognized as the first step of a glorious revolutionary journey.)

The Van Hessen Hot Dogs thus debuted on March 14^th against Pudong Dulwich CC. Captain Mike Tsesmelis won the toss and elected to field, and in wintry conditions restricted Pudong to 113-8 in 35 overs. David Boyle top scored with 38 for PDCC, while Martin Hill’s erratic bowling claimed 4 wickets, including that of Jason Bird. The chase was built around the grittiest of opener’s knocks by Joe Hepworth, with more aggressive contributions from Sean McIlroy (18), Martin Hill (13) and Duncan Falzon (13), and the Hot Dogs were home with 2 wickets to spare. The rules of the original competition in those days allowed the teams to continue until completion of 35 overs to accrue further batting and bowling points, and once the target was passed Hepworth cut loose to finish with 32* from 113 balls, taking the team score to 134-8.

The game was followed by a shock resignation of the captain, with his replacement immediately being nominated as Johan Domela. We may never know whether this decision was due to the stress of six Martin Hill overs, exasperation at the strike-rate of his opening batsman, or further evidence the influence of money in the early days of the Hot Dogs.

The Hot Dogs went on to win their next 10 games of the season, built around a pace battery of Andre Casson, Adam Taylor, Mike Tsesmelis, Todd Pearson, Andy Cameron and Tim Stuckey, with leading run scorers being Mike Tsesmelis and Tim Knowles.

A formidable team spirit and winning habit were created, and there were some memorable matches. The first was a humdinger in our first game against the Bashers. Needing 234 for victory, the innings was built around a 78 from Mike Tsesmelis and 76 Tim Knowles. It came down to the wire, with Bruce Cameron (34* off 27) and Nigel Jones together for the last over. Nigel, batting with a broken arm, hit 1 off his first and the last ball of the match to secure victory.

One of the other highlights of the season was the game against the Maharajahs when they needed 18 runs off 30 balls with 7 wickets in hand with Sanjay and Mayank 46* and 70*. The Dogs rallied behind Casson’s war cries, and 7 wickets were taken for just 4 runs and the tradition of paddling pool drinking began.

At the other end of the table, the Bashers and the Maharajahs had been scrapping it out for third place and a chance to play Pudong in the play-offs. An American baseball player, Ashwani Muppasini, inspired a late season rally from the Maharajahs, uniting the team Sourav Ganguly style, and secured them third spot. Gathering momentum, they defeated Pudong in the play-offs, to face the Hot Dogs in the final, who had lost their final game of the season to Pudong and had played no matches in the weeks leading up to the final.

The final was a tense affair, but despite useful contributions from Andre Casson (34) and Mike Tsesmelis (29), the Hot Dogs batting succumbed to a devastating spell of bowling by Deepak Noutiyal, who claimed 6-18 to and left the Hot Dogs 128 all out. Against a confident Maharajahs side the score proved to be far too low, with the Maharajahs winning by 7 wickets. It was a disappointing end to a season that had until that point been utterly dominated by the Hot Dogs, but it had been a highly enjoyable one and was rounded off with a classy teppanyaki awards night.

Team Trophies:

SCL Minor Premiership

SCC Awards:

League:

Best Bowling Average: Andre Casson

Most Wickets: Mike Tsesmelis

Best Economy Rate: Andre Casson

Fielder of the Year: Bruce Cameron

Sixes:

Best Batting Average Andre Casson

Best Strike Rate Andre Casson

Hot Dogs Awards: