CRICKET CLOSER; AVID FANS TURN OUT FOR FINAL GAME.

Byline: Robert Monroe Staff Writer

It didn't matter to the 50 or so die-hards watching the last match of the AXN American Challenge cricket tournament Tuesday that the winner of the best-of-five series had won enough games to take the tournament title two days earlier.

It didn't matter that this was a day to be at work, nor that rain threatened to sideline the match at Woodley Park and wind gusts overturned spectator tents.

This was international cricket in the middle of the San Fernando Valley.

``I was born with cricket. I hope to die with cricket,'' said Glendale resident Clive Samuels, a transplant from Jamaica who arranged his days off from work to attend every day of the tournament.

Australia wrapped up the tournament Sunday, winning a $10,000 check. It also won Tuesday in a game played for pride and contractual obligations. But what the event did for the sport in Southern California made the local cricket community the biggest winner.

For starters, host Southern California Cricket Association will probably add about 500 members to the 1,000 people now on its teams. The organizers have proved they can put on a successful international event and might receive an exponential boost from a match planned seven months from now that, unlike this one, will feature top-tier national teams.

``Soccer was nowhere 30 years ago. Nobody would have predicted that the U.S. would host a World Cup a generation later,'' said David Simon, president of the Los Angeles Sports Council, which helped promote the tournament. ``If you look at that, you have to think there's a place for cricket.''

More than 1,000 elementary school-age children in and around Los Angeles are learning the game under the tutelage of association members, who are quick to point out its character-building qualities. The most tangible evidence of its growth at this event, however, might have come at the merchandise stand set up by Jeevaka and Sharmel Weerasinghe, owners of The Wicket Keeper, one of Southern California's few cricket gear stores.

Sharmel said sales of spiked cricket shoes, bats and gloves didn't exactly skyrocket during the tournament, but at least a few of the people who bought wares at her San Bernardino County store did so even though they had no idea what to do with them.

``There have been tons of spectators coming in asking about the rules,'' she said.

The rest of the The Wicket Keeper's customers have been those brought up on cricket.

``They buy videos of old games because they can't see it on TV,'' said Sharmel.

So imagine the ecstasy of the local fans watching international play live. Moreover, cricket legends - either broadcasting the games to 69 countries or coaching the teams - were easily accessible.

The sport holds no quarter for inflated egos even though some of its stars are idols of the stature of Michael Jordan in their own countries.

``Basketball is like an American game,'' said Los Angeles resident Devon Ingram, another Jamaican transplant. ``Cricket is an international game so there is not any one star.''

Australian team captain Allan Border is the sport's Hank Aaron, the all-time international leader in runs scored.

``He's the king, mate,'' said Ryan Campbell, a batsman for the Australian team.

Border said the team got to see Disneyland, Universal Studios, several bars and, from a distance, actress Helen Hunt.

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Photo

Photo: Australia's Shane Lee, left, bowls a ball toward India's Devendra Bundela during the final day of the American Challenge cricket tournament in Woodley Park.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer