Ian Billcliff
Encyclopedia
Ian Shaw Billcliff is a Canadian
cricket
er. Though born in Canada, he grew up in New Zealand
.
Billcliff made his debut in first-class cricket
in 1991 for Otago
in New Zealand domestic cricket, and in 1992 he played twice for the New Zealand Under-19 team
. He later played for Wellington
from 1995 to 1997, and then for Auckland
from 1997 to 1999. After leaving Auckland, he played club cricket in England in the Surrey League.
Billcliff became interested in playing a season in Canada and got in contact with the Canadian cricket president via an ICC Development Manager.
Having revealed his place-of-birth, he was immediately chosen for Canada's squad in the 2001 ICC Trophy
, and was an important part of the team who achieved a third place finish, thus progressing to the World Cup. He made important contributions in the World Cup matches, including a 42 in the match against Bangladesh
, and a 71 in the match against Kenya
.
Since the 2003 World Cup
he has played just two One Day Internationals for Canada
, against Bermuda
in August 2006. He has played in other tournaments for Canada though, including the 2005 ICC Trophy
, the ICC Americas Championship
in 2004 and 2006, and three ICC Intercontinental Cup
matches. He has also captained Canada on occasion.
Billcliff continued to play cricket in New Zealand, but only in club cricket in Auckland where he has played for Cornwall http://www.cricinfo.com/canada/content/story/122417.html. In the 2006-07 season, he played for the newly formed University/Ellerslie club, a merger between Auckland University Cricket Club and Ellerslie Cricket Club
http://www.times.co.nz/cms/sport/sports_news/2006/09/art100013275.php.
He is currently a physical education teacher at Auckland Grammar School
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. Though born in Canada, he grew up in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
Billcliff made his debut in first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
in 1991 for Otago
Otago Volts
The Otago Volts are a first class cricket team representing the Otago Cricket Association, one of six major associations that make up New Zealand Cricket....
in New Zealand domestic cricket, and in 1992 he played twice for the New Zealand Under-19 team
New Zealand U-19 cricket team
The New Zealand Under-19 cricket team have been playing official Under-19 test matches since 1986. Former captains of the team include Stephen Fleming, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns and Brendon McCullum...
. He later played for Wellington
Wellington Firebirds
The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...
from 1995 to 1997, and then for Auckland
Auckland Aces
The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...
from 1997 to 1999. After leaving Auckland, he played club cricket in England in the Surrey League.
Billcliff became interested in playing a season in Canada and got in contact with the Canadian cricket president via an ICC Development Manager.
Having revealed his place-of-birth, he was immediately chosen for Canada's squad in the 2001 ICC Trophy
2001 ICC Trophy
The 2001 ICC Trophy was a cricket tournament played in Ontario, Canada in 2001. It was the qualifying tournament for the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
, and was an important part of the team who achieved a third place finish, thus progressing to the World Cup. He made important contributions in the World Cup matches, including a 42 in the match against Bangladesh
Bangladeshi cricket team
The Bangladesh national cricket team is a national cricket team representing Bangladesh. The team is administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board . Bangladesh is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status...
, and a 71 in the match against Kenya
Kenyan cricket team
The Kenya national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Kenya in international cricket matches. They are considered one of the strongest of the associate member nations of the International Cricket Council, especially since reaching the semi-final of the 2003 Cricket World Cup...
.
Since the 2003 World Cup
2003 Cricket World Cup
-Group stage tables and results:The top three teams from each pool qualify for the next stage, carrying forward the points already scored against fellow qualifiers, plus a quarter of the points scored against the teams that failed to qualify.-Pool A:...
he has played just two One Day Internationals for Canada
Canadian cricket team
The Canada cricket team is the national cricket team representing Canada in men's international competition. It is run by Cricket Canada.While Canada is not sanctioned to play Test matches, the team does take part in One Day International matches and also in first-class games against other...
, against Bermuda
Bermudian cricket team
The Bermudian cricket team is the team representing Bermuda in the sport of cricket, governed by the Bermuda Cricket Board. The Bermuda Cricket Board was elected to Associate Membership of the International Cricket Council, the global ruling body for the sport, in 1966...
in August 2006. He has played in other tournaments for Canada though, including the 2005 ICC Trophy
2005 ICC Trophy
Ireland beat Bermuda easily as Ed Joyce made 103 for the hosts in Stormont.----Denmark beat Uganda by 28 runs as Thomas Munkholt Hansen took 6 for 30 to carry Denmark to a 28-run win over Uganda in Muckamore. Denmark made 197 with Henrik Saxe Hansen making 71...
, the ICC Americas Championship
ICC Americas Championship
The ICC Americas Championship is a one-day cricket tournament organised by the Americas Cricket Association for non-Test national cricket teams in the Americas...
in 2004 and 2006, and three ICC Intercontinental Cup
ICC Intercontinental Cup
The ICC Intercontinental Cup is a cricket tournament organised by the International Cricket Council as part of its cricket development programme...
matches. He has also captained Canada on occasion.
Billcliff continued to play cricket in New Zealand, but only in club cricket in Auckland where he has played for Cornwall http://www.cricinfo.com/canada/content/story/122417.html. In the 2006-07 season, he played for the newly formed University/Ellerslie club, a merger between Auckland University Cricket Club and Ellerslie Cricket Club
Ellerslie cricket club
Ellerslie Cricket Club was formed in 1922 at a location known as Michaels Avenue Reserve, Auckland. The Club has had some well-known players come to play for them in the past. Some include Ole Mortensen and English Internationals, Devon Malcolm, Wilf Slack...
http://www.times.co.nz/cms/sport/sports_news/2006/09/art100013275.php.
He is currently a physical education teacher at Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
.