Italy aims to raise its game

By Suzanne Bush BBC, Rome

Cricket began as the most English of team games with its emphasis on tradition, sportsmanship and strange rules.

It has become dominated by the teams like Australia, India and Pakistan, but now Italy is making a bid to bowl over its doubters and become the next big European cricketing nation.

The hills near Milan are alive with the sound of leather on willow

Italians may be surprised to learn that they already have their own cricket league and there are 31 official clubs around the country.

Simone Gambino, president of the federation, he says people are already more aware of cricket, but there is still a long way to go.

"I would say that now one person out of 10 would know what it is as opposed to one out of 100 maybe 15 years ago," he said.

"From an era of curiosity we are now moving into a form of awareness. Growing, expanding, from the pioneering phase into the structural one."

Spirit of cricket

They are tackling this structural phase with a project they hope will put cricket up alongside cycling and the Grand Prix in the nation's affections.

As well as investing in new grounds capable of hosting international matches, they will also send club coaches into schools to teach children what cricket is and how to play it.

I think a lack of patience means it will always be, at best, a good minority sport Stephen McPhail

Gabriele Passaretti is just 21, but as well as studying architecture he plays for the national team. In his other role as captain and coach of Roma Cricket Club he will be one of the people going into schools.

He thinks the most important thing is getting children playing straight away, but he also wants to teach them the culture surrounding the game:

"You should start to give lessons on the spirit of cricket, and on the elegance of the sport, the fact that it must be played in white," he says.

"It will be really hard work for us as well, but we are the players who believe in this, so we have to do it if we're to have better players in the future."

Italian passion

Members of Roma Cricket Club are so committed to the future of the game that they are digging into their own pockets to raise money for their own ground.

Cricket will never be as popular as football in Italy

They hope to buy it next year so they can attract foreign teams from countries like Britain and South Africa to take advantage of Italy's good weather and longer playing season.

But how likely is it that cities, towns and villages around Italy will ever be graced by the sound of leather on willow?

Twenty-six-year-old Stephen McPhail joined Roma Cricket Club last season, but has also played in South Africa, Holland and Britain. He says it will be hard as the game goes totally against the average Italian's nature.

"They are busy and active and passionate about things, so a gentlemanly, long and profound game like cricket is not quite their character I think" he said.

"I think a lack of patience means it will always be, at best, a good minority sport."

In Italy cricket will never come close to football in terms of popularity.

Those already playing it are well aware of that. But they are confident that, starting with the next generation, they can teach Italians to appreciate and enjoy this most English of games.