Seattle Orcas
Seattle Orcas Logo
LeagueMajor League Cricket
Personnel
CaptainWayne Parnell
CoachPravin Amre
OwnerSamir Bodas
Ashok Krishnamurthi
Satya Nadella
Sanjay Parthasarathy
S. Somasegar
GMR Group
Team information
CitySeattle, Washington, United States
ColoursBlack, White, Light Green, and Orange
Founded2023 (2023)
Home groundMarymoor Cricket Community Park (planned)
Capacity6,000 (planned)

T20 kit

The Seattle Orcas are an American professional Twenty20 cricket team that competes in Major League Cricket (MLC).[1] The team is based in Seattle, Washington and was announced in 2023 as one of six inaugural franchises to play in Major League Cricket.[2] The Seattle Orcas are owned by an investor group including Satya Nadella, Soma Somasegar, Samir Bodas, Ashok Krishnamurthi, and Sanjay Parthasarathy – and the GMR Group.[3] The Orcas have a minor league affiliate called the Seattle Thunderbolts,[4] who play in Minor League Cricket and were the 2022 champions.[5]

The team plans to have their home ground at Marymoor Park in Redmond, Washington.[6] The park's cricket ground is set to have a capacity of up to 6,000 people once it is completed around 2025.[7] The team is coached by former Indian cricketer Pravin Amre.[8]

History

Background

In November 2021, the Bellevue City Council passed a resolution to support further research into the cost and feasibility for a cricket facility in Seattle.[9] This was followed by a similar resolution that the Redmond City Council adopted in January 2022.[10] A motion of support to develop a cricket facility in Marymoor Park was then passed by King County in February 2022.[6][11] In May 2022, Major League Cricket announced that Somasegar and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella were among some of the lead investors launching Major League Cricket in the U.S.[12]

In March 2023, MLC unveiled the team ownership, name, and logo prior to the inaugural MLC domestic draft.[13] It was also announced that the team would partner with the GMR Group, who co-owns the Delhi Capitals of the Indian Premier League.[14] Co-owner Somasegar stated that the Orcas name and colors "pay tribute to our local community [of Seattle] that has helped build that spirit of support".[15] On May 27, 2023, it was revealed that the Orcas had revamped their logo to emphasize its focus on cricket.[16]

2023 season

Prior to the launch of the official season, it was announced the MLC's inaugural domestic draft would take place on March 19, 2023.[17] The Orcas' had the first pick of the draft and selected Thunderbolts captain Harmeet Singh as their first overall draft pick, before adding the likes of Shehan Jayasuriya, Angelo Perera, and Shubham Ranjane in later draft selections.[18] In addition, Mitchell Marsh and Quinton de Kock were announced as some of the team's overseas signings during the draft.[19] Over the following months, several more overseas signings occurred, including the signings of Wayne Parnell, Dasun Shanaka, and Heinrich Klaasen – amongst others.[20][21][22]

The team also announced their lineup of support staff, with Johan Botha coming onboard as the team's bowling coach, Ross Taylor as the team's batting coach, Pravin Amre as the team's head coach, and Jarrod Harkness as the team analyst.[8]

Prior to the start of the season, Mitchell Marsh and Sikandar Raza – who were both included in the Orcas squad – withdrew from MLC due to it clashing with other tournaments such as the Ashes and the Zim Afro T10.[23]

In the start to their inaugural campaign, the Orcas' went top of the table by recording a 5-wicket win over the Washington Freedom,[24] a 35-run win over the San Francisco Unicorns,[25][26] and an 8-wicket win over the Texas Super Kings.[27] The Orcas' winning streak was snapped, however, during a 2-wicket defeat to the Los Angeles Knight Riders.[28] A 2-wicket win over MI New York assured the Orcas' a first-place finish going into the finals nevertheless.[29]

Current squad

  • Players with international caps are listed in bold.
Seattle Orcas roster
Position Name Nationality Date of birth (age) Batting style Bowling style Year signed Notes
Batters Shehan Jayasuriya  Sri LankaSeptember 12, 1991Left-handedRight-arm off-break2023
Aaron Jones  United StatesOctober 19, 1994Right-handedRight-arm legbreak2023
Nauman Anwar  PakistanOctober 12, 1995Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2023
Angelo Perera  Sri LankaFebruary 23, 1990Right-handedLeft-arm orthodox2023
All-rounders Harmeet Singh  IndiaSeptember 7, 1992Left-handedLeft-arm orthodox2023Vice-Captain
Shubham Ranjane  IndiaMarch 26, 1994Right-handedRight-arm medium2023
Cameron Gannon  United StatesJanuary 23, 1989Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2023
Mitchell Marsh  AustraliaAugust 20, 1991Right-handedRight-arm medium2023Direct signing
Dasun Shanaka  Sri LankaSeptember 9, 1991Right-handedRight-arm medium2023Direct signing
Sikandar Raza  ZimbabweApril 24, 1986Right-handedRight-arm off break2023Direct signing
Wicket-keepers Quinton de Kock  South AfricaDecember 17, 1992Left-handed2023Direct signing
Heinrich Klaasen  South AfricaJuly 30, 1991Right-handedRight-arm off spin2023Direct signing
Bowlers Phani Simhadri  United StatesJune 7, 1992Right-handedLeft-arm fast2023
Matthew Tromp  South AfricaApril 1, 2005Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium2023U23 player
Wayne Parnell  South AfricaJuly 30, 1989Left-handedLeft-arm medium-fast2023Direct signing; Captain
Andrew Tye  AustraliaDecember 12, 1986Right-handedRight-arm medium-fast2023Direct signing
Izharulhaq Naveed  AfghanistanNovember 10, 2003Right-handedRight-arm leg-spin2023U23 player; Direct signing
Hayden Walsh Jr.  West IndiesApril 23, 1992Left-handedRight-arm leg-spin2023Direct signing

References

  1. ↑ Oxley, Dyer (March 16, 2023). "Seattle is getting a major league cricket team". KUOW. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  2. ↑ Santos, Melissa (March 17, 2023). "Meet the Orcas, Seattle's new cricket team". Axios. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ IANS (March 17, 2023). "Satya Nadella, GMR group bag rights for a team in US' T20 franchise Major League Cricket". Business Insider India. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  4. ↑ Cassidy, Benjamin (July 26, 2022). "Cricket's Up to Bat in Seattle". Seattle Met. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  5. ↑ Cassidy, Benjamin (September 27, 2022). "Seattle's Celebrating a Championship Today—in Cricket". Seattle Met. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. 1 2 Saunders, Hannah (February 24, 2022). "King County passes Motion of Support for Marymoor Cricket Community Park". Redmond Reporter. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  7. ↑ Peter Della Penna (March 18, 2023). "USA T20 franchise league MLC projected to spend $110 million on facilities ahead of 2023 launch". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Hariharan, Vishwanath (June 17, 2023). "MLC 2023: Seattle Orcas announces their coaching staff; Ross Taylor appointed as batting coach". CricketTimes.com. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Council Roundup: Smart debt management". City of Bellevue. November 3, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2023. The council unanimously supported further research into the cost and feasibility for a cricket facility  ...
  10. ↑ "City of Redmond Resolution No. 1551". City of Redmond. January 18, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2023. Redmond supports efforts to evaluate the opportunity to bring Major League Cricket to our region and the development of a multipurpose cricket facility ... supporting development of world class cricket infrastructure in the region to support the growth of cricket and provide greater opportunities ...
  11. ↑ Peter Della Penna (March 18, 2022). "USA T20 franchise league MLC projected to spend $110 million on facilities ahead of 2023 launch". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  12. ↑ Schlosser, Kurty (May 18, 2022). "Major League Cricket secures $120M funding from Microsoft CEO and others to launch in U.S." GeekWire.
  13. ↑ "Satya Nadella's new Seattle pro cricket team has a name". Puget Sound Business Journal. March 16, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Seattle makes splash with new Major League Cricket team". Seattle Refined. March 18, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, GMR group secure rights for a team in US' T20 franchise Major League Cricket". Business Today. March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  16. ↑ Seattle Orcas [@MLCSeattleOrcas] (May 27, 2023). "New Logo Alert! The Seattle Orcas are proud to unveil the franchise's new logo which is sure to make a big splash. #SeattleOrcas #MLC2023 #MajorLeagueCricket @MLCricket" (Tweet). Retrieved May 31, 2023 – via Twitter.
  17. ↑ Peter Della Penna (February 3, 2023). "MLC set to launch with draft on March 19 at NASA's Johnson Space Center". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  18. ↑ Peter Della Penna (March 20, 2023). "Harmeet Singh goes first in MLC Draft to Seattle Orcas; Ali Khan and Unmukt Chand snapped by LA Knight Riders". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  19. ↑ Savage, Nic (March 20, 2023). "Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis and Mitchell Marsh sign on for inaugural Major League Cricket tournament". Fox Sports. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Wayne Parnell Joins Quinton De Kock At Seattle Orcas". Club Cricket SA. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  21. ↑ "MLC 2023: Seattle Orcas rope in Dasun Shanaka for inaugural edition". CricTracker. The Tribune. May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  22. ↑ Moyo, Brandon (May 17, 2023). "Raza signs for USA's Major League Cricket". The Chronicle. Retrieved May 19, 2023.
  23. ↑ Roller, Matt (July 4, 2023). "Maxwell, Marsh pulled out of the Hundred by Cricket Australia". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  24. ↑ "MLC: Seattle Orcas clinch five-wicket win over Washington Freedom in a thriller". The Sun. July 15, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Klaasen, bowlers fire Orcas to second win". Cricbuzz. July 15, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  26. ↑ "Hetmyer shines with cameo in MLC". The Jamaica Star. July 17, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  27. ↑ "Wayne Parnell's 5-for takes Orcas top of MLC 2023 table". Cricket.com. July 17, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  28. ↑ "MLC 2023: Rilee Rossouw helps LA Knight Riders end winless run with a thrilling victory". The Times of India. July 23, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  29. ↑ "Klaasen century takes Seattle past New York in high-scoring game". ESPNcricinfo. July 24, 2023. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
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