Canadians take World Cup drubbing on the chin

TORONTO, Mar 16 (Reuters) With cricket grounds buried under snow and a hockey-mad country absorbed by the NHL playoff races, Canada's seven-wicket defeat to Kenya in their Cricket World Cup opener did not exactly send the country into mourning.

While a similar thrashing on the ice hockey rink might have been greeted with black arm-bands by Canadians, Wednesday's loss to Kenya frankly caused barely a ripple of concern in the Great White North.

At Gretzky's, a popular downtown Toronto sports bar owned by hockey great Wayne Gretzky, the seven-week long cricket World Cup in the Caribbean is not on the viewing menu.

''No one has requested that (cricket) so we do not have it,'' receptionist Margarita told Reuters. ''Where is it?'' Even among Canada's hardcore cricket fans there was disinterest in the local side's troubles.

At the Windies restaurant, partly owned by West Indies cricket star Ramnaresh Sarwan, the World Cup was playing on a dozen television screens on Wednesday but to an empty room with only the cook and waitress, who admitted she knew nothing of sport, offering an occasional glance.

''It was packed yesterday, when the West Indies played, you should have come then,'' Mike, the manager, said.

CUP ATMOSPHERE The Hardball, where several members of Canada's national team hold court after local cricket matches, was the place to go, recommended Canadian Cricket Association general secretary Calvin Clarke, to soak up some World Cup atmosphere.

But at lunch there are only two men cheering Canada on, one of them Meryl James, coach of Toronto West Indies cricket club who is charting the progress of one his players, Henry Osinde.

''People are not so interested in Canada,'' explained James.

''Most have come to Canada from other places and support their home countries.

''You should have been here yesterday.'' Despite evidence to the contrary, cricket has a robust following in Canada, its popularity anchored among Toronto's many multi-cultural communities.

One-day matches between rivals Pakistan and India have attracted over 40,000 spectators to the city's domed stadium.

The sport also enjoys strong grassroots support with the Toronto and District league -- where most of Canada's national team plays, boasting over 120 teams and 7,000 weekend players making it the largest in North America.

ADOPTED HOME Canada's World Cup squad reflects the country's ethnic diversity, with nine of the 15-strong squad born outside Canada bringing their passion and expertise for the sport to their adopted home.

John Davison may be hardly known outside the cricket community but when he hit the fastest century World Cup history in South Africa four years ago against West Indies he gave Canadian cricket the face and charismatic performance to grab the sporting spotlight and attention of new fans. Briefly.

Recognising the sports broad appeal, Canada's largest daily newspaper the Toronto Star put out a special eight-page section ahead of the World Cup and has reporters in the Caribbean covering matches The Asian Television Network is providing pay per view coverage of the World Cup in Canada and will continue to produce the cricket channel after the final in April.

''The sport is growing and we are very excited about the interest the World Cup has received,'' ATN chief executive Shan Chandrasekar said.

''But in Canada it is much easier to sell hockey because cricket is not something everyone understands.'' REUTERS SAM KP0943