The North American Tournament (NAT), started in 1994, features the highest representative level of cricket on the North American continent.

The NAT is held alternately in Canada and the US. An equal number of North American representative teams ("provincial teams" from Canada and "cricket leagues" from the US) are invited to take part in a 45-over tournament following the World Cup format, ie roundrobin groups, followed by a knockout to determine the final standings. The NAT is played over a week. Sometimes a couple of wild card teams are thrown in to liven the proceedings; the Canadians always send an under-23 team and the Australian Police added spice to the first NAT.

In practice, the NAT has been a Western showcase. Few provinces from Eastern Canada have taken part; and in the US, most of the participation has been from the West Coast and Hawaii. Even so, there are few tournaments in North America that can claim to be more "representative" than the NAT; and its standard of cricket has been consistently high and worth watching.

The first two NATs were a Canadian show. British Columbia, which had won the Canadian Interprovincials the same year, confirmed its status as top team in North America in fine style. The best the US could do was third place, won by a gallant but depleted Northern California. The second NAT was held in Los Angeles and British Columbia won the tournament again in "enemy territory".

The surprise came in the third NAT, held in Vancouver BC in 1997. The US teams, from Washington, North and South California and Hawaii, performed very well in the round robin, and Southern California ended up in the finals facing (of course) British Columbia. In the end, Southern California managed to steal an exciting victory on the second-to-last ball of the day, with just one wicket to spare.....the first time the trophy had been won by the United States.

Miracles, unfortunately, do not repeat themselves. In the 1998 championships (fourth NAT), Canada reasserted its primacy; not only did it win the championship, the under-23 team also took third place, more or less shutting out the US teams on their home ground.

So on to 1999 and the fifth NAT, which will be held during the first week of August in Vancouver BC. The US leagues have something to prove, and they know it. And if you live in North America and can arrange your vacation schedule to be in Vancouver BC, you will not be disappointed.....not if you enjoy cricket.