LUANG NUA, Thailand -- There is a band of young women, some without parents, others with alcoholic mothers and fathers jailed on drug charges, who have come down from the mountains of northern Thailand. Poverty rules there --and almost nobody can tell the difference between a stump and a wicket.
Yet these feisty, dedicated girls from ethnic minority hilltribes -- often denigrated by lowland Thais -- have emerged as national champions, repeatedly defeating teams from more privileged backgrounds in a rather unlikely sport -- cricket. Some have played in teams that have brought home gold medals from international competitions, and touched hearts throughout the country.
