Colin Siller, a former Scotland league cricketer, has been named as Fiji's new coach.

He said: "It is a great honour to have been handed a head coach's role. Fiji were a founding member of the ICC and it will be my role to improve the cricket structure there from the senior team downwards. I am really looking forward to working with the young talent as well as getting to know the people."

Siller, who has played for Leith Franklin, Holy Cross, Corstorphine and Gala over the years as well as Watsonians, has previously worked as an age-grade coach with Ireland and was an assistant coach with Canada during the 2005 ICC Trophy. He was then headhunted by Zimbabwe Cricket in 2006 to become coach education manager and assistant coach for the national side.

The Scotsman has more. His first matches in charge will be against Vanuatu at home in mid-May when they will contest a three-match one-day series.

Tony Munro

The Suva Crusaders, has won Fiji's annual interdistrict competition, the Dwarka Prasad trophy, by 43 runs.

The team from Fiji's capital batted first in final of the 50-over tournament held over Easter amassing 129 before dismissing Moce, one of Fiji's eastern islands, for 86. Six teams, Crusaders, Moce, Suva Islanders, Tubou, Ono I Lau and Lautoka played. Competition for grounds and playing areas from rugby union, a perennial problem, limited the number of competing teams.

Meanwhile, Tubou from the island of Lakeba, is set to have its 40-year-hold on the Dewar's Shield contested, when Moce travels to Tubou this October.

Part of the reason for the length of Tubou's title reign, is that a prospective challenger, if unable to afford to fly by plane, faces a two day boat trip. Nadi was the last challenger in 2003.

Six Fijian district teams will contest the Diwarka Prasad Trophy, the premier domestic event in Fijian cricket, this weekend.

Played using a place-of-origin format, the best available players represent the district in which they were born, regardless of where they now live. The tournament is Fiji's only inter-district tournament.

Suva (1), Suva (2), Combined Lautoka/Nadi, Moce, Tubou and Natokolau will each play three 50-over games with the top two teams meeting in the final on Easter Monday.

The Shield is part of the selection of the Fijian national squad to contest the World Cricket League Division Four tournament in Tanzania in the latter part of 2008.

The number of people actively participating in cricket outside the Test-playing countries increased 17% in 2007, according to the ICC.

The research, carried out by the ICC's development program, was collated from 33 Associate and 58 Affiliate members. It showed that there were 338,051 male and female players in those countries in 2007, an increase of 49,158 on the previous year. Since 2002, when there were 144,047 participants, there has been a 135% rise.

Click here for the full story.

The ICC East Asia–Pacific (EAP) Development Program has announced its squads for the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane in November.

Twelve young players have been selected for the EAP Emerging Players Program, and 16 for the squad camp which will bring together the region’s best players ahead of the Australian country cricket championship in Mackay, Queensland this January. This means players from Cook Islands, Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Both squads will experience a week of intensive coaching, training and skill development under the tutelage of Australia’s leading coaches. Each squad will play Twenty20 and 50-over one-day matches against local opposition in Brisbane.

Emerging players squad

Colin Amini (PNG), Arua Dikana (PNG), Willie Gavera (PNG), Masaomi Kobayashi (Japan), Trevor Langa (Vanuatu), Jacob Mado (PNG), Simpson Obed (Vanuatu), Pritchard Pritchard (Samoa), Sekove Ravoka (Fiji), Salesi Tu’Akoi (Tonga), Tony Ura (PNG), Vani Vagi Morea (PNG)

Squad camp

Chris Amini (PNG), Hitolo Areni (PNG), Kapena Arua (PNG), Inoa Baeau (PNG), Jamie Brazier (PNG), Tatsuro Chino (Japan), Mahuru Dai (PNG), Rarua Dikana (PNG), Dunu Eliaba (Cook Islands), Mahuta Kivung (PNG), Andrew Mansale (Vanuatu), Ipi Morea (PNG), Loa Nou (PNG), John Ovia (PNG), Josefa Rika (Fiji), Assad Vala (PNG)

Fiji's good form in the Pacific Games continued today when the humbled, or embarrassed, New Caledonia by a whopping 383 runs. Batting first Fiji made 403 for 8 before dismissing New Caledonia for a paltry 20.

They face Tonga on Friday and Samoa on Saturday.

If you have any further information or photos about this match, or any in the Pacific Games, do get in touch

SportingPulse have a full report:

In making its way to its impressive 403 run batting stint, New Caledonia showed very early signs of unsettling Fiji by dismissing opening bat Iliesa Navatu McGoon for 2 runs in the third over and Sekuove Ravoka for 7 runs in the 7th over. However, the entry of Kida Jikoivanualevu into the action saw Fiji gain real composure and the Fiji run scoring machine go into overdrive. Jikoivanualevu and Fiji's captain, Iniasi Cakacaka, settled in at the crease and put on a 71 run partnership before Cakcaka was bowled by S. Kilama for 29 runs. Kida was eventually caught by Midraia off a bowl from Folituu for a well played 67 runs. Fiji's batting depth showed through its batting order with number 7 batsman Tupou Golati making an impressive 71 runs and top scoring for Fiji and Kitione Tavo at number 8 making 42 runs not out with two sixes to his name. Fiji eventually scored 336 runs off the bat with New Caledonia conceding 35 wides and 19 no balls.

New Caledonia, with what can only be described as a mountain to overcome, took to the pitch with the hope of making a close game of the huge run chase. However, the impressive Fijian bowling attack was always going to make the task ahead for the New Caledonian team a real challenge. New Caledonia, in the course of 16 overs, put 20 runs on the board before they were all dismissed by the highly charged Fijian team.

Thanks to Andrew Dunford for the SportingPulse reminder

Fiji have been forced to move their training from Albert Park as they gear up for this year's South Pacific games.

“This would be good because the weather is hot and of course the venue for training is the main thing.”

The 14-member team consists of five players that went down in the final to Papua New Guinea in the 2003 South Pacific Games. Fiji has been denied three times the gold medal, always settling for silver but this year, Vosaicake said gold was their main agenda.

“We are tired of settling for second best. This team has prepared well and the recent international meets has helped in our buildup for Samoa.”

Only two players, Sakaraia Lomani and Filimoni Vuli will be making their debut. The side has experience from the EAP Championship, Vanuatu Bilateral and World Cup qualifiers.

Their toughest challenge is coping with 50 overs instead of 30 overs, normally played in the local club games.

“It is a challenge for us. Most of our players have experience in 50 overs and we have been training to accommodate that but it is not tough, it can be done.”

[via Fijilive]

The matches begin next Monday on August 27. A full schedule can be found at SportingPulse.

Argentina and Papua New Guinea (PNG) complete the semi-final line-up of the World Cricket League Division 3 after recording impressive victories on the last day of the group matches in Darwin. Argentina take on Cayman Islands in the semi-finals tomorrow, while PNG meet Uganda.

Group A

PNG beat Italy by eight wickets, but it was their superior net run-rate which edged them into the semi-finals, after both teams were tied following two wins each. PNG, who suffered a shock five-wicket defeat against Argentina on Tuesday, had to beat the Italians by a convincing margin to earn a berth in the last four. They did just that, dismissing Italy for 134 before cruising to their target in the 34th over. Arua Uda top-scored with 58 from 92 balls.

Group B

Tanzania tasted its first win of the tournament, overpowering Hong Kong by five wickets. Hong Kong made 161, with Rahul Sharma notching 43 while Bhavesh Govind took 3 for 31. Tanzania cruised home with Abhik Patwa and Rishen Patel putting on 77 for the opening stand, edging over the line in the 47th over.

Eight of cricket’s emerging nations will be hoping to take one step towards qualification for the 2011 World Cup when the World Cricket League Division 3 gets underway this Sunday (May 27) in Darwin.

The top two teams from this event will join UAE, Namibia, Denmark and Oman
in Windhoek, Namibia at the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 November. The top four teams from the event in Namibia will automatically qualify for the ICC World Cup Qualifier in the UAE in 2009, while the two remaining teams will have a second chance to qualify for the UAE tournament at the World Cricket League Division 3 in early 2009.

Click here for the full team-by-team preview.

The Fiji Times reports that the national side have been preparing for their World Cricket League Division Three matches in Australia with games against the army over the last three weeks.

In Fiji, one-day matches in the island’s league are played over 30 overs. This is due to the lack of suitable playing surfaces.

"We have been strengthening our batting during the training sessions," Seci Sekinini, the team manager, said. "It’s a different game. We will have to bat longer. Our players are prone to rush things. Sometimes the teams don't even last the full duration of the club games. And that's 30 overs. So we have a lot to work on.

“The bowlers are also working on their techniques. They are bowling more dot balls at practice. I don't believe our fielding will be a problem. All the players will need to put in their best effort."

Four players who missed the Vanuatu-Fiji series in March have been picked for Fiji's squad in their World Cricket League Division Three campaign to be held in Darwin, Australia, later this month.

The four players - Iliesa Waqaituinayau, Filimoni Vuli, Sakaraia Lomani and Rajeev Patel - are part of a squad, captained by Seci Tuiwai, who will play two warm-ups against an Indigenous XI and the Northern Territory State XI.

The World Cricket League is split into five divisions and is the ICC's method to determine countries' eligibilty to the qualifiers for 2011's World Cup. The other teams in Fiji's division are Hong Kong, Uganda, Tanzania, Cayman Islands, Argentina, Italy and Papua New Guinea.

Fiji's squad
Seci Tuiwai (capt), Iniasi Cakacaka (vice-capt), Josefa Rika, Colin Rika, Iliesa Navatu, Taione Batina, Sekove Ravoka, Inoke Lesuma, Dr Rajeev Patel, Samu Draunivudi, Sakaraia Lomani, Vueta Vuiyasawa, Iliesa Waqatuinayau, Filimoni Vuli

Lautoka beat Suva at Albert Park in Fiji yesterday, taking the gold medal in the Fiji Games competition. The Fiji Times Online has a full report:

Led by Herbert Christopher, who was named player of the tournament, the side won by eight wickets. Suva batted first and was all out for 57 runs. In reply, Lautoka managed 58 runs.

Christopher, who captained the Fiji Under-15 side in 2005, was well assisted by former Indian national Gaurang Patel.

The ICC East Asia - Pacific (EAP) office have confirmed the dates for the 2007 ICC EAP U-19 World Cup Qualifier hosted by Vanuatu Cricket Association in Port Vila. The tournament will take place from July 17 to 24, 2007.

Continue reading "East Asia Pacific U-19 qualifier dates announced"

It won't get many column inches in the mainstream cricket press, but the World Cricket League, which started in Nairobi yesterday and continues into next week, features the best of the rest, the six sides just under the ten Test-playing countries. For the two finalists, the rewards are bountiful - a place among the big boys in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa this September, along with $250,000. For countries used to surviving on annual handouts from the ICC of less than $200,000, that's big money.

Continue reading "A long way from home"

The Fiji Times has a disturbing report on the poor state of Albert Park in Suva, the capital of the country. Safety aspects have been "compromised," and the outfield is littered - literally - with rubbish, pot holes and overgrown grass.

Continue reading "Concern over state of Albert Park"

Fancy a job in paradise? Fiji have just announced that they are looking for a a new coach and manager "to salvage the national team's downward spiral".

Good news from Fiji where the authorities are reviving their free school holiday cricket program beginning next Monday (Dec 5) at Albert Park, Suva. More from the Fiji Times.