Tony Munro

The Japan Cricket Association intends to submit an application to be included in the cricket sector of the 2010 Asian Games.

The Guangzhou Asian Games Organising Committee (GAGOC) has asked countries who wish to take part in the tournament to make a submission and it will then decide which countries will participate.

CricInfo understands the GAGOC has not yet decided how many countries will feature in the tournament, although the Asian Cricket Council had at one stage suggested the men's event be confined to eight teams - the four Test-playing countries, the hosts China and three non-Test qualifiers.

Indonesia has decided against submitting an application. "We think we are still not ready to compete in such an elite tournament and we would need to spend a substantial amount of funds in getting our team ready for this tournament and we do not have such funds," said Indonesia Cricket Foundation president Prakash Vijaykumar.

Japan will be the only country from the ICC's East Asia-Pacific development zone to apply to take part. The two other countries who are members of the Asian Olympic Committee, South Korea and the Philippines, have not competed in recent regional cricket tournaments. Japan is listed 40th in the ICC's world rankings. It has finished in the top three of the medal count at every Asian Games.

A strong MCC side completed their tour of Japan with wins in all four matches. They beat Sano CC, a Japanese Development XI and the national side in Twenty20 games, and rounded things off with a tight two-wicket defeat of Japan in a 50-over match.

Japan had every chance to win the limited-overs game after reducing MCC to 60 for 6 chasing 137 but a seventh-wicket stand between Gary Brown (46*) and Guy Bulpitt (26) enabled the tourists to sneak home.

The MCC squad completes the trip with games in Indonesia.

Papua New Guinea continued their dominance in Apia with another convincing win to take the World Cricket League section of the East Asia Pacific (EAP) Trophy.

Continue reading "Papua New Guinea steamroll Japan"

Japan coach Richard Laidler

We are all delighted to secure our status in the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 after today’s victory over Gibraltar.

The result is great reward for all the hard work put in by the team in the past few years, many of whom used all their annual leave just to play in the tournament.

You may be wondering how an Australian managed to become coach of the Japan cricket side. A few years ago I was living in Darwin doing some coaching and I was selling cars. One of my friends went to Japan to coach and then came back for personal reasons.

He asked me whether I fancied going to Japan to coach cricket for three months, which then became a year, and I have now been there seven years and absolutely love the place.

Continue reading "Victory reward for hard work"

Bahrain sealed their place in the World Cricket League Division 6 in Singapore after a comfortable 196-run over Japan in Port Soif. Recovering from yet another top-order collapse at 24 for 4, when Patrick Giles-Jones picked up another five-for after the seven he took the previous day, half-centuries from Qamar Saeed (75 not out), Adil Hanif (73) and Ashraf Yaqoob (51) lifted them to 260. In reply, Japan couldn't face up to the Bahrain attack, capitulating to 64, as Naeem Amin, Qamar and Yaser Sadeq remarkably finished with the same bowling figures of 3 for 15.

Mohsin Kamal, the Bahrain coach, was delighted with the achievement. "Everybody is delighted as we have achieved the main target that we set ourselves before we had come here," Kamal said. "Our other target is to try and win the final on Sunday. We have qualified for Division 6 and everybody hopes we can continue to progress to the top."

Click here for a full report from yesterday's other matches

The opening day of the ICC World Cricket League Division 7 tournament in Guernsey was almost entirely washed out by persistent rain.

Two matches did get underway before being abandoned - Bahrain were wobbling on 52 for 4 against Gibraltar and Japan were 28 for 1 against Guernsey. The game between Suriname and Nigeria did not even get started.

Tuesday is scheduled to be a rest day and it is possible the organisers might replay today’s matches then.

Japan coach Richard Laidler is hopeful that his side can do well in the World Cricket League Division 7 tournament which gets underway on Sunday in Guernsey.

“I am looking forward to coming back to the Channel Islands. It is always exciting to play in international competition as we don’t get much recognition in Japan,” said Laidler. “To give the boys a chance to show how cricket is a global sport is fantastic and we are looking forward to playing in the event. I really hope we can finish first or second and go into Division 6. After playing in Jersey last year we had a chance to understand the standard that we are actually up against and we know what we will have to come up against.”

Laidler admitted that Afghanistan’s recent success, having risen from Division 5 last year to gaining ODI status in the recent ICC World Cricket League, was a great inspiration to Associate and Affiliate members.

“It is a fantastic story and the competition is really well done by the ICC as it does give teams a chance to go up the rankings. Being from the EAP region we used to only play against the same teams, but we are now getting an opportunity to play against everybody, and that gives you a lot of encouragement if you want to play better teams,” said Laidler.

Having played in similar conditions at the Division 5 event last year in Jersey, Laidler is hopeful that his side can learn from its experiences and apply them to the pitch conditions it will face in Guernsey.

“I am expecting Guernsey’s facilities to be as good or even better than Jersey. We learnt quite a bit about the wickets last year, as we are used to playing on harder wickets, while the wickets over there were a bit slower and held up a bit. We know what we are up against now.”

Japan Women have received a huge financial boost with the announcement of a major sponsor in Altech, a beverage technology and equipment company. The news comes ahead of the team’s preparations for the Shanghai International Sixes tournament later this
year.

Last year, they competed very successfully and the players made a real impression on many of the sponsors and officials with their competitiveness and positive demeanour on and off the field.

A seminar for the ICC’s East Asia – Pacific (EAP) Development Program kicked off today in Melbourne. The five-day course is “a key component in the process to achieve sustainable cricket education within the EAP region and includes an ICC Level 1 coaching Cricket Instructors Course,” the statement read.

Nine highly regarded coaches were selected from an extremely strong pool to attend. The participants are:

PNG John Ovia & Rarua Dikana

Vanuatu Richard Tatwin and Aby Joel John
Japan Jummei Hanada & Nigel Dixon
Fiji Seci Sekinini
Indonesia Melvin Ndoen
Tonga Sione Hamala

The ICC EAP have been able to gain access to world-class facilities through Cricket Australia, Cricket Victoria and the Melbourne Cricket Club.

The ICC EAP Strategic Plan has a strong focus on developing quality cricket coaches in the EAP region, and the Advanced Coaching & Development Seminar is a major part of building sustainable coach development practises.

Naoki Miyaji

The Japanese season, which extends from April to October, is well under way. Not only have the domestic competitions been in full swing, but Japan has had two tours from Australia’s Melbourne CC and the Ned Flanders XI from Queensland. The men’s national team has also taken part in the World Cricket League Division 5.

Robert Walters Japan KK continued their support of the men’s national team and enabled them to play in full coloured clothing for the first time.

The women’s national team will tour Shanghai in September, where they will take part in the six-a-side tournament, and will also play international matches against China and other touring nations. The Greg Chappell Cricket Centre Player of the Year Awards will be awarded at the annual JCA Awards in November to the best performed Japanese player in domestic and international cricket.

Continue reading "Busy season in Japan"

Next week's ICC annual get-together promises to have more than its fair share of politicking, posturing and controversy. But, unless there is a major about-turn, it should also be a watershed for the Associates and Affiliates.

In 2009, income from the ICC's six-year media deal with ESPN-Star, worth over US$1 billion, kicks in, and while the game's big boys will still keep the lion's share, the rest will see substantial increases in their incomes.

Continue reading "Future bright beyond the Test world"

It may be three long years years away, but the road to the 2011 World Cup begins this week in the unlikely setting of Jersey. More famed for its cattle and potatoes than a venue for cricket tournaments, Jersey plays host to 12 of the world's lesser-known teams in Division 5 of the World Cricket League (WCL), as they battle to climb the ladder to the fourth division and dream of a World Cup place in Asia.

Will Luke previews Division 5 of the World Cricket League which gets underway this week.

	Japanese leg spinner Kenji Murata at Fuji Cricket Ground in Fuji © Mainichi Daily News

Naoki Alex Miyaji typically opens the bowling for Japan, but that's not the only way the 29-year-old son of a Japanese father and Scottish mother bends his back on behalf of the game in this country. He's also the CEO of the Japan Cricket Association (JCA), an NPO entrusted with the task of promoting the world's second-most popular participation sport in a land where, for the majority, Cricket is the name of a fashion label.

Despite the iconic surroundings of the playing headquarters at the foot of the country's most sacred peak and bullet trains hurtling past at regular intervals, Fuji Cricket Ground is also symbolic of the state of the game's status in Japan. Its two pitches are among no more than a handful found throughout the entire country. And they're located about 150 kilometers from the center of Tokyo, making a trip there a costly effort in terms of both time and money, an even greater drain considering the core of the game here revolves around university student players.

Nonetheless, Japanese cricket is making inroads. Miyaji estimates there are about 2,000 senior and junior cricket players in competitions that include expatriate-centered and university leagues. JCA has branches in Kanto, Kansai, Hokkaido and Shikoku. Nationwide, almost 6,000 boys and girls have been taught about the sport.

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 first chief executive of Japan will be Naoki Alex Miyaji. He has now commenced his full-time position and is, say the ICC, working hard to continue to break new ground in developing cricket in Japan.

Auckland’s weather had the final say on day four of the EAP Trophy with two matches abandoned without a ball being bowled and a 26-over match between the first- and second-placed sides abandoned when the sides were taken from the field by the umpires six overs before a Duckworth-Lewis calculation would have provided a result.
 

Continue reading "Japan's caution costs them"

The third round of the ICC EAP Cricket Trophy threw the tournament wide open with Japan now the only undefeated team, while Vanuatu made it two wins in two. 

Japan were given a fright, though, by Samoa before shooting to the top of the table with a 33-run win. Courtney Jones (72) and Munir Ahmad (64) led a middle-order recovery to bring Japan back from a precarious 3 for 16 after 7. Faave Faaofo (3 for 43 off 10 overs) and Konelio Faillagi (2 for 22) did the damage for Samoa at the top of the innings, however Japan managed to scrap their way to the competitive total of 9 for 220.

Continue reading "Japan shoot to top of table"

Japan, Cook Islands and Samoa recorded strong wins in the opening round of the ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Auckland.

Japan dismissed Vanuatu for 142 inside 35 overs. Vanuatu lost both openers early leaving Andrew Mansale (79 off 97) to rescue the innings, but he found little support. Mansale's 3 for 9 then gave them a glimmer, but Tetsuo Fuji (27 not out) and Munir Ahmed (26 not out) took Japan home in the 40th over to complete a five-wicket win.

Cook Islands bowled strongly and took regular wickets against Indonesia, dismissing them for 148 in the 44th over. Chris Brown (3 for 25 off 8 overs) and Mou Maururai (3 for 29 off 8.5 overs) were the stand-out bowlers. Joseph Joe took them home, with an unbeaten 44, although he was dropped early on.

Samoa won the battle of the Pacific rivals, beating Tonga by 89 runs. Opening bowler Mafi Langi (3 for 38 off 10 overs) claimed early wickets for Tonga, however Uala Kaisala (54 off 88) led the recovery where Samoa reached 191. Tonga started their run chase cautiously and were unable to build momentum, losing regular wickets. Winston Marriner took the honours with 3 for 33 off 5 overs to wrap up the innings with Tonga all out for 102 in the 32nd over.

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)

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"

Japanese wicket-keeper/batsman Tatsuro Chino may be small in stature but he is making a big splash in East Asia Pacific cricket circles.

Click here for more

Former England Test captain Mike Gatting will play in a charity cricket match in Yokohama, Japan this October, along with Indian cricketer of the century Kapil Dev, and South African legend Clive Rice.

Japan may not be known as a premier cricketing and rugby nation, but come September Yokohama will play host to a veritable smorgasbord of cricketing and rugby greats. The Tyler Foundation, an NPO supporting children with cancer in Japan and their families, is presenting Sports Extravaganza 2006 from September 29 – October 1, 2006. Cricket and rugby celebrities from the U.K., India, New Zealand, South Africa and Australia are coming to Tokyo for a Sports Dinner at the Grand Hyatt in Roppongi, Tokyo, a Celebrity Golf Day at the Seve Ballesteros Course near Narita on September 30, and a Celebrity Cricket Match at the Y.C.A.C. in Yokohama on October 1.

Continue reading "Kapil Dev and Mike Gatting head Japan fund raiser"

While 16 teams are already preparing for the World Cup in the Caribbean, Fiji, Japan and the Cook Islands are assembling in Brisbane to continue their pursuit of a place in the 2011 tournament.

The three countries - the top teams in the ICC's East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region - are set to compete for the EAP Cricket Trophy this week with the winner qualifying for the World Cricket League Division 3, to be held in early 2007.

While 16 teams are already preparing for the World Cup in the Caribbean, Fiji, Japan and the Cook Islands are assembling in Brisbane to continue their pursuit of a place in the 2011 tournament.

The three countries - the top teams in the ICC's East Asia-Pacific (EAP) region - are set to compete for the EAP Cricket Trophy this week with the winner qualifying for the World Cricket League Division 3, to be held in early 2007.