Papua New Guinea are the East Asia-Pacific Under-19 champions after they beat Vanuatu by 172 runs in the final at Amini Park, Port Moresby.

PNG won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions and scored freely early on, reaching 24 without loss before Lega Tau was well caught by Karl Laau from the bowling of Niko Unavalu. Heni Siaka was hitting everything in the middle, and started to free his arms, ably supported by middle-order batsmen Tony Ura (27) and Jason Kila (48).

The talented Siaka scored his maiden century for PNG, by far the best innings of the tournament. He was eventually dismissed for 101, but by then the damage had been done and PNG raced towards a huge total, batting their full 50 overs reaching 276 for 8.

It was to take a monumental effort by Vanuatu to chase down these runs, and early on the fielding talents of PNG rose to the fore, with two magnificent run-outs reducing Vanuatu to 31 for 2. They fought on valiantly before they were eventually dismissed for 103 after 34 overs. Jason Kila was the chief destroyer with 4 for 20.

In the battle for 3rd place at Colts Ground, Fiji beat Indonesia by six wickets in a game affected by rain.

PNG and Vanuatu will head to Canada to participate in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

ICC staff

The Vanuatu captain Mr. Andrew Mansale recently received VT123,000 (US$1,094) from the National Bank Vanuatu, along with an array of NBV polo shirts and caps from NBV's Managing Director Andy Cottam. The contribution was generously donated to assist with the running of the Vanuatu Cricket Association children's beach cricket carnival.

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.

Guernsey have become the 34th country to be granted Associate membership of the ICC after their application was unanimously approved during the annual conference in Dubai.

Vanuatu had also applied but they failed to meet the necessary playing requirements as they had not beaten two existing Associates in competition. Mozambique withdrew their application.

A further three countries from the Europe region - Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey - were granted Affiliate status, taking the ICC's total member count to 104.

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"

The ICC has confirmed that Vanuatu's application for Associate membership will not be put forward at the annual conference in late June. Although they met almost all the criteria, they had not beaten three other Associate sides, as required. It was expected that they would achieve this during the ICC World Cricket League Division Five competition in Jersey last month, but they failed to win a game.

Digicel, the telecommunications operator, will sponsor the Vanuatu national side as part of a three-year partnership with the Vanuatu Cricket Association (VCA).

“We are looking forward to this new partnership with this highly respected sporting association," said Digicel Vanuatu general manager, John Delves.

Continue reading "Vanuatu announce major sponsor"

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.

Three countries have applied for ICC Affiliate membership and two more to be upgraded from Affiliate to Associate membership.

Bulgaria, Estonia and Turkey’s applications for Affiliate membership will be considered by the ICC and its annual conference in Dubai at the end of June.

Guernsey and Vanuatu have applied for an upgrade to Associate membership which, if successful, will mean a substantial increase in the funding available to their national associations.

Consideration of Vanuatu's application is subject to it meeting the playing standard criterion in its matches against existing Associates in the World Cricket League Division 5. An ICC team is inspecting the facilities in Guernsey this week.

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.

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The cricket season’s starting early in Vanuatu because of the national side’s commitments in the World Cricket League in Jersey in May. It’s been brought forward six weeks to give players the chance to impress. Port Vila’s premier cricket competition, the BDO Club Championship, will begin February 8 with eight teams taking part this year.

Defending the BDO title will be the APT Dolphins, who won ten straight games last season to win the 2007 Championship. And a Vanuatu spokesperson has a message that the bigger international sides could learn from: “Rivalry remains intense, but never bitter, while umpiring decisions should always be laughed off at the pub.”

Japan and Vanuatu have qualified for the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 tournament following their wins in the final round of the EAP Trophy in Auckland on Saturday.

Japan ended the tournament unbeaten following their five-wicket victory against Cook Islands, while Vanuatu made it four from five with a 65-run win against Tonga. Andrew Mansale again led for Vanuatu, with 79 in a total of 226.

Continue reading "Japan and Vanuatu qualify for World Cricket League"

Airline tickets to Jersey and inclusion in the World Cricket League Division Five tournament in May 2008 await two of three teams contesting the ICC East Asia Pacific Trophy at Auckland’s Waikaraka Park on Saturday. 

After the fourth round of matches was abandoned on Thursday, all fifth round matches were played on Friday, meaning the results from the replay of the abandoned fourth round matches will determine the two teams to travel to Europe in six months.  

Continue reading "Fifth round of EAP Trophy played early"

Vanuatu recorded their first victory of the ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Auckland, with a win on the second day, while Japan and the Cook Islands continued their winning form. 

Vanuatu bounced back from their Round 1 defeat with a comfortable victory against Samoa. The young side made 200 for 9 after being sent in, with opening batsman Frederick Timakata (44) topscoring. Konelio Faillagi (3 for 23 off 10 overs) was the pick of the Samoan bowlers who toiled hard on a good batting surface. Samoa’s run-chase started disastrously and never really recovered despite a plucky 55 from Ben Mailata. Samoa were eventually dismissed for 108 in the 26th over. The fast bowler Kenneth Natapei (2 for 10 off 7 overs) was well supported by spinners Andrew Mansale (3 for 23 off 4 overs) and Simpson Obed (2 for 2 off 1.1 overs) in an even bowling display. 

Continue reading "Vanuatu record first win"

The French speakers of Vanuatu schools could be in for a surprise when cricket coaches come calling, reports Nick Cassidy

At the beginning of this week, cricket was as foreign as a cobra snake to the first and second year student teachers from the Vanuatu Institute of Teachers Education (VITE). But now they can count themselves amongst the millions of fans the sport has worldwide.

Fifty student teachers from VITE have spent the past week learning the intricacies of cricket, including the basic rules of the game and the skills needed to play, at an education course hosted by the Vanuatu Cricket Association.

When they graduate, the teachers will move into schools throughout the islands of Vanuatu armed with the skills to teach children about the game. And given all 50 of them will be moving into French speaking schools, the course has been an excellent opportunity for the VCA to establish connections with dozens of new schools around the entire country.

Continue reading "French teachers in Vanuatu take to cricket"

By Nick Cassidy

Vanuatu have announced their 14-man squad for the East Asia–Pacific Trophy in New Zealand, a blend of youth and experience. 

The regional tournament begins in Auckland in late November and the squad is already training three days a week. A number of practice matches will take place before their departure on November 28. 

Continue reading "Vanuatu announce EAP Trophy squad"

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)

A mouth-watering tussle between last year’s grand finalists Tafea and Mele is by far the pick of this weekend’s match-ups in Vanuatu’s club championship. With Tafea flying high on top of the table, with 90 points, and Mele (70) hitting their straps last week, this Saturday’s 50-over encounter at Kazaa Field could be a good battle.

While the game is being played under the lengthened format, whether the match lasts the distance is another matter, with neither side showing any great desire to bat for fifty overs in their previous day-long matches. As always, the Mele Bulls’ hopes rest on the shoulders of just a few of their stars, while Tafea appears to have a much more rounded squad. But that could count for little if Tafea can’t make the early necessary break-throughs against the Bulls’ top order.

Despite the inclement weather in Port Vila, the National Bank of Vanuatu Beach Cricket Tournament is still set to go ahead as planned Tuesday from 8am.

The day’s activities will be held at Mele Beach, and is a way for the Vanuatu Cricket Association to introduce children to cricket, and show how it can be played in almost any environment.

Around 300 primary school children are expected to participate.