Indonesian updates from Jakarta and Bali (21 Dec 1999)

19 December 1999

Indonesian updates from Jakarta and Bali

'Beyond The Test World' is pleased to bring you the latest from the main Indonesian cricket centres of Jakarta and Bali.

Firstly, Vishnu Sampani provides a mid-season report from the Jakarta Cricket Association:

"The 1999/2000 Jakarta Cricket Association Synergy League is making its "millennium turnaround" with a familiar face keeping the top spot in the league table. ISCI Cricket Club, which has dominated the Jakarta cricket scene for most of the last decade, has remained unbeaten since opening day, collecting 47 points from its seven matches so far.

Last season's joint champions and beaten finalists in the Synergy Cup, Indorama CC, are placed second so far, with 22 points from its seven matches. Indorama did start off the season with three consecutive wins, but a spate of poor showing on the field has not seen it win any of its last 4 matches. Upcoming North Jakarta CC has already threatened its position in the standings, the losing semi-finalists in both competitions last season. North Jakarta CC is turning around the century also on 22 points, but with a game in hand on Indorama CC. Only Indorama's superior Net Run Rate keeps it just above the North Jakartans.

Country Woods CC places itself in fourth place with 20 points from six matches, with a strong batting performance from several outstanding individuals in and out of the estate. Country Woods has kept its reputation as being the menace to many leading teams, and if they maintain their current form, they may find themselves in contention for a spot in the semi-finals later in the season.

Gandhi Memorial Int'l School has turned out to be the surprise package of this season. Having spent much of last season in the cellars of the league, GMIS started this season with a shockingly strong victory over North Jakarta. They are in fifth place so far, having beaten Indorama and Rebels CC on the way. It will be interesting to see how long the schoolboys can keep up this form, tackling tight study schedules is a priority and they will need to work hard to add to the 19 points achieved so far.

Texmaco CC shrugged off its poor start with solid back-to-back wins in its last couple of matches. It worked itself off from the bottom of the table to now stand in sixth with 17 points. It is just a stone's throw from threatening any of the teams from second to fifth place if it can maintain its good form with some wins from the start of the new century.

The shock of the season must be the positions of Ceylon CC and Rebels CC who are currently seventh with six points and eighth with three points respectively. Ceylon CC, proud owners of the Cibubur Cricket Ground, the "Mecca" of Jakarta Cricket, have been struggling to find their form, and share a nagging problem with Rebels CC in being able to field a full side on many occasions. The season started off very well for both teams, with Ceylon winning the Pacific Financial Services Cup, and the Rebels walking away with the Shield in the same tournament in September this year. This event is the annual season-opener of the JCA, and is one of the most popular tournaments in the region.

The second half of the season starts on January 16th, 2000, with most league teams looking to solidify, or improve, their positions in the table hereon. The JCA is looking to invite several teams from neighbouring Asian countries in February, March and April of 2000, and is also planning to send a representative side to tour Malaysia and other countries before the season end, which is in next May. Other events planned for the latter half of the season are some exhibition matches involving teams comprising of players from different nations within the league, as well as the traditional Jakarta Ashes match in April, pitting the Australian expatriates against their English counterparts.

The JCA is working to promote the sport amongst local Indonesians, with the support of establishments within Indonesia, such as in Bali, Bandung, Kalimantan, and Sumatra. The local media have, from time to time, exposed the local cricket scene on various sports and news programs, and it seems that the sport may slowly but steadily emerge to attract more and more followers from the locals. It also has its own website at: _ https://www.edgeindo.com/jca/ where one can obtain more information on the Association, the present league fixtures, statistics on individual and team performances, as well as other material related to cricket in Jakarta, as well as in Indonesia."

Bali is the success story of Indonesian cricket as far as indigenous participation goes. Walter Slamer tells you about cricket on the tourist hot spot.

"The Bali International Cricket Club organises matches on every Sunday of the year. We have a core of 35 expats and regular attendance from eight enthusiastic Indonesian players. Club member's employ some of the Indonesian players, and some other of our Indonesian players are paid to maintain our pitch, grounds and cricketing equipment.

The club plays a variety of matches. Most often we play 35 overs-an-innings intra-club matches.

We also organise an annual ongoing Ashes series, played four times a year between club members resident in Southeast Bali against Southwest Bali residents. The Ashes is played quarterly, approximately beginning in April, with games in July, October, and January.

The Club divides in two, based on residence, not nationality. Roughly all those living in the South-West of Bali are eligible for selection in the Kuta Ashes XI, and all those living in the South-East are eligible for the Sanur XI.

Traditionally Sanur has been the stronger side, but the balance shifted to the tune of 3-1 in favour of Kuta for the 1998/1999 Series. The 1999/2000 Series sees Sanur back on top 2-1 thus far. I (an Aussie) play for Sanur and we have other Australians, Balinese, a Sri Lankan and English taking the field. Also traditionally, for the two years of my involvement, the teams have had the same captains. Kuta led by John 'Lips' Williams from the UK, Sanur by Paul 'The Lightman' Turner from Oz.

We receive and accept challenges from other sporting organisations both on and off Bali. The most recent challenge seeing BICC beaten by Belrose-Terrey Hills Premier League Club from Sydney, Australia.

Each Easter we host over two days the Bali International Sixes competition. This year saw 10 teams from Bali, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, Sumbawa and Kalimantan competing. The Ceylon team from Jakarta ran out close winners over Indorama, also of Jakarta. This is becoming more popular, and the club hopes to build it into a significant regional cricketing event. It's an intensive two days' cricket in a six-player, six over format, with pool matches, then eliminations with a Championship trophy and also a Plate trophy for early losers. Teams should expect four or more matches over the two days. And then a damn good massage! The club can help with accommodation, transport and catering.

Recently, ex-Australian representative Terry Alderman turned out for one of the club's sides and bowled six overs for two wickets, conceding 11 runs. Terry was here on holiday, and contacted our Match Committee chair, Ray Elliott. Ray is also club team captain, with a long record of playing grade cricket in Perth. He once opened the batting for his Perth club side, facing D.K.Lillee. Of interest may be the fact that Terry's mother-in-law, and seemingly Terry's #1 fan, advised us that Terry's game in Bali was his first time taking the field in over four years. Of further interest, Terry was inducted into the Australian Cricketing Hall of Fame (42 wickets in a series against England!) on the day he returned from his Bali holiday.

Any individual or team contemplating visiting Bali is cordially invited to get in touch with the club. We have our own comfortable bar and restaurant, and are happy to meet all new cricketing faces. "

Interested teams should contact: President - Alan Wilson iaeup@denpasar.wasantara.net.id Vice President - Mike Nicklin MNicklin@ialfbali.co.id Clubs under home-page (under development): https://b.i.c.c.homepage.com