Cricket Victoria visit to Japan

Photo © ICC

Cricket Victoria has further strengthened the partnership between CV and Japan with two Regional Cricket Managers visiting Japan for 4 days to assist with the development of both Mens and Womens cricket.

Stephen Field (RCM for Regions 1 & 2) and Gary Sanders (RCM for Region 10) were provided with specific tasks to improve the standard of the Womens National squad and also to conduct a Level 1 Coach Accreditation course to train local personnel to become proficient and confident coaches.

Stephen worked with Junior who is the Japan National Womens squad coach. A squad of 15 women had been selected from a series of trials and training over the past few months.

The squad are preparing to travel to the Netherlands in July to compete in the International Womens Cricket Council World Cup Qualifier competition. The 15 players proved over the full 2 days that they have exceptional potential and the attribute of really wanting to learn and improve.

The team harmony is great and all the women showed much improvement during the coaching sessions, particularly the running between wickets and horizontal bat shots such as the pull and cut shots.

"Colonel" was the Presenter of this inaugural Level 1 Coach accreditation course in Japan. Mark McTamney who hails from New Zealand is now living in Japan and teaches English. Mark assisted in conducting the course and will now be able to conduct future Level 1 courses for Japanese cricketers.

There were 21 participants attending the 2 day course. Some were National Squad members, some were ex Pats who are heavily involved in the promotion of local cricket, some were involved in taking cricket to the schools, 2 women also attended who wanted to promote cricket further to students at universities.

Japanese cricket is moving forward at a very impressive rate with the preparation of two ovals for playing at Fujinomiya.

These are located on the banks of a river and required numerous hours of working bees to hack away the undergrowth, level out and plough up the soil to plant suitable grass for playing.

One oval has a concrete wicket with synthetic carpet, the other will shortly have a concrete pitch with synthetic carpet provided by the ICC - EAP.

Both Stephen and Colonel loved the experience and forecast huge growth in numbers and standard over the next few years.

Thank you to all the JCA personnel who made us feel very welcome.