HKCA President's Report 2005-06

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

I am pleased to be able to report that cricket continues to thrive and grow in Hong Kong. At the same time, cricket faces a number of challenges. On the one hand, there is increasing demand from people who wish to play the game at all levels and it is a challenge to provide enough ground facilities to meet this demand; in part this is a tribute to the success of the development programme in spreading the game to the younger generations so vital to our long term future. On the other hand there is the challenge to the national team to perform well in the regional and international arena as this becomes more competitive with the advent of the ACC Premier League and the ICC World Cricket League; this has not been helped by our loss of home ground capability as our 2 grounds with turf wickets do not meet international dimensions. Underpinning the response to these challenges is the continued willingness of sponsors and of association members, who give of their time free, to support the game.

There have been some notable performances and achievements during the year such as the HKCC Scorpions and the Lamma Women both achieving the double in their respective league and cup domestic competitions and the Association winning the ICC regional development award for the best overall cricket development program. The key issues of grounds, senior team performance and funding identified in last year' strategic review as the principal challenges remain at the forefront of the Association's thinking and some notable progress has been achieved during the year. For example, the appointment of Robin Singh to lead our coaching programme in the build up to the imminent ACC trophy competition in August and hopefully the World Cricket League Division 3 next year. In addition there are extremely hopeful signs through various discussions with government that Mission Road can be developed into an international standard ground with grass wickets.

INTERNATIONAL

The seniors had a disappointing fast track countries tournament coming fifth position out of five, amply demonstrating that International competition at this level appears to becoming tougher as the efforts and incentives of the ICC and ACC begin to bear fruit. We must raise our game.

The juniors performed creditably in the Tuanku Ja'afar tournament and the U19s did very well in reaching the quarter finals of the ACC U19 world cup series regional qualification.

Results

Seniors

• ACC Fast Track Countries Tournament - 5th

Juniors

• U13TJC - 3rd
• ACC U17 Asia Cup - 12th out of 16
• U19 World Cup Series Regional Qualify Asia - Quarter finalists

As mentioned above the challenge for the coming year is the ACC Trophy in August 2006. Success there leads to qualification to Division 3 of the ICC World Cricket League in 2007 and the chance to qualify for the 2009 world cup qualifier for the 2011 world cup (details at Annex I).

SIXES

The Hong Kong Cricket Sixes tournament was successfully held at K.C.C. over the weekend of 22nd / 23rd October with teams from England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, India, Australia, West Indies and Hong Kong taking part.

India won the competition defeating West Indies in the final.

The Association has delivered on its promise to the sponsors to continue to improve the event adding Australia and West Indies to the line up and providing international live T.V. coverage.

I record the Association's considerable thanks to the main title sponsors Cathay Pacific Airways and Standard Chartered Bank for their continued support without which the event could not be staged.

DOMESTIC

The number of teams in the Saturday league remained the same at 17, the Sunday league at eight. However, the new women's cricket league increased to 5 teams.

Results

• Saturday League Champions - Sub Cont CC
• Saturday Cup Winners - LSWCC Warriors
• Saturday Plate Winners - Kai Tak
• Sunday League Champions - Scorpions
• Sunday Cup Winners - Scorpions
• Women's League Champions - Lamma Women
• Women's Cup Winners - Lamma Women

The HKCC Scorpions and Lamma Women are both to be congratulated for achieving the 'double'.

I understand that it may be possible to increase the number of teams involved in competitions for next season and this is a welcome sign of the health of the game.

JUNIOR CRICKET

The Junior league continued to thrive and grow and 1 team was added this year making 38 teams in all in five divisions.

The playground league, now in its sixth year continues to prove popular retaining its 64 teams. Wellcome Supermarket deserves the Association's grateful thanks for their continuing sponsorship for this important nurturing ground for Hong Kong cricket.

The Five Community Sports Clubs remain as last year.

I reported last year that a major challenge for the Association remains to facilitate the transfer of junior cricketers into the senior domestic league system to ensure that HK Cricket takes the fullest advantage of the investment in time and effort being expended at Junior level. Progress is being made but the challenge remains.

A highly successful U11, U13, and U15 competition was once again held over Christmas hosted by K.C.C. to the immense enjoyment of boys and girls and their parents.

• U11-Cup Winner - HKCC Sharks
• U11-Plate Winner - Pakistan PICA
• U11-Bowl Winner - LSWCC Warriors
• U13-Cup Winners - HKCC Cobras
• U13-Plate Winners - LSWCC Dragons
• U15-League Winners - LSWCC
• U17-League Winners - LSWCC
• U19-League Winners - LSWCC

COACHING CENTRES AND SCHOOL VISITS

Gappers at HKCC, Dragons at KCC, and some 6 outdoor and 7 indoor LCSD training centres catered for more than 1,700 participants demonstrating the demand for the game at grassroots level and the efforts of the Association to meet it.

WOMEN'S CRICKET

Enthusiasm is increasing and, in line with initiatives being pursued in a number of the major test playing nations and by the ICC, the league was increased to 5 teams.

An exciting prospect later in the year is a 3 ODI tournament versus Pakistan in Pakistan to determine the Asian region qualifier for the Women's World Cup Qualifier which will in turn qualify the winner for the 2009 world cup.

UMPIRES AND SCORERS

I would like to acknowledge the considerable contribution of the Hong Kong Association of Cricket umpires and scorers and am pleased to note the growth in numbers which has enabled umpires to stand in a wider spectrum of HKCA's competitions.

Links with A.C.C. umpiring programmes have been established and a number of our umpires have received ACC + ICC recognition for which they are to be congratulated.

HKCUS have increased the number of training courses for umpires and for league team representatives. A Training Programme for scorers has also been developed.

GROUNDS AND FACILITIES

This issue continues to be of fundamental importance. We desperately need more grounds to meet demand and, one of them must be of an international standard ground to meet ACC / ICC competition requirements. Furthermore we still need more grass wickets on which our players can practice if they are to be competitive at international level. This is now widely understood including within Government.

In terms of Mission Road LCSD have stated their intention to retain control of the ground but have indicated their willingness to support it being developed into an international size ground with grass wickets. They have during the year installed a permanent all wicket net.

As reported last year our exclusive use of Po Kong Village Road will end by 2008 when it will be redeveloped as a communal park. When finished it now seems likely that we will be able to use it on a shared use basis (with football / rugby) including in the evenings under floodlights but the whole playing surface is likely to be artificial. It will be unavailable during redevelopment for 3 years and therefore alternative grounds need to be identified and in playable condition before the 2008 closure.

A special committee under Tony Turner is actively identifying potential new grounds and is in negotiations with LCSD over Mission Road.

The Associated is indebted for the continued support from HKCC and KCC to allow the use of their grounds and facilities. We should also acknowledge the University and the Police in this respect for their continuing grounds access for cricket. I record our thanks in this report

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

The Association has been recognised by the ICC for the excellence of its development programme and has received the following awards

ICC Development Awards

Nominated for 7 awards and won 3 in Regional Level

• Best Overall Cricket Development Programme - Wellcome Cricket Development Programme
• Best Junior Cricket Initiative - HKCA Junior Cricket League
• Best Women's Cricket Initiative - Skitz Sports Bar Women's Cricket League

The Development programme has been immensely assisted by the following ACC programmes.

• Level I Coaching Accreditation - Singapore - May 2005
• Specialist Skills Coaching Course: Fast Bowling and Batting - Thailand - July 2005
• Umpiring and Scorers Course - Singapore - August 2005
• Umpiring and Scorers Course - Malaysia - September 2005
• ACC Central Umpiring Course - Malaysia - December 2005
• Sports Medicine and Fitness Seminar - Thailand - December 2005
• Level II Coaches Accreditation - Malaysia - 18th to 23rd February
• Level II Umpiring Accreditation Scheme - Thailand - 14th to 20th March
• Level I Coach Educator Course - Malaysia - 19th to 24th March

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Much of the ever growing workload in terms of policy, international relations, league administration, team selection, tour management, event organisation, umpires and scorers etc., is met by members of the Association who give of their time freely and I wish to record the Association's thanks for all that hard work and commitment without which the game would not survive in Hong Kong.

This also applies to the national teams who take time off from school or work to represent Hong Kong and I record the thanks of the Association in this report.

Of particular note I wish to thank the large number of people and organisations who involve themselves in the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes and ensure its success, particularly tournament director Glyn Davies and K.C.C. for providing a first class event venue.

We are fortunate to enjoy the support of a number of sponsors as set out below and of course the continuing help and assistance of the Hong Kong Government particularly the LCSD for which we must record our thanks.

• Cathay Pacific Airways
• The Standard Chartered Bank
• Wellcome Supermarket
• Sri Lankan Airlines
• Perrier
• Eaton Hotel
• Foster's
• Vittel
• Skitz Sports Bar
• Brand Hong Kong

We must also acknowledge the support of the Asian Cricket Council and the International Cricket Council as their funding, coaching and advisory contributions are extremely important in sustaining the game here in Hong Kong.

The day to day work of the Association has been diligently carried out by the Association's administration and coaching staff. For the first part of the year this was under Danny Lai and subsequently under our new General Manager, Charles Lau, and I wish to record the Association's thanks for all the hard work and commitment that has been provided by the whole team during the year.

T E Smith
President