Japan - The beginning

Japan National Women's Team Photo © ICC

Japan cricket is firmly on the world map after the brave showing of their women's team at the IWCC trophy competition in The Netherlands.

Despite this being the first attempt at international level, the performances of the team were not only competitive, but also very encouraging for further advancement. When you recognise that previous first timers such as Pakistan and Scotland had experienced even greater struggles and then consider their current level, the future is very promising indeed.

Throughout the competition the coaches and managers of opposition teams and the organising committee, had the utmost praise for the team, who consistently displayed fine sportsmanship and above all an insatiable desire to acquit themselves well in every facet of the game.

An indication of the success the team had in bringing other countries closer together were the many friendships they developed with their counterparts and the desire of all opposition players to seek some Japanese souvenirs at the final get together.

Every member of the team at some point achieved individual success and the performances of several players indicated they had the capacity to be highly successful at this level.

Japan women in action at IWCC Trophy Photo © ICC

Japan women's cricket is now able to determine its own pathway of development, with a better understanding of the standard required and the many offers from opposition countries for competition. To achieve a level that would make winning at this level feasible, many more matches will be required as well as a concerted effort to develop certain areas of the game and recruit a little more balance to the team.

The coaching staff led by Junior were all able to contribute in a positive fashion throughout the tournament. Junior being an exceptional judge of technique and understanding clearly what is required from here.

The organising committee deserve the final praise with an incredible effort to manage the tournament with no fuss and plenty of attention if that is possible. Everything was provided and no stone left unturned. The liaison officers (ours being Kirsten) were all fantastic contributors.

Appendix note* Pictures provided on request, some available on the Cricket Victoria Sportal Website under Regions - Western Waves and Mallee Murray.

Tournament Diary

Day 1 A dinner for all players and brief welcome.

Day 2 Sightseeing and brief practice session at KZ KC.

Day 3 V Pakistan
Japan women's team play first ever International match at Dosti Amsterdam. The match was played on cork matting, which proved to be a very slow surface. Captain Kaori Kato lost the toss and Pakistan decided to bat.

With strict restrictions on wides the team began poorly with many extras, before captain Kato and opening bowler Michiko Kono stemmed the run flow. With the captain leading from the front with figures of 10 overs 2 for 25 and the first ever wicket, Japan performed very well to restrict the score to 6/181 after 50 overs. The fielding was very good with keeper Aya Fujishiro - Bunta (no byes) and Momoko Saito (1 catch) and Ritsiko Hiroto (2 run outs) leading the way.

A live interview with the BBC radio was organised at lunchtime for later in the afternoon, with expectations of a good finish to the game.

Openers Ema Kurbayashi and Yuko Sasaki despite batting very slowly had no difficulty with the attack, until the spinners were introduced in the 18th over. At 0-21 victory on a slow outfield was a little implausible, but a good score quite possible. The introduction of 15 year old spinner Sajida Shah changed the scene dramatically, with an incredible spell of 8 overs 7 wickets and 4 runs. Not one batter came to terms with the bouncy, spinning wicket and 7 players scored ducks as the team collapsed to be dismissed for 28. This was the third lowest score on debut in international history behind Scotland and Pakistan themselves.

The strong Pakistani crowd were still impressed and provided the girls with a large ovation and then invited them to a slap up meal of spicy Pakistani food. This was a brief example of how the crowds and opposition warmed to the Japanese girls all week.

BBC radio rang for the interview, expecting some up to date commentary and instead ran a great little story on the beginnings of Japanese international competition.

With the bus late the girls then requested and received some extra coaching on batting to spin, in the knowledge that the next teams would quickly receive the news via grapevine.

On arrival at the motel the girls were introduced to Cathryn Fitzpatrick and Belinda Clark, who themselves were overwhelmed with the ovation they received.

Players of the day Momoka and Bunta

Day 4 V Ireland
Each bus trip provided a highlight, this one with the entire Japanese team asleep within 5 minutes of departure. Whether this was caused by the stress of the first day or the team's insistence on 6am wake up calls could be debated strongly.

The Irish kept very much to themselves and feedback was received that they intended to bowl us out in 20 overs and get the runs before lunch. However the girls had already determined at the post match meeting the previous evening that they would bat 50 overs no matter what and earn some respect in the process, so the scene was set for an enthralling battle.

Openers Ema and Shizuka Kubota had no trouble with the quicks (which was the case all week) and four overs into the game the first of a series of 6 spinners were brought into the attack. Partnerships were forthcoming this time with Ema, Momoko and then Ayako Miyazaki all providing support for Shizuka who batted beautifully for 43 overs before being dismissed for 14. An unlucky return to bowler run out for Ayako and a collapse of 7 for 3 ended the innings on the last ball of the 50th over for 63, after 85 or so looked a possibility.

After lunch the Irish continued their professionalism with a 10 over onslaught losing only one wicket in the process.

The next highlight for the girls was a visit to the nearby oval where the West Indies were giving host nations the Dutch a hiding. Invited to sit amongst the pro West Indian crowd with drums and music playing the girls received a standing ovation and quickly cottoned on to the atmosphere.

With time to spare the girls had a throw on a catching cradle for the first time. Little things for most, but another new experience for them.

That night the Australian present determined a game of backyard cricket might help relax the team some more. As usual the game began with 10 players and ended with 50. Members from the Holland, Pakistan and Scotland teams joined in, along with the liaison officers. As with any successful backyard game, the conclusion was determined by the light and once again the Japanese girls had made more new friends.

Player of the day Shizuka

Day 5 V Netherlands
The Dutch game turned out to be one for more records. On a lightning fast outfield the Dutch captain Carolien Salomens and vice captain Pauline te Beest destroyed the attack, with the umpire's also particularly harsh charging 92 wides to the score. 375 runs later anyone would have forgiven the team if they were disheartened. Characteristically this wasn't the case, with the last over of the innings producing 3 wickets, 2 to direct hits from Bunta who had come on as 12th man for the injured Ema. Sadly Erico Sakata who had bowled well also dislocated her finger and missed the remainder of the tournament.

The umpire at the centre of the wides controversy then penalised the team 5 overs for slow play, which followed by some mystifying caught behind and LBW decisions compounded the teams woes. The team knew nothing of this and managed to score their highest total to this point of 75. Ema proved valiant with 18 and had good support from Ayako once again. Once again the team collapsed from 5 wickets down. Interestingly the umpire was given his marching orders by the organising committee at the conclusion of play.

Wednesday night was seen as an opportunity to relax a little and a visit to Amsterdam followed. The girls were dead on their feet and at midnight everyone was back on the train and headed for bed.

Player of the day Ema

Day 6 Rest Day
An impromptu game of football with the Scots the main highlight, with several players travelling to The Haig or Amsterdam.

Day 7 V Scotland (Our big chance)
The previous evening the coaches had spent hours determining the make up of the team and the best way to create a possible victory. It was agreed we needed to reduce the wide count early to the good bats and change the pace on them as much. Maki Kenjo opened the bowling with her slow off breaks and bowled a very tidy spell of 10 overs for 26. Captain Kato again produced a top spell of aggressive bowling taking two wickets with fine deliveries. Michiko Kono bowled quickly to take 2/22 from her 10 overs (16 wides). The fielding was exceptional with Bunta producing 3 run outs herself. The Scots limped to 142 all out and victory was a possibility. The evening before we had reckoned on a score of 145 to win if we batted first and the game was for the taking.

Bunta was sent to open to break up the attack and early on there were some promising moments. However 5 LBW's (most of them out) reduced the team to 30 for 5 and victory out of the question. Shizu continued her good form with 10. Remarkably the Scots found the tail enders a resilient lot and the final score of 85 became and still stands as Japans highest score.

Player of the day Kaori Kato

Day 8 V West Indies
Possibly the greatest learning experience for the team. A flying start to the only really quick bowler from the tournament had the team at 0-15 after 2 overs. Again the slower paced bowlers were introduced to tie up the team and by far the most accurate attack and best fielding team in the tournament were on display. Ayako continued her good form with 10 and captain Kato 8 before the inning closed at 62 during the 49th over. Left handed Debbie George then smashed the ball all over the ground to register victory in just 9 overs.

After consultation with West Indian manager Ann Browne/John it was agreed to play a 15 over mixed match with a West Indian to bat with a Japanese girl throughout. The girls were forced to adopt a more positive approach to running between wickets and using their feet to slow bowlers.

The girls immediately became fans of the Windies and innocently remarked they had played with and against members of the next World Cup.

A barbecue for the teams to let their hair down seemed to fit the purpose with all players and coaches mixing well into the night and plenty of gear trading and autograph swapping taking place. The Japanese uniform by far the most in demand. Again the bus trip was a highlight with the Irish displaying their singing prowess in some mighty renditions of something and the Japanese responding with some in tune versions of something else.

Notably the two most professional teams and certainly the two best teams during the week Ireland and the West Indies qualified for the next World Cup.

Player of the day Ayako

Day 9 The final dinner.
This was a tremendous affair with local dignitaries and members from the IWCC present. Many messages of goodwill were exchanged with every team coach given an opportunity to speak. This was extremely entertaining and provided the audience with plenty of laughs.

Captain Kato assisted me with our presentation and brought the house down with her thank you in Japanese, which I kindly avoided interpreting despite my improved Japanese. If I had known at the time she'd basically said thank you for the welcome and next time we are going to beat you then things may have changed.

Once again a late night and many goodbyes.

Day 10
An emotional farewell, with the Japanese girls determined that this was only the start of something big.