Japan: The latest Japanese cricket news, including League updates

Cricket in Kimono

Read the confessions of a Japanese woman cricket buff, who currently lives in Hong Kong, which appeared on Rediff Cricket, a cricket news web site. https://www.rediff.com/cricket/2001/may/16maki.htm.

Japan Cricket Association makes first Administrator appointment

Naoki Miyaji has been appointed as the first ever dedicated cricket administrator of JCA. Miyaji, 22, who has a Japanese University Degree in Law and is the opening bowler for the Japan National XI with whom he has toured internationally, will commence his duties immediately. Miyaji, who has lived in Japan all his life, is fluent in English and will be based in Tokyo on a 20-hour working week basis

JCA Board Chief Secretariat, Kenichiro Matsumura, said, "This is an exciting time for Japan cricket and the JCA is delighted to have arranged someone of Miyaji's calibre to fulfil the Administrator role. This is a very important appointment for us".

The focuses of the Administrator's role will be those matters which will enable Japan to achieve its vision of progressing from an Affiliate to Associate Member of the ICC, a development which would see the JCA greatly benefit from additional support and attention. These will include; strategic and financial planning, playing and practice facility development, coach and umpire development programs, schools programs, fundraising/sponsorship, stakeholder relationships with government and facility owners etc., promotion and marketing of the sport in Japan, and initiatives to grow participation numbers in the sport amongst persons of all ages, both male and female.

ICC East - Asia Pacific Development Manager, Matthew Kennedy, said, "There are many hard-working volunteer officials and players in Japan who have done a fantastic job to grow the sport in that country. However, they are very busy people in their own professions and the further growth of cricket in a country such as Japan requires a dedicated well-planned and continuos approach.

It is seen as time that some additional manpower support is provided to these JCA Board members and other stakeholders so that more development initiatives can be undertaken amongst this enthusiastic and expanding cricket community. Miyaji's appointment is sure to be a boost for the sport".

In a combined release from the Victorian Cricket Association (VCA) & International Cricket Council (ICC) East - Asia Pacific Development Region announces that VCA has been engaged in a cricket partnership agreement with the Japan Cricket Association and Korea Cricket Association that will see it deliver coach, umpire, player and administrator development courses and other activities to grow the sport in these countries.

The initial agreement is for a period of 12 months but it is hoped that this will develop into a long-term relationship. The partnerships will also involve the significant provision of cricket equipment and development resources as well as other suitable VCA support mechanisms.

ICC East Asia - Pacific Development Manager, Matthew Kennedy, said: "Both these countries have proven to be pro-active within the Program and cricket is at an exciting stage in these nations with many current activities and initiatives. This additional support will be invaluable in assisting the hard-working volunteer officials and players in both Japan and South Korea to achieve their aims of cricket progression".

Kanto Cricket League Underway

The newly formed Kanto Cricket League (erstwhile Kanto Cup) is underway with three matches being played on April 22.

In a major upset, minnows Wyverns, a Japanese University team subdued the fancied Shizuoka Kytes with excellent bowling performance by J. Hanada 5/22 and H. Kojima 4/7.

Wyverns C.C: 72 (T. Phillips, 4/6; R. McKenna, 3/25) def.Shizuoka Kytes C.C.: 62 (J. Hanada, 5/22, H. Kojima, 4-7) Wyverns won by 10 runs

In other matches, in a closely contested match in which the second major contribution came from Mr. Extras who scored an unbeaten 50, Tokyo Giants managed to avoid another upset by defeating Millennium by 57 runs and in the third match, Fuji Far East was outplayed by Sri Lankan Lions.

Brief scores:
Tokyo Giants C.C.: 193/8 (Mumtaz Alam, 61; Extras, 50; Y. Yamamoto, 3/25)
Millennium C.C.: 136 (N. Miyaji, 34; Mumtaz Alam, 3/14; Razzaq Cheema, 3/20)
Fuji Far East C.C.: 82 (Sujith Dharmasena, 4/12)
Sri Lanka Lions C.C.: 85/2 (Gamini Perera, 34*)

Read the reports at: https://members.nbci.com/rgmartineau/APRIL22nd.html

The British Embassy is sitting pretty after having won two back to back KCL matches on the week end of May 12th and 13th.

On 12th, they defeated the Tokyo Bay Districts C.C, a Japanese club, by a mammoth 172 runs after putting up a record 1st wicket partnership of 155.

Brief Scores:
British Embassy C.C.: 263/7 (B. Kinninmont 61, N. Bridge 51; N. Creak, 46) lost toTokyo Bay District C.C.: 91 (R. Creak, 3/11)

On 13th, Millennium C.C, another Japanese club, lost to British Embassy by 2 wickets despite the heroics of Millennium's Naoki Miyaji who scored a solid 64 and then took 3 wickets for 14 runs. Incidentally, Miyaji, who is recently appointed as the Cricket Administrator of Japan Cricket Association, is also a member of the Japanese national team.

Brief scores:
Millennium C.C.: 134 (N. Miyaji, 64; B. Kinninmont 5/10; N. Creak, 4/14) British Embassy C.C.: 135/8 (T. Goodwin 43, A. Winston. 32, N. Miyaji 3/13) Read the reports at: https://members.nbci.com/rgmartineau/MAY12th13th.html

Glenn Carter scores first century of KCL

The first century of the KCL season was scored by Glenn Carter(106*) against Adore on the weekend match.

Fuji Far East C.C 241/2 (40 overs) (G. Carter, 106*, T. Kawashima 51*, extras 62) def. Adore C.C: 112 (37.4 overs) (H. Takahashi 4/14; K. Orita, 3/20)

Read the reports at: https://members.nbci.com/rgmartineau/MAY6th.html

Brief results and points tally so far can be viewed at www3.ewebcity.com/iecc/. Follow the link 'Kanto Cricket League'

The Kyushu League has started

Saga C.C. resumed their old rivalry with Fukuoka C.C. by beating them in their first encounter:

Saga C.C. 152/6 (Rohan 76*), beat Fukuoka C.C. 141(R. Bennett41; Thrisantha, 4/21), by only 11 runs!