VANUATU APPOINTMENT TO MAKE A BIG IMPACT

Pierre Chillia has been appointed as the first-ever Development Officer (part-time) for the Vanuatu Cricket Association. Pierre, 32, the Vanuatu National XI Captain at the recent ICC Pacifica Cricket Championships in Auckland, New Zealand, will be responsible for driving the implementation of the VCA's development programs in relation to all of schools and club cricket at both junior and senior levels.

SAMOA SEASON ON THE PARK IN MAY

The Samoa English Cricket Association has announced that its 2001 season will begin in May. With an increase in teams, two new dedicated cricket grounds at the Samoa Gardens sporting facility, and a set of practice nets to be installed there shortly, it is sure to be a big year for cricket in that country.

DESPITE THE WET, CROMPTON CUP A HUGE SUCCESS IN FIJI OVER EASTER Suva Warriors defeated Moce in the Final of this year's Crompton Cup in Nadi/Lautoka in Fiji. After a day's break, this match was actually played in fine conditions after the preliminary rounds were fought out despite atrocious weather. With the national title and positions in the Fiji team at stake, as far as all these teams were concerned, the game had to go on. This provided some unique scenes as cricket was played on ovals which literally had pools of water. Even if the sun didn't, displays of fantastic skill, great spirit, and most of all, passion and enthusiasm, definitely shone through.

TONGA TO HIT THE NETS

Tonga cricket is to establish its first-ever cricket practice nets facility. This will be located outdoors within the Atele Indoor Stadium complex area in Central Tongatapu and construction is expected to commence as a matter of priority. It will provide a training base for both its National squad and competition cricketers at all levels.

HONG KONG / EAP COACHES AT THE AUSTRALIAN LEVEL 3 COACHING COURSE

Both Lal Jayasinghe, Hong Kong Cricket Association Coach Coordinator, and Tim Anderson, ICC EAP Regional Development Officer (part-time), will attend the Australian Cricket Board's Level 3 Advanced Coaching Course at the Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide from 6-10 May.

HONG KONG PLAYERS AT THE AUSTRALIAN CRICKET ACADEMY

Also at the Academy at the same time, three players from the Hong Kong National team will be participating in a two week intensive training placement under the guidance of Australian Test players, Rodney Marsh, Wayne Phillips and others. Tabarak Dar, Mohammad Zubair and Saleem Malik will attend in preparation for the ICC Trophy in Canada in June.

SOUTH KOREA UNIVERSITY CRICKET COURSE ROLLS ON

ICC EAP Development Officer, Tim Anderson, recently saw the previously reported cricket credit course at SungKyunKwan University in Seoul in action. Tim took classes/clinics and also conducted an introductory coach education course for 35 of the students. Congratulations to Matthew Steele of the University, Andrew Dunn and the whole Korea Cricket Association on the successful establishment of this unique initiative.

INDONESIONS STAR AT BALI SIXES

As always, this year's International Bali Sixes tournament over Easter was a fantastic cricket event and colourful spectacle. Extra special was the fact that the first-ever wholly Indonesian player side competed and their performance throughout the weekend proved that all the work that has gone into their coaching has been worthwhile. Only in their dreams had anyone really expected the Indonesia side to do so well. But with their passionate enthusiasm, a superb show of batting, bowling and some exceptional fielding that belies their relative inexperience, and the skilled captaincy by Soni Hawoe, they gave a glimpse of what could be an exciting future for Indonesian cricket. Indeed, they beat four teams of players who have been playing since childhood. They were eventually beaten by Singapore CC (who they defeated in the preliminaries) in the Plate Final. An exceptional performance by anyone's standards. And ICC EAP Development Officer, Tim Anderson, was there to conduct successful coaching clinics and coach education courses in both Bali and Jakarta.

© ICC