As part of the ICC Development Program to grow cricket in non-Test nations, following the successful completion of the inaugural ICC East Asia – Cricket 8's Festival from 25 February – 1 March, the following 2002 ICC East Asia XI team was announced:

Kasuhisa Orita                  JAPAN
Soni Hawoe                      INDONESIA
Paul Bagshaw                    ACB/AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS
Clint Yates                     ACB/AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS
Naoki Miyaji                    JAPAN
Dave Herbert                    INDONESIA
Noel Bennell                    ACB/AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS
Jung Suk Lee                    SOUTH KOREA
Hirokazu Takahashi              JAPAN
Dallas Coyne                    ACB/AUSTRALIAN INDIGENOUS
Zachariah Awang                 INDONESIA

The Player of the Championships was presented to 16 year old CLINT YATES of the ACB/Australian Indigenous development team. Clint was Captain of the undefeated victorious side, made 201 runs @ 33.5, took 8 wickets @ 12.5, and held 5 catches.

The Festival Award, for the most influential player of the event, a signed print donated by Dennis Lillee, was awarded to Japan's Vice-Captain and opening batsmen HIROKAZU TAKAHASHI who scored 230 runs @ 57.5. He also took 5 wickets @ 15.8.

Takahashi is currently on a cricket development training placement, along with two other Japanese development officers, in Melbourne with the Victorian Cricket Association as part of their ICC established partnerships with the Japan Cricket Association and the Republic of Korea Cricket Association. All three are sure to return home with keen enthusiasm and renewed ideas and practices for how to best progress the sport in their country.

The tournament, which was a fantastic cricket development activity for all concerned, was hosted in Perth in magnificent weather on outstanding facilities at South Perth CC & Midland Guildford CC by the Western Australian Cricket Association from 25 February – 1 March.

The ACB/Australian indigenous Development Team defeated Japan in the Final and Indonesia defeated South Korea in the Consolation Final for 3rd & 4th. After previous international tournaments, Japan registered their first-ever national side victory in the event and actually won four of their seven 8-a-side 20 overs per team matches. Indonesia also took out two victories in their first-ever international event. South Korea, also at their first ICC tournament, was the only team to bowl out the ACB/Australian Indigenous team and they did it twice.

There is no doubt that cricket is "on the move" in these countries with some excellent development initiatives being implemented by the Indonesian Cricket Foundation, Japan Cricket Association and Republic of Korea Cricket Association. The South Korean team actually comprised students of the world's only tertiary credit cricket course at SungKyunKwan University in Seoul.

For further information, please contact the ICC East – Asia Pacific Development Program:
Matthew Kennedy, ICC Regional Development Manager, 0409 218 883
Tim Anderson, ICC Regional Development Officer, 0407 841 850

© ICC 2002