OVERSEAS TOURS – By Adrian Hawkes
REMINISCENCES OF TOURS GONE BY
– By the Players on Tour
Upcoming Tours
If you have any views or any interest in coming on or helping organise an overseas tour in the next few years, read below and contact Greg Brooks prez@ccnsw.com or Adrian Hawkes secretary@ccnsw.com.
In January 2023 the Club returned from a week’s tour to Tasmania see reports on tour here and is planning a 2-3 week tour to Barbados at Easter 2024 –and a short 7 day tour to Adelaide next January to combine with the Adelaide Test match. See articles below.
The Club is always open to suggestions from members either for future tours such as Japan in 2025 (see article below) and maybe another short tour to New Zealand or further afield.
Adelaide and Chateau Tanunda – 21-27 January 2024
Do you want to come on a short CCNSW tour to Adelaide and the Barossa next January? If so contact the tour manager Soren Hughes on sooz@ccnsw.com or 0432 835 106 (Mob)
Each player needs to pay a deposit of $150 per player towards match costs to secure their place.
Currently the tour party is 14 players and 3 partners:- Finucane, Fletcher (2), E. Hughes, R. Hughes, S. Hughes (2), , Knight, Mullens, Murtha, Power, T. Robertson, M Speiser, T. Speiser, Volkov and Wells (2). Both Speisers and Wells are only coming on the Monday and ideally we need a few more players.
Several other players are currently thinking of coming subject to getting holiday leave and paying the $150 deposit per player towards the 4 games.
CCNSW has organised a 5-7 day mini tour around Australia Day for many years. Such a tour this season fits in well with the Adelaide Test v West Indies (I.e. Wednesday 17- Sunday 21 January 2024) and Australia Day is the following Friday, 26 January.
CCNSW has never played in South Australia. There are a large number of Veterans’ Cricket Clubs in and around Adelaide and the Chateau Tanunda in the Barossa is famous not only for its wines and imposing chateau but also and has its own cricket ground and local cricket team – about 70 km an hour’s drive from Adelaide Oval via the M2.
Fixtures:
We are arranging 4 games cricket starting on the Sunday when the Adelaide Test ended (people could go early to see the Test if they wish). The fixtures are not yet formally confirmed will look like this.
January |
Time |
Item |
Location |
Sun 21 |
12 noon |
40 over game v Kensington C.C. |
Parkinson Oval, Kensington Gardens |
Mon 22 |
– |
Free Day |
|
Tues 23 |
12 noon |
Chateau Tanunda XI |
Basedow Road, Tanunda, Barossa |
Weds 24 |
12 noon |
40 over game v Grange C.C. |
Military Road, Grange |
Thurs 25 |
|
Free Day |
|
Fri 26 |
12 noon |
Spirit of Cricket XI |
Chateau Tanunda, Barossa |
Sat 27 |
Morning |
Depart Adelaide |
|
Most players are intending to stay at the Lakes Resort hotel c 16k from CBD, about 8 km from airport https://www.lakesresorthotel.com.au/ .
Apparently NSW o50s squad stayed there last season. Twin room for 7 nights Saturday 20-Saturday 27 January $1250 p room.
CCNSW Barbados and St Lucia Tour Easter 2024
Allan Border who has fond memories of Barbados, has written an introductory message of encouragement to the Club
Dates:
Arrive Barbados Wednesday 27 March
Depart Barbados Monday 8 April for St Lucia
Depart St Lucia Monday 15 April
Hotels:
Barbados- Blue Horizon Rockley Beach, Christ Church, Barbados (246) 435-8916 https://bluehorizon.bb/ 12 nights at USD$195 per night for single/twin/double = USD$2,340 per room
St Lucia – Bay Gardens Inn Rodney Bay Village 1-758-457-8006 / 8007 / www.baygardensresorts.com/inn 7 nights at USD$180 per night for single/twin/double = USD$1,260 per room
Costs
Much will depend on the $US/$AUS exchange rate at time of payment.
International airfares: into Barbados/out of St Lucia;- up to individuals: Greg can advise on routes taken by some. To be booked independently; vary from c $3300-$4200 return depending on route and airline
1) Accommodation Barbados: 12 nights (in 27 March/out 08 April) Cost per room: USD$195 per night
2) Accommodation St Lucia: 5 nights (in 08 April/out 13 April) Cost per room: USD$180 per night.
3) Flight Barbados St Lucia one way on morning of 8 April with InterCarribean which has 3 flights per day to St Lucia and flies to Castries – close to our hotel; its web site is www.intercaribbean.com/. You can book directly on web or via agent. Apparently using “dynamic pricing” cost may vary depending on when booked and number of seats still available. Those using agent are paying in total USD$182.74 + USD$30 booking fee = USD$212.74 per person. All have paid a deposit (50%): USD$106.37/AUD$175 per person. Fare rules: non-refundable* Balance of USD$106.37 due on or before Thursday 08 February
4) Monies paid to date by each tourist in $AUS (I.e. not just each player): $AUS1128.50 comprising
- Initial deposit $AUS200
- Barbados accommodation deposit $ AUS 450- balance due 8 February
- St Lucia accommodation deposit $ AUS 303.50- balance due 8 February
- Interisland flight deposit $ AUS 175 – balance due 8 February
- TOTAL $ AUS 1128,50
Tour party
Currently a tour party of 26 people including 19 players and 7 partners. The players currently are David Abreu, Frank Baliotis, Greg Ballarino (2), Angus Brooks, Greg Brooks, Ross Dalgleish (2), Matt Edge, Craig Fletcher, Sherville Hall, Ezekiel Hughes, Roman Hughes, Soren Hughes (2), Tom Robertson, Joe Scarcella, Martin Speiser, David Stewart (2), Trevor Whittall (2), Tony Wood (2) and Ken Yardy (2).
Of the 19 players, Abreu, Fletcher and Wood are not coming on to St Lucia.
We badly need a specialist keeper,.
Fixtures and Social Arrangments
Date |
Day |
Item |
Location |
27.03 |
Wednesday |
Arrive Barbados: Blue Horizons Hotel |
|
28.03 |
Thursday |
Free Day |
|
29.03 |
Friday |
GOOD FRIDAY Free Day |
|
30.03 |
Saturday |
EASTER SATURDAY Free Day |
|
31.03 |
Sunday |
EASTER SUNDAY Isolation Cavaliers 1pm |
Isolation |
01.04 |
Monday |
EASTER MONDAY |
|
02.04 |
Tuesday |
Pickwick CC 1pm |
Four Square Park |
03.04 |
Wednesday |
|
|
04.04 |
Thursday |
AMAAS Barbados Masters 1pm |
BNOC |
05.04 |
Friday |
Barbados Police 1pm |
Weymouth |
06.04 |
Saturday |
|
|
07.04 |
Sunday |
Barbados National Oil Company 1pm |
BNOC |
08.04 |
Monday |
Fly Barbados to St Lucia Garden Bay Inn |
|
09.04 |
Tuesday |
|
|
10.04 |
Wednesday |
St Lucia Police Veterans |
T b a |
11.04 |
Thursday |
|
|
12.04 |
Friday |
St Lucia Police Veterans |
T b a |
13.04 |
Saturday |
|
|
14.04 |
Sunday |
Castries Veterans |
T b a |
15.04 |
Monday |
Depart St Lucia |
|
What do I do now if I want to come but have not yet expressed interest
Express your interest now (and whether likely coming by yourself or with partner/children) to Greg Brooks: 0409 450 334 (Mob): preferably in writing to prez@ccnsw.com. Depending on confirmed numbers, there may still be a place available for you subject to you confirming with a $200 p person preliminary deposit
Such deposits are returnable until such date as we need to pay monies out to local suppliers (E.g. hotel deposits)
What age group would we play
Barbados has Veterans cricket at over 40s, 50s and 60s level. If some of our under 40 players come we would arrange opposition accordingly
Could we bring partners/children
Yes
How many games would we play
We are planning 9 games and each player playing at least 2 games p week, maybe 3.
CRICKET IN JAPAN UNDER MOUNT FUJI
A game underway in Sano with Mount Fuji prominent in all its glory
Over 4000 cricketers play in Japan, many indigenous and a number of overseas expatriates, largely in Tokyo and environs and in Yokohama. And some places further afield.
Their season – in the Northern Hemisphere- essentially operates from April to September.
Initial Japanese contacts while I was there this September have indicated we could in principle in 2025 organise a one week trip to Tokyo or 2 weeks to Tokyo-Yokohama playing 3-5 games during (our) winter 2025 with sufficient time for sightseeing and other non cricket related activities. Initial contacts suggest the best time to go might be early September 2025 though other earlier times in their 2025 season are possible.
At this very early stage (c 20-23 months out) I am just seeking expressions of interest with no formal commitment or deposits sought at this stage. If there is sufficient interest, we can then progress more formal arrangements.
As at the end of November 2023, the following 14 players have expressed preliminary interest (in alphabetical order: David Abreu, Frank Baliotis, Anthony Campey, Andrew Davis, Craig Fletcher, Soren Hughes, James Murtha, Tom Robertson, Charles Sharpe, Jonathan Shaw, Stuart Stockdale, Tony Wood, Oliver Wood and Ken Yardy.
If you think you could be interested in coming, contact me at secretary@ccnsw.com
Adrian Hawkes Secretary CCNSW (02-9451 7436) 14 October 2023
Umpiring in Japan: ‘The players are so humble and nice’. by Shounak Sarkar.
“Emerging Cricket.” Monday, 9 October 2023
[A recent article detailing the exploits of a Western Australian umpire who spent part of a summer In Japan in his official capacity AMH]
“The players are so humble and nice. They take on board what you say, they don’t challenge your decisions that much, there is no sledging and certainly no abuse. It was kind of amusing really, I sometimes wondered if this was some sort of cordial fraternity”, says Sagir Parkar reminiscing about his recent cricketing trip to Japan. A full-time health professional, India-born Parkar is a cricket enthusiast who these days stands in matches in Perth, but in August he experienced what the game is like in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Parkar’s umpiring journey started 17 years ago, when he lived and worked in England. He passed his umpiring exams in late 2006, standing in matches in Essex, which he really enjoyed, then in Cheshire from 2009-12”. After that he migrated to Queensland and did a little umpiring there before, after moving to Perth last year, he started as a regular in the Western Australia Cricket Association’s Premier League series.
His interest in Japanese cricket actually came about after he came across a couple of episodes of the Japan Cricket Podcast where he listened to Alan Curr, Japan Cricket’s Head of Operations, discuss their domestic tournament structures and struggles to acquire a groundskeeper. Parkar contacted the Japan Cricket Association (JCA), indicating his willingness to assist with umpiring on a short-term basis, and Curr got back to him within two days. An agreement was made for Parkar to travel to Japan for four weeks to officiate in JCA’s domestic competitions, he umpiring games at the weekend whilst traveling around the country during the week.
Japan’s domestic cricket season generally runs for six months from April to September and sometimes even early October. There is a collection of tournaments for male and female participants, as well as junior leagues for Under-19 and Under-15 levels. Parkar himself umpired in two separate competitions; a 40-over tournament known as the Japan Cricket League (JCL) and its new sister T20 version, the JCL T20. Apart from a little incident with dehydration, the hot and humid Japanese weather in August proving somewhat of a challenge, for the most part he was there he had “great fun”.
“The cricket culture there feels so foreign and yet quite familiar in many ways”, says Parkar. “It was funny to see how the batters always think they are not out and the bowlers always think the batters are out. That is consistent across England, Australia or Japan, no matter where you go”. But there were some noticeable differences too. “Because Japan is such a young and fledgling cricketing country, the players remain very polite, especially ones who are born and brought up there. They don’t even glare or look you in the eye. The game just flows at a completely different level”, he says.
At the heart of the local cricket scene is Sano International Cricket Ground (SICG), a picturesque oval situated an hour and a half away from Tokyo by public transport. Parkar was based there for the duration of his stay and describes it as “so beautiful” with six playable cricket grounds of which three have turf pitches. There are other cricket grounds located in the towns of Miyashita, Akishima, Edogawa and Sanmu. Alongside Sano, these constitute a quartet of cricket facilities on the western, northern and eastern outskirts of Tokyo-Yokohama’s sprawling megalopolis. In 2020, Kaizuka Cricket Field in Osaka opened its doors, helping establish the sport’s presence outside its traditional heartland of Kanto for the first time.
There are currently around 4,000 registered players in Japan with the players hailing from a diverse array of ethnic backgrounds. “Predominantly, the local cricket landscape is still made up of South Asians with a few Australian and British participants sprinkled in. However with the kids, particularly the Under-17 and Under-19 generation, you have a lot of players with one or two Japanese parents playing right alongside local-born children of expat heritage, which was absolutely brilliant to see”, says Parkar.
In the face of so much sporting competition, cricket struggles for mainstream attention and remains a niche sport in the wider Japanese cultural context. But Parkar believes it is making steady progress. Meanwhile, JCA has been trying to press the relevant stakeholders to include cricket in the 2026 Asian Games, set to be hosted by Japan. With the sport now set to be included in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles (PTG 4311-21030 below), new sponsorship opportunities and government funding could be tapped into by JCA if cricket is included in both, providing an essential long-term boost to the sport.
As for Parkar, he is already busy planning his next trip to Japan. “I am heading back to Japan for 6-7 weeks in April-May 2024 to do more umpiring. Hopefully I can help with the coaching too. Accommodation has already been tentatively booked. I can’t wait!”
From “Playing the Game: Edition Monday, 9 October 2023. PTG 4311-21028
See https://emergingcricket.com/author/shounaksarkar/
Corfu-Croatia and Slovenia Tour cancelled
[Originally postponed from 2020 because of Covid]
This proposed 2020 tour to Corfu-Croatia and Slovenia has been cancelled because of lack of sufficient players. Ken Yardy and Steve Kish have negotiated the return of c €9000 Euos, about 75% of the deposits paid to Croatia in 2020, and these have now been returned to the tour players.
Past Tours
Brochures and Tour team photographs of most past tours may be found on separate sub pages of this web site
- Brochures at http://ccnsw.com/index.php/tours/tour-brochures/
- Photographs at http://ccnsw.com/index.php/tour-photographs/
Below are team photographs from our most recent tours to Darwin and Tasmania
Tour of Tasmania 2023
Back Row: John Fish, Andrew Davis, Rodger Robertson (non player), Craig Fletcher, Joe Scarcella,
Darcy Kent, Jed Wesley-Smith, Soren Hughes (Mgr), Ian Robertson, Greg Ballarino, Luke Holman, David Kent
Front row: Edward Robertson, Dan Turner, Jim Hadley, Tom Robertson (c)
Absent: Richard Clark, Charlotte Kent, Martin Speiser
Darwin Tour 2022
Back: Dave Stewart, Steve Kish, Rob Bevilacqua, Richard Clark, Tom Robertson, Luke Holman, Richard Howard, Mike Weaver
Front: Tom Reaney, Martin Speiser, Soren Hughes, John Wise, Trevor Whittall, Mike Pinter, Mike Whittall, Joe Scarcella
All Past Tours
The Sri Lanka Tour at Easter 2019 was the Club’s 35th overseas tour in the past thirty five years (plus seven other separate domestic tours to Cairns. Darwin, Lord Howe, Norfolk Island, Perth, and Tasmania twice):
1989 |
Fiji |
2007 |
South Africa |
1991 |
Asia |
2008 |
Hawaii |
1992 |
Christchurch, New Zealand |
2009 |
India |
1993 |
Christchurch, New Zealand |
2009 |
France-Ireland-England |
1993 |
Canada and West Coast USA |
2010 |
Tasmania (not overseas) |
1994 |
Malaysia and Singapore |
2010 |
Italy |
1995 |
Auckland, New Zealand |
2011 |
West Indies |
1996 |
Barbados/Trinidad |
2012 |
South America |
1997 |
England |
2013 |
Amsterdam-England-Malta |
1998 |
Norfolk Island Not overseas) |
2014 |
South East Asia |
1999 |
Lord Howe (not overseas) |
2015 |
Wellington New Zealand |
1999 |
South Africa |
2015 |
Canada & East Coast USA |
2000 |
Vanuatu |
2016 |
Queenstown, New Zealand |
2001 |
Bali |
2017 |
Nelson, New Zealand |
2002 |
Kenya |
2017 |
Scotland and England |
2003 |
Sri Lanka |
2018 |
Christchurch New Zealand. |
2004 |
Cook Islands (Easter) |
2019 |
Auckland New Zealand. |
2004 |
Cairns (July not overseas) |
2019 |
Sri Lanka-Easter |
2005 |
England |
2020 |
Perth (not overseas) |
2006 |
Samoa |
2022 |
Darwin (not overseas) |
2007 |
New Zealand, North Island |
2023 |
Tasmania ( not overseas) |