OVERSEAS TOURS – By Adrian Hawkes

REMINISCENCES OF TOURS GONE BY
– By the Players on Tour

CCNSW TOURING TEAMS 1989-2023

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)