Papua New Guinea have appointed former Queensland and South Australia wicketkeeper Peter Anderson as their new coach. Anderson replaces Brad Hogg, who resigned as coach of PNG following his recall to the Australian T20 side.

Anderson's first-class career spanned eight years from 1986 to 1994. He made 1399 runs from 56 matches, averaging 17.93, and effected 172 dismissals. Cricket PNG general manager Greg Campbell said the team was looking for a long-term coach. The big assignment ahead is the World T20 Qualifier in March.

"We're coming into a very important and exciting time for Cricket PNG right now, and needed someone will to spend vast periods of time with the team," Campbell said. We've been blessed in recent times to have the both Brad Hogg and Andy Bichel working with the team, but given their reputations in the cricket world, they would always have opportunities knocking at the door. With Peter, we know we're going to get 100% and the vision and attributes he brings to the team will be great for the boys."

Anderson has been coaching local clubs in Queensland over the last six years and has also been working with wicketkeepers in the ICC Pacific region.

"I think Peter will be a great addition to our coaching staff, with many years playing and coaching behind him, I feel we have picked the right man to take us to the next level," Cricket PNG chairman Mick Nades said. "As a board, we congratulate him on his appointment, and look forward to moving forward together."

Anderson will join the PNG team in Canberra next month.

Papua New Guinea have appointed former Australia cricketer Greg Campbell as their general manager. Campbell was previously operations manager at Cricket PNG and takes over from Bill Leane.

Campbell, 47, played four Test matches for Australia from 1989-1990 and will be in the role for the next 12 months. His first priority is to oversee the World Twenty20 qualifying matches in Dubai in March.

“The position was advertised globally and it is absolutely amazing that over 40 applicants expressed interest,” said the PNG chairman Mick Nades. “The board unanimously selected Greg because of his broad experience and the relationship he has developed with the staff, board, sponsors and the public at large with humility.

“The board strongly believes that he has the passion, talent and the drive to consolidate Cricket PNG's position in the world of cricket."

It may not have stolen headlines in the last week or so, but a dedicated contributor to cricket in the Associate world is moving on. Andy Bichel, the former Australia fast bowler, stepped down after two years in a coaching and development role as Papua New Guinea's director of cricket. PNG still has some way to go before joining Ireland and Afghanistan in the top class of Associate teams, but Bichel feels proud of the steps taken in his time at the helm to lift up the standard of cricket in the island nation.

"For Papua New Guinea, when I first went there, getting 30 and two wickets and a catch, that was player of the match," Bichel told ESPNcricinfo. "That's the challenge, to create a performance-based environment because I can't have a whole team of people who get 30 and two wickets and a catch because that just doesn't happen. It doesn't win you a game of cricket. If they get five wickets and a 100, all of a sudden you start to win games of cricket."

At the recent ICC Under-19 World Cup Qualifier in Ireland, PNG captain Christopher Kent showed just how much Bichel's presence had changed the country's approach to cricket. In PNG's seventh match of the tournament, Canada batsman Nitish Kumar scored 150 in a total of 261 for 9 for his side. Kumar's innings was the highest score of the tournament for a few hours before Kent eclipsed it with 166 not out, taking PNG to a four-wicket win.

Introducing a sense of professionalism to PNG's blue-collar style of cricket is a major reason why Bichel says the players have been able to register several noteworthy achievements over a relatively short period of time. The senior team have climbed up to 19 in the world rankings while Kent's efforts as the overall leading run-getter at the U-19 Qualifier played a large part in PNG gaining a spot at the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Australia next year. At the 2009-10 ICC U-19 World Cup in New Zealand, PNG's Raymond Haoda became the first player from an Associate nation to finish as the tournament's leading wicket-taker, taking 15 in six games.

"Anything to do with PNG Cricket now has a professional approach to it," Bichel said. "There's so much passion to play for Papua New Guinea and I think that's fantastic but there's actually now a real standard required for a PNG player and I just think that's the greatest thing. It is performance based. You have to train. That sort of attitude of turning up when you want to is really starting to disappear. All their skill levels are improving week by week."

Perhaps just as important, maintaining a professional approach off the pitch has also received heavy emphasis from Bichel. Things like dealing with the media, nutrition and fitness were things that might have been neglected in the past but have seen a greater attention to detail in the last 24 months.

"The way they present themselves now in public, I think that's a big area that we've improved in. The players' English has improved. We'll have a team dinner [on tour]. We prepare the food for them so therefore they're getting good-quality food. They never used to get that. They used to go off and eat McDonald's. Recovery sessions, ice baths, pool sessions, they all come under that tag of what you have to do to be a PNG player."

Bichel arrived in a place where no turf wickets existed with matches typically played on concrete covered by jute matting. The only time players experienced turf conditions were on overseas tours. But proper infrastructure is now coming into place to give players the opportunity to develop their skills in the right conditions. The country's first ever turf wickets were unveiled just over a year ago at Amini Park and Colts Cricket Ground in Port Moresby; Amini Park now has six training nets.

"Two years ago when I took over before the overseas tour to New Zealand, it was an Under-18 tour but some of the players had never played on grass before," Bichel said. "Now I can honestly say that the minimum number of games any one of our players has played on turf wickets is 30 to 40. Some of the guys have played 200 or 250 games on turf. So that's great for starters. Now they're starting to read wickets. Why does this one turn? Why does this one play slower? Why does this one come onto the bat easier? They're starting to work out all those sorts of things."

Bichel's connections with the Queensland Bulls also opened up doors for many PNG players to grow by getting to train with players of a higher standard. Training sessions at the Gabba and Allan Border Field were routinely organised without cost. Cricket scholarships were awarded last year for 14 players who were sent to Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne to play club cricket in the local grade competitions from September through March.

Not everything can be completed in two years though. One of the things Bichel hopes will happen after he leaves is that the players will continue to absorb a greater sense of tactics in the game, things that he took for granted growing up in Australia that aren't always present in PNG.

"The number one thing at this stage is that cricket awareness develops and that just comes with time," Bichel said. "We all had that awareness from Under-12s or Under-10s in Australia. Cricket awareness includes everything from sliding your bat to reading the game, setting the right field, bowling a particular delivery, being able to play an offspinner or a legspinner. Those sorts of things are probably the number one thing that we need to fast track in a sense but it takes time to learn that."

At the closing ceremony of the U-19 Qualifier in Ireland, the PNG players seized every opportunity to take photos and capture one last memory with Bichel. It was a sign of just how much he means to them and how much he'll be missed. He hopes that Papua New Guinea will continue to build on the foundation he's helped lay for them to succeed.

"I've loved the experience. I've loved the time. I've loved what I've done," Bichel said. "Hopefully I've left a brand and a style of playing the game which is different from what they knew before. Getting 30 and two wickets and a catch was a pretty good game and hopefully now I've given them a vision that the game is not played like that. Hopefully it's that professionalism that we've touched on, but like I said there's so many things to that professionalism. We didn't have a facility. Now we've got a facility so now we can start to play the game."

- By Peter Della Penna, a journalist based in New Jersey

Fiji and PNG have each booked a place in Friday's gold medal match after wins over Vanuatu and New Caledonia respectively at the Pacific Games Cricket Competition in Noumea.

In the match of the tournament so far, Fiji fought back from the jaws of defeat to snatch a four-run victory over Vanuatu. Set the modest total of 114 to win, Vanuatu were in control for the majority of the run chase before terrific bowling spells from both Viliame Yabaki and Jikoi Kida caused a late innings collapse to hand Fiji the victory.

"It's an awesome feeling to win and I haven't had that feeling for a long time," said Fiji captain Jo Rika. "Yesterday we spoke about playing to our strengths and improving our fielding and bowling and taking nothing away from our great batting performance, but we really improved in the field today."

Sakaraia Lomani was again the stand out with the bat for Fiji smashing another 44 not out and was well supported by his captain Rika who was in fine touch for his 36. In reply Vanuatu were well in control early thanks to a terrific 44 from Lenica Natapei and 27 from Andrew Mansale. However, once Mansale departed and Natapei followed soon after the young Vanuatu side struggled to deal with the spin of Yabaki who took two wickets in three balls to set up the win. Yabaki ended with figures of 4 for 21 and Kida also got well among the wickets taking 3 for 21.

In the afternoon PNG dealt the hosts New Caledonia a significant blow, defeating them by 150 runs and setting up a showdown with Fiji. New Caledonia put up a spirited fight in the field restricting PNG to 197 for 6 off their 20 overs, which considering their performance yesterday against Fiji was a great improvement from the inexperienced side.

"It is a huge pleasure to play against a side like PNG and to keep them to under 200 which was less than Fiji scored against us yesterday and was one of our targets so we are pretty happy," said Noel Sinyeue who top scored and also took two wickets. "To take six wickets against a team like PNG is a real achievement."

For PNG Kapena Arua top scored with 62 and Tony Ura once again performed brilliantly with 57. Sinyeue was the only multiple wicket-taker for New Caledonia ending with figures of 2 for 28.

After a solid performance in the field, sadly it all went downhill with the bat for New Caledonia bowled out for just 47 thanks mainly to an awesome display of bowling from Inoa Baeau who ended with the incredible figures of 5 for 3 from four overs.

Wednesday will see PNG v Fiji and Vanuatu v New Caledonia in two matches that will not influence who will play-off in the medal matches. These fixtures will be repeated again on Friday when PNG and Fiji play off for gold and Vanuatu and New Caledonia for bronze.

PNG's Arua says however they will hold nothing back against Fiji in what is effectively a dead rubber. "We always do the normal routine, we are a good side and always want to maintain our standard," he said. "We have many strengths and tomorrow we will make sure we use them."

Afghanistan, Namibia and Papua New Guinea won their games on the final day of the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Ireland, to book their place in next year's tournament, which will be played in Queensland, Australia. Scotland, Nepal and Ireland, who finished at the top of the points table, had already qualified. These six teams will be joined by the ten Full Members at the World Cup.

Click here for full report

Hong Kong beat table-toppers Papua New Guinea by 93 runs at the Hong King Cricket Club to qualify for Friday's final in the ICC World Cricket League Division Three, where they will play PNG again. Hong Kong's win also mean they are guaranteed promotion to WCL Div. 2.

PNG, who chose to field, had Hong Kong in trouble early on as Rarva Dikana and Hitolo Areni picked up three wickets to reduce Hong Kong to 39 for 3 in the 11th over. However, Hussain Butt, who top-scored with 68 was involved in two crucial 40-plus stands with Irfan Ahmed (25) and Nizakat Khan (36) to take Hong Kong past 100. Areni struck to dismiss Nizakat and Waqas Barkat in quick succession but Butt and captain Najeeb Amar put on 53 runs in just under 10 overs to get the Hong Kong innings back on track. Butt was dismissed with the score on 196 but Nadeem Ahmed hit some big shots to take Hong King to 221 before they were bowled out.

Hong Kong's bowlers then defended the total, bowling PNG out cheaply. Tony Ura and Kila Pala were the only two batsmen who managed to get past 20, as PNG failed to string together any substantial partnerships and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Nadeem picked up three wickets as PNG were bowled out for 128 in just under 48 overs.

Two aggressive half-centuries from Hemin Desai and Vaibhav Wategaonkar carried Oman to a commanding four-wicket win over Denmark at the Kowloon Cricket Club, but it was not enough to allow Oman to qualify for the final.

Denmark were sent in to bat and got off to a shaky start, losing their openers with just 38 runs on the board. Carsten Pedersen and Rizwan Mahmood steadied the innings with a 66-run partnership but once Mahmood was dismissed with the score on 104, Denmark suffered a collapse. Rajesh Kumar and Khalid Rashid picked up three wickets apiece as Denmark slumped from 104 for 3 to 181 all out in just under 48 overs.

Oman needed to knock the runs off quickly if they were to keep their hopes of qualifying for the final alive. Desai and Zeeshan Siddiqui got them off to a rapid start, adding 34 runs in 2 overs before Siddiqui was dismissed. Desai and Wategaonkar then blasted 41 runs in 17 balls. Desai fell for 51 off just 17 balls with five fours and five sixes. Wategaonkar added another rapid 22 with Adnan Ilyas before Bashir Shah had Ilyas stumped. Oman seemed to lose momentum after his dismissal. Though they reached their target in just under 25 overs with Wategaonkar unbeaten on 54, Hong Kong went ahead of their run-rate by beating PNG to destroy Oman's hopes of qualifying for the final.

USA's hopes of qualifying for WCL Div. 2 were ended by Italy, who beat them by four wickets at the Mission Road Ground. Italy will now go on to play Oman in the third-place playoff while USA will play for fifth place against Denmark.

Italy got off to a shaky start in their chase of 223, slumping to 52 for 4, but a 102-run partnership between Peter Petricola and wicketkeeper Hayden Patrizi got them back into the game. After Patrizi was out for 50, Michael Raso came in and smashed 38 off 29 deliveries, and Italy got home with 18 balls to spare. Petricola was unbeaten on 69.

Petricola had also been Italy's most successful bowler, taking four wickets as Italy restricted USA to 222 for 8. USA captain Steve Massiah scored 52 and opener Sushil Nadkarni scored 47, but USA didn't get to a big enough total.

Some of Papua New Guinea, Japan and Fiji’s most promising cricketers have had the chance to rub shoulders with the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Kumar Sangakkara at a training camp in Brisbane.

The cricketers were taking part in the ICC’s East Asia Pacific High Performance Squad camp at the Cricket Australia Centre of Excellence, the same facilities being used by Sri Lanka’s one-day squad as they prepare for their upcoming series against Australia.

“Murali and I both bowl offspinners so the opportunity to watch this absolute legend in the nets was amazing,” said Barramundi bowler Jason Kila. “He was constantly harassing and attacking the batsman. He plays with absolute confidence.”

“Getting the opportunity to train with world class facilities and world class coaches is exceptionally important for all of our boys,” added Peter Moide, PNG’s fitness coach.

“All of our players are facing a big six months of cricket, whether that be on Brian Bell Scholarship in Australia, heading to World Cricket League Division Three as a Barramundi, or beginning World Cup Qualification as an Under-19 Garramut and this camp will hold them in good stead.”

Tony Munro

Twenty20 Final Malaysia 74 for 5 (Alagaratham 30*, Arudin 26; Baeau 2-15) beat Papua New Guinea 72 for 7 (Vala 26, Arua 12; Azis 4 for 13) by five wickets

Malaysia - and the weather - combined to beat Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the final of the Twenty20 section of the four nation Air Niugini Super Series in Port Moresby on Sunday.

PNG were batting first, after winning the toss, when rain temporarily halted play after eight overs. Upon resumption, the match was reduced to 13-overs-a-side, and PNG, propelled by Assad Vala's 26, reached 72 for 7 from their allotment. Malaysian medium-pacer, Eszrafiq Azis, stifled PNG's momentum, taking 4 for 13.

In reply, Suhan Kumar belted 34 off 23 balls and Anwar Arudin smashed 27 off 17 to help Malaysia reach their target for the loss of five wickets with two balls to spare. Kumar's explosive innings earned him the Man of the Final award. The Player of the entire Twenty20 series was Mahuru Dai (PNG).

The Player of the Series was PNG batsman, Tony Ura, who was also the Player of the 50-over series

Twenty/20 Preliminary Results

Malaysia 166 for 4 (Sharif 24, Madhavan 48*, Navaratnam 31, Arudin 41*) beat Hong Kong 162 for 5 by six wickets

Papua New Guinea 136 for 7 (Ura 24, Kent 37, Vare 20*, Dikana 21*; Ruwan 3-24, Reddy 2-36) beat Singapore 62 (Arora 18; Baeau 3-19, Dai 2-16) by 64 runs

Papua New Guinea 125 for 5 (Kent 29, Dai 42; Khan 2-26) beat Hong Kong 55 for 9 (Saeed 13; Ura 2-7) by 70 runs

Malaysia 168 for 8 (Navaratnam 27, H Khan 47, Alagaratham 24, Rosmanizam 24; Mulewa 3-26) beat Singapore 110 for 8 (Mulewa 23, Janjua 15; Arifin 4-19, H Khan 2-18, Yusot 2-22) by 58 runs

Papua New Guinea 103 for 9 (Morea 26, Arua 34*; Yusot 3 for 10, Azis 3-13, Arifin 2-19) beat Malaysia 75 (Rosmanizam 15, Azis 18, Rahim 16; Dai 4-15, Tom 3-13, Ura 2-12) by 28 runs

Singapore 154 for 9 (Surawanshi 49, Arora 40, Reddy 17; Anwar Khan 2-24, Ali Khan 2-35) beat Hong Kong 117 for 6 (Lamsam 52, Lau 30; Param 2-10, Janjua 2-23)

Papua New Guinea 205 (Arua 61, Vala 41, A Khan 4-46) beat Hong Kong 149 (Gull 48, Baeau 4-31) by 56 runs

Papua New Guinea has won the Air Niugini Supa Series quadrangular tournament after beating Hong Kong by 56 runs on Friday. Singapore's 11-run defeat of Malaysia in Friday's other game meant they finished second, while Malaysia and Hong Kong finished third and fourth.

PNG won the toss and elected to bat, however Hong Kong took early wickets to reduce the hosts to 80 for 5. Kapena Arua and Jack Vare steadied the innings for PNG with a 58-run partnership and ensured Hong Kong would require 206 for victory. Asif Khan took the key wickets of Assad Vala, Kila Pala, Kapena Arua and Kila to finish with 4 for 46.

Hong Kong's reply got off to a steady start but the run out of Roy Lamsam (16) sparked a mini-collapse that reduced Hong Kong to 39 for 3. Some solid batting from Ilyas Gull (48) steered Hong Kong to a position of relative strength at 105 for 4 but then the innings folded rather meekly as paceman Baeau (4-31) ran through defences of the middle and lower order batsmen. Hong Kong was all out for 149 in 46 overs.

Singapore257 for 8 (Mendis 80, Ruwan 55, Arifin 2 for 39, Rahim 2 for 41) beat Malaysia246 for 8 (Alagaratham 70, Arudin 35; Reddy 3 for 39) by 11 runs

Over 500 runs were scored in an entertaining game at the Colts Ground. Singapore batted first after Malaysia won the toss and bowled. Buddhika Mendis (80) was in a typically aggressive mood as Singapore built a series of healthy partnerships to reach 200 for 3. Although wickets continued to fall steadily, Singapore eventually finished on 257 for 8, with Chaminda Ruwan (55) the other significant contributor.

Malaysia responded to the challenge enthusiastically, although at 112 for 4, they seemed in some difficulty. Captain Suhan Alagaratnam smashed 70 before useful cameos from H Khan (22), Eszrafiq Azis (28), Anwar Arudin (35) and Shukri Rahim (22 not out) edged the Malaysians within striking distance. Narendra Reddy was Singapore's main wicket-taker, returning 3 for 39 from 10 overs.

The four countries will next take part in a Twenty20 tournament.

Papua New Guinea 229 for 5 (Ura 69, Reddy 2 for 38) beat Singapore 225 for 6 (Param 77, Arora 48*; Nou 2 for 25, Dai 2 for 33) by five wickets

Papua New Guinea remained the only undefeated team in the four nations Air Niugini International Supa Series after beating Singapore by five wickets in Port Moresby on Thursday.

Singapore elected to bat on a good track and their openers began strongly as Chetan Surayawanshi and Buddhika Mendis put on 54 from eight overs before Surawanshi was dismissed for 34.

The visitors managed to put together decent partnerships which enabled them to finish on a healthy 225 for 6 from their 50 overs. A Param top-scored for Singapore with 77 and received good support in the latter stage of the innings from M Arora with an unbeaten 48. This was despite the restrictive bowling of PNG spinners, Mahurua Dai and Jason Kila.

Opener, Tony Ura, hit his second fifty in successive days to provide the PNG reply with a solid foundation. Together with Vui Vagi Morea and Assad Vala he lifted PNG were lifted to within striking distance of the Singapore total.

Kila Pala almost saw them home, falling with the score on 221, while Arua remained unbeaten on 27. Narender Reddy took two wickets for Singapore, while Mendis showed his versatility, taking 1 for 23 from 8 overs.

Malaysia 207 for 9 (Sharif 49, Khan 26, Rosmanizam 40; Amar 5 for 27) beat Hong Kong 165 (Lamsam 33, Gull 26, Khan 35*; Navaratnam 4 for 41) by 43 runs

In the other match, Malaysia cruised to a comfortable 42 run win over Hong Kong at the Colts Ground. Najeeb Amar grabbed 5 for 27 but his efforts weren't enough to save Hong Kong from suffering their second loss.

Najeeb's superb bowling effort was the highlight of a good performance in the field by Hong Kong who did well to restrict Malaysia to a modest total after their openers had laid a solid foundation. Opening batsman Sharif top-scored with 49 while Rosmanizam provided good support with 40. A big score looked likely as Malaysia reached 1-84 but the run out of Sharif and some effective bowling from Najeeb triggered a middle order collapse. The Malaysians were eventually restricted to 207 for 9 from their 50 overs.

Hong Kong's reply got off to a poor start with the early dismissal of Waqas Barkat. But a steadying partnership between Roy Lamsam and Jamie Atkinson lifted the score to 40 before Atkinson was bowled with his score on 19. Ilyas Gull and Najeeb Amar made useful contributions but wickets fell at inopportune moments for Hong Kong and they never managed to get on top of their run chase. A late flourish from Asif Khan gave Hong Kong some brief hope but none of the other lower order batsmen stayed around long enough to give him the support he needed and Hong Kong crashed to 165 all out in 41.5 overs to stay winless. The chief destroyer for Malaysia was opening bowler Navaratnam who claimed 4 for 41 from his ten overs while Rahim cleaned up the tail with 3 for 12.

Papua New Guinea 204 for 5 (Amini 71*, Ura 57, Arifin 1-24, Rahim 1-22) beat Malaysia 158 (Alagaratham 49, Dikana 2 for 14, Areni 2 for 27, Dai 2 for 41) by 46 runs

Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Singapore have scored comfortable wins on day one of the Air Niugini Supa Series in Port Moresby on Wednesday.

The home side beat Malaysia by 46 runs at Amini Park thanks to a strong batting performance, while Singapore exposed Hong Kong's inexperience to win by 90 runs at Colts Ground.

Malaysia won the toss and sent PNG in on a bouncy wicket. The PNG batsmen, led by Chris Amini, responded with 204 from 50 overs. Openers, Vani Vagi Morea and Tony Ura gave the PNG innings a firm base putting on 51 runs for the first wicket. Ura continued to reach first half-century for the Barramundis while in partnership with Chris Amini. The more experienced Amini batted in his usual attractive manner to close the innings out with an unbeaten 71.

The PNG attack bowled tightly to ensure Malaysia's reply never really got going. Captain Rarua Dikana maintained pressure, bowling 10 overs and conceding just 14 runs and snaring two wickets in the process. Malaysia captain, Suhan Kumar, attempting to increase the tempo in a rousing innings of 49, but eventually his team was bowled out for 158 in the 47th over to give the home team a comfortable win.

PNG coach, Andy Bichel, was pleased with his batsmen’s show. "The pitch this morning was quite bouncy and there was genuine turn, so to have our top order bats really perform was critical to our success today. Tony Ura made his first 50 as a Barramundi and looked strong in doing so, whilst Chris Amini fired up to score 75 not out. I was pleased that we had enough wickets in hand at the end of the game to perform strongly in the Powerplay.”

Singapore 252 for 8 (Suryawanshi 32, Mendis 41, Param 53, Arora 42, Z Ali 3-31, Amar 3-47) beat Hong Kong 162 (Gul 58, Mulewa 3-23, Tripathi 3-26) by 90 runs

In the other game at the Colts Ground, Singapore bowlers, Rohan Tripathi and Dharmichand Mulewa, capitalised on a good effort from their batsmen to give their team a 90-run win over Hong Kong.

Singapore elected to bat and there were contributions all round from Anish Param who top-scored with 53 and Munish Arora (42), while openers Buddhika Mendis and Chetan Suryawanshi set the tone.

Hong Kong, a Division Three team in the World Cricket League but fielding a young squad in this tournament, started smoothly in their response. It needed the guile of Mulewa to take three quick wickets to halt Hong Kong's momentum, while Rohan Tripathi cleaned up the lower-order with four wickets.

Tony Munro

International cricket will come to Papua New Guinea next week when the national team hosts Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore in the Air Niugini International Supa Series from September 1 to 5.

There will be two tournaments in one as the four teams initially play each other once in the 50-over format during the first three days before converting to Twenty20 mode on the last two days, culminating in a final.

Visiting national teams to PNG are rare - perhaps the only exception being West Indies in 1975, so numerically at least this is possibly the biggest tournament of its kind in PNG cricket history.

Hong Kong pipped Malaysia for third place at this year's ACC Trophy Elite while Singapore were controversially denied promotion from World Cricket League Division Five in February. Singapore's squad is understood to be near full strength while Hong Kong has some players absent because of club commitments in England.

Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong will meet again January when WCL Division Three is held in Hong Kong.

One-day schedule
Wednesday September 1
PNG vs Malaysia 10.00am Amini Park
Hong Kong vs Singapore 11.00am Colts Ground

Thursday September 2
PNG vs Singapore 10:30am Colts Ground
Hong Kong vs Malaysia 10:30am Amini Park

Friday September 3
PNG vs Hong Kong 10:30am Amini Park
Malaysia vs Singapore 10:30am Colts Ground

Twenty20 schedule
Saturday September 4
Hong Kong vs Malaysia 10.00am Amini Park
PNG vs Singapore 10.00am Colts Ground
PNG vs Hong Kong 2.00pm Colts Ground
Malaysia vs Singapore 2.00pm Amini Park

Sunday September 5
PNG vs Malaysia 10.00am Amini Park
Hong Kong VS Singapore 10.00am Colts Ground
Grand Final 2.00pm Amini Park

Tony Munro

Papua New Guinea has initiated the new turf wicket at Amini Park, Port Moresby with a comfortable 4-0 series win over a young Cricket Australia Indigenous XI last weekend.

The home team, coached by former Australian player, Andy Bichel, were too experienced for the Indigenous XI, most of whom were under 21, in the series which alternated between Twenty20 and 50-over formats.

The series, the first to be played in PNG on a turf wicket, saw the return of allrounders, Rarua Dikana and Mahuru Dai to the Barramundis team for the first time in a couple of seasons. Both made telling contributions, particularly with the ball. Raymond Haoda Junior, a Queensland Bulls Elite Pace Bowling Programme participant, took four wickets for PNG in the first of the 50-over games.

Indigenous XI all-rounder, Josh Lalor, then provided perhaps the individual performance of the series. Batting at number eight, he hit 92 as his team scored 100 runs off the last 15 overs. Lalor then took 3 for 40 as Dai (67) and Chris Amini (50) lifted their side to a five-wicket win.

The Cricket Australia Indigenous XI improved as the series progressed, and pushed PNG in the third game of the series, falling just three runs short.

Game 1 - Twenty/20

Papua New Guinea 110 for 3 (Vala 20, Amini 42*, Pala 18*) beat Cricket Australia Indigenous XI 109 for 9 (Bailey 22, Ugle 23; Dikana 2 for 15, Dai 2 for 26) by seven wickets

Game 2 - 50 overs

Papua New Guinea 211 for 5 (Vala 48, Amini 50, Dai 67, Lalor 3-40) beat Cricket Australia Indigenous XI 210 for 9 (Lalor 92, Swain 26, McGregor-Cassady 24*, Haoda Jnr 4-45, Dikana 2-30, Areni 2-55) by five wickets

Game 3 - Twenty20

Papua New Guinea 128 for 8 (Vala 19, Dai 34, Pala 22, Kent 20, Lalor 3-21, Swain 2-13) beat Cricket Australia Indigenous XI 125 (White 71, Short 18) by three runs

Game 4 - 50 overs

Papua New Guinea 266 (Vala 45, Amini 33, Dai 74, Pala 48; White 4-50, Ugle 3-28) beat Cricket Australia Indigenous XI 118 (Bailey 31, White 29, Fleehan 22; Dai 5 for 33, Areni 2 for 42) by 149 runs

PNG Barramundi fast bowler Raymond Haoda Jnr has landed in Brisbane to have a crack at Queensland cricket, after being selected to take part in the QLD Bulls Cricket Elite Pace Bowler Development Programme.

Along with nine of the best young fast bowlers from around Queensland, Raymond will have the benefit of state-of-the-art sport technology and science, will receive advice from some of the best cricket coaches in the world and will also be able to pick the brains of some former and current Queensland and Australian cricketers, with whom he will share training facilities.

The programme will see training six days a week at Queensland Cricket's facilities at Allan Border Oval and with a personal trainer in a local gym. As part of his training, Raymond will spend time under the expert tutelage of QLD Cricket's pace bowling and strength and conditioning coaching staff and PNG coaching director Andy Bichel. He will be competing throughout the programme for a future position in the QLD Bull's State Program and has also signed to play premier cricket for North's Cricket Club in Brisbane as part of his development.

Cricket PNG high performance manager and captain of the Barramundi's, Rarua Dikana said: "Raymond was quietly confident ahead of his arrival into Brisbane. We have to remember that he is the first player from outside a Test playing nation to take the most wickets at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. He took more wickets than Josh Hazlewood, who has since gone on to play one-day internationals for Australia in England this week."

Raymond is a rare talent and if he works hard and takes on board the advice of the coaches around him, we may well see him playing first-class cricket in Australia for the QLD Bulls."

With the PNG Barramundi's in training to take on the Australian Indigenous XI in the "Don't Drink and Drive Challenge" in late July, Raymond will take a week off from the programme to fly home to represent his country.

Cricket PNG CEO, Bill Leane, wished Raymond the best of luck: "Raymond is a great young ambassador for our sport and we wish him all the best for his time in Australia. I would like to thank Queensland Cricket for recognising Junior's potential and I congratulate his very proud family for all the support they have given him in pursuing his dreams."

This article first appeared in the ICC East Asia-Pacific Newsflash July 2010

After four consecutive days of hot weather, the sky opened up and consistent rain greeted the players as Japan and Papua New Guinea took the field for the East Asia-Pacific Women's Trophy final. Japan captain Ema Kuribayashi won her fourth toss in a row, electing to bat first against an experienced PNG line-up.

Japan found the conditions difficult at the start, and coupled with an outstanding spell of bowling from PNG opening bowlers Pauke Siaka and Tanya Ruma, found themselves at 36-1 after 20 overs when play was stopped due to rain.

Play resumed briefly after the first rain delay, but the skies opened again soon after leaving Japan only 42 overs to bat. Ema Kuribayashi (21) was run out soon after the resumption of play, bringing the reliable Katrina Keenan to the crease, however when partner Kurumi was dismissed without scoring, Japan were struggling at 53-4.

Keenan began patiently, pushing singles and running well between wickets, before unleashing an almighty attack on all bowlers towards the end of the innings that included five boundaries and two enormous sixes.

Keenan was finally dismissed for a spectacular 60, and Japan was able to post a respectable 125-5 at the end of its 42 overs. After Duckworth-Lewis calculations, PNG was given a target of 132 to win from its 42 overs, a total made all the more difficult due to the unfriendly conditions.

However, PNG openers Mabel Ipi and Norma Ovasuru started particularly well, edging to 42 without loss before Ovasuru was dismissed leg before to Ema Kuribayashi. While the score was continuing to tick along, wickets were falling at regular intervals, and when PNG captain Ura Rigana was caught for 12 off the bowling of Ayako Nakayama, PNG was reduced to 68-4.

Boni David (15) and opener Mabel Ipi continued to score consistently, however when Ipi was caught leg before wicket off the bowling of Kuribayashi, the game was in the balance.

With Japan operating spinners from both ends, PNG was finding it difficult to force the pace, and the runs began to dry up.
Kuribayashi bowled an outstanding spell, supported well by young legspinner Ayako Nakayama, and the two combined to choke PNG to 123-9, requiring nine to win from the final Kuribayashi over.

Number 11 Nao Kone hit the second ball high and deep into the outfield, where one of Japan's best fielders, Mariko Yamamoto, was waiting to accept the catch, giving them victory by nine runs.

Keenan was adjudged Player of the tournament. Japan will now progress to the ICC Women's World Cup ualifier, while Papua New Guinea and Samoa will have to wait until the 2012 East Asia Pacific regional tournament.

Team of the Tournament: Ema Kuribayashi (Japan), Norma Ovasuru (PNG), Mariko Yamamoto (Japan), Melinda Hodgson (Samoa), Katrina Keenan (Japan), Ura Rigana (PNG), Lily Mulivai (Samoa), Varoi Morea (PNG), Pauke Siaka (PNG), Ayako Nakayama (Japan), Tanya Ruma (PNG), Regina Lilii (Samoa)

Papua New Guinea paceman, Willie Gavera, will play the Scottish National League (SNL) season with Aberdeenshire. It is planned for the right-arm fast bowler to play in the SNL and then if necessary return for the Scottish Cup Final on September 4.

Gavera played grade cricket in Brisbane last Australian season with South Brisbane after spending the previous season with Wanderers club in Townsville in Queensland's North taking 30 wickets. He has been PNG's main strike bowler since debuting for the national team in 2008 and in January he represented the East Asia-Pacific composite team at the Australian Country Championships.

Papua New Guinea will be hosting the Australian Indigenous national team in the first week of July, with the teams competing in two one-day games and two Twenty20s, which will be played on turf wickets at Amini Park in Port Moresby.

“The Cricket Australia Australian Indigenous XI will be an exceptionally strong and experienced XI,” said Cricket PNG general manager Bill Leane. “They will be captained by Dan Christian, who recently made his Australian debut in a Twenty 20 International against the West Indies. He will be joined by current State-listed players Preston White, Josh Lalor, Worran Williams and an exciting group of young, highly skilled and experienced players.”

“The Australian Indigenous XI will be a formidable opponent and our national team will be challenged in every facet of the game,” said PNG national coaching director and former Australian fast bowler Andy Bichel. “Dan Christian is a super player, he made over 700 runs as Captain on the Australian Indigenous Tour of England.

“He potentially could be going to the ICC T20 World Cup at the end of April. Preston White is playing in the future Tours competition and Josh Lalor is playing great cricket for the Blues.

“The PNG Barramundis will field a full strength side with all of our 14 Brian Bell Future Stars players back in PNG after their scholarships end in March in Australia and New Zealand,” added Bichel. “This means it really will be .game on.for our boys as only the fittest, most in form and hungriest will be selected.

“The Barramundis will be playing for the opportunity to win our first ever home international series on turf plus creating an opportunity to be selected to represent PNG in our 2011 World Cup qualifying campaign. Having a turf wicket in PNG will also be big news and it must be said that it plays a huge part in our future development.”

Papua New Guinea continued their dominance in Apia with another convincing win to take the World Cricket League section of the East Asia Pacific (EAP) Trophy.

From day one Papua New Guinea have exuded class, professionalism and a team-first attitude to be by far the best team in the EAP Region. Led superbly by rookie captain Chris Amini, Papua New Guinea again excelled today, knocking over Japan for just 60. Amini was the standout, grabbing 3 for 6, well supported by Loa Nou (2 for 18 from nine overs) and young leg-spinner Vali Albert (1 for 15). In reply, Papua New Guinea chased down the required 61 in just 7.1 overs, with star opener Vani Vagi Morea smashing an unbeaten 41.

In the all-important round 5 clash of the non-World Cricket League competition, Vanuatu were looking to continue their unbeaten run against a Cook Islands team desperate to notch another win and progress to the final ahead of Samoa. Cook Islands began well, with Etita and Tangimatua putting together a partnership of 51, before Kenni Tari got the all important breakthrough of Etita to a skied outfield catch by Damian Smith. From there the Vanuatu bowlers applied excellent pressure, with medium-pacer Edy Mansale (2 for 25) and his younger brother Andrew (3 for 25) bowling particularly well. Cook Islands eventually dismissed for a disappointing 119. In reply, Vanuatu aptain Andrew Mansale followed up his century in round 4 with a stylish 47, while allrounder Jonathon Dunn steered the team home with an unbeaten 31.

In the final match, Tonga and Indonesia went head to head with both desperate to take their first points of the competition and make the third v fourth play-off. Indonesia won the toss and elected to bat, and following from a solid batting performance in round 4, were looking to again get above the 200-run mark. Unfortunately, the Indonesians were unable to hold firm against star pace duo Mafi Langi (4 for 22) and Simione Latu (4 for 33), crumbling to 29 for 5, before eventually being dismissed for 112 in the 33rd over. Indonesian wicketkeeper Thenuara was the only batsman to show resistance with a fighting 37. Tonga began their chase poorly, losing Holi and Mau with the score on 21, before inspirational captain Aisake Haukina strode to the crease with only one intention, to hit the ball hard and far. Haukinima looked at ease at the crease before unleashing against spinner Gede Suda Arsa, smashing three sixes, including two in consecutive balls, before finally being bowled for a quick-fire 34. Moala (43) and Valu (21*) added to the scoring spree, the Tongans passing the required target in just 14 overs.

Scores
Papua New Guinea def. Japan by 10 wickets

Japan 60 (33 overs) (N Miyaji 18*, T Fuji 12; C Amini 3-6)

PNG 61-1 (7.1 overs) (V Morea 41*)

Tonga def. Indonesia by 6 wickets

Indonesia 112 (32.4 overs) (A Thenuara 37; M Langi 4-22, 4-33)

Tonga 116-4 (14 overs) (F Moala 43, A Haukinima 34, M Valu 21*)

Vanuatu def. Cook Islands by 7 wickets

Cook Islands 119 (38.3 overs) (T Etita 42; A Mansale 3-25, P Haines 3-38, E Mansale 2-25) Vanuatu 122-3 (18.1 overs) (A Mansale 47, J Dunn 31*; T Etita 2-36)

Tony Munro

Papua New Guinea, as expected, comfortably won the Twenty20 event of the East Asia-Pacific Trophy in Samoa, beating Fiji by 101 runs in the final. The regional heavyweights smashed 208 from their allotted 20 overs, with captain Chris Amini belting 82 off 50 balls. He was joined by Jeremiah Nigani (80) in a 148-run partnership which helped PNG set Fiji a stiff asking rate.

The Fijian reply was in reverse before it started when Jojo Baba was run out off the first ball of the innings. Another key Fiji batsman was soon gone when Joe Rika was hit on the foot by the fast bowler Willie Gavera and forced to retire hurt.

Iniasi Cakacaka added some punch to the Fijian innings, hitting 60 including five sixes and six fours. Earlier in the day, Baba showed what might have been in the last of Fiji's preliminary matches when he struck an unbeaten 103 against Indonesia. Fiji hit 197 for 1 before restricting Indonesia to 92 for 6 from its 20 overs.

Samoa gave an indication it was a threat for the coveted World Cricket League Division Eight place when it beat a weakened Japan in the third-place playoff by seven wickets.


(All matches played to Twenty20 format)

Morning Results

Samoa 118 for 6 (F Mulivai 31, M Sua 19, R Turner 16; A Mansale 2-28) beat Vanuatu 117 for 9 (L Carlot 30, D Smith 23, A Mansale 21; M Sua 4-23, F Mulivai 2-22, D Seuoti 2-26) by four wickets

Papua New Guinea 180 for 4 (V Morea 36, A Vala 79; S Latu 2-28) beat
Tonga 139 for 8 (F Moala 39, S Holi 31, S Latu 44; V Morea 3-36, L Nou 2-9) by 41 runs

Japan 140 for 9 (M Kobayashi 52, K Kobayashi 30; T Teinaki 3-17, D Teinaki 2-20, N Ngatokarua 2-27) beat Cook Islands 92 for 8 (T Etita 24; N Miyaji 3-12) by 48 runs

Fiji 197 for 1 (J Baba 103*, J Dabea 74*) beat Indonesia 92 for 6 (20 (G Arsa 16;L Waqaituinayua 2-10) by 105 runs

Afternoon Results

Final:

Papua New Guinea 208 for 6 (C Amini 82, J Nigani 80; S Lomani 2-14, J Baba 2-28) beat Fiji 107 for 9 (16 overs - innings closed) (I Cakacaka 60; P Raho 3-20, L Nou 2-15) by 101 runs

Third Place Play-off:

Samoa 46 for 3 (10.1 overs) (F Mailata 24*) beat Japan 43 (15.1 overs) (M Rizwan 15; L Fuimoana 3-9) by 7 wickets

Fifth Place Play-off:

Vanuatu 148 for 7 (J Dunn 43, T Langa 22, L Natapei 20; T Teinaki 3-21) beat Cook Islands 83 for 9 (20 overs) (T Teinaki 27) by 65 runs

Seventh Place Play-off:

Tonga 173 for 5 (20 overs) (S Holi 53, K Ofahulu 60) beat Indonesia 132 (18.3 overs) (P Chaturvedi 47; A Haukinima 4-12) by 51 runs

Africa needs to look hard at itself and ask this question: why are there only two teams from the continent going to New Zealand for the Under-19s World Cup in January? And of the two, no-one can ever be too sure about Zimbabwe.

No non-Test nation (apart, now, from Zimbabwe) has made it through from Africa; whereas Asia will have six representatives (two non-Test sides), the Americas and Caribbean three (two non-Test nations), the Antipodes three (Australia, New Zealand and non-Test Papua New Guinea), and Europe two (one non-Test).

Uganda nearly made it through, but in the end they came out also-rans and, like Vanuatu, hom they beat, were not really up to scratch. Sierra Leone did not appear for the Toronto qualifiers - might they have been a surprise package or, more likely, mere fodder for the better teams? And Kenya were a no-shower for other reasons, compounded in part by their own foolishness amid premature assumptions that they would host the tournament.

So, the second question is this - and it's one that's been asked before: whither Africa?

South Africa will always hold its own; Zimbabwe seems possibly to be coming back; Uganda (where 38,000 people play the game) still appears promising; and Kenya has a lot to do. Backstage, Tanzania also hold promise, but Botswana recently took a biffing at the World Cricket League Division 6 event in Singapore.

Nigeria may be an untapped talent; Ghana are making efforts to climb; Malawi, on the other hand, and Zambia too, have faded away. Namibia are somewhere in-between, blowing hot and cold. One day Morocco may come through, but it will be a long time before Mali does.
In the wings, and whether they can fly or not nobody really knows, are Mozambique, Rwanda, Lesotho, Swaziland, Cameroon and the Gambia, while way offshore there lies little St Helena.

As yet, no Egypt. Why not?

It's not a particularly rosy picture; nor is it one of total despair. What it does illustrate, though, is that more resources need to be ploughed into the continent and proper development programmes carried through.

We could start with no less than adequate press coverage of cricket, so desperately lacking across most of the continent. So let's start there; the oxygen of publicity may be the saving of cricket in Africa.

What do others say?

Colin MacBeth

The most talented young players in Associate and Affiliate cricket gather in Toronto this week in an attempt to qualify for the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, staged in New Zealand.

While the opportunity of competing against the best young squads from larger nations, such as Australia and India, is at the forefront of the players' ambitions, the tournament gives them a chance to impress and perhaps even press for a place in the senior team. Ireland's Paul Stirling, a highly regarded left-hander, turns 19 September 3 and displayed his potential during his senior side's three-run defeat to England on Thursday, cracking 30 from 26.

Click here for the full story.

Tony Monro

	Andy Bichel will oversee the Under-19 and women’s teams as well as the full national side © Getty Images

Andy Bichel, the former Australian fast bowler, has been appointed Papua New Guinea national director of coaching for the next two years. He will oversee the Under-19 and women’s teams as well as the full national side.

Bichel will be based in Brisbane, but Cricket Papua New Guinea general manager Bill Leane said that he will have around 90-100 contact days with the players. He said Bichel's impact on PNG cricket would be about more than just short-term tournament results.

"Andy’s appointment is as much about focusing on developing local coaches as part of a long-term succession plan as it is about developing our players.” Leane said.

Batsman and captain Rarua Dikana has retired and will coach the men's team at the upcoming East Asia Pacific Trophy in Apia, Samoa. Leane said Bichel will not travel to Samoa.

Other coaching appointments include retiring national team players, John Ovia (specialist batting coach) and Jamie Brazier (bowling). Veteran Peter Moide is the new fitness coach.

Meanwhile, for the first time, the 25-member national squad will train five days a week and each player will have individual sponsors. There are 12 debutantes in the Barramundi (men's) squad in what Leane described as a "fresh approach to who will represent us at the World Cricket League Division Three in 2011."

The revamp has come after Papua New Guinea missed out on qualifying for the World Cup Qualifiers by net run rate of 0.01 behind Afghanistan and Uganda.

This Saturday marks an important date in the Cricket PNG calendar with the gala dinner "Kricket Nite" (intentional mis-spelling) set to be held at the Crown Plaza Hotel. Cricket PNG are extremely excited about the prestigious event which shall be
attended by two greats of Australian cricket, Andy Bichel and Michael Kasprowicz.

This is Kasprowicz's second visit to Port Moresby in 2009 following his attendance at the SP Sports Awards.

Papua New Guinea are the East Asia-Pacific Under-19 champions after they beat Vanuatu by 172 runs in the final at Amini Park, Port Moresby.

PNG won the toss and elected to bat in overcast conditions and scored freely early on, reaching 24 without loss before Lega Tau was well caught by Karl Laau from the bowling of Niko Unavalu. Heni Siaka was hitting everything in the middle, and started to free his arms, ably supported by middle-order batsmen Tony Ura (27) and Jason Kila (48).

The talented Siaka scored his maiden century for PNG, by far the best innings of the tournament. He was eventually dismissed for 101, but by then the damage had been done and PNG raced towards a huge total, batting their full 50 overs reaching 276 for 8.

It was to take a monumental effort by Vanuatu to chase down these runs, and early on the fielding talents of PNG rose to the fore, with two magnificent run-outs reducing Vanuatu to 31 for 2. They fought on valiantly before they were eventually dismissed for 103 after 34 overs. Jason Kila was the chief destroyer with 4 for 20.

In the battle for 3rd place at Colts Ground, Fiji beat Indonesia by six wickets in a game affected by rain.

PNG and Vanuatu will head to Canada to participate in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.

ICC staff

The ICC’s East Asia Pacific arm have appointed the Australian Bill Leane as Papua New Guinea’s general manager. “We at Cricket PNG are very excited at the appointment
of such a highly skilled and experienced candidate such as Bill to the position of general manager,” said Mick Nades, the chairman of Cricket PNG. “We are sure that he will take cricket to a new level in Papua New Guinea.

“With a number of tournaments scheduled later this year, earmarked improvements for facilities and administration still to come, and the continuing development of cricket at the grass-roots level, it is an extremely exciting time to take on this role,” said Leane.

Martin Gleeson, the Papua New Guinea coach, insists his side still have the belief to win despite losing to Afghanistan yesterday in the World Cricket League.

“We haven't lost confidence in our ability to achieve what we came here to achieve,” Gleeson said. “We have played well this week and we had a discussion after the game on the areas that we need to improve on and what we need to do to get back on track.”

Gleeson said PNG will seek to secure the win without thinking about the need to improve their run-rate, which is the worst of the three teams which have a realistic chance of finishing in the top two, which would automatically earn it promotion to the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa in April.

“First thing's first - we must win the game. If we don't then run rate won’t be a factor at all. We can't control what happens in the other games so naturally our primary focus will be on winning the game whilst of course keeping half an eye on our run rate. Hopefully with a good win all else will fall into place.”

Gleeson said he was most pleased by his team’s bowling and fielding. “It has been excellent so far. Led by Rarua Dikana's fast-mediums and Jamie Brazier's off spin, all bowlers have maintained a good line and length and been able to consistently put pressure on opposition batters. Our fielding has also been of a high standard and has been great support to the bowlers.”

He wasn’t as generous about the batting, especially against Afghanistan. “We made some poor shot selection and batted without the application and commitment that we had been working on. Afghanistan bowled and fielded well and we were unable to get any momentum going in our innings. Our batting has been patchy at best and apart from a couple of exciting innings from opener Vani Vagi Morea has been largely below expectations.”

Tony Munro

Papua New Guinea won their third match in a row, defeating Uganda by 26 runs at Belgrano while Afghanistan beat the hosts, Argentina, on the third day of the World Cricket League. Hong Kong handed Cayman Islands its third straight defeat, too. Click here for the round-up.

Tony Munro

Eight of Papua New Guinea's best players will receive valuable match practice ahead of this month's World Cricket League Division 3 tournament when they play for East Asia-Pacific at the Australian Country Championships over the next nine days.

Rarua Dikana, the national captain, John Ovia, Ipi Morea, Vani Vagi Morea, Assad Vala, Kila Pala and Mahuru Dai will all get the chance to tone their game for the vital Division 3 tournament where a place in the final will give Papua New Guinea a coveted place at the World Cup qualifier in South Africa in April.

The East Asia-Pacific squad is a composite team representing the ICC's East Asia-Pacific development zone in the Australian Country Championships against country teams from the mainland Australian states. Their first fixture is a two-day game against Queensland Sunday.

The Division 3 tournament, which will be held from January 24-31, also features Afghanistan, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Uganda and the host, Argentina.

Meanwhile, the rest of the PNG squad are continuing their preparations in Port Moresby, before the entire squad assembles in Toowoomba, Queensland on January 14 prior to travelling to Buenos Aires on January 19.

Papua New Guinea squad: Rarua Dikana (capt), John Ovia, Chris Amini, Ipi Morea, Vani Vagi Morea, Asad Vala, Kila Pala, Jacob Mado, Jamie Brazier, Willie Gavera, Peter Moide, Loa Nou, Mahuru Dai, John Hoada.

The schedule for the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 which takes place in Argentina next month has been announced. The two finalists will progress to the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa in April.

Click here for the complete schedule

Turf wickets are rarer then hen's teeth beyond the Test world, but Papua New Guinea are the proud owners of a brand-new grass wicket in Kimbe.

Tony Munro

The Papua New Guinea Barramundi, as the men's national cricket team is called, will hold two camps in Brisbane as part of their preparations for the World Cricket League Division Three tournament in Buenos Aires in January.

The first camp will be held at Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane from November 9 to 15 before another camp at South Brisbane CC just prior to leaving for Argentina.

These follow a recent 10-day camp in Port Moresby which was overseen by national coach Martin Gleeson and incorporated a visit from ICC East Asia-Pacific development officer, Charlie Burke.

Meanwhile, as usual, most cricket activity in PNG will centre around the two associations affiliated to Cricket Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby and Lae.

In Port Moresby, 14 teams will contest the A & B Grades, six teams in the ladies' league, and there are also under 19 and under 16 teams.

In Lae, on PNG's northeastern coast, six teams will compete in the men's competition, six women's teams contest a knockout and there is a six team under 16 competition.

Fourteen villages in the Highlands in PNG's Central Province recently conducted an inter-village competition. Like other competitions in Kimbe, Milne Bay, Popondetta on the northern coast and Tabubil, it is not affiliated to Cricket PNG.

By Tony Munro

Papua New Guinea (PNG) batsman Maharu Dai will spend the 2008-09 New Zealand season playing for the Christchurch-based Marist CC.

Dai, who also bowls left-arm spin, will play under Stuart McCullum, the father of New Zealand wicketkeeper, Brendon McCullum.

Meanwhile, four of PNG's more promising youngsters will spend the Australian summer playing in the Townsville (North Queensland) competition.

Assad Vala (Wanderers CC), Willie Gavera (Wanderers CC), Kapena Arua (Western CC) and Joel Tom (Western CC), all from Port Moresby, are being groomed for the national team.

Right-hand opening batsman, Vani Vagi Morea, and left-arm swing bowler, Jacob Mado, will be returning to PNG after successful seasons with Nightcliff CC in Australia's Northern Territory Cricket Association competition in Darwin. The pair helped their club into the finals and also won the Twenty20 Cup.

Telikom Titans became the first cricket team to win the inaugural SP Super Series
Trophy after a seven-wicket win over Trukai Invincible side at Amini Park in Port
Moresby on 22 June. Assad Vala made his third half century to lead the Titans to their first SP Super Series grand final win. Titans made 143 for 3, which was just enough as they bolwed out Invincibles for 141.

This news first appeared in the ICC EAP Newsflash

Next week's ICC annual get-together promises to have more than its fair share of politicking, posturing and controversy. But, unless there is a major about-turn, it should also be a watershed for the Associates and Affiliates.

In 2009, income from the ICC's six-year media deal with ESPN-Star, worth over US$1 billion, kicks in, and while the game's big boys will still keep the lion's share, the rest will see substantial increases in their incomes.

Although the ICC draws considerable flak on many fronts, it is quietly committed to promoting the game in as many countries as possible, and it does that by means of a myriad of competitions and initiatives. Most do not warrant much media attention, but they are there and they work.

Until now, the gripe of the smaller countries, and especially those bubbling just underneath the top flight, has been about the inequality of the way in which the game is financed. That was never more apparent than when it came to earnings from last year's World Cup.

Ireland got a flat fee of US$125,000 a year for four years for taking part, and on top of that they received another $50,000 for reaching the Super Eights. However, because of the extra costs involved in their progression, not least because their players are not professional cricketers and their absences from their full-time jobs had to be underwritten, Ireland's success actually left the board out of pocket.

Zimbabwe, on the other hand, turned up, tied with Ireland and never threatened to progress after being thumped by Pakistan and West Indies. For those three matches, Zimbabwe Cricket received US$11 million, their share of the pot as a Full Member.

The top six Associates receive no more than US$500,000 a year - some substantially less - to fund their entire operations. Out of that they have to pay all their cricketing and administration costs. Only those with a low cost of living, such as Kenya, can hope to maintain a professional squad on that kind of money.

The gulf between the haves and have-nots is further widened by the limited sums Associates can earn from sponsorship and media contracts. Zimbabwe can exploit home series against, say, India to carve out lucrative TV deals worth millions, and on the back of that, attract shirt- and other corporate sponsorship. As highlighted by Scotland's failure to secure any TV deal for their forthcoming ODI against England, the Associates struggle to get such income streams.

The new deals will provide a substantial increase for Associates, especially for the countries who are pressing for space at the top table. Until now the share has been roughly equal, rewarding Netherlands and Kenya on par with Thailand and Fiji. The new system will see more demarcation between the top Associates and the rest.

The leading ten could earn as much as US$1.5 million a year from 2009. There will then be an onus on them to professionalise their administrations, but several of them are already well down that route. They will also be more accountable - the ICC does not want a repeat of the mess that came following a spike in Kenya's funding earlier in the decade.

The second-string Associates will also get more - around US$160,000 as a base figure - but then again the demands on them are less. Even Affiliates will receive US$15,000, with the opportunity for more should they make a good enough case. There will also be more cash in the pot for participating and hosting competitions.

There have never been more opportunities for development outside the Full Member countries, but there remain some nagging worries.

The main one is how to bridge the gap between semi and full-blown professionalism. Almost all the Associates rely on dedicated amateurs, both on and off the field. As the number of ICC competitions has increased - and they have to be welcomed - the pressure has begun to tell. Scotland and Ireland particularly have already found players cannot meet all their commitments, and even the increased income will not allow them to employ a full-time squad.

"So much of putting players on full-time retainers depends on how many fixtures we can command," Warren Deutrom, Cricket Ireland's chief executive, said. "At the moment, all we can promise the squad in 2009 is a World Cup qualifying campaign, eight FP Trophy matches, an England game, and probably some Intercontinental Cup matches. Of course, we hope to have more, but can't be sure at the moment.

"Our top players are already plying their trade in county cricket, while others have full-time jobs which they may not wish to give up. The actual number of players that the coach will want to put on a full-time contract, or else the number that even want to have one, may not be that many."

The other quandary is how to get them fixtures. Kenya, widely regarded as the leading Associate, have found it almost impossible to get Full Member countries to visit or host them. As a result they invariably play other Associates. Good for the win-loss ratio, not so clever in providing the kind of experience that no amount of money can buy.

These issues will need to be addressed, but for now the future has never looked so promising beyond the Test world.

Tony Munro

The Papua New Guinea national championships have been revamped to a four-team elite “Super Series” involving the country's best players. The Super Series will bring together the top players in the nation who will compete for four teams in a series of Twenty20 and One Day fixtures.

For the first time, players will be paid and the Papua New Guinea Cricket Board hopes cricket will take on a semi-professional attitude. To be played under two formats, the Twenty20 competition starts on April 6, followed by the 50-over tournament on April 27.

Each team will contain no more than four national players per side.

In order to make games competitive the traditional teams' geographical basis will be replaced by four teams chosen by the national selectors and named after sponsors.

At the end of the tournament, the 22-man Papua New Guinea national squad will be chosen for the World Cricket League Division Three tournament to be played in Argentina next January.

The number of people actively participating in cricket outside the Test-playing countries increased 17% in 2007, according to the ICC.

The research, carried out by the ICC's development program, was collated from 33 Associate and 58 Affiliate members. It showed that there were 338,051 male and female players in those countries in 2007, an increase of 49,158 on the previous year. Since 2002, when there were 144,047 participants, there has been a 135% rise.

Click here for the full story.

Two of Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) most promising young players have been awarded a six-month scholarship with the Wanderers club in Townsville, Queensland. 

Assad Vala, a 20-year-old batsman, and 19-year-old pace bowler Loa Nou have been rewarded for their outstanding recent performances at both domestic and international level, and will spend the Australian summer testing their skills against the best players in Townsville.

The initiative, a partnership between the Wanderer’s CC, PNG Cricket and the ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Development Program, will also see both players learn about club administration, turf wicket preparation and the coordination of junior development programs.

“This is a great opportunity for two of our young players to experience Australian culture and quality club cricket,” said PNG Cricket's chairman Mick Nades. “We thank the Wanderers for their support of PNG Cricket and hope that this is the beginning of a long relationship.”

The Wanderers CC has produced current Australian players Andrew Symonds and Mitchell Johnson. The club's president Peter Wiltshire said: “Having hosted the PNG National Team during their Townsville tour in May we saw the potential and thought we had something to offer their young players.”

The ICC East Asia–Pacific (EAP) Development Program has announced its squads for the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane in November.

Twelve young players have been selected for the EAP Emerging Players Program, and 16 for the squad camp which will bring together the region’s best players ahead of the Australian country cricket championship in Mackay, Queensland this January. This means players from Cook Islands, Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Both squads will experience a week of intensive coaching, training and skill development under the tutelage of Australia’s leading coaches. Each squad will play Twenty20 and 50-over one-day matches against local opposition in Brisbane.

Emerging players squad

Colin Amini (PNG), Arua Dikana (PNG), Willie Gavera (PNG), Masaomi Kobayashi (Japan), Trevor Langa (Vanuatu), Jacob Mado (PNG), Simpson Obed (Vanuatu), Pritchard Pritchard (Samoa), Sekove Ravoka (Fiji), Salesi Tu’Akoi (Tonga), Tony Ura (PNG), Vani Vagi Morea (PNG)

Squad camp

Chris Amini (PNG), Hitolo Areni (PNG), Kapena Arua (PNG), Inoa Baeau (PNG), Jamie Brazier (PNG), Tatsuro Chino (Japan), Mahuru Dai (PNG), Rarua Dikana (PNG), Dunu Eliaba (Cook Islands), Mahuta Kivung (PNG), Andrew Mansale (Vanuatu), Ipi Morea (PNG), Loa Nou (PNG), John Ovia (PNG), Josefa Rika (Fiji), Assad Vala (PNG)

Papua New Guinea beat Fiji by 30 runs in the final of the South Pacific Games tournament.

PNG fought their way to 164 after electing to bat, but couldn't use up their overs as they were dismissed for 164.

However, it proved more than enough as Fiji folded for 135.

The Chinese People’s Daily - admittedly an unlikely source of cricket news – reports that Papua New Guinea scored 572 for 6 in a South Pacific Games match against New Caledonia.

It broke the previous Games record of 502 for 9, also by PNG against New Caledonia four years ago.

PNG won the toss and started (relatively) sedately, reaching 121 for 0 in thr 14th over before losing two quick wickets, including Kepena for a duck. Opening batsman Uda was the third man out for 123 (299 for 3). Mahuru Dai, who scored a 16-ball fifty in the 1999 Under-19 World Cup, weighed in with 105 and Pala made 142.

Argentina and Papua New Guinea (PNG) complete the semi-final line-up of the World Cricket League Division 3 after recording impressive victories on the last day of the group matches in Darwin. Argentina take on Cayman Islands in the semi-finals tomorrow, while PNG meet Uganda.

Group A

Argentina routed Fiji for 44 inside 22 overs before knocking off the target in 30 balls. Esteban Nino, bowling with impressive pace, took 4 for 16 while Gary Savage and Diego Lord shared the remaining six. At one stage, Fiji were 9 for 7; that they reached the lofty heights of 44 owed much to Vuiyasawa Mateiwaqa's 16 and 15 extras. Lucas Paterlini and Grant Dugmore knocked off the required runs in the fifth over.

PNG beat Italy by eight wickets, but it was their superior net run-rate which edged them into the semi-finals, after both teams were tied following two wins each. PNG, who suffered a shock five-wicket defeat against Argentina on Tuesday, had to beat the Italians by a convincing margin to earn a berth in the last four. They did just that, dismissing Italy for 134 before cruising to their target in the 34th over. Arua Uda top-scored with 58 from 92 balls.

Group B

Poor shot selection from the Cayman Islands condemned them to a 26-run defeat to Uganda. Both teams had already qualified for the semis on Tuesday but Uganda put in an excellent allround performance, dismissing Cayman Islands for 127 in the 47th over with Charles Waiswa picking up 2 for 21. Uganda's 153 was led by Arthur Kyobe, the 18-year-old, who struck 37 from 64 balls.

Tanzania tasted its first win of the tournament, overpowering Hong Kong by five wickets. Hong Kong made 161, with Rahul Sharma notching 43 while Bhavesh Govind took 3 for 31. Tanzania cruised home with Abhik Patwa and Rishen Patel putting on 77 for the opening stand, edging over the line in the 47th over.

Eight of cricket’s emerging nations will be hoping to take one step towards qualification for the 2011 World Cup when the World Cricket League Division 3 gets underway this Sunday (May 27) in Darwin.

The top two teams from this event will join UAE, Namibia, Denmark and Oman
in Windhoek, Namibia at the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 November. The top four teams from the event in Namibia will automatically qualify for the ICC World Cup Qualifier in the UAE in 2009, while the two remaining teams will have a second chance to qualify for the UAE tournament at the World Cricket League Division 3 in early 2009.

Click here for the full team-by-team preview.

The ICC East Asia - Pacific (EAP) office have confirmed the dates for the 2007 ICC EAP U-19 World Cup Qualifier hosted by Vanuatu Cricket Association in Port Vila. The tournament will take place from July 17 to 24, 2007.

Confirmed countries participating in this tournament are Fiji, Japan, Papua New Guinea and tournament hosts Vanuatu, with the winner earning direct entry to the 2008 Under-19 World Cup.

ICC EAP Regional Development Manager, Mr Matt Weisheit reported "We are delighted that Vanuatu will be hosting this significant ICC East Asia - Pacific U-19 tournament in July 2007. For Vanuatu, this follows the successful staging of the 2005 EAP Cricket Cup tournament and we see this tournament as building on the progress Vanuatu is making in terms of cricket development both on and off the field.

"With the winner of this EAP tournament progressing directly to the U19 Cricket World Cup means that this will be a hotly contested tournament. The lure of participating in a World Cup will provide significant motivation for the Countries involved and as such this is one of the major tournaments on the 2007 EAP Cricket Calendar".

Vanuatu Cricket Association (VCA) President, Mr Mark Stafford, said that the tournament will provide a valuable boost for the growth of the sport in Vanuatu. "We have focussed on developing our junior cricket programs and structures, and hosting the ICC EAP U-19's World Cup qualifier complements our ambitions to cultivate a strong junior base. This will provide us an opportunity to improve our ability to compete internationally and also promote the sport locally.

"It is imperative that we secure government and corporate support for this tournament, as there are a number of areas that Vanuatu cricket needs to improve in. Besides, the importance of a strong on-field performance, it is also necessary for us to improve our facilities and enhance our reputation as a well organised cricket organisation, to achieve this we need community involvement and support."

The strong MCC A side, which visited Papua New Guinea and New Zealand during the first half of March, returned home undefeated. The first four matches were close-fought contests. However, the final two matches of the tour, against an Otago Country XI and Auckland Emerging Players XI, were won by seven wickets and 57 runs respectively. The touring team consisted of six first-class cricketers, including England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones.

Later in March an MCC B tour to Brazil and Chile took place. The team played six matches, two against Brazil, followed by four against Chile.

It won't get many column inches in the mainstream cricket press, but the World Cricket League, which started in Nairobi yesterday and continues into next week, features the best of the rest, the six sides just under the ten Test-playing countries. For the two finalists, the rewards are bountiful - a place among the big boys in the inaugural Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa this September, along with $250,000. For countries used to surviving on annual handouts from the ICC of less than $200,000, that's big money.

With the exception of Bermuda, cricket is not a mainstream sport in any of the participants. And yet it survives, and in some instances thrives, despite the lack of attention and a relatively small number of enthusiasts.

The ICC, who do sterling work in supporting the game's second and third tiers, will rightly use the event to highlight that cricket is not just about the Indians and Australias of the world.

But there remains a nagging worry. The ICC boasts that the game is spreading across the world. But is that right? Is it taking root or is it surviving because more people from its hotbed - south-east Asia - are emigrating and keeping it alive for the duration of their careers?

In last year's Wisden Almanack, Matthew Engel raised this very issue. "Overwhelmingly, the game in non-traditional countries is played by expatriates, mostly South Asian. Journalists were kidded into believing that cricket was about to burst on China, on the basis of some warm comments by civil servants and a couple of coaching courses. I have seen not one shred of evidence to back this up. Are the kids playing with tapeballs on the streets of Shanghai? Are they heck!"

Take Canada. Of the squad in Nairobi at the moment, only three were born in the country, and two of those are over 35. Of the rest, five come from the Caribbean, four from India and each from Pakistan and Uganda. Whereas other Associates have a smattering of expats, Canada are utterly reliant on them.

Engel's comment attracted fierce criticism from those who either argued that England had more than their share of "imports" or that the game only spread in Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Caribbean through expats playing it in the first place.

The worry in some countries is that rather the game is not being continued by the second and third generations but is only being maintained by a steady flow of new immigrants

With regards to England, yes there have been quite a few non English-born players who have been picked for the side, but the game still has a massive stronghold in the country. The selection has been more about improving a solid side. And as for the ex-pats argument? Well, yes, but that's the crucial point. In the regions flagged the game was brought in but it was then embraced by the indigenous population and taken on as their own. This is exemplified no better than in CLR James's seminal work, Beyond A Boundary.

The worry in some countries - and again I come back to Canada - is that rather the game is not being continued by the second and third generations but is only being maintained by a steady flow of new immigrants. Canada's cricket heritage is rich but there is little sign that it has been built on. This is best underlined by the selection of former West Indies international Anderson Cummins. Forty years old and without a major match to his name since 1995-96, he made his debut in Mombasa last week. What message does that send out about the strength in depth of cricket in Canada?

It's not just Canada. Look at the USA, whose 2004 Champions Trophy side was a collection of ageing expats whose performances verged on the disgraceful. And the UAE, which is almost entirely dependant on its ex-pat workforce to keep the game alive.

Cricket's expansion should not be about filling teams with expats and expecting the locals to get excited about it. The only way cricket can gain a foothold in emerging countries is by actually getting the indigenous population to embrace the game, and two excellent examples where this is happening are Nepal and Uganda.

Anderson Cummins of Barbados, West Inbies ... and now Canada © Eddie Norfolk

Does it matter? Yes, because as the ICC looks to develop the game in as many places as possible, that means the financial cake has to be cut in ever thinner slices. The ICC needs to concentrate on a smaller number of countries where the chances of the game taking off. It is invidious that Uganda gets the same basic allowance as Belgium.

Cricket is in trouble in its traditional homes in Africa - Zimbabwe are hell-bent on destruction and South Africa seems to be falling out of love with the game. So efforts should be made in Uganda . And in Asia, which everyone accepts is the game's stronghold, a side like Nepal should really be given the leg up. It's about targeting rather than a scattergun approach.

In fairness to the ICC, they have a tough time and a lot of countries scrambling for a share of the spoils. It's about weeding out the weak and really looking to grow the game in areas where it has the best chance of taking root. It's an almost impossible ask. Look at the repeated failure of American Football to crack Europe ... and if football itself still battles for acceptance outside expats and schools in the USA, then the size of the ICC's task becomes clear.

Of course expats have a key role to play in expansion. But if the game is basically played by them, is it the game spreading or is it more about diehards clinging to the traditions of their homelands? In the UK there are baseball and American football sides, but they are almost all expat Americans and so few would seriously claim the games have taken hold. However, basketball and ice hockey are widely played by locals, boosted by some imported players and expats, and, crucially, the national side can stand on its own two feet. That's the difference.

The Papua New Guinea cricket board (PNGCB) has received extra funding, and have opened up a qualifying structure to allow more teams and players to qualify for the National Cricket Championship.

The chairman of the PNGCB Mick Nades announced this during the signing of K25,000 sponsorship from SP Brewery to back the Board to stage SP Lager Super Series cricket title. Nades said Port Moresby had been the dominant force in PNG cricket history and arguably the best organised competition in the country. With the new structure, the top teams in the elimination process will proceed to play in the championship. All five affiliated associations – Port Moresby, Lae, Central, Alotau and Popondetta – have been invited including five invitational sides – Aroma Coast, Fairfax, Koita Warriors, PNG Development Squad and Tabubil. Port Moresby will field three teams, Port Moresby 1, Port Moresby 2 and Port Moresby U23, Central will have two teams, Central One and Central Two, while Alotau and Lae one each. Eleven teams will take part in the qualifying and elimination series which starts on March 18-19.

More information can be found at The National