Progress Report on Cricket Development in Bali

Bali Cricket has certainly been faced with many challenges over the past 8 months. Travel warnings and declining tourism has seen a decrease in business here and thus a reduction in available funding.

Coaching was therefore reduced, particularly in the months of Dec, Jan, Feb and into March, which are wet months here anyway. This affected both pitch quality and availability, and organisation. This is the best time to rest coaches or employ them elsewhere such as Jakarta, which plays the bulk of its cricket in these months.

The 8 months from April to Nov is dry here and the best time to drive cricket in Bali. During this time, schools always take 2 months off all sport for exams, transition to higher classes and the main school holidays such as in Oz at Christmas, when kids return to their villages out of the cities. This leaves 6 months for intensive school and area programs.

To save funding it would be more cost efficient to employ coaches on 3-6 month contracts in these periods, when maximum results could be achieved. Coaches should understand that if rain prevents cricket in Jan -Feb, or exams, holidays in say June, then these are periods of reduced activity in Bali. As a result, these become periods of alternative activity such as organisation, database building, ground and pitch repair, public relations to government etc or just plain rest periods.

Junior Elites to Australia

In January-Feb, 4 talented juniors were sent to the Justin Langer Cricket Camp in Perth. They were accompanied by Ray Elliot and Soni Hawoe, enjoying a week of intensive training in an experience they will never forget. All received favorable reports as to cricketing ability and potential. The juniors were Gede Suda Arsa and Kadek Urip Astawa from Sunaria Junior High in Kuta, Putra Darmawan from Angkasa Junior High in Tuban and Adi Wirianjaya from Junior High 1 in Kuta. It was particularly gratifying to see Suda Arsa achieve this trip as he comes form a particularly poor family which lives in a humpy on the beach and has put the most effort into making himself a first class cricketer of the future. Our thanks must go to the W.A.C.A and the I.C.C. for making this trip possible and it is to be hoped that it could become an annual event as a great incentive for schools and kids to play cricket here.

I.C.C. Visit

Tim Anderson came up to conduct a clinic after the travel warnings had subsided and always impresses with his diligence to task and hands on approach to coaching. He conducted clinics for teacher/coaches and junior elites. One evening, he was still back at the Udayana Lodge at 8pm, showing junior and senior elites film of their batting and bowling techniques. I understand he is also providing a Trophy from Oz for the upcoming School Comp here. Our thanks most certainly go to Tim who is not scared to step outside formal processes and time schedules in order to serve the cause of genuine cricket development

Clinics

Clinics in coaching and umpiring were conducted here by Mike Suresh in and more recently by Soni Hawoe. Mike was particularly impressive with the way he was able to sustain fluent Indonesian for over an hour and a half in relating to the Indonesian Coaches here.

Sonie's Clinic was held more recently in June involving 20 primary and high school teachers at Udayana Lodge and Bukit oval. Assisted by Agus and Wayan, the teachers learnt the game with plastic bat and rubber ball. The clinic was both enjoyable and informative covering batting, bowling, fielding and most importantly, basic scoring and umpiring. Certificates were issued upon completion and lunch provided in the comfortable surrounds of Udayana Lodge.

If these teachers are provided with plastic Kanga kits they will be able to carry on cricket at their respective schools-independent of I.C.F. coaches.

K.O.N.I .Recognition

Exhibition games were played before government representatives and K.O.N.I, which is the official sporting body in Bali. Our thanks must go to John Panca, who is the President of Koni here in Bali and has been instrumental in the formal recognition of the sport and most helpful in the importation of Kanga Cricket kits.

The exhibition Games were played at both junior and senior level at the Puputan Oval in Renon. Interest was high and commentary given in Indonesian so that dignitaries could understand. As a result of this formal recognition, access to schools is more readily obtained and some schools have already adopted it as an extra curricula activity for which marks are given.

Australia Indonesia Institute.

The Australia Indonesia Institute has most kindly provided funding in recent months which has allowed development to proceed here. Soni has compiled a booklet explaining the rudiments of cricket-in Indonesian. Running some 12 pages with translucent plastic cover it was economically produced and represents something that indigenous Indonesians (both adult and child) relate top more readily. Copies are available on request. Phone Soni on +62 3 261 204.

This booklet has also allowed initiatives to proceed in both Lombok and Flores where clinics are to be held this month and next month. This is increasing the awareness of cricket in this country.

Bali High School Cricket Comp - Hard Ball and Pads

The Bali Schools League using the hard ball has commenced for the third year and will contain teams whose presence has been funded by the AII from Kabupaten Badung. Funding from the AII is acknowledged as is the trophy, which has been presented by the ICC. The champions Sunari easily won their first game against SMP 5 Sesetan last Monday. The League is being organized through KONI (the government sports department), Udayana University and the ICF trainer team led by Sony Hawoe.

This High School Comp is the nursery for our future champs and should be perpetuated each year. A primary School Comp with Kanga gear will follow the High school comp. The Itinerary for High School competition is available on request.

Competing Schools

SUNARI LOCA junior high (over 500 kids)

ANGKASA HIGH junior high (150 kids)--Islam School

SMP 1 KUTA junior high (over 500 kids)

SMU 5 SESETAN senior high (over 1000 kids)

DIANA PURA university - school of John Panca - director of Koni

BRAVEHEARTS- from expat schools in Bali-mainly Bali International School

Cricket Teacher Workshop for Lombok (Nusa Tenggara Timor) and Labuan Bajo (Flores)

The Indonesia Cricket Foundation (ICF) is spreading eastwards and is holding the first ever ICC accredited "Introduction to Cricket" workshop on the island of Lombok east of Bali on August 12th and 13th. A similar workshop is planned for Labuan Bajo at the end of the month. This activity is funded by The Australia Indonesia Institute (AII) who has contracted INI RADEF to execute this program in association with the ICF. The team undertaking this activity are Indonesian trainers who are all certificated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and is led by Sony Hawoe.

In Lombok, the training will take place at IKIP, a teacher training college with a Faculty of Sport. Cricket will be officially introduced as a official subject during the series of courses. The AII contract will ensure the entry of cricket through a schools league on both islands. This is a unique contract a great credit to the AII for bringing so any institutions together.

Insert photo [Coach Education group_May03] and insert caption "Introduction to Cricket course participants in Bali earlier this year"

ICF office at Udayana University

Udayana University has given a large office in Gedung GE (Kampus Bukit, Jimbaran) to the ICF. The office staff is now four trainers each with their own desk and computer. The Head of the office is Sony Hawoe who has a responsibility nationally. It is hoped that the investment of the ICC and the ICF in these trainers will be greatly assisted by a disciplined working environment.

Bali League

Udayana CC clinched their berth in the Finals against The Bali Geckos by beating the Sanur Lubacks last Sunday. Batting first UCC made 234 from 35 overs. Agus Abadi made 82 not out, the Lubacks were all out for 170. The final which will be 50 overs using the ICC format will be a highly contested event by two good sides.