East Asia-Pacific News Archive

Tongan Cricket Team Arrives to Play in Australia

April 26, 2001

You may be surprised to know that the West Indies are not the only International cricket side touring in Australia at the moment and, no, Zimbabwe has not arrived early for the One-Day Series. Confused? Well don't be, the Tongan national cricket Team will arrive today in Melbourne to play a series of matches in Victoria from 9-15 November 2000.

All matches will be played in Geelong as follows:
Thursday 9 November vs combined Geelong Cricket Association / Barwon Cricket Region side at the Geelong Cricket Ground
Friday 10 November vs Newtown & Chilwell Cricket Club at King Lloyd Reserve
Monday 13 November vs Geelong Cricket Club at the Geelong Cricket Ground
Wednesday 15 November vs Geelong Grammar School at Geelong Grammar.

The Tonga Cricket Association (TCA) was voted an Affiliate Member of the ICC in June 2000 and is supported by the ICC Development Program for the East Asia - Pacific Region. ICC Development Officer, Tim Anderson, visited Tonga in April 2000 and conducted coach education courses and elite player development programs. Tim will act as Tour Coordinator in Victoria. The Chairman of the TCA is Siale Puloka and he will be attending with the Team.

This Tour to Victoria follows a similar Tour to New South Wales in 1999 and forms part of Tonga's preparation for the inaugural Pacifica Cup to be held in Auckland in February 2001 with eight nations participating. There, Tonga will get the chance to take on traditional rivals such as Fiji, Samoa and Cook Islands in what should be a fiercely fought competition.

The arriving touring party of 14 will be joined by the Captain of the Team, Selu Salema Vite, and all-rounder, Toutai Kuluka, who have both been visiting the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in Adelaide as part of the overseas program since mid-October. On their weekend off, they will all have the opportunity to participate in a tour of the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground and its Gallery of Sport as well as attend the Victorian Bushrangers vs Southern Redbacks Mercantile Mutual Cup match on Sunday 12 November at Richmond Cricket Ground.

Details of the outcomes of the Tongan matches will follow in due course.

For further information, please contact Tour Coordinator, Tim Anderson, on (03) 5241 9717 or 0412 650 208 or ICC East Asia - Pacific Development Manager, Matthew Kennedy, on (03) 9653 9921 or 0409 218 883.

The Tongan Tour to Victoria 2000 is proudly supported by:
Victorian Cricket Association
Geelong Cricket Club
Geelong Cricket Association
Barwon Cricket Zone
Newtown & Chilwell Cricket Club
Geelong Grammar School
Tongan Community of Melbourne.

 

© ICC