Cricket Stars Support Bogor Cricket Development Program

The Australian and New Zealand Embassies hosted a lunch today in support of youth cricket development in Indonesia and to honour a group of former international cricket stars including Australian Glenn McGrath and New Zealander Chris Cairns, who have been visiting Indonesia to conduct coaching clinics for local cricket players through the Bogor Cricket Development program.

McGrath and Cairns were impressed with the standard of Bogor’s junior cricket players. “Less than five years ago, most of these kids would never have heard of the sport of cricket, and to see the level they are playing at now is a testament to the great job the Bogor Cricket Development program is doing to promote the sport here,” McGrath said.

New Zealand Ambassador David Taylor was equally impressed. “This is a wonderful example of how close cooperation and exchanges through sport builds bridges between countries,” he said.

Joining McGrath and Cairns were fellow former international cricketers: Jeff Thomson and Graham Yallop of Australia, Robin Smith of England, Nantie Haywood of South Africa, Dinesh Mongia of India, and Vasbert Drake of the West Indies.

From 21 to 22 May, the visiting cricketers held a cricket coaching clinic for 60 boys and girls from the Bogor region.

On 23 May, a six-per-side cricket tournament will be held at Taman Olahraga Pancawati Internasional in Bogor, to mark the opening of a new playing field called the Graham Yallop Oval. This new facility, sponsored by former Australian Cricket Captain Graham Yallop, will serve as a development centre for Indonesian cricket, providing a huge boost to the sport.

The Bogor Cricket Association, which runs the Bogor Cricket Development Program, was launched in 2006 with six schools competing in the inaugural Bogor Schools league. There are now 10 schools competing in the annual league through expansion into two village catchments, Pasir Kalong and Pancawati. 2010 also saw the introduction of a very successful girls’ league with nine schools and 12 teams participating.

Media Inquiries:
Jenny Dee, Australian Embassy Tel. (021) 2553 5290 mob. 0811 187 3175
and James Waite, New Zealand Embassy Tel (021) 2995 5817.