Fiji national cricket team

Infobox non test cricket team
country_name = Fiji

---

image_caption = Flag of Fiji
icc_member_year = 1965
icc_status = Associate member
icc_region = East Asia/Pacific
current_captain = Seci Sekinini
WCL_division = Four
regional_tournament = World Cricket League EAP region
regional_tournament_division = n/a
first_match = 25 January 1895 v Auckland at Auckland Domain
world_ranking = 28th
regional_ranking = 2nd
icc_trophy_apps = 7
icc_trophy_first = 1979
icc_trophy_best = 11th place, 1997
fc_matches = 15
fc_win_loss_record = 5/8
asofdate = 10 October 2007

The Fiji national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Fiji in international cricket matches. They have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1965, [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Countries/50.html Fiji] at Cricket Archive] though their history goes back to the late 19th century. [http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-1354-0-0-0&sID=14228 History page] at official site]

They regularly take part in regional tournaments including the cricket tournament at the South Pacific Games. [ [http://www.sportingpulse.com/comp_info.cgi?a=LADDER&compID=56280&c=2-3557-0-0-0 2007 South Pacific Games cricket points table] ] They have taken part in every ICC Trophy tournament with the exception of the 2005 event. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Records/Fiji/Icct/Icct_List.html ICC Trophy matches played by Fiji] at Cricket Archive] They are currently ranked at 28th in the world by the ICC, and are the second ranked non-test team in their region. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Records/Fiji/Icct/Icct_List.html One-day rankings] at the official website of the ICC]

History

Early days

Cricket was introduced to Fiji by European settlers in 1874, and the native population began taking up the game in 1878. The governor of Fiji at the time listed introducing cricket to the native Fijians as one of the achievements of his tenure in his memoirs.

Early tours

Fiji was playing first-class cricket just 21 years after cricket was introduced to the country, when they toured New Zealand in early 1895. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/NZ/1894-95_NZ_Fiji_in_New_Zealand_1894-95.html Fiji in New Zealand, 1894/95] at Cricket Archive]

1895 tour of New Zealand

Fiji's team on the tour in 1895 was captained by John Udal, whose great-grandson Shaun would eventually play Test cricket for England. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/24/24532/24532.html John Udal] at Cricket Archive] The first match of the tour was a two-day match against Auckland, which Fiji lost by an innings. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/4/4258.html Scorecard] of Auckland v Fiji, 25 January 1895 at Cricket Archive]

A low scoring second match against Otago was drawn after rain washed out the first of the two days. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/4/4262.html Scorecard] of Otago v Fiji, 1 February 1895 at Cricket Archive] The third match against Canterbury was also lost by an innings, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/4/4265.html Scorecard] of Canterbury v Fiji, 8 February 1895 at Cricket Archive] before a draw against Wellington. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/4/4267.html Scorecard] of Wellington v Fiji, 15 February 1895 at Cricket Archive]

The final two matches of the tour went much better for the Fijians, winning against Hawke's Bay by an innings after a century from John Collins, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/4/4270.html Scorecard] of Hawke's Bay v Fiji, 19 February 1895 at Cricket Archive] and beating Taranaki by two wickets. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/4/4271.html Scorecard] of Taranaki v Fiji, 22 February 1895 at Cricket Archive]

1908 tour of Australia

In January 1908, Fiji toured Australia. Only one result is known from this tour, [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/AUS/1907-08_AUS_Fiji_in_Australia_1907-08.html Fiji in Australia, 1907/08] at Cricket Archive] a draw against Queensland in a two-day match, highlighted by a seven wicket haul for Pope Cakpbau. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/109/109266.html Scorecard] of Queensland v Fiji, 1 January 1908 at Cricket Archive] The team played 26 matches against state, university and district sides between 11 December 1907 and 30 March 1908.

Post War period

Fiji toured New Zealand twice more, in 1948 [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/NZ/1947-48_NZ_Fiji_in_New_Zealand_1947-48.html Fiji in New Zealand, 1947/48] at Cricket Archive] and 1954. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/NZ/1953-54_NZ_Fiji_in_New_Zealand_1953-54.html Fiji in New Zealand, 1953/54] at Cricket Archive] Fiji's first match against a Test-playing nation came in 1956, when the West Indies visited. Fiji won the match against a team featuring the likes of Garfield Sobers by 28 runs despite being bowled out for 91, largely thanks to a six wicket haul from John Gosling. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/125/125233.html Scorecard] of Fiji v West Indies, 12 January 1956 at Cricket Archive]

1948 tour of New Zealand

Like the tour in 1895, the 1948 tour started with a defeat to Auckland, by 168 runs. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/18/18374.html Scorecard] of Auckland v Fiji, 13 February 1948 at Cricket Archive] Fiji won their next match against Wellington by one wicket, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/18/18383.html Scorecard] of Wellington v Fiji, 1 March 1948 at Cricket Archive] before losing to Canterbury by 36 runs. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/18/18386.html Scorecard] of Canterbury v Fiji, 5 March 1948 at Cricket Archive]

The tour continued with a 46 run defeat by Otago [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/18/18392.html Scorecard] of Otago v Fiji, 13 March 1948 at Cricket Archive] and concluded with a 115 run win against Auckland. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/18/18401.html Scorecard] of Auckland v Fiji, 3 April 1948 at Cricket Archive] One notable player for Fiji on this tour was IL Bula, who scored the most runs and the only century on the tour. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/NZ/Fiji_in_New_Zealand_1947-48/f_Fiji_Batting.html First-class Batting and Fielding for Fiji in New Zealand 1947/48] at Cricket Archive] Bula's full name is Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau, and his name is thought to be the longest of any first class cricketer. [ [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/24046.html IL Bula] at Cricinfo]

1954 tour of New Zealand

Just four matches were played on the 1954 tour, which started with a two wicket defeat to Otago. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/20/20985.html Scorecard] of Otago v Fiji, 12 February 1954 at Cricket Archive] The tour continued with another two wicket defeat, this time to Canterbury, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/20/20990.html Scorecard] of Canterbury v Fiji, 19 February 1954 at Cricket Archive] before a 117 run defeat to Wellington. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/20/20996.html Scorecard] of Wellington v Fiji, 26 February 1954 at Cricket Archive] The tour ended with a seven wicket win against Auckland. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/20/20999.html Scorecard] of Auckland v Fiji, 6 March 1954 at Cricket Archive] The team included Ratu Kamisese Mara who would go on to become the Prime Minister and President of Fiji.

ICC Membership

Fiji gained associate membership of the ICC in 1965. They played in the first ICC Trophy tournament in 1979, and played in every one until 2001. They also played in the first ACC Trophy in 1996, losing in the semi-final to the UAE. [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1996-97/OTHERS+ICC/ACCT96/ACCT_SEP1996_RESULTS-SUMMARY.html 1996 ACC Trophy results summary] at Cricinfo]

In 2001, Fiji played in the first Pacifica Cup in Auckland, reaching the final where they lost to the New Zealand Māori by three wickets. [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2001/TOURNAMENTS/PACIFICACUP/about.shtml 2001 Pacifica Cup] at CricketEurope] They played in the 2002 tournament in Samoa, finishing third after beating the Cook Islands in a play-off. [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2002/TOURNAMENTS/PACIFICACUP/about.shtml 2002 Pacifica Cup] at CricketEurope]

In 2003, Fiji hosted the South Pacific Games. The cricket tournament saw the hosts lose to Papua New Guinea in the final. [http://www.sportingpulse.com/round_info.cgi?a=MATCH&fixture=667755&c=2-1976-0-18028-0&pool=1001 Report from final of the 2003 South Pacific Games] ] The following year, they took part in the EAP Challenge in Fuji City, Japan, winning after beating Tonga in the final. This qualified them for the repêchage tournament for the 2005 ICC Trophy. [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/ICCT2005/DATABASE/QUALIFYING/pacific.shtml EAP qualifying for the 2005 ICC Trophy] at the official website of the 2005 ICC Trophy] At that tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, they reached the final, where they lost to Papua New Guinea by 30 runs, thus missing out on the 2005 ICC Trophy. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/102/102370.html Scorecard] of Fiji v Papua New Guinea, 27 February 2005 at Cricket Archive]

In 2006, Fiji played in the 2006 ICC EAP Cricket Trophy in Brisbane, Australia. They won the tournament winning all of their matches against the Cook Islands and Japan, qualifying them for Division Three of the World Cricket League in Darwin, Australia. They warmed up for the tournament with a three match series at home against Vanuatu, winning all three matches, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Seasons/FIJI/2006-07_FIJI_Vanuatu_in_Fiji_2006-07.html Vanuatu in Fiji, 2006/07] at Cricket Archive] but were unsuccessful in the tournament itself, losing all five games they played, [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/2007/TOURNAMENTS/WCLDIV3/about.shtml 2007 ICC World Cricket League Division Three] at CricketEurope] thus meaning they will have to take part in Division Four in 2008. [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/CRICKETEUROPE/DATABASE/TOURNAMENTS/GLOBAL/WCL/structure0609.pdf WCL structure for 2006-2009] ]

Later in 2007, they took part in the cricket tournament at the 2007 South Pacific Games, losing to Papua New Guinea in the final group game, meaning that they went home with the silver medal. [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000056/005628.shtml Papua New Guinea take home the gold] , by Andrew Nixon, 2 September 2007 at CricketEurope]

Tournament History

ICC Trophy

*1979: First round [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT79/ 1979 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
*1982: First round [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT82/ 1982 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
*1986: First round [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT86/ 1986 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
*1990: Plate competition [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT90/ 1990 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
*1994: Plate competition [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT94/ 1994 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
*1997: 11th place [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT97/ 1997 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
*2001: First round [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT2001/ 2001 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]
*2005: Did not qualify [ [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/WORLD_CUPS/ICCT2005/ 2005 ICC Trophy] at Cricinfo]

ACC Trophy

*1996: Semi-finals

outh Pacific Games

*2003: Silver medal
*2007: Silver medal

Players

Fiji's most famous player is Neil Maxwell, who played first-class cricket for New South Wales and Victoria in Australia, and for Canterbury in New Zealand in addition to representing Australia A. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/4/4361/4361.html Neil Maxwell] at Cricket Archive] Nat Uluiviti is the other Fijian to have played first-class cricket for a team other than Fiji, playing for Auckland in the 1950s. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/23/23018/23018.html Nat Uluiviti] at Cricket Archive]

Current squad

Fiji's squad for the 2007 South Pacific Games cricket tournament was as follows: [ [http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=2-3557-0-56280-0&sID=49279 Teams lists for the 2007 South Pacific Games cricket tournament] ]

*Josaia Baba
*Josefa Baleicicia
*Malcolm Bossley
*Eric Browne
*Iniasi Cakacaka
*Samuela Draunivudi
*Kida Jikoivanualevu
*Ratu Lesuma
*Sakaraia Lomani
*Vuiyasawa Mateiwaqa
*Joeli Mateyawa
*Iliesa McGoon
*Rajeev Patel
*Sekove Ravoka
*Colin Rika
*Josefa Rika
*Seci Sekinini
*Jone Seuvou
*Kiti Tavo
*Colati Tupou
*Roko Uluiqalau
*Filimoni Vuliwaqabaca
*Taniela Waqaituinayau

References