Vanuatu Cricket

The VCA is looking forward to sending the team to Malaysia again in March to compete following the appointment of Simon Keen as the new High Performance Manager and National Men’s Head Coach.

Keen is looking forward to going on his first tournament with the team.

Keen replaces former Australian fast bowler Clint McKay, who was appointed interim coach of the Vanuatu men's cricket team in August.

The 32-year-old played club cricket for Campbelltown in Sydney grade cricket.

He also represented Australia at under 19 level before stints at the Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League.

Vanuatu Cricket chief executive Shane Deitz released a statement welcoming Keen to the Vanuatu cricket community.

In a recent post on its social media, Vanuatu Cricket said the team is keen to have the 32 year-old as part of their coaching staff.

“We are thrilled to announce that we are kicking off 2020 with a new High Performance Manager, Mr Simon Keen!”

Keen is not new to the cricket scene with his playing career going back to include him representing two Big Bash Franchises being Sydney 6’s and Sydney Thunder and the Australian U19's team. 

Vanuatu Cricket CEO Shane Deitz says they are grateful to have someone with a wealth of experience.

Vanuatu cricket captain Selina Solman, opener Valenta Langiatu and spin wizard Nasimana Navaika were invited by the Malaysian Cricket Association to join local Malaysian teams in their four-team Twenty20 league.

The tournament was organised by the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) to provide elite-level competition for national women players to impress selectors ahead of international assignments in 2020.

However, having already played for 16 years, Mansale will still continue to play for the men's team.

"I cannot believe that the years have gone by so quickly but I have enjoyed every moment of it and the best part for me is seeing the boys develop into the great cricketers they are now," Mansele said.

The president of the Vanuatu cricket association, Mark Stafford, said Mansale's captaincy was marked the team's rocketing up the international rankings and the growth of the sport in Vanuatu.

The federation recently visited Olwi School, Central School, Pikinini Playtime, Etas Grace School, Eton and Macses School to engage students in the sport.

This is part of greater plans to grow cricket in Vanuatu.

 Vanuatu has had a long history with cricket which dates back to the 1900’s.

 The sport has been played in Vanuatu by the British since 1901 when Vanuatu was still called the ‘New Hebrides’ and colonized by Britain and France.

With offices and staff established on Santo, Malekula and Tanna, the VCA are continuously striving to develop cricket as a sport in Vanuatu.

Over the last three months (July – September), VCA development staff on Santo have facilitated three competitions, the East Santo under 10 school cricket competition, the Inter Primary School Sports competition in rural Santo, and the Inter Primary School under 12 competition in Luganville.

East Santo U10 School Competition

The Melanesian side put on 40 runs for the opening wicket, after being put into bat on a difficult wicket, but the dismissal of Clement Tommy for 42 off 57 balls proved decisive as Vanuatu went from 66 for 1 to 160 all out in the 48th over.

Star all-rounder Patrick Matautaava made an immediate impact with the ball, dismissing Rodrigo Thomas caught behind off the first ball of the innings.

The 36 year old McKay played 59 one day internationals, six T20 internationals and one test match between 2009 and 2014. His last first class match was less than two years ago for Leicestershire while he also played alongside Vanuatu skipper Patrick Matautaava in Melbourne.

McKay's appointment comes after former national head coach and high-performance manager Peter Buchanan resigned for personal reasons after seven months in charge.

He arrives in Vanuatu today and will take charge of the team in the first stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge in Malaysia.

Papua New Guinea totalled 144 for four in their 20 overs at Independence Park Ground One in Port Vila.

They were then back in action in the afternoon session, beating Indonesia by seven wickets. 

Papua New Guinea had been expected to dominate the tournament, having won the previous three regional events. 

They will play Fiji tomorrow, while Samoa take on Japan.

The hosts then meet Fiji, with Indonesia facing Samoa. 

At the ICC Women's Qualifier Africa 2019 in Harare, hosts Zimbabwe attained their second victory of the competition.