Vanuatu season starts next weekend
Tony Munro - 1 May 2000

'Beyond The Test World's' stated brief is to bring you news of cricket at the non-Test level wherever it is played, even if it does mean allowing the odd unimaginative non-de-plumme, or a report which could be deemed to be slightly agricultural. 'Silly Mid On', ahem, previews the 2000 Vanuatu season.

"The Vanuatu Cricket Season is poised to commence next weekend.

The big news is that the French secondary school, The Lycee, has entered a team in the BDO Club Championships for the first time. This will eventually broaden the supply of senior players coming into cricket. We may even see a young Froggie bowler developing "Le Flipper" or "Le ballon tres vite" in the future.

The Lycee CC will be led by the demon speedster Mohammed (ex-Rawalpindi Colts) and the veteran all-rounder George Adams who has transferred from North Efate under the 10-year service rule. Will the young Frogs have what it takes? We will wait and see. There may be a Franco Courtney Walsh or Brian Lara waiting to emerge.

The other young fellows team in the competition are Malapoa College who suffered a narrow defeat in the 1999 Grand Final. With a core centred around Patrick Haynes (quick & dangerous), Colin Qualao (Vanuatu's Shane Warne) and Richard Tatwin (left-handed dynamite) the Malapoa boys will be hard to beat.

The reigning premiers North Efate will be at a disadvantage due to their average age of 42 years (1999 41 years). Glen (One Ton) Green will continue to be a big-hitting force and together with old hands Stafford, Bani, Natui, and Clelland (60 years with the team between them) the "BushPigs" will be looking to be up there again. In 2000 watch the Scotsman!!

The Mele Bulls will be looking to introduce a few of the village youngsters to boost the team this year. They will rely on Pierre Chillia to find his batting form that eluded him last year. Of course the enigmatic Rave with his patented one-handed "swoosh" to the leg side is always capable of surprising. Look for a middle of the field placing.

Paama, led by their Chinese skipper Wai Kim have been recruiting secretly over the springrolls at the Bamboo Royal. They will rely on their dour opener Greg Dunn and injury-prone Perry Head to hold the team together as they lost some talent from the team that failed badly in last years finals. If 'Blakey the Biffer' can put a few games together Paama may be able to lift themselves into the Finals again.

Sportzpower may simply be better off running the bar this year. They have had a number of overseas transfers in the off-season and seem to have as much chance of glory on the field as you would have of getting a decent draught beer at Smugglers Nite-Club.

The Ifira team have promised to turn up to their games this year. The old warhorses McGlory and Bakoa will want to attract a few more players to ensure they become competitive. A return to their glory days of the 1980's when they were feared by all may still be a few years away.

Tafea will produce some exciting results in 2000. This young Team from Futuna will have more energy than most of their opponents. They will take more outfield catches than other teams and we all know that "Catches win matches". If the guys can focus their energy and retain a solid core of players they will shock a few pundits.

I have it on good authority that the Vanda Steelers have been secretly practicing over the summer break. However, my spies tell me that they were consistently rolled by a team of under-12s. Dave Adams is bound to fall over during his time at the crease, every time. Nick Gardiner will not surprise anyone by getting more wickets than runs during the season and it has been suggested that Lawsie will need to bring his alarm clock along to ensure he does not nod off on the field. The Steelers have about as much chance of winning the Championship as I have of getting a date with Elle McPherson.

Only time will tell!

From the 'Silly Mid-On'"

© 2000 CricInfo Ltd