Cricket gaining ground in WNB

WEST New Britain (WNB) has a proud sporting history, particularly in AFL, soccer and rugby union.
Cricket was a minor sport that gained some popularity after some local business houses created a competition called Lottery Cricket.
The success allowed the business houses to also form an indoor cricket competition that still runs today in Kimbe.
WNB’s first representative cricket side competeted in the Papua New Guinea Games in East New Britain in 2012 and the province formed the WNB Cricket Association a year later.
The introduction of Bank South Pacific Financial Group Limited (BSP) School Kriket has driven the sport to new heights and it is not uncommon to see school sports fields covered in the distinctive lime green uniforms of this award-winning programme.
Nathan Henry, Cricket PNG’s (CPNG) New Guinea Islands manager for seven years, has been operating the highly successful programme during this time.
A qualified architectural draftsman who found himself working in a game he loves, and enjoys working with children and developing their skills.
“I love my job, that is why I have been here so long,” Henry said.
“It is exciting times to be involved in cricket with the Barramundis going to this year’s T20 World Cup.
“I’m looking for future Barramundis (national men’s team) and Lewas (women) players when we run the programme, it is my dream to see someone from WNB in the national side playing in a future World Cup.
“It is my job to inspire kids, teach them cricket skills and search for talent.
“I have set goals in my career. I have plans and want to see them through for WNB.
“I also play and have my whole family involved in cricket, it is a great sport that embraces communities, I am very lucky to have this job.”
Asked about his successes, Henry said: “We have had plenty of boys and girls screened through CPNG’s talent identification system and some have been to Port Moresby to trial for the Under-19 Garamuts (junior men’s national team).
“My favourite though is when Tobie Charles, a boy who has a disability, was participating in the programme and had his picture on the front page of a newspaper.
“He was so happy, he had a big smile.
“Cricket was the first sport that gave him a chance to play.”
Henry and his development officers go to great lengths to bring cricket to children in the province.
They reach thousands of kids each year and are expecting demand to grow once the people of WNB see the Barramundis competing in the World Cup.
Cricket is on the rise in PNG and many people will be backing the Barramundis in their World Cup debut.
And it is people like Henry who search for the next Assad Vala (national men’s team skipper) or Kaia Arua (women’s captain) when conducting their BSP School Kriket clinics.
The BSP School Kriket programme runs in eleven provinces in PNG with expansion targeted within the CPNG strategic plan.