PNG preparing to host international cricket in early 2016

Australian curator assists PNG groundsmen to prepare turf wickets.

Cricket in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is the second most popular sport after rugby. Thanks to an excellent administrative set-up in Cricket PNG and long term vision of their General Manager and former Australian Test cricketer Greg Campbell, the game is developing rapidly in this island nation. PNG’s senior men’s team attracted many eyeballs from all over the world after their recent good showing at the international circuit. However, the Barramundis (PNG’s senior men’s team’s nick name) are yet to host international cricket at their homeland. But now it seems the day is not far way when this Pacific island will play their first international match at home.

PNG’s cricket association has taken many initiatives to getting themselves ready to host international cricket by the first half of 2016. Amongst those initiatives, preparing quality turf wickets has topped their priory list.

Todd Heinrich, the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) Curator recently visited Port Moresby in PNG to assist the local groundsmen in preparing the new turf wicket squares at Amini Park. Heinrich spent a week working with Cricket PNG’s Head Groundsmen Lega Siaka and his team of staff, up-skilling them in the art of rehabilitating and preparing brand new turf wickets. The domestic cricket season of PNG is set to kick off in Port Moresby from August 8, with the Port Moresby Cricket Association’s competition starting with 24 teams from around the capital taking part.

The season with the experienced South Australian curator has been a blessing for the local ground staffs. Lega, the head groundsmen said he was pleased with the training and his team are now ready to start work preparing the wicket squares on both the Amini and Colts Grounds ahead of a busy domestic cricket schedule in Port Moresby. “Over the four days we have learnt how to fully rehabilitate the wickets so that they are up to international standards to accommodate cricket matches,” he explained.

Laga further added, “I would like to thank Cricket PNG for bringing Mr Heinrich up here as it was a valuable time for us to gain further knowledge of how to maintain and improve our playing facilities here in PNG.” This was the second visit for the year from an Australian Curator with SACA Head Curator Justin Groves in PNG earlier in the year to oversee the initial preparation of the turf squares prior to the Pacific Games. With these activities, the Cricket PNG are maintaining their work schedule of improving the grounds to international standards by early 2016.

(Sandipan Banerjee is a reporter at CricketCountry. Cricket has been the biggest passion for him since his childhood. So, when it came to choosing his career, he chose to turn his passion into his profession. Apart from cricket he likes mountain trekking, river rafting, and photography. His twitter handle is @im_sandipan)