Fresh Start For Barramundies In Tropical Paradise

Sun, surf, pristine beaches and beautiful island resorts. No this isn't a tropical holiday this is the start of the Hebou PNG Barramundies climb back to the top of the ICC World Cricket Rankings. 2018 can be best describe as a tale of two stories. The first half of the year was tough going for those involved with cricket in Papua New Guinea. The U19 Hebou PNG Garramuts flew to New Zealand to contest in the World Cup however came away finishing in last place with zero wins to their name. However the worst was yet to come. A disastorus ICC World Cup Qualifier campaign in Zimbabwe saw the PNG Barramundies lose One-Day International Status (ODI) and bow out of the top associate nations in the cricketing world. The result meant that PNG would lose High-Performance funding and fixtures and return to the cut throat ICC World Cricket League Division 2.

But this wasn't to be the way 2018 would be remembered for those involved with cricket in Papua New Guinea. Determined not to go the way of fellow associates Kenya & Canada, CPNG and its board got to work immediately and came up with a plan to combat its previous failings. The first big step was employing former QLD Bulls fast bowler Joe Dawes as National Head Coach, although his role is much more involved then just that. Getting to work straight away the extended Barramundies squad was put through its paces in a gruelling 6 week fitness training program designed by the CPNG organisation. The PNG A program was then shut down and replaced by a new "PNG Academy" side which would tour to the remote highlands city of Lae for the first time playing a series of ground breaking matches against a combined "Lae Cricket Association" side. Also confirmed following this series was another new program with an "Emerging Barramundies" & "Emerging Lewas" squads announced. The idea behind all of this is to provided a more structured, clearer and competitive pathway for emerging players within Papua New Guinea and to provide players from outside of Port Moresby a clearer pathway.

PNG Celebrate a wicket in Zimbabwe

All the while the PNG national Womens side the Lewas headed over to the Netherlands to compete in the 2018 ICC WT20Q. A surprise to most outside of PNG the Lewas came agonisingly close of a birth in the main event falling just one game short to eventual champions Bangladesh. 2018 was beginning to turn around. This is were we pick up now just a few days out of match one for the Hebou PNG Barramundies in Fiji. Prior to this tournament the 2018 T20 Hebou Shield was played out at Amini Park in what many are calling the best Hebou Shield seen to date. Four teams all with a mixtures of experienced Barramundies players, U19 Garramunts, proven POMCA performers and players chosen from outside POM battled it out over two weeks. The prize at the end a ticket to Fiji and a "Baggy Black" for the 14 players who have proven they have what it takes to represent the great nation of Papua New Guinea.

Now lets preview the upcoming ICC EAP T20 Sub- Qualifier A tournament to be played out at Albert Park in Suva, Fiji. As a new look Hebou PNG Barramundies look to rise quickly once again.

ICC EAP T20 Sub - Qualifier A (Suva Fiji) 

The New Look Barramundies 

This upcoming T20 tournament is part of the Qualifying pathway for the 2020 T20 world cup to be held in Australia. However unlike previous years were each region would have a certain amount of members progress to the global T20 qualifiers. Each region has been broken down again into Sub-Qualifiers a very Fifa Soccer world cup way of qualification. For the EAP region there will be two Sub-Qualifiers (Pacifc and East-Asia) with the top 2 from the pacific region and the winner from East -Asia progressing to the next round. The three sides will then play a Tri-Series (believed to be held in PNG) with the winner from that series progressing to the final stage of qualification the global T20 WC qualifiers. So as you can see its quiet a progress but it docent mean more regular meaningful international cricket for member nations.

The Hebou PNG Barramundies Squad: 

1. Assad Vala (c), 2. Charles Amini (V/C) 3. Tony Ura 4. Sese Bau 5. Lega Siaka 6. Kiplin Dorigia (W/K) 7. Jason Kila 8. Norman Vanua 9. Chad Soper 10. Damien Ravu 11. John Reva 12. Nosiana Pokana 13. Steven Eno (Debut) 14. Simon Atai (Debut)

A number of changes have been made to this new look Barramundies line up following the lacklustre tour to Zimbabwe. Coach Joe Dawes has opted for a fresh new approach and looked to the future with a new 4 year WCL cycle about to begin. The obvious admissions are former captain Jack Vare and veteran Mahuru Dai who have both been moved on due to time catching up with them. Whilst Vani Vagi Morea called time on a stellar career earlier this year. The bad news story was yet to come with Alei Nao who was initially announced in the squad tearing his ACL in a pre tournament camp in Brisbane just last week. The injury means Alei will miss upto a year of cricket in what is a big blow to the Barramundies. The good news stories however are the inclusions of Nosiana Pokana who is back following a re-assesment of his action and being cleared by the ICC to resume bowling in international cricket. Whilst the two players in the frame to make their debuts come from different ends of the player pathway program. Steven Eno is a former PNG U19 Garramut (2010 U19 WC) and has been selected after years of solid performances in the Port Moresby Cricket Assoication competition at 28 Steven provides the Barramundies with some experience. Simon Atai was a late inclusion following the injury to Alei Nao, unlike Steven, Simon has been selected straight from the PNG U19 Garramuts side were he was the leading run scorer at the 2018 WC scoring 116 runs including a tournament high of 81 against Canada, a classy left handed batsman Simon is being highlighted as real player of the future for Papua New Guinea. 

Simon Atai is set to become a Barramundi 

Fixtures:
Saturday 25th August: PNG vs Samoa, PNG vs Fiji
Sunday 26th August: PNG vs Vanuatu
Tuesday 28th August: PNG vs Samoa, PNG vs Fiji 
Wedneday 29th August: PNG vs Vanuatu 

Where PNG win it: 
Class and experience. Papua New Guinea has for a long time dominated the ICC EAP region having not lost a game in ICC sanctioned tournaments in over 10 years. Not only that but compared to the other nations competing the Barramundies play more regular cricket against tougher opposition. With the class and power that PNG posses its hard to see the other nations defeating them.

Where the other nations win it: 
Just because PNG has dominated ICC EAP events in recent times doesn't mean a shock result is off the table. First thing being T20 cricket can go either way on any teams given day and with the matches being played on Synthetic artificial wickets the contest is evened up greatly. Samoa in particular posses a powerful side with the inclusions of Sean Solia (Auckland Aces) and Dom Michael (Hobart Hurricanes) could cause a headache or two. In fact Samoa has come the closest to defeating the Hebou PNG Barramundies back in the 2013 edition where they went down by only 17 runs. Vanuatu also posses a dangerous side with players like Nalin Nipiko and Patrick Matuaatava proving they can be match winners on their given days. The other nations are also more accustomed to the Synthetic pitches having played more regular cricket on them. 

Key Players:  

John Boge Reva is a go to player for PNG

For PNG there is a large number of players that can be instrumental towards winning this tournament. Captain Assad Vala and Tony Ura are devastating batsman that have had a history of dominating at ICC EAP tournaments, whilst Sese Bau and newly appointed Vice Captain CJ Amini are coming off strong performances at the 2018 Hebou Shield tournament. However the player I've gone with as a key figure during this tournament might surprise a few. For a long time John Boge Reva or JB as his teammates call him has been a under the radar performer for the PNG Barramundies. Called "Mr Pressure" by former captain Jack Vare, John has always shown his ability to perform under pressure in tight situations. Against the ACT he defended just 4 off the final over to give the Barramundies an unlikely victory and against Kenya in 2016 he took 4 wickets at the death to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat. A smart bowler with a very good yorker and deceiving pace John could just be the Barramundies match winner in Fiji.

What They Said: 
Head Coach Joe Dawes:“The team has a good mixture of youth and experience, keeping in mind who might be there 4 years from now. Our strategy for the qualifiers is very straightforward – WIN. Winning is a habit, a mentality that we have failed to cultivate in the past but are looking to change that with this tournament. We are entering a new cycle with the ICC. The last 8 year cycle has just come to an end and we are looking forward to the next 4 years, which includes the 2020 T20 Cricket World Cup in Australia. There are some changes to our team since the last time the Hebou PNG Barramundis played in Zimbabwe.”


Captain Assad Vala: We are hoping the young group of lads gain more experience on an international level and for the team to start practicing winning habits – winning is a habit and our main objective going into this tournament is to win and win well.” 

One final thing: 
The ICC recently announced that all T20 matches between ICC Intentional Members would be classed as full T20 International games. Meaning that all games during this tournament will be full T20 internationals for the Hebou PNG Barramundies. 
Goodluck to all involved I'm sure you will do us all proud. Bless.