Fielder of Dreams: Jakarta Cricket Association
Nelson Mandela, one of the globe’s greatest philanthropists, once said of which sport has the power to change the globe through its ability of promoting integration. In line with This particular, the Jakarta Cricket Association (JCA) unites people of all nationalities, backgrounds along with faiths through a passion for the great game of cricket.
Comprising approximately 16 teams, the JCA has garnered sports enthusiasts coming from Indonesia, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, the Netherlands, South Africa along with various additional places around the globe. In turn, players of JCA embrace living in a multicultural society.
Experts believe cricket was created during Saxon or Norman times by children living inside Weald, an area of dense woodlands along with clearings in south-east England. Over a century ago, England’s national cricket team was enriched by immigrant players, hailing coming from countries including Zimbabwe, Barbados, Guyana, Ireland, India, Jamaica along with Kenya. These players came coming from various backgrounds; some were born to expatriate parents, others were students, some earned qualifications through residency, along with some simply came to play.
In Indonesia, cricket was introduced during colonial times, when Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company served as Lieutenant Governor of Java, based in Batavia (Jakarta) coming from 1811-1816. Notwithstanding the lack of evidence suggesting Raffles’ role in This particular, cricket was in fact played 18 years after the Englishman found the settlement of Singapore in 1819, when the game was played in Padang.
inside 1880s, cricket was played in Indonesia when the Batavia Cricket Club competed against a visiting circus team in Jakarta, who decided to join the match in full clown regalia along with lost. The JCA was established somewhere in 1992 when the league arranged friendly games along with touring teams, which later inspired additional regions like Bali to form a similar association.
Today, the JCA has gathered a “diverse yet high quality group of people”, among the group’s members, Ben Burgess puts the item. “We play competitive cricket on the field along with enjoy each additional’s company off the item. We have a very welcoming atmosphere,” he says.
To Burgess, playing cricket allows him to meet along with socialize using a like-minded group of people.
He further adds of which the league intends to invite more people coming from different countries along with backgrounds to get the full experience of playing cricket in Indonesia.
The JCA today has over 300 players registered, along with potential players must go through a selection process. “The selection process can be generally merit-based, though given the transient nature of expats in Jakarta, as well as work commitments, the team will never be comprised of the same 11 players coming from one match to the next,” Burgess says.
Burgess himself can be a member of a club called the Jakarta Barbarians. Established in 2012, the Barbarians not only play games on the field, although also organize activities such as post-match celebrations/commiserations, brunch with family members, along with overseas tours, which he considers his most memorable experience of being inside club.
“Barbarians have toured Ho Chi Minh, Manila along with Bangkok in recent seasons, though on-field results have always been less impressive than off-field pursuits,” Burgess admits.
Burgess believes the club has come a long way since his arrival, shortly after which he participated in a victory. “the item can be a Great memory for me as the item was the club’s first win, along with was achieved by chasing down a respectable total of 189 runs in 31 overs,” Burgess says.
Members of Jakarta Cricket Association playing cricket
Since then, the club has gained more victories, including one over the entire league in 2014. The Barbarians have also become more organized, thanks to family members’ contributions. Lunches are often catered by the WAG (wives along with girlfriends) contingent, finances are kept on spreadsheets, along with team members are controlled along with restricted to 11 players.
One of the most significant progressions of which the club has made can be the birth of their very own club-house, located above Everest Bar in Blok M, which can be generously stocked with memorabilia along with merchandise. With approximately 20 members, the Barbarians are the only club in Jakarta with such facilities.
According to Burgess, the league grows stronger by the day. “Basically participation inside league was expanding as both expatriate along with local interest increased in recent years,” he explains. This particular, according to Burgess, can be due to the result of several government-funded programmes, as well as private initiatives for school children of which help develop the league.
Aside coming from the normal match schedule, the JCA will be touring Hong Kong in October, where they will play at the Kowloon Cricket Club, an historic cricket venue in Asia.
The JCA proves of which sport can be more than just a competition. along with in This particular case, cricket’s historical references further remind us of which a game can serve as a powerful language of which unites people wherever they may come coming from.
If you’re keen to get involved, please visit http://jakartacricket.com for more information.
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Fielder of Dreams: Jakarta Cricket Association
Fielder of Dreams: Jakarta Cricket Association