Jeff Grzinić and Phil Šiljeg both cricketers in the WACA Pennant competition
make their second trip to represent Croatia in the European Representative
Tournament to played in Ljublana, Slovenia starting on August 15. Winning the
tournament will mean Croatia can advance to the next division which is on the
road towards qualifying for the World Cup.
This is the second time both Jeff and Phil have travelled to Europe to play for
Croatia. The first time being last year when they made their debuts in a
tournament in Austria. With that experience behind them they feel that the team
can improve their performance and has a very good chance of performing well in
this years tournament.
They will be joined by several others making the journey 'iz kralja svijeta'
for the tournament. John and Paul Vujnović, from New Zealand, are both veterans
of the team having been involved in the first international tournament in 2000.
Pero Kaštelan will also be joining the team from Adelaide as well as Tony
Govorko travelling from England.
The tournament featuring 8 teams (Finland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Slovenia,
Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria and Croatia) has been organized by the European
Cricket Council and allows developing countries to play against each other with
the aim of progressing through to higher levels to play Division 1 and 2
countries in Europe (like Holland, Italy). With the imminent expansion of the
World Cup of Cricket to include 16 teams, the way is open for developing
countries to take part in Cricket's premier trophy - a goal which would is the
ultimate target for our fledgling young cricketing nation.
Or so it may seem. Whilst cricket has been played for the last decade or so in
Croatia by the diaspora community from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and
England, the first games of cricket in Croatia pre-date the introduction of
soccer. The island of Vis had it introduced to them by William Hoste who
governed the island after Great Britain defeated Napolean's empire and gained
the Dalmatian coastline for it's own empire. The game was first played by the
Višani in 1815 has now been rekindled on the island and is now Croatia's second
club after Zagreb's formation some five or so years ago.
Whilst cricket is developing in Croatia, the board believes that an important
part of further development is too lean on the Diaspora for support. In fact
this is the case in most other developing nations in cricket with countries
like Norway known euphemistically as Nowegistan after the largely expatriate
Pakistani community representing the country. The ICC has recognised this by
promoting the USA through to the next level of cricket due to the large
community of sub continental migrants living there.
With this in mind we have a great opportunity for member of the Croatian
immigrant community to take part in the development of cricket and further
extending links between the diaspora and the homeland. Our boys in Perth will
also continue on a great sporting tradition for Croatian Australians. Simon
Katich has made the grade in the Test Arena for Australia following on from Len
'Durtanovich' Pascoe (born in Bridgetown WA) as well as Dennis Yagmich who
played for WA, SA and in World Series cricket and Brian Rakich who played State
cricket for WA and is the current WACA president.
