New Developments in the Croatian Cricket League 2005

By Rob Dumančić

The 2005 Croatian Cricket League kicked off with the opening match on Sunday April 24 between home sides Vis CC and new comers to the competition, Split CC. The Dalmatian derby was won rather comfortably by Vis, the islanders electing to bat and putting together a comfortable 78 runs that they felt would be enough in order to give Split a slight chance, yet a total that would should have confirmed victory.

Three years ago the Croatian Cricket Board embarked on an ambitious development plan which had the aim of setting up various clubs across the country and training indigenous players who in the future were expected to be the backbone of the game. A group of enthusiasts from the Island of Vis were the forerunners of this initiative and their efforts have now more than paid off. With more than 50 youngsters having a fair knowledge of the game, the senior side is never short of players, and with two representatives in the National Side, the future looks bright indeed.

Antonio Lipanović, one of the representative team players at last year’s Rep. Festival tournament in Slovenia, which Croatia by the way won with 5 straight victories, proved his worth in the opening game against Split by taking 3 wickets and scoring a quick fire 27 runs before “retiring hurt” so that his team mates could have a hit. His colleague in the national side, Siniša Vodopija took over the captaincy of the Vis CC side and made sure that victory would not be in question, the home side ending the game with a solid 48 run win.

Next in line will see Zagreb CC up against Ivanić Grad CC who together make up the northern section of the Croatian Cricket League. Board members have decided, in a rather brave move, to centralize the development of cricket for 2005 in 4 distinct geographic areas – Zagreb, Split, Vis Island and Ivanić Grad, with each club expected to have a ground of sorts ready and a development program of their own, which obviously includes junior teams. This means that with a ground available in each center, more teams and clubs could be set up in the future as a result. Keeping the breaks on the four-club competition should therefore provide concrete results in the future rather than having ad hoc teams popping up without a basis for development.

Apart from a handful of founders at Zagreb CC, all other players in the national competition are more or less a product of the Croatian Cricket Board development program, which together with the tireless coaching support of a distinct group of individuals, who in effect make up the bulk of the national team, this would not have been possible. Preparations for the ECC Trophy Tournament in Belgium are well under way and there are plenty of spots up for grabs. Matches played over the next couple of months will determine the final squad, so good luck to all, for only the best will have earned the right to represent Croatia in international competition.