To all players, their families and friends that supported the Kyushu Cricket League in 2006.

Well the 2006 season is at an end and what a year we had.
We started the year with a great showing for the pre-season 6’s with players and friends coming from all over Kyushu to play. What a fun way to start the season and I look forward to organising the 6’s again in April 2007.

The one-day games we played were I believe, of a reasonably high level with maybe a bit more enthusiasm than skill in some cases. You might say a few rough edges still need to be smoothed out.
They were although well worth the time and effort to play. Well done all players and I hope you all had fun.

The tour to Osaka for those who didn’t go was as much fun as it was an ordeal, with players threatening to go home before the second days game had already started. I am just happy to say that although we may have been beaten on the day, we were and still are the better team.
Some may say that the loss could be accredited to the captain’s kind nature taking over his will to win. Some bowling and or batting decisions seemed to suffer due to this temporary affliction.
Others say it was the extreme pressure placed upon him by other players to organize and captain the tour. But we will never know.
And the final game of the 2006 season is shaping up to be a good one too I hope it is a great game that will befit the season we had.

Another season has passed and it was a season without any major injuries or happenstance which I think you would agree is a good season by anyone’s making. And let’s hope we can continue our good fortune next season.

As for the future, 2007 looks like a great year for the Kyushu Cricket League with new interest being shown from other areas in and around Kyushu and interest from teams in Honnshu to come down and play. These games are very important to the Kyushu Cricket League and it’s long term viability. They are something I will be trying hard to include into our 2007 season and become a regular occurrence from next season.
Let’s hope we can win a few in the beginning and show the boys up there that we are worth their time and money to come down.
( in case they have doubts )

Lastly, I would just like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone that came, played or supported the Kyushu Cricket League in 2006. And I look forward to seeing you both on and off the field again next season with the pre-season 6‘s set for April.
Have a good and safe Christmas and New Year whatever you are doing and remember……………
WE ( Australia) ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!

Jason Rafton
 SEE YA!!