Cricket provides opportunities and friendships across the world and Keilor Cricket Club is hoping the recent visit of three Japanese players to the club is the start of something bigger.
The three players spent time at the club and at Maribyrnong Sports Academy for two weeks, embracing all they could about Australian cricket.
Coach and player Ben Ito Davis and players Juto Ball and Nanoha Yasumoto made the trip out to Australia after the recent completion of their season back home.
Keilor coach Duncan Harrison said these different opportunities provide a lot to everyone involved.
“I do some work with Japanese cricket and there was an opportunity with Maribyrnong Sports Academy, where I also do some work,” he said.
“We set up three players to come out. Ben Ito Davis is in the national team and is an assistant coach with the women’s side.
“Juto Ball is in the national squad and Nanoha Yasumoto is in the under-16 girls national squad.”
Harrison said the trio got to experience life at Maribyrnong College where they were able regularly train and learn about the off field side of things like nutrition.
They then also trained with Keilor.
“It was a great experience for them to come out,” Harrison said.
“Nanoha played a game with Essendon Maribyrnong Park and spent some time around Keilor.
“Juto played in under-16s and in our thirds and fourth and he loved it.
“Ben was meant to play a T20 but it washed out.”
Harrison said the playing group loved having the players come out and spend time with them.
He said former Sri Lankan captain and now-Keilor player Dimuth Karunaratne had met some other Japanese players previously which had helped the group bond.
Harrison said cricket can create friendships all across the world with different connections and this was a way of doing that.
“The boys were trying to get Benny stay on a bit longer, they were in his ear,” Harrison said. “He’s a good player.
“Hopefully in the future we can get some more players out here and have a bit of a partnership with Japan.”
Harrison said there were several Japanese players already based in Australia.
He said the players wanted to come out and play at a higher standard more regularly.
“In Japan there is only one turf ground,” he said. “They come out to get more games and training sessions on turf.
“It’s a huge benefit for them.”
