When Robb McKenna first asked me if we would be interested in heading down to Kobe for a weekend of cricket, I didn't think there would be much interest, let alone a full team. However, I was pleasantly surprised when the interest in the trip was overwhelming, and anticipation was high. I think its fair to say that in the end all of our expectations were far exceeded. Even though we were only able to play one game due to rain, everyone had a great time.

For that, on behalf of all the Wombats who travelled to Kobe, I'd like to thank Robb and Russel for proposing and organising the trip at their end, and Chuck for organising the trip at our end. I'd also like to thank the staff and management of the KRAC for allowing us to stay at the KRAC and for putting up with our antics. The feast prepared for the party on Saturday night was outstanding, and the 2 hour nomihoudai was easily longer than 2 hours. The food and service in general were great and the prices more than reasonable.

The Wombats had such a good time that, if the KRAC will have us, the Wombats are very keen to travel to Kobe again next year. In fact, we would be keen to make this an annual event. Perhaps we could play for "The Hardy's Wombats/KRAC Trophy"

Cheers,
Jarrad.

Welcome Wombats to the 2006 season. Already some big changes and decisions made within the club. Pulling out of the JGC 20/20 competition was a club decision which I think in the long run will benefit all members. We'll be playing 40 over friendly games to replace the JGC this season. The commitee have made a decision to use these games as a chance for the fringe and new players to be heavily involved and show case their skills in a low pressure environment.

For the first time in Tokyo Wombats C.C. history we haven't lost any players during the off season and just as importantly we have recruited strongly. With Gerrard joining us we have a quality performer and bloke both on and off the field whom I'm sure will have a great season. Brendan and Dave have shown a willingness to to play this year and we're all looking forward to seeing them do well for the Wommies in 2006.

I know everyone agrees season 2005 was a very successful and enjoyable one but ultimately we didn't do it full justice by just coming up short in the G.F. We have the talent in our current squad to win KCL Division 1 in 2006 and I have no doubt that with improvement and application out of all players we will go all the way this season. Hopefully the disappointment of experiencing another team beat us in the last game of 2005 will provide us with that little piece of inspiration to do better when the pressure is on in 2006.

2006 is a new start for all clubs and whatever we achieved in 2005 means nothing come that first game in April. At times last year we achieved victory comparitively easily but I can assure you teams won't be underestimating us this season. We played in the Div 1 GF and beat very strong and capable clubs in 2005. Everyone in Japan now knows our strength as club and will be gunning to bring us down this year so all players will have to be at thier very best on match days. Div 1 in 2006 is undoubtably the strongest in Japan cricket history. The Shizuoka Kytes C.C. and Wyverns C.C. have moved into the top division after very impressive 2005's. We know the Kytes as a proud and talented team who play passionate and competitive cricket like the Wombats. The Kytes captain, Neil assured me they were going to inflict their first ever victory over the Wombats last year in our unfortunately cancelled Pacific Cup game. I'm really looking forward to playing them this season. The Wyverns are predominantly Japanese with half the team currently playing for the national team or in the past having played for the Japan national team. Combined with their talented foreigners the Wyverns will certainly be playing to the level required to compeat in Div 1.

One of our strengths in 2005 was our fielding and presence out on the ground. Our catching was consistently very good and our ground fielding was always very solid. Let's aim to better these levels in 2006 by working on our weaknesses at training. The levels of talk and encouragement on the field last season were awesome and intimidating to the opposition. Please keep it up this season through encouragement for each other and humor out on the ground. I want the opposition batsmen to feel its 11 vs 2 when they play the Wombats. Let's play hard but fair this year lads!

As I said at the AGM. Our 2006 goals are:

1. To continue to set the league standard for respect to umpires, our opposition and cricket in general. If you get a rough decision go against you, cop it on the chin and move on. I really believe they even themselves out in the end.

2. To continue to make an effort to socialise with the opposition after games. I'd like us to be known not only as a great cricket club but also a good bunch of blokes.

3. Win the KCL Div 1! We have the talent and desire!

4. Let's get our very best side on the park for every KCL game in 2006. Try your best to be available for these games so that we can do our club justice and win Div 1 in 2006!

Finally, a hopefully annual fixture is in the planning for this season. The Kobe Cricket Club have invited the Wombats to play a weekend of cricket against them. The rough plan is to catch a shink to Kobe on a Friday night. Upon arrival we will be billeted out to a couple of the Kobe boys houses for our weekends free accomodation, followed by a few drinks at the local bar. Saturday play a game vs Kobe C.C. followed by post game BBQ. I'm told the cricket ground is in the middle of the city and 5 mins to the local bars so we'll be kicking on for a big night with the Kobe lads. Sunday another game vs Kobe C.C. and the shink back to Tokyo. As you can see it'll be a unique chance for us as a team to travel in Japan and play a couple of games of cricket against a new foe. We're planning this for August/September. Keep this in mind when planning for late summer as I'm sure it will be a fantastic weekend of cricket and memories. I'll keep all updated as details come to hand.

Have a very enjoyable and memorable 2006 Japan cricket season Wombats and let's bring home what's rightfully ours, the Div 1 cup!

Cheers,
Captain Chuck.

Its been a while since I had a rant so with the new season fast approaching, I thought it was appropriate to have a bit of a rant. My New Year's resolution is to write in this column more often as I only wrote one rant all year last year.

The season is yet to begin but its all systems go behind the scenes.

Firstly, Chuck and I will be attending the KCL AGM on the 30th of January.

Then on the 20th of February the Wombats will have their AGM at the Clubhouse in Shinjuku from 5pm. The will include important items from the KCL AGM, a financial statement, election of committee members, and other important information for the upcoming season. It will also be an important chance for all Wombats members to have their say. And don't forget, if you want to vote, you have to have paid your yearly membership by that date.

You may pay before the start of the AGM if you wish. I'll post full details with an agenda in the near future.

Then in March we'll have our first practice session for the year and hopefully a practice match will be organised for some time in March or early April. Also in March for the non-peahearts of the club, or as Nikka would say, those that don't squat to piss, the Chiang Mai 6s tournament will be held. It should be a great week of playing cricket and drinking with mates old and new. Plenty of new friends will also be made, and from a club perspective, new relationships will begin, hopefully blossoming into reciprocal tours and other cricket exchanges. Ian will be posting something in the coming days about the CM6s.

In April the season kicks off in earnest. In the KCL, as we were Division 2 Premiers last year, we have been promoted to Division 1 and we will make our debut in Division 1. The teams are generally a lot stronger and more well organised in DI than DII so there should be some excellent cricket played. In the JGC, no word as yet from the organisers of that competition as to the structure of the league for 2005.

An exciting development from the JCA is that they are looking to establish a third permanent ground in Fuji with a concrete pitch. The Fuji City Council is very supportive and it seems they also have found a potential ground. That ground may turn out to be unsuitable but nonetheless it is a promising development.

Finally sometime in February or March a day or weekend of ground maintenance is going to be organised. As the Wombats have always been proactive in helping with the Fuji ground, the caretakers of the ground have already contacted me and asked for our support. The fact that we are the first they call is a wonderful tribute to our club and how hard we work for Japan cricket supporting such things as the Fuji grounds, so I for one am keen to get other fellow Wombats done to Fuji and not let the caretakers (Mark McTamney and Anton McCloy) down. They do a lot of hard work and its up to us to give them as much support as we can. They have also said they are keen to get on the piss with us and make a big night of it. Mark and Anton are great blokes, even though they are Kiwis, and a great time will be had by all. I'll post details as they come to hand so stay tuned.

That's it for the minute. I'll keep you all posted for further developments.

Cheers,
President Grumpy.

Konnichiwa, G'day and howzat!

The Wombats are about to embark on their third season of cricket in Japan. Our goal for this season is to win both our leagues, the Kanto Cricket League, and the Japan Gold Cup. Qualifying for KCL Division 1 is a must for the Club, and we can only take this huge step by first making the Division 2 final. With the expansion of the JGC, and the amalgamation of Division 2 in the KCL this year, there is tonnes of cricket on offer. Only our mortal enemy rain can stop us from having a huge season.

New Captain Chuck Jones is going all out to win his second Golden Wombat Best And Fairest Award. But the queue of blokes wanting to take it off him is longer than Shoaib Akhtar's run-up, so competition is hot.

Off the field, Curly and the social committee have a big year planned ahead. I'm sure Zulu and co. will get into as much trouble this year as they did last year. The question on everyone's lips in Wombat Land is will Zulu make it two Golden Thongs in a row? Who can stop him? Who would want to?

The buzz around the club is electric. A couple of new recruits, the eagerness of all the boys, the hard yards in the nets: I have no doubt we WILL achieve our goals. Two years in a row it has taken some superb cricket from the eventual winners in the JGC to stop us. This year will be different! No settling for second best this year......

The Wombats Juggernaut is about to depart. Nothing can stop it once it starts!

Cheers,
Jarrad Shearer.
President TWCC.