Well and truly speaking, the history of the game goes back quite a bit in Japan and isn’t necessarily a brand new phenomenon. Except, not too many of us would have noted. How’s that? It was back in the year 1989 when the Japan Cricket Association had become the member of the International Cricket Council or the revered ICC as we know it.
Then, seven years after 1989, Japan actually made their international debut by locking horns with Malaysia in the 1996 Asian Cricket Council series, a limited over series that featured, 12 teams, which also included Bangladesh. Not a lot of literature has perhaps been dedicated to that time or towards Japan, specifically speaking, and maybe that is why one feels that Japan’s association with the game is a brand new phenomenon.
But back then while prominent sides such as the UAE and Bangladesh took control of the tournament, beating others consistently and even reaching the finals, Japan, much like others, including teams like Fiji found itself with having to cover a lot of ground.
Which, truth be told, it has in the years to follow.
As a matter of fact from the period between 2008 and 2012, the team participated in the World Cricket League and even managed to
reach the WCL division 5, at one point.
More progress came in the shorter formats in the times to come. How is that?
Also Read | Records set at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix: What makes Baku a thrilling and action packed race?
Back in 2022 during the month of October, the team finally made its international T20 debut. A very fine contest that yielded a mega 2-1 series win over Indonesia thus marked the first ever T20I series win for the nation in which the margin of victories in two games stood as- 65 runs and even 75 runs. Indonesia, meanwhile, were just able to defeat Japan in one game out of three.
But from that point onwards, the Japanese international men’s cricket team has been playing the shortest former for quite some time and with redoubtable regularity.
For those of us who may not necessarily know the fact, the current side led by Kendal Kadowaki-Fleming has played series like the East Asia Pacific qualifiers and even registered prominent wins against the same Indonesian side therein.
For instance, on October 16, 2022, the Japan T20I side won by 4 wickets scoring 84/6 in 9.5 overs vs. Indonesia who actually were 83 all out in 18.5 overs.
On the whole, as on date, Japan in the T20 international format have won – lest we forget- 41 out of their 63 T20 internationals having not even played the format for half a decade, in entirety.
For a side that’s still very much new to the format playing its maiden game, remaining here again, only in 2022 (towards the year-end), Japan have only ever lost 20 T20 matches.
So when a few hours ago at their noted Sano International Cricket stadium, Japan were almost in complete control of Team India, having just 8 to win off 4 deliveries which they ultimately weren’t able to do, they showed the game a fine lesson.
And did so gracefully and with full regard to their opponents as also to the rest of the world that was keen on seeing just how they contest.
It’s that they may have lost, but their efforts were redoubtable and honest. And that never were found shy in trying to do the best.
In a country widely considered as
“the land of the rising sun”, the days of this team ahead will hopefully see even brighter sunshine and much positivity.
What do you feel?
