Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2020

TIAS - Japan Cricket Association (JCA) Field Visit: Sano International Cricket
Ground, Sano City-Tochigi Prefecture: August 18th, 2020
August 18th, 2020 created an opportunity to follow up on the visit by Japan Cricket Association(JCA; Web: www.cricket.or.jp), to TIAS, University of Tsukuba (August 5 th) by having a business tripfield trip to the JCA’s SANO INTERNATIONAL CRICKET GROUND (2472 Kanayanaka-cho,Sano-shi, Tochigi 327-0026). The aim was two-fold: first - to have a hands-on experience by being at
the cricket pitch and the JCA office in Sano meeting the association members there, and second –to discuss on a couple of research projects under the Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) module(http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/masters-programme-2/science-and-medicine/) of TIAS program in order to find commoninterests leading to a long-term academic-sport partnership. I was accompanied by Jowon Jung
(TIAS researcher) and the two SSM module students (Kai Png and Saravana Perumal S).
Additionally, it gave an opportunity to get a feel of the Internship locational and facilities where JCA
has kindly agreed to take TIAS 5th batch students as Interns. Thank you Alan Curr (Head ofCricket Operations, JCA) for arranging the visit, and the time, welcoming us to Sano; thanks again
Morita san for linking us with JCA.

<Photo of Events to be followed in August explained by Alan>

The meeting started with an introduction and greeting by the JCA CEO Naoki Alex
Miyaji (https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2020/01/30/more-sports/cricket-2/japan-cricket-association-takes-ambitioussteps-grow-game/) and moving to the beautiful cricket ground, which was indeed impressive. The flat
surface covered with short cut green grass contained the 2 pitches and it seemed like the perfectcricket ground. The net facilities – outdoors and indoors were available and we could see some ongoing training. Alan explained how the cricket ground was perfected from one to two pitches, and theteam development along with junior level coaching and training. We were also informed on how theJCA operates; it’s funding and relationship with Japan Sport organizations and the ICC, and thenational and international matches and events they have. JCA’s commitment to cricket with a holistic
approach to not just sport but community and city-region, was there to see. In the near future,1

Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences & Tsukuba International Academy forSport Studies (TIAS), University of Tsukuba

2020

they expressed their desires to strengthen the grassroot of the athletes and to promote the gamesin the regions all across the country hopefully in preparation for the 2026 Asian Games in AishiNagoya.
TIAS-JCA exchanged ideas on the research proposals tailored to cricket athletes - including“Physical Needs and Feasibility Analysis for Performance of Cricket athletes” and “A Pilot Study to
Develop a Program on Anti-Doping for Cricket in Japan”, and possibilities therein. Targeting of theathlete management will further improve and focus on athlete’s muscle build. Awareness andknowledge of anti-doping tailored to the Cricket Association hopes to educate young athletes incatering their professional career. Furthermore, students and the researcher interacted at various levels
to try understanding better the JCA and its activities. Potential opportunities linking TIAS with JCA
through the academic-research-sport base was a common understanding between Prof. Rakwal andAlan, and to be discussed further. All of them expressed their thanks to JCA for this opportunity
to visit and look forward to learning more about JCA and working with them.

Thank you JCA-SICG and TIAS.

2020.08.20
Dr. Randeep RAKWAL, Ph.D.
Professor,
Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
TIAS - Global Sport Innovation Bldg., Room 403,
UNIVERSITY OF TSUKUBA,
1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8574, Japan
Email - plantproteomics@gmail.com - rakwal.randeep.fu@u.tsukuba.ac.jp (office)
Mobile – (+81) 090-1853-7875 / Office phone – (+81)029-853-2681
Website: http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp / http://www.trios.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/researcher/0000003045&Ms. Jowon Jung
Researcher, TIAS, UT
LINKS: http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/ https://cricket.or.jp/en/ https://japancricketblast.com/

http://tias.tsukuba.ac.jp/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/August-5th-2020_JCA-Guest-Talk_TIAS.pdf

2