Friday September 12, 2003
The plane was nearly 2 hours late! - on late arrival in Jakarta, I was met by Suresh's driver and then experienced the Jakarta version of a "traffic jam". Suresh met me at the Mercantile Athletic Club (superb) where we had a pleasant meal - he had intended for a group to come along but, due to my late arrival and their other commitments, this did not eventuate. This provided a chance for me to have a long cricket chat with Suresh.
We left the Club after 9p.m. for the 70 km drive to Texamaco where he had arranged for me to stay in a Guest Room near the excellent training room facility and cricket ground - this was not only sensible but also was a major cost saving.
Saturday September 13
9 a.m. start to the two-day Level One Umpiring Course - 19 attended (including 4 women teachers) - co-presenters, Suresh & Zakaria Awang (a National Rep. & Jakarta Coach - "Zack" is a great mate of Soni Hawoe from Bali. Zak had previously attended a coaching course in Melbourne in 2002. Suresh and Zak were a great help to me.
All attendees had previously been given the excellent Indonesian introduction to cricket booklet (I have taken a copy of this to show Fiji what can be done). Five hour session saw us complete all parts of the course up to Dismissals (Law 30) - impressed with the way the group grasped such issues as "Spirit of the Game", "No Ball" and "Dead Ball" Laws.
Discussed "cricket library" of umpiring material with Suresh and gave him my notes as per Bali for him to copy - this included Brian Aldridge's excellent Umpire Training Manual (250 + pages).
Evening
Prepared presentation certificates from attendance list.
Sunday September 14
8.30 a.m. start to make sure I could cover the rest of the course, conduct the exam and also have practical explanations - some good questions were raised by attendees on matters covered on Saturday prior to moving on with a thorough discussion on dismissals. Again I was impressed with the enthusiastic involvement of the participants.
Very pleased with being able to complete all objectives, thanks to the full support/co-operation of Suresh & Zack - presentation of certificates took place just after 2 p.m. to enable me to pack for the journey back to Jakarta Airport. 9p.m. flight to Sydney.
General Comments
Very grateful to Suresh for making all the arrangements re transport, accommodation and facilities.
As in Japan, I was impressed by the number of women teachers who are so enthusiastically involved with the great game of cricket (there must be a bright future for women's cricket in East Asia-Pacific).
I hope/expect the library I left with Suresh will assist with umpiring development in Jakarta - again I suggested that "quality"/willingness to be involved as an umpire is preferable to striving for numbers.
I have no doubt Jakarta has taken an important first step on their "umpiring journey"
I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity of conducting this course - very much appreciated the warm friendliness extended to me by all I met!
I wish to thank the I.C.C. for giving me the opportunity to meet such wonderful people!