To play, press the orange button in the top left hand corner. Scroll down for photos, statistics and other information.
If you’d prefer to read this piece, I’ve linked the script here, with recorded quotes included.
The Fijian team take the field at Barraba. (Source: The Northern Daily Leader) 
Ilikena Bula, ‘The Fijian Bradman’. (Source: Fiji Sports Hall of Fame) 
The squad on route to Australia. (Source: Fiji Museum) 
Kava served during a drinks break. (Source: The Northern Daily Leader) 
My favourite photo that I took at the nets at Albert Park. Vice-Captain Ruci Muriyalo can be seen on the far left. 
Fiji’s Parliamentary Building overlooks Albert Park, the main centre of cricket in Suva. Coach Jone Seuvou can be seen on the left. 
The Grand Pacific Hotel can be seen across the road here. Legend has it many sixes were launched over the hotel and into the water when matches were held on the far ground. 
The Stare 
The Ready
Fiji Squad, including ages and occupations at the beginning of the tour
Nacanieli “Nat” Uluiviti (Captain), 27, civil servant, Jack Gosling (Player-Manager), assistant shipping manager, 39, Sid Snowsill (Vice-Captain), CSR officer, 28, Harry Apted, 34, civil servant, Bill Apted, 29, clerk, Ilikena Bula, 38, civil servant, Ayub Dean, 32, school teacher, Asaeli Driu, 29, planter, Maurice Fenn, 48, civil servant, Petero Kubunavanua, 36, customs clerk, Isoa Logavatu, 35, planter, Paula Sigeva, 21, civil servant, Inoke Tabualevu, 23, school teacher, Osea Tuidraki, 25, medical student, Freddy Valentine, 19, optometrist assistant
Statistics as Published in The Fiji Times
Map of Locations Visited on Tour
Tour Schedule
1st Match: Fiji vs Parkes, Woodward Park, Woodward Oval, Parkes, January 9. Fiji won by 4 Wickets
2nd Match: Fiji vs New South Wales Central Western Districts, Woodward Oval, Parkes, January 10. Fiji won by 9 Wickets
3rd Match: Fiji vs Goulburn, Goulburn Sportsground, January 12-13. Fiji won by 6 Wickets
4th Match: Fiji vs Monaro Cricket Association, Cooma Showground, January 16-17. Fiji won by 1 Wicket
5th Match: Fiji vs Imlay District Cricket Association, Bega Recreation Ground, January 19. Match Drawn
6th Match: Fiji vs Imlay District Cricket Association, Bega Recreation Ground, January 20. Fiji won by 5 Wickets
7th Match: Fiji vs Illawarra, Nowra Showground, January 23-24. Fiji won by 6 Wickets
8th Match: Fiji vs St George Invitational XI, Hurstville Oval, January 26-27. Match Drawn
9th Match: Fiji vs Newcastle, Newcastle No. 1 Sports Ground, January 29-30. Newcastle won by an innings and 66 runs
10th Match: Fiji vs Quirindi, Quirindi Sportsground, January 31-February 1. Quirindi won by 52 runs
11th Match: Fiji vs Barraba, Barraba Recreation Ground, February 3-4. Barraba won by 41 runs.
12th Match: Fiji vs New England, Armidale Sportsground, February 6-7. Fiji won by 6 Wickets
13th Match: Fiji vs New South Wales North Coast, Grafton, February 13-14. Fiji won by 7 Wickets
14th Match: Fiji vs Upper Hunter XI, Grahame Park, Gosford, February 16-17. Fiji won in the last over (will be updated once scorecard is obtained).
15th Match: Fiji vs New South Wales XI, Sydney Cricket Ground, February 20. Match Drawn (Fiji won on first innings by 26 runs)
16th Match: Fiji vs New South Wales Western Districts, Orange, February 21. NSW Western Districts won by 142 runs.
Results: 16 Matches, 9 Wins, 3 Draws, 3 Losses
Further Reading
The Willow and the Palm: an exploration of the role of cricket in Fiji by Narelle McGlusky
Petero Kubunavanua Article on Cricket Country by Arunabha Sengupta
Special thanks go to James and his team from the National Film and Sound Archive, Mitch and his team at 2XL radio in Cooma, Talei and the sports staff at the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation, the archive team at The Fiji Times, my friend Joshua Nata for help with pronunciations, the NSW State Library, Jone, Ruci and Cricket Fiji, and the Monaro’s own Tony Mackenzie.
I would also like to thank the Federal Government’s New Colombo Plan, which gave myself and eight other students an opportunity to travel to Fiji and Vanuatu in August-September last year. Without the opportunity provided through this program I would not have had the pleasure of having such a hands-on experience putting this piece together.
Russ Haylock Sportswriting
Loved it Russ, great job with the pronunciation and your speaking and sound quality in general. Hope you get some good feedback and the Fijian stamp!!
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