Vanuatu national cricket team

History

Vanuatu competed in the Pacifica Championships on the two occasions it was held, finishing seventh in 2001 and sixth in 2002. In 2005, they hosted the East Asia/Pacific Cricket Cup, finishing third in the six team competition, therefore missing out on qualification for the 2007 World Cup. At the East Asia – Pacific Trophy in Auckland, New Zealand, in December 2007, Vanuatu finished second, therefore qualifying through to the World Cricket League Division Five in 2008. In the highly successful 2009 calendar year, Vanuatu defeated Fiji in two One-Day Series in Port Vila as well as claiming the prestigious 2009 ICC EAP Men's Cricket Trophy (Non-World Cricket League) held in Samoa, defeating the hosts in the final. At a junior level, Vanuatu has finished second to Papua New Guinea in the following competitions: East Asia – Pacific Under 15 Super 8s, Melbourne, Australia, 2005; East Asia – Pacific Under 15 Super 8s, Apia, Samoa, 2007; East Asia – Pacific Under 19 World Cup Qualifying Tournament, Port Vila, Vanuatu, 2007.

Vanuatu finished third in the 2010 ICC World Cricket League Division Eight in Kuwait. This means they stayed in that league for the 2012 competition.

2018–present

At the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Four tournament, Vanuatu recorded victories against Bermuda, a former ODI team, and Denmark, which has previously played as high as Division Two. However, they were still relegated to Division Five based on net run rate.

In April 2018, the ICC decided to grant full Twenty20 International (T20I) status to all its members. Therefore, all Twenty20 matches played between Vanuatu and other ICC members since 1 January 2019 have the full T20I status.

Vanuatu made its Twenty20 International debut on 22 March 2019, losing to Papua New Guinea by 8 wickets in the 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier at Amini Park, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

After April 2019, Vanuatu played in the 2019–21 ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League.

In August 2019, Australian Clint McKay was appointed as the interim coach of the team, ahead of the 2019 Malaysia Cricket World Cup Challenge League A tournament.

Tournament history

World Cricket League

• 2008 Division Five: 12th place – relegated to regional qualifier
• 2010 Division Eight: 3rd place
• 2012 Division Eight: Champions – promoted
• 2013 Division Seven: 2nd place – promoted
• 2013 Division Six: 3rd place
• 2015 Division Six: 2nd place – promoted (in place of Suriname, who were disqualified for playing unqualified players)
• 2016 Division Five: 4th place – relegated to regional qualifier
• 2017 Division Five: 2nd place – promoted
• 2018 Division Four: 5th place – relegated

ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier

• 2023 (EAP Regional Final): 3rd

EAP 50-over tournaments

• 2005: 4th place
• 2007: 2nd place
• 2009 (Division Two): 1st place

EAP 20-over tournaments

• 2009: 5th place

Pacific Games

• 1979: Silver medal
• 1991: 4th place
• 2003: 5th place
• 2011: Bronze medal
• 2015: Champions
• 2019: Silver medal

Pacific Island Cricket Challenge

• 2023: Silver medal

Current Squad

This lists all the players who have played for Vanuatu in the past 12 months or has been part of the latest T20I squad. Updated as of 11 March 2024

Records and statistics

International Match Summary — Vanuatu

Last updated 24 August 2024

Twenty20 International

• Highest team total: 223/5 v Fiji, on 16 March 2023 at Albert Park Ground 1, Suva.
• Highest individual score: 103, Patrick Matautaava v Malaysia, 2 October 2019 at Kinrara Academy Oval, Kuala Lumpur.
• Best bowling figures in an innings: 6/16, Williamsing Nalisa v Fiji, on 19 August 2024 at Faleata Oval 2, Apia.

Most T20I runs for Vanuatu

Most T20I wickets for Vanuatu

T20I record versus other nations

Records complete to T20I #2799. Last updated 24 August 2024.

Coaching history

• 2014–2019: AUS Shane Deitz (playing coach from 2018)
• 2019–2020: AUS Clint McKay (acting)
• 2020: AUS Simon Keen
• 2021–2022: AUS Jeremy Bray
• 2022: VAN Eddie Mansale (acting)
• 2022–2023: AUS Ben Cameron
• 2023–present: AUS Chris Laffan

Notes

References

References

1. ''Cricinfo'' "Vanuatu granted associate status" 6 July 2009 http://www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/412973.html. Retrieved 6 July 2009
2. [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/7/7196/Other_Matches.html Other matches played by New Hebrides] {{Webarchive. link. (3 September 2018 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 September 2015.)
3. [https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Teams/1/1968/Other_Matches.html Other matches played by Vanuatu] {{Webarchive. link. (19 September 2015 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 September 2015.)
4. (4 March 2016). "Suriname withdrawal was sparked by Vanuatu appeal". ESPN Cricinfo.
5. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/table/series/8782/season/2018/icc-world-cricket-league-division-four ICC World Cricket League Division Four Table - 2018]
6. (26 April 2018). "All T20 matches between ICC members to get international status". [[International Cricket Council]].
7. "All to play for in last ever World Cricket League tournament". International Cricket Council.
8. (13 January 2021). "Jeremy Bray heads to Vanuatu". Emerging Cricket.
9. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/story/978237.html Suriname pull out of WCL Division 5]
10. [https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/336994 Victorious Vanuatu qualifies for World Cricket League Division 5]
11. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/_/id/8782/season/2018/icc-world-cricket-league-division-four/ ESPNcricinfo]
12. "Records / Vanuatu / Twenty20 Internationals / Result summary". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
13. "Records / Vanuatu / Twenty20 Internationals / Highest totals". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
14. "Records / Vanuatu / Twenty20 Internationals / High scores". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
15. "Records / Vanuatu / Twenty20 Internationals / Best bowling figures". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
16. "Records / Vanuatu / Twenty20 Internationals / Most runs". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
17. "Records / Vanuatu / Twenty20 Internationals / Most wickets". [[ESPNcricinfo]].
18. (29 May 2023). "Vanuatu Cricket appoints new head coach". Loop Vanuatu.