Captain: John Vujnovic
Ranking: *
Website: Croatia Cricket Union
Early development - Sir William Hoste
The first game of cricket to be played in Croatia was in the 1815 on the Island of Vis where Sir William Hoste, the then governor, introduced the sport after Great Britain defeated Napoleon and gained a presence on the Dalmatian coast.
The game died out in the country and on the island until the late 1990s but it was not until 2003 that Hoste’s cricket legacy was brought back to life on Vis.
Vis winemaker Oliver Roki restarted the game on the island and the Sir William Hoste Kriket Klub was born and played their first match against The Saumar Strays CC, a team from the Loire Valley in France and chaired by none other than Sir Mick Jagger.
Rebirth - Zagreb CC
Croatia has a strong link with Australia and a number of people emigrated to 'Down Under' but still maintained the connection with their mother county. The collapse of communism saw some Australian-Croats return to Croatia after the Bosnian war ended, bringing their love for cricket with them.
The rebirth of cricket in Croatia happened after a club was set in the capital of neighbouring Slovenia - Ljubljana CC - in 1998 and not to be outdone Zagreb CC was founded soon after.
Zagreb's first match against Ljubljana in Augst 1998 was a five-wicket defeat in the capital of Slovenia. In 2001 Zagreb CC joined the Austrian League but the strength of opposition saw a tough start and they failed to win a game in their first two campaigns.
The club eventually built their own ground in 2002 - the Zagreb Oval - based in the Jarun area of the city, and was opened thanks to the hard work of several enthusiasts and the generosity of the Frankopan family and the ICC.
Familiar rivals Ljubljana CC played the first competitive match at the ground and spoiled the host's party with a five-wicket victory. The MCC also toured the same summer, but again proved too strong for Zagreb.
Croatia Cricket Board - ICC Affiliate Member status
Ivan Bilic and Robert Dumancic from Zagreb CC laid the foundations for the Croatia Cricket Board and the national team was formed, playing it’s first tournament in August 2000 at the inaugural European Representative festival where they finished as runners up.
The ICC awarded Croatia Affiliate Member status in 2001 and it competed in the ICC Europe Championships competition in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007. Croatia also hosted it’s first tournament in 2002, a tri-nation festival between the hosts, Slovenia and Finland.
The majority of players for the national team have been Croaian nationals who learnt their cricket in the southern hemisphere. They now reside in Croatia or visit the country regularly participating in the devolopment of the gam. Players such as the Auckland-based brothers John and Peter Vujnovic, who have helped the country make progress in the ICC European Championships.
Croatian Cricket League - growth of the game
With journey times of over four hours to play in the Austrian League Croatia began to develop a domestic competition of their own. The Croatian Cricket League’s inaugural season was 2003 and contested by three teams.
Cricket beat Italian lawn bowls and chess to be the most popular sport on the island of Vis and the numbers available to the Sir William Hoste CC swelled to around 30. The club also contributed two players who have gone on to play for the national team. On the island there are two thriving junior sections.
Late in 2004 Zeljko Lipanovic and Mate Marovic, assisted by Yorkshireman in exile Ken Ford, founded the Sir Oliver Cricket Club, Split which expanded the CCL to five teams. Zagreb CC, Sir Oliver, CC, Sir William Hoste CC, Komiza CC (also on Vis) and Ivanic Grad CC.
In the long term, the growth and local cricket development is laying the foundation for a successful future and the opportunity to introduce fresh blood into the national team.
The future - ICC European Division Two Championship 2008
Last year was a golden year for Croatian cricket. A knock of 51 from captain, John Vujnovich helped the national team to defeat Israel by five runs in a play-off in Tel Aviv to secure promotion to ICC European Division Two.
The Division Two championships take place at the end of July 2008 in Guernsey and will pit Croatia against Jersey, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey and France.
With the ICC Division Two tournament and the Carmel EuroTwenty20 being played so close together the Croatian team will include three players from the conquering national XI. However the EuroTwenty20 will give an opportunity to some of country's fringe players to press their claims for inclusion in future national teams.