Form of cricket originating in Samoa
Kilikiti
, also known as
Samoan cricket
or
kirikiti
, is one of
several forms
of the game of
cricket
. Originating in
Samoa
(English
missionaries
introduced
their game
of cricket in the early 19th century), it spread throughout
Polynesia
and can now be found around the world in areas with strong Polynesian populations. The game is the
national sport
of Samoa,
[1]
and is played in many other Pacific countries,
[2]
including amongst the Pacific Islander diaspora in
Australia
and
New Zealand
.
Etymology
[
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]
The term
kilikiti
is borrowed from
Samoan
,
[3]
Tongan
[4]
and
Tuvaluan
.
Kilikiti
is the Samoan and Tongan term for the sport of cricket and derived from English. The term in Samoan is sometimes spelt
kirikiti
, which is also the
M?ori
name for the sport.
[5]
Form of the game
[
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]
Equipment
[
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]
The ball is made of a very hard rubber wrapped in
pandanus
. Players are not protected by any padding or masks, and will often wear only a
lava-lava
. The
sennit
-wrapped wooden bat is modeled on the three-sided Samoan war club called the "lapalapa," which are based on the stalk of coconut fronds. Bats are shaped to individual players' likings and can be over a meter long; because the striking surface of the bat is angled (just as the "lapalapa" club and the coconut frond stalk), the path of a hit ball is extremely hard to predict.
[2]
Rules
[
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]
The rules of kilikiti are flexible. Indeed, the majority of reports written on the game simply say that the rules can only be known by those playing.
[2]
Similarities to cricket
[
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]
There is a
batting
team, a
fielding
team, and a
pitch
(sometimes of concrete). The bowl alternates between two
bowlers
, one at each end of the pitch; accordingly, there are two
wicket keepers
(this as opposed to the single wicket keeper in
cricket
).
Major points on which kilikiti differs from cricket
[
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]
There is no limit to team size, and teams are made up of whoever turns up regardless of gender or age.
[6]
Tourist accounts mention that strangers are often welcomed. Players are typically
all-rounders
.
A kilikiti game is a multi-day community event full of singing, dancing, and feasting. Entire villages will compete and everyone will be involved, whether as player, cook, or spectator. According to one source, the only universal rule is that the host team forfeits if it cannot provide enough food.
[6]
Standardization
[
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]
The New Zealand Kilikiti Association (NZKA) is working to
standardize
the rules of kilikiti. In 1999 the NZKA started a national
tournament
, called the Supercific Kilikiti Tournament, and in 2001 it introduced the international World Cup Kilikiti Tournament. Games have been cut to a television-friendly 70 minutes (2
innings
, the first being 30 minutes long and the second bowling the same number of balls as the first). The NZKA has also added the scoring of
4s and 6s
.
Kilikiti World Cup
[
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]
By country
[
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]
Australia
[
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]
Kilikiti is a growing sport in Australia, particularly among
Samoan Australians
.
[7]
The
Fetuilelagi Kilikiti Tournament
is held annually in
Brisbane
. In 2022, 15 teams competed.
[8]
Tournaments have also been held in other cities, such as
Melbourne
[9]
and
Sydney
.
New Zealand
[
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]
Kilikiti has become a popular sport across New Zealand. It is especially popular among
Samoan New Zealanders
.
[10]
Tournaments have been held across the country, mostly in
Auckland
.
[11]
The
Counties Manakau Kilikiti Association
is the main league for the sport in New Zealand.
[12]
Samoa
[
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]
Kilikiti originated in Samoa and is popular nationwide.
Other Pacific Islands
[
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]
Like in Samoa, the sport is also widespread in
American Samoa
.
The sport has also been played in
Fiji
,
Niue
,
Tokelau
,
Tonga
and
Tuvalu
.
Elsewhere
[
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]
The sport has also been played in countries such as the
United States
.
See also
[
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]
References
[
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]
External links
[
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]