Bruce Christieis a pioneer of the Indonesian indigenous cricket movement starting as far back as 1996 when Bruce, a veterinarian, was posted to Kupang, West Timor, Indonesia as part of an Australian government agricultural aid program. During his time in Kupang, Bruce trained a core group of local disadvantaged youth to play cricket. With the support of many other Australians, and the Australian and international expatriate community in Indonesia, cricket is now a recognized Indonesian national sport with indigenous players competing in regional, national and international competitions. Cricket Indonesia is also recognised and supported by the International CricketCouncil. An estimated 100,000+ Indonesians have now come into contact with cricket, and more than 30,000 indigenous Indonesians, particularly school students, now play cricket at schools and at competition level.

The development of cricketinIndonesia would not have been possible without Bruce’s vision, dedication, and support over the past 20 years. Bruce continues to seekassistance from the Australian expatriate community, Australian cricket players, and Australian cricket teams in ‘growing’ cricket in Indonesia, in order to transform the lives of those Indigenous players who are now part of Cricket Indonesia and the East Nusa Tenggara Cricket Club (NTTCC).