Sport: PNG cricketers begin the road to test match status

10:02 am on 16 June 2015

The Papua New Guinea cricketers square off against the Netherlands tonight in their debut appearance in the Intercontinental Cup in Amsterdam.

The four-day first-class tournament is a pathway to Test cricket, with the eight-team round-robin running until 2017.

The top placed country will then play the 10th-ranked side on the ICC Test Rankings in a four-match challenge, and if the Associate Member wins the series it will become the 11th Test nation.

The PNG Barramundi's captain Jack Vare-Kevere says every cricketing country would like to play Test cricket and this is a great opportunity for them to do just that.

He says the Netherlands had the wood on them when they last played in the 50-over format, but they have prepared well and are confident provided they do the basics right and stick to their game plans.

The PNG Barramundi's team at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby before departing for Europe.

The PNG Barramundi's team at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby before departing for Europe. Photo: Cricket PNG