Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming

Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming is a left-handed batter playing for Japan, having emerged as one of the most important figures in the country's international cricket journey. Born in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, to a Japanese mother and an Australian father, he spent his early childhood in Japan before his family moved to Australia when he was six. He developed his cricket through Queensland's youth system, representing the state at Under-12, Under-15 and Under-17 level, before playing school cricket at Brisbane Grammar School and joining Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club.

Despite growing up in Australia, Kadowaki-Fleming retained a strong connection with Japan and first contacted the Japan Cricket Association when he was 18. He continued travelling to Japan almost every year before finally getting his opportunity at international level. He made his T20I debut against Indonesia in 2022 and immediately made an impact, finishing the three-match series as Japan's leading run-scorer with 98 runs as the hosts won 2-1. He went on to captain Japan during the East Asia-Pacific pathway and has remained a central figure in the side.

Kadowaki-Fleming has built an impressive T20I record since then, becoming Japan's leading run-scorer in the format. His maiden international hundred came against South Korea in 2022, when he smashed 114, which remains his highest score in T20Is. His ability to contribute at the top of the order has made him a key player as Japan has increasingly established itself in international T20 cricket.

Kadowaki-Fleming continued to lead Japan through the major regional competitions, captaining the side at the 2023 ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Final. Japan began strongly with three wins from their first four matches but eventually finished second behind Papua New Guinea, who went unbeaten to claim the sole qualification spot for the 2024 T20 World Cup. He also led Japan at the 2022 Asian Games, where they recorded a win, and the 2024 ACC Men's Challenger Cup, taking them to the semi-finals before a defeat to Saudi Arabia.

One of the defining performances of his career came at the 2024 Twenty20 East Asia Cup against China, when Kadowaki-Fleming and Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake produced a record-breaking unbeaten opening stand of 258. Kadowaki-Fleming contributed an unbeaten 109 from just 53 balls, with 11 sixes and three fours, becoming the first Japanese men's player to score two T20I centuries. The partnership surpassed Afghanistan's previous men's T20I opening record of 236, while Japan's 180-run victory over China became their biggest win in men's T20Is at the time.

He has also taken on leadership beyond his batting, captaining the national side and representing the Chiba Sharks at club level. Kadowaki-Fleming is a right-arm off-break bowler, although his primary role remains with the bat. Away from cricket, he works in finance and has also pursued his long-standing interest in player management, establishing a company in Japan. With his experience of both Australian and Japanese cricket, he has become an important link between the two cricketing cultures while continuing to lead Japan on the international stage.