News
INDOOR MERGER FINALISED FOR QUEENSLAND
Queensland Cricket has today announced it has become the first State body to integrate Indoor Cricket into its operations.
Indoor Cricket Queensland last week unanimously ratified the move at a special general meeting, which comes 12 months after Cricket Australia and Indoor Cricket Australia merged.
The Board of Queensland Cricket last night endorsed the merger and confirmed the formation of an Indoor Cricket Advisory Committee to assist with the day to day operations for Indoor cricket.
Queensland Cricket recently appointed Greg Donnelly, a former State player, coach and administrator, as its Indoor Cricket Manager.
The Indoor Cricket Advisory Committee is: Jim Holding (chair), Greg Donnelly, Frank Hogan, Lachlan Farquharson, Col Robinson and Rick Heagerty.
The team names for the Queensland men’s and women’s Indoor representative teams were also confirmed last night.
The men will play as the Queensland Thunder and the women will be known as the Queensland Lighting.
The teams will compete in the national championships in Silverwater in July this year, with the Thunder and Lightning defending the titles they won last year.
Queensland Cricket Chairman Damien Mullins SC welcomed the decision and said the Queensland Cricket family would be greatly strengthened through the addition of Indoor Cricket.
“Just as it did when Women’s Cricket came under the QC umbrella nearly a decade ago, the presence of Indoor cricket provides another pathway for men and women, boys and girls, volunteers and coaches,’’ he said.
“The 18 Indoor centre owners voted unanimously to proceed on this course and we welcome all of their members.”
Mullins said the move would deliver a number of benefits for cricket.
“It will provide the game at a community and grass-roots level with additional resources while it offers the participants in our game greater options to play and enjoy the sport.”
“It is an excellent starting base for young players, as it can provide a weather friendly environment and a consistent surface and conditions to develop their skills.”
“It also provides older cricketers with the chance to stay involved at a playing level through the established and successful Masters options that have existed for a number if years in Indoor cricket,” Mullins said.
“Longer term we believe that the integration of Indoor cricket can conceivably provide a fourth form of the game alongside first class cricket, 50-over cricket and the Twenty20 format,’’ he said.
Indoor cricket provides a series of general competitions catering for players of all abilities in men’s, women’s and mixed categories which are played at 18 accredited Indoor cricket centres around the State all year round.
Queensland selects State teams in 13 different divisions, ranging from juniors to over-45 men.
As part of the merger, the successful MILO in2CRICKET program will be the start of an Indoor cricket player’s pathway in a number of Indoor centres, just as it is for outdoor cricket clubs.
There are 34,000 registered Indoor cricketers in Queensland. In outdoor cricket in Queensland, the most recent cricket census numbers show 92,000 registered players.
The merger with Indoor cricket is another initiative to assist cricket to continue as Australia’s favourite sport.
WILLIAMS & TRASK TO STAR IN ABC DOCUMENTARY
Queenslander's Worrin Williams and Cameron Trask are the stars of an ABC documentary centred on the national Indigenous development team’s tour of England last year.
From the Ashes, as part of its Indigenous program, Message Stick, will screen nationally this Sunday 14 March at 1.30pm.
The squad of promising young Indigenous cricketers played 12 matches through England in June and July last year, winning eight matches, losing three and drawing one.
Narrated by Queensland actor William McInnes, the documentary follows Trask and Williams preparing for the tour and then throughout the many unique places and experiences the team took in.
The players discover the history of the 1868 Aboriginal team that toured the UK as the first Australian sporting team travel overseas, heading to the hometown and resting place of its star player, Johnny Mullagh, before making the journey to England to carry on the spirit of the 1868 tour.
The team was captained by recent Australian Twenty20 debutant Dan Christian and featured a squad largely consisting of exciting young Indigenous cricketers ranging from ages of 16 to 23.
The documentary was produced by Aboriginal-owned new media company Carbon Media for the ABC with the support of Cricket Australia.
Cricket Australia General Manager of Game Development Damien Bown is excited that the successful tour will now be brought to a wider audience:
“The story around this young Indigenous team is powerful, with the connection to the 1868 pioneers running deep. Moreover the development of a number of the players the tour since makes this an important documentary,” Bown said.
“We’ve seen Dan Christian step up to Australian selection for recent matches against the West Indies and New Zealand, becoming the second player of Aboriginal heritage to play for Australia in the modern era.
“We have also seen younger players like Preston White, who has played Futures League Twenty20 for Queensland, and Darcy Short, who starred for the Northern Territory at the National Under-19 Championships and has since scored an unbeaten century for Western Australia in the Futures League, that have kicked on this summer since the tour.”
From the Ashes will also be repeated in the Message Stick slot at 11.30am on Saturday 20 March.
VIPERS & FIREBIRDS
It is with great pleasure that Victoria Point Indoor Sports announce a new partnership with the Queensland Firebirds for the 2010 season.
Recently the Marketing & Operations Manager of the Firebirds, Kylee Sampson, signed off on a sponsorship deal with the Victoria Point Vipers for the upcoming season.
For the past two years, the Vipers have been corporate supporters of the Firebirds and this year the relationship has grown even further. The partnership will allow both organizations to tap into each other’s resources & potentially reach new audiences throughout Queensland’s business and sporting communities.
As well, the new agreement will provide some exciting new opportunities for members of Victoria Point Indoor Sports to be part of the action for the 2010 ANZ Netball Championship season. In fact 20 very lucky members of the Vipers will get to see the action “up close & personal” when the Firebirds take on the Adelaide Thunderbirds on the 4th of April. These lucky 20 will be the Firebirds Cheer Squad (known as the “Fire Brigade”) for the game & will be responsible cheering on the Firebirds & getting the home crowd “Fired Up”!!
Also members of Victoria Point Indoor Sports will have the opportunity to meet some of the Firebirds & hopefully may have a chance to attend a Firebirds coaching session!!!
So we look forward to a mutually beneficial 2010 & to a successful year for both the Victoria Point Vipers & the Queensland Firebirds!