Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Call all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cricketers
We want you as part of our team!
Sydney Thunder is committed to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the Thunder Nation and have opened nominations for the Big Bash League club’s teams for the annual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup.
Read on for nomination details.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup uses cricket as the vehicle to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and is part of CNSW’s ongoing commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, via the Thunder and the Sydney Sixers.
The commitment by CNSW to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup is an ongoing action from the recently released CNSW Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
The annual event combines cricket and culture in a multi-day experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cricketers from across the state.
This season the Women’s event will be played between teams representing the Thunder and Sixers in North Sydney on October 18 and 19.
The Men’s event will take place in Albury on November 29 and 30, with the Thunder and Sixers joined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teams from the Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars.
Wiradjuri woman Julie Muir, who has captained the Sydney Thunder Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup team and long been an advocate for opportunities for Indigenous cricketers, said the Thunder put on a great event.
“Sydney Thunder is a great organisation to play for, they are very supportive of the Indigenous cricket programs,” Muir said.
“Starting from the grass roots all the way up to the elite level.
“Last year we had the opportunity to play this great tournament during NAIDOC week due to it being postponed earlier in the year.
“This was quite a special time for all of us due to the struggles with Covid around this time last year and again this year we’re all doing it tough.
“There is nothing like getting all your mob and checking in on each and supporting each other. I don’t know better way of doing this than playing the game that we all love and enjoy.”
Another Wiradjuri woman, Sara Darney, who has also represented Sydney Thunder, said the tournament provides a genuine pathway for Indigenous cricketers in NSW.
“I enjoy coming together with other Indigenous Peoples who play cricket,” Darney said.
“I always learn a lot from the T20 Cup and it’s a great way to get the young talent coming through the Pathways and to showcase their talent.”
The Sydney Thunder teams are supported by Homestar Finance, and Mandy Sly, Homestar’s General Manager – Operations, said it was important to connect sport with the community.
“Homestar Finance are thrilled to continue our support for the Australian sporting community, and in particular our association with Sydney Thunder Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander T20 Teams,” Sly said.
“We want to support, encourage and empower Australian youth and athletic initiatives – as we believe that sport has an outstanding ability to create positive, lasting change for the communities involved.”
Nominations for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup are open now for both the Men’s and Women’s teams and can be found here:
To nominate for Sydney Thunder’s Men’s Team, CLICK HERE.
To nominate for Sydney Thunder’s Women’s Team, CLICK HERE.
Nominations will close on Monday 6 September at 5:00pm.
Dates are subject to change in line with NSW Health advice and restrictions.
Name of Author: Sydney Thunder
The Sydney Thunder is an Australian professional cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at Sydney Showground Stadium, the Thunder, along with the Sydney Sixers, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
