Photo Credit: Sydney Sixers
Sydney Sixers have announced its men’s and women’s teams for the Cricket NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup to be held on Wiradjuri land in Albury Wodonga from January 11 – 14, 2022.
Originally scheduled for late November but rescheduled due to COVID-related border restrictions, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup combines cricket and culture in a multi-day experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cricketers from across New South Wales representing Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder. This year, the event will also feature invitational teams representing the Melbourne Renegades (men’s), Melbourne Stars (men’s) and Cricket Victoria (women’s).
First commencing in 2015, this summer’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup will appropriately take place during the inaugural BBL First Nations round being played between January 8 – 14.
Coaching and mentoring the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup teams will be Kerry Marshall, NSW women’s Indigenous Coach and Jeff Cook, NSW men’s Indigenous Coach, with the latter talking about the opportunity this event presents First Nations cricketers.
“The initiative of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup is to identify and give young players an opportunity to represent NSW in the National Indigenous Cricket Championships and further develop as a player and person,” Cook said.
“It is pleasing to have many players return and play in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup, as well as new young cricketing talent enter the program. I am looking forward to seeing all the players showcase their skills and create new and old friendships within both teams.”
Sydney Sixers men’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team
| Name | Mob | Cricket Club |
| Brett Russell | Dunghutti & Birpi | Warnervale Cricket Club |
| Ashley White | Kamilaroi | Albion Cricket Club |
| Logan Donovan | Gumbaynggirr | Valleys Cricket Club |
| Mitchell Nesbitt | Biripi | Newcastle City Cricket Club |
| Trae Smith | Wongaibon | Dubbo CYMS Cricket Club |
| Raymond Steadman | Worimi Ngemba | Toronto Workers District Cricket Club |
| Jack Hartigan (C) | Gundungurra | Hamilton Wickham District Cricket Club |
| Aaron Kelly-Parsons | Dunghutti | Thirsties Cricket Club |
| Braithen Winsor | Kamilaroi | Courthouse Cricket Club |
| Lesley Smith | Dunghutti | Wauchope RSL Cricket Club |
| Angus Ping | Worimi | Toronto Workers District Cricket Club |
| Ryan Bray | Biripi | Port City Leagues Cricket Club |
*teams subject to change
Proud Gundungurra man, Jack Hartigan who plays first grade for Hamilton-Wickham District Cricket Club has been named captain of the Sydney Sixers men’s team.
“Any chance I get to be able to represent my Family, Culture and People is very special to me and is even more so when I am able to do this as captain of the Sydney Sixers Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander team.
“I am very grateful and looking forward to the experience and opportunity once again. I hope my leadership provides inspiration both on and off the field for other young up and coming Indigenous players.
“I love that this initiative allows young Indigenous men and women to come together to display and develop their talent while also connecting with their culture. I also love how this initiative shows that there is now a clear pathway for young Indigenous cricket players.”
Sydney Sixers women’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team
| Name | Mob | Cricket Club |
| Sally Keeler | Kamilaroi | Kookaburras Cricket Club |
| Mackenzie Keeler | Kamilaroi | Kookaburras Cricket Club |
| Piper Hooke | Wiradjuri | Northern Districts Cricket Club |
| Zoe Fleming | Kamilaroi | Old Boys Cricket Club |
| Roxsanne Van-Veen (C) | Gundungurra | Lithgow Hotel Cricket Club |
| Aili Martin | Wiradjuri | Nelson Bay Cricket Club |
| Lara Graham | Kamilaroi/Anaiwan | South Tamworth Cricket Club |
| Chelsea Stocks | Wonnarua | Non-attached |
| Carly Fuller | Bundjalung | Gold Coast District Cricket Club |
| Bree Muldoon | Gundungurra | Lithgow Hotel Cricket Club |
*teams subject to change
South Tamworth Cricket Club and Sydney Sixers women’s representative Lara Graham: “It’s a really good thing that the Sydney Sixers provide this opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to participate in a sport that they love whilst also connecting with other Indigenous people.
“The thing I most enjoy about playing in the competition is the relationships I build with other strong Indigenous women. We all have so much fun on and off the field and it’s always so great having strong Indigenous role models to look up to like Julie Muir and Roxsanne Van-Veen.”
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 Cricket NSW’s ongoing commitment to supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities as outlined in the Cricket NSW Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
Cricket NSW and Sydney Sixers would like to thank the support of Cricket Albury Wodonga, Cricket Victoria and the many officials and volunteers that are helping to deliver this event.
Name of Author: Sydney Sixers
The Sydney Sixers are an Australian professional Twenty20 cricket team competing in the Big Bash League (BBL). Based at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Sixers, along with the Sydney Thunder, succeeded the New South Wales Blues from the now-defunct KFC Twenty20 Big Bash.
