The Wicket - January Edition

To Our Cricket Community,

Happy New Year!

It is great to see many of our senior competitions already back under way and we look forward to seeing many junior matches recommencing this weekend.

January so far has seen the Toyota Australian Country Cricket Championships taking place in Canberra with some incredible team and individual performances on show. It is wonderful to see both male and female competitions return after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event provides an opportunity for our talent from country regions to compete and showcase their skills against domestic and international opposition.
 
The National Cricket Inclusion Championships will be hosted in Brisbane on 5-10 February, 2023, also returning after a two year hiatus due to COVID-19. This tournament showcases the skills of cricketers who are hearing, vision or intellectually impaired and provides an opportunity for them to compete in national championships and also potentially be selected to represent their country.

February also hosts Reconciliation Round to be held on the 11 & 12 of February, 2023. We encourage all of our participants, volunteers and clubs both at a Community and Premier level to be a part of this and would encourage everyone to view the information on Reconciliation Round below.

As we continue to enjoy of summer of cricket, please see below what is ahead for our game in 2023!

After all the excitement of the men’s Test series against the West Indies and South Africa and the current exhilaration of the Big Bash, kids are keen to emulate their heroes and get back into Woolworths Cricket Blast.

It’s not too late to get more players, participants, parents and volunteers involved and ensure your centre rides the summer cricket wave.

With no upfront costs, and nationally supported marketing and resources, why not run a Blast program in Term 1?

This is all you need to run a Woolworths Cricket Blast program:

• Equipment. You have that from last season! Your club will accrue credits for all participants who register, which means you can purchase more equipment if required.
• A coordinator. Is there someone at your club who is organised, friendly and engaging? They don’t need to know how to play cricket!
• Activities. We provide you with the content for each week of your program including electronic resources and videos to help make sure things run smoothly.
• A time & a date. With the cricket season in full swing Term 1 is the perfect time to run a program, whether it’s for four weeks or eight weeks. We have options that can work for every club.

Contact your local Cricket Manager or email cricketblast@cricket.com.au to find out how to get back into Woolworth’s Blast.

 
One consistent act encouraged for all clubs across the country is for both teams and umpires to form a pre-match barefoot circle to demonstrate your commitment to reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians.
 
For further information on steps your club can take, Click here

Cricket Australia acknowledges that this weekend abuts National Apology Day. Monday, 13 February 2023 will be the 15-year anniversary of the official apology Kevin Rudd delivered on behalf of the federal government to the Stolen Generations, for the policies of forced child removal that inflicted grief, suffering and loss.  We’re mindful it’s a date of significance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  You can find information about National Apology Day here

The Cricket Australia Community Cricket Awards will be held during National Volunteer week in May 2023.

The annual Cricket Australia Community Cricket Awards, supported by CommBank, recognise and celebrate some of the nation’s best grassroots volunteers, programs and initiatives from across the country. Highlighting the contribution of those volunteers, clubs and programs is not only a great way to provide recognition for every nominee, but it also showcases the value of sport in creating community connections.
 

To be considered for an award, please visit your State and Territory websites below to nominate.
 

NSW:   here
VIC:     here
TAS:    here
WA:     here
SA:      here

The Toyota Good for Cricket Raffle is closing soon!
 
With only FIVE weeks to go in the Toyota Good for Cricket Raffle, now’s the time to hit your fundraising for six!
 
Over $500,000 has been raised this season by 900 cricket clubs around Australia to upgrade facilities, purchase new equipment and fund more coaching.
 
With three brand-new Toyota’s up for grabs and another 30 prizes to be won, buy a $5 ticket and go into the draw today. And remember, your club gets to keep 100% of the proceeds from all tickets sold.
 
If your club is yet to register, don’t miss out on this opportunity to raise much-needed funds. It’s free to get involved and easy to participate.”
 
‘Fundraise Now’

 Community Cricket Playing in Heat Guidelines

As we are now in the middle of summer, extreme heat is present in many parts of the country, including on match days and training times. Playing cricket in extreme heat and high humidity can result in various heat illnesses, from dizziness and cramping to very serious conditions like heat stroke. Staying safe while playing cricket is the number one priority.
 
The Playing in the Heat Guidelines provide administrators and participants with a scientific approach to managing extreme heat conditions. The Heat Stress Risk Index Tools – developed by CA in partnership with Sydney University – are easy to use, effective tools to manage matches and training during hot weather. Simply enter values for temperature, humidity, wind, sun radiation and month to observe the heat stress risk for your location.
 
The guidelines and tools are available on the community cricket website.

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