Indigenous Cricketers

[bulldogtragic]

Sorry if this thread is political or too socially driven, but I was thinking last week of sport, indigenous sportsmen and cricket today. ( I have some limited understanding in an historical concept)

How is it that we don't have an indigenous cricketer NOW of note? Other countries in Africa have seemed to strike gold and use it in helping to heal some issues.

At state level I can recall some multiculturalism in NSW, like Usman and Richard Chi Que (sp?). We've embraced Fahwed, but not a true indigenous talent.

If this is more political than sport, feel free to delete.

[Twodogs]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

Jason Gillespie identifies himself as having an indigenous background I think. Apart from his te only other indigenous cricketer I can remember is Eddie Gilbert the Queensland fast bowler who cleaned Bradman up for a duck in the '30s.

[lemmon]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

No problem with the thread at all, relevant with the tour game coming up in Alice Springs. Dan Christian is another who identifies himself as indigenous. Its not something I know a lot about to be honest. I cant really think of any soccer players from indigenous backgrounds either, its an area Aussie Rules does terrifically, getting players and games out to these communities. Whether the other sports lag behind I'm not sure

[BulldogBelle]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

I cant really think of any soccer players from indigenous backgrounds either

It's definitely a rare one, David Williams the electric winger from heart is one. But I only know it due to being a heart man.

[Bornadog]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

I cant really think of any soccer players from indigenous backgrounds either,

Soccer is really pushing into the indigenous areas up in the North and the kids are all starting to play. Won't be long in the next ten or so years and there will be plenty playing . As for cricket, I just don't think there is any organised playing amongst the communities and therefore hasn't grown.

The first cricket tour of England in 1868 was an all Australian Indigenous team.

See the full details here

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

I recall a fast bowler named Roger Brown in the 80's, played for Tassie I think?
It should be a source of shame to Australian cricket that we do not have a more representative presence of indigenous cricketers in our first class system.

I played against some very talented indigenous cricketers in the early 90s in country Qld.

[Murphy'sLore]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

Is it possible that a lot of indigenous kids see the indigenous AFL players and think, that could be me? Not so many role models in cricket and it becomes a vicious cycle.

I was going to say, soccer and AFL are both low equipment, easy to organise sports so easier to run in a low resource area -- but I guess that doesn't apply to a lot of areas in India or West Indies so that doesn't really hold up...

[Sedat]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

I cant really think of any soccer players from indigenous backgrounds either

Travis Dodd is an indigenous soccer player, and quite a good one at that.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

Travis Dodd is an indigenous soccer player, and quite a good one at that.

Isn't Archie Thompson at Victory indigenous ?

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

Grahame Thomas, who played test cricket in the 60's I believe was indigenous

[Bornadog]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

Isn't Archie Thompson at Victory indigenous ?

No, he is a mix of Maori and PNG

[Axe Man]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

How is it that we don't have an indigenous cricketer NOW of note? Other countries in Africa have seemed to strike gold and use it in helping to heal some issues.

I'm sure most would agree that it would be great to see more indigenous cricketers at the top level, however I'm not sure that comparing Australia to Africa is relevant.

Indigenous Australians make up something like 2-3% of our population. As an example, around 80% of South Africa's population is made up of black Africans. Perhaps New Zealand would be a better comparison, although again their proportion of Maoris is a fair bit higher than our proportion of indigenous people.

Although the intention is noble I believe South Africa's quota system has caused some issues of it's own in the past.

Hopefully Cricket Australia are putting resources into developing the game for indigenous players but I suspect they will never be able to compete with the AFL and NRL in this area.

[Twodogs]

Re: Indigenous Cricketers

I cant really think of any soccer players from indigenous backgrounds either

Charles Perkins was on Everton's books for two seasons.