Whether on the sporting oval, the schoolyard or the backyard, cricket is an integral part of Australian country life.
Country cricket has played a significant role in the development of an Australian cricket structure that is envied across the world since the beginnings of the game in Australia in the 1800’s.
It is a structure that caters for all participants, yet has allowed such greats as Don Bradman and Glenn McGrath, and others, to make the journey from rural and regional Australia to take their place on a world stage.
Whether in the backyard with family at Christmas, among friends in the schoolyard or fiercely competing on the town sporting oval, with over 45% of Australia’s cricketing participants residing in regional and rural areas, cricket is an integral part of Australian country life.
Country Cricket Strategy
Cricket’s vision is to be Australia’s favourite sport, and country cricket is central to the pursuit of this vision and the sustained success of Australian cricket.
This position, however, is being challenged like never before.
Natural disasters, economic hardships, relocation and an increasingly competitive recreation and sporting market have placed enormous pressures on grassroots cricket clubs and associations.
Country Cricket – A way of life addresses five key themes identified as being at the heart of country cricket: Participation, Elite Opportunities, Connecting with Communities, Resourcing, and Governance.
Importantly this strategy has been designed as a framework that can be easily adapted by country cricket clubs and associations to provide their own customized roadmap to sustainable success.
Commonwealth Bank Australian Country Cricket Championships
The Australian Country Cricket Championships is the pinnacle of country cricket in Australia. Held annually, it brings together Australia's leading country cricketers to display their skills over two weeks of highly competitive, spirited competition.
The Championships brings together teams from Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, with an ICC East Asia Pacific team added to the fixture in 2004.
The 2009/10 championships saw the introduction of a team from the Northern Territory and the return of the Australian Capital Territory after a seven year absence.
The 2009/10 championships also saw a change in format to the championships with the introduction of Twenty20 and One-Day cricket making the championship a true test of skill and character across all of cricket’s disciplines.
With over 100 of the most talented players and officials Australia's country regions have to offer on show the Australian Country Cricket Championships is the highlight of the country cricketing calendar.
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