Cricket Australia has selected the men’s and women’s National Indigenous squads for a tour to Vanuatu that will take place from May 3-10, 2023.
The Tour will see both squads play four T20 matches each against the respective Vanuatu national teams.
Star all-rounder Kamilaroi woman Hannah Darlington will lead a young women’s Indigenous XI with support of Jawoyn woman Ella Hayward.
Newcomers Waanyi Ganggalida woman Grace Abdy, Badimia woman Veronica Keen and Wiradjuri woman Callee Black have been selected after strong performances in the women’s division at the recent National Indigenous Cricket Championships (NICC) in Alice Springs.
Gunditjmara man Damon Egan will captain the men’s Indigenous XI, with support of Kamilaroi man Dylan McLachlan.
The men’s squad also features Kamilaroi man Charlie Anderson, who will don green and gold for the second time, after representing Australia in a multi-format Under 19 series against England last month.
The men’s and women’s Indigenous XI squads last toured internationally in 2018 for a commemorative tour to England that marked the 150th anniversary of the 1868 Aboriginal team that travelled to England.
Supported through the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports partnership with Cricket Australia and primary principal partner CommBank, the tour is the National Indigenous teams’ first to Vanuatu.
The tour delivers on a key priority set out in Cricket Australia’s strategic plan, Where the Game Grows, to support the growth of cricket globally including in emerging cricketing countries.
With a population of 300,000, Vanuatu has over 25,000 cricket participants and their men’s and women’s national cricket teams are the country’s highest-ranked sporting sides.
Both squads will wear the Indigenous themed One-Day International kits, designed by Kirrae Whurrong woman Aunty Fiona Clarke and Butchulla and Gubbi Gubbi woman Courtney Fewquandie, that were worn by the Australian men’s and women’s teams in home one-day internationals in the 2022-23 season.
Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley said:
“Congratulations to those selected for the national men’s and women’s Indigenous teams for what promises to be an exciting international tour that delivers a key priority for Australian Cricket to support the growth of global cricket.
“Our thanks to the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports partnership and to CommBank, who are providing some of the best Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander players the opportunity to represent their country and culture in the Pacific whilst developing their skills at an elite level.”
Chair of Selectors Julien Wiener said:
“With constructive and insightful input from state coaches and high-performance managers, we have identified emerging talent from across the country, alongside experienced players including Hannah Darlington and Damon Egan who toured as part of the National Indigenous squads in 2018.
“Whilst the aim to is bring strong and competitive squads to the Pacific, our focus is also on providing opportunities to develop and nurture young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cricketers and we look forward to player development both on and off the field.”
National Women’s Indigenous squad
(Name, mob, home state)
Callee Black, Wiradjuri, NSW
Carly Fuller, Bundjalung, VIC
Charlotte Toohey, WA
Christina Coulson, Kaurareg, QLD
Clodagh Ryall, Thursday Island, QLD
Ella Hayward, Jawoyn, VIC
Grace Abdy, Waanyi Ganggalida, QLD
Hannah Darlington ©, Kamilaroi, NSW
Merinda Hale, Yorta Yorta, VIC
Mikayla Hinkley, Kunja, QLD
Piper Hooke, North East Wiradjuri, NSW
Tahlia Meier, Wamba Wamba, VIC
Taleha Urszulak, Dharawal, NSW
Veronica Keen, Badimia, WA
National Men’s Indigenous squad
(Name, mob, home state)
Bailey Toseland, Taungurung, VIC
Brandon Kopper, Palawa, TAS
Brendan Smith, Dhungutti, NSW
Brock Larance, Biripi, NSW
Brynley Richards, Dharawal, NSW
Cody Hoffmeister, Palawa, WA
Charlie Anderson, Kamilaroi, NSW
Damon Egan ©, Gunditjmara, VIC
Dylan McLachlan, Kamilaroi, QLD
Kobe Ross, Kaiwalagal, NSW
Nicolas Taylor, Noongar, WA
Tyrell Sinclair, Ngarrindjeri, Yorta Yorta, SA
Tyran Liddiard, Biripi, NSW
Wade King, Ngyampaa, VIC
