Photo Credit: Sydney Thunder
Squads have been announced for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup this week in Campbelltown
Sydney Thunder has announced its men’s and women’s teams for the Cricket NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup to be held this Thursday and Friday at Raby Sports Complex, Campbelltown.
The Thunder and Sydney Sixers men’s and women’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander teams will play three matches each across the two days, but importantly, use cricket to promote awareness of culture with numerous cultural ceremonies and activities planned.
Appropriately, the event takes place during NAIDOC week and coincides with the rebel WBBL First Nations Festival of Cricket and the Reconciliation Round for Community and Premier clubs.
NAIDOC Week is traditionally held in July but this year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, it was rescheduled to 8-15 November, providing cricket a unique opportunity to celebrate the week in season.
Julie Muir has led the NSW Women’s Indigenous team to 13 consecutive titles and will captain the Thunder Women’s team later this week.
Muir said the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup was a great way to celebrate NAIDOC week.
“To get all the girls together and have two days’ worth of great cricket to see some new talent coming through is fantastic,” Muir said.
“It’s always good to have that cultural experience. We love our culture and we love sharing our culture with people.”
NAIDOC Week celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The theme for NAIDOC Week 2020 being ‘Always Was, Always Will Be’ which recognises that First Nations people have occupied and cared for this continent for over 65,000 years.
During NAIDOC Week our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander T20 Cup will be taking place on Dharawal land whilst our WBBL team will play games on both Darug land, at Hurstville and Blacktown, and on Wann-Gal land with games at Sydney Showground Stadium.
The Sydney Thunder Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men’s and women’s XI’s are proudly supported by Homestar Finance who are entering their third season of supporting the initiative.
“At Homestar Finance we value supporting the wider community we live and work in, especially when it involves Youth, Education and Sport,” said Mandy Sly, Homestar Finance Executive.
“Homestar’s continued support in the development of Indigenous Sport, encouraging participation especially for girls and young women is rewarding.”
Sydney Thunder would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of all the lands on which we will play throughout NAIDOC Week and would like to pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.
Sydney Thunder men’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team
| Name | Tribe/Mob | |
| Brayden | Wilson | Darug |
| Ben | Patterson ( c ) | Wiradjuri |
| Luke | Jones | Eora |
| Yarran | Fair-Townsend | Kamilaroi/Biripi |
| Daniel | Dellow | Wiradjuri |
| James | Whiting | Wiradjuri |
| Ethan | Fitzpatrick | Ngunnawal |
| Jacob | Murphy | Dharawal |
| Jack | McDonald | Wiradjuri |
| Adam | Burton | Kamillaroi |
| Taine | Martin | Biripi |
Sydney Thunder women’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander team
| Name | Tribe/Mob | |
| Amali | McNeill | Wiradjuri |
| Dimity | Parton | Wiradjuri and Yuwaalaraay |
| Naomi | Woods | Kamilaroi |
| Katarina | McEwen | Weilwan |
| Jordan | Cooper | Koori |
| Maddison | Spence | Wiradjuri |
| Sara | Darney | Wiradjuri |
| Julie | Muir ( c ) | Wiradjuri |
| Lauren | Woods | Kamilaroi |
| Callee | Black | Wiradjuri |
*Katarina McEwan is a late withdrawal.
