First of 3 National Indoor Cricket Championships to start this weekend
The 2014 National Indoor Championships gets underway this weekend with the first of three national tournaments to be played over the next two months.
The Masters, Open and Junior Championships will all be played before the elite season ends with the 2014 World Indoor Cricket Federation (WICF) World Cup to be held in Wellington, New Zealand this October.
The Australian Masters Championships is the first tournament on the calendar and will start this Sunday at Toombul Indoor Sports Centre, Nundah, Brisbane. The tournament will be contested across five men’s age divisions (over 30, 35, 40, 45 & 50).
The Masters will be followed by the Australian Junior Championships and the Australian Open Championships in Morphett Vale, South Australia, and Werribee, Victoria respectively.
The Open championships will be played across four divisions – senior and under 20 competitions for men and women. The Championships’ best players will then be selected to contest the 2014 World Cup.
The open tournament will also include the 21st edition of the Lord’s Taverners Shield competition which features Australia’s best indoor cricketers with an intellectual disability competing for the annual national indoor title. The tournament is run in conjunction with the Lord’s Taverners Australia and AUSRAPID, a national organisation established to increase the sporting and recreational opportunities for all people with an intellectual disability within Australia.
Australia is the dominant power in international indoor cricket having won every men’s senior World Cup since the tournament was established in 1995 and women’s senior World Cup since it was first contested in 1998. Australia’s under 20 men’s and women’s teams will also defend their titles in Wellington having won their most recent World Cups in South Africa in 2011.
Across the country, indoor cricket is played by more than 170,000 Australians and has been played on a competitive level by many of Australia’s Test, ODI and T20 cricketers including Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Ryan Harris, Steve and Mark Waugh, Brad Haddin and Mike Hussey.
Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager Game and Market Development, Andrew Ingleton said:
“One of indoor cricket’s most important features is that it provides an opportunity for players of all ages to be involved with the game and go on to represent their state.”
“Through the Lord’s Taverners Shield, indoor cricket also provides a chance for those with an intellectual disability to participate and compete at national championship level and plays a big role in our efforts to make cricket a sport for all Australians.
“Indoor cricket is an integral part of the Australian cricket family and is key in helping us achieve our vision for cricket to be Australia’s favourite sport.”
For all 2014 National Indoor Cricket Championships results and tournament information, visit http://www.indoor.cricket.com.au" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or follow @CA_Indoor