ANNUAL REPORT
2004 - 05
Our vision
Cricket - Australia’s favourite sport.
Our strategy
Our strategy is based on five strategic priorities:
Reinforce and celebrate cricket’s place in the Australian community;
Thrive at the elite level;
Substantially increase participation in cricket;
Grow the financial resources available to invest in the game; and
Work efficiently in our federal system.
Cricket Australia Annual General Meeting: Friday 21 October 2005
Cricket Australia ABN 53 006 089 130
Website: www.cricket.com.au Address: 60 Jolimont Street, Jolimont VIC 3002 Telephone [03] 9653 9999
Designed by Watts Design, Photography by Getty Images unless otherwise stated
Contents
Chairman’s Message
2
CEO’s Message
3
Directors
4
Corporate structure
6
What we do
8
Reinforce and celebrate cricket’s place
in the Australian Community
9
Thrive at the elite level
10
Substantially increase participation
13
Grow the financial resources
available to invest in the game
16
Financials
20
Work efficiently in our federal system
24
Tributes and Milestones
25
State Reports
33
Tour Summaries
38
Left to right:
Bob Merriman.
A good vantage point from the annual Lilac
Hill match in Perth.
Chairman’s Message
Cricket Australia celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2005 with
Australian cricket in a very sound position, and a number of
significant achievements recorded during the year.
However, the Board is aware we cannot take Australian cricket’s
standing in the Australian summer for granted, and ended the financial
year by approving a comprehensive series of new strategic plan targets
for the next four years.
Key features include significantly upgrading our focus on increasing
participation in cricket; a greater focus on what the game’s customers
need; and working much harder to ensure the various state, territory
and national elements within Australian cricket work as collaboratively
as possible in the common interest of the game.
On field, the 2004-05 financial year started in Darwin and Cairns, was
followed by one-day international cricket in Holland and the United
Kingdom [UK] before our successful tour to India. The Australian
summer included the inaugural Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, before a tour
to New Zealand which preceded travel to the UK for the Ashes’ tour.
As administrators, we often say that on-field success is the best
advertisement for the Australian game as we seek to create interest
with new generations of fans.
And, as the number one ranked men’s team, we have particularly
looked forward to hosting the inaugural Johnnie Walker Super Series.
The International Cricket Council organised this series for Melbourne
and Sydney in October 2005 as a new global cricket event which
pitches the world’s top team against the best of the rest.
Cricket Australia was just as busy off field. We renewed our
longest-running commercial agreement, our 70-plus year relationship
with the Australian Broadcasting Commission, and signed a new
telecast agreement with the Nine Network. Nine has been at the
forefront of international cricket telecasting since the 1970s. We are
grateful to both media partners for their dedication and outstanding
contributions to Australian cricket.
We also negotiated a new Memorandum of Understanding with the
Australian Cricketers’ Association which ensures that elite cricketers
are fairly rewarded, but which also allows Australian cricket better
flexibility to invest in the future of the game.
Internationally, Cricket Australia was a significant voice in International
Cricket Council [ICC] forums on issues ranging from cricket’s global
governance through to helping develop a new constitution for Kenya’s
cricket. One highlight was Australia’s successful hosting of the ICC’s
Chief Executives Committee in February.
[2]
The Tsunami match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 10 January
2005 was also a highlight, and not only provided a significant amount
of money for the cause, but demonstrated how various cricket bodies
and the public can react and work together for the benefit of those in
desperate need. We are very grateful to all those involved in this event.
The year saw the departure from Cricket Australia’s Board of Bill
Jocelyn, Brian Freedman OAM, Bob Horsell and Bob Paulsen, all fine
servants of the game to whom I offer my deep, personal thanks for
their support and contributions.
Their replacements, Mark Taylor AO, Bruce Collins QC, Dr Harry
Harinath, and Daryl Foster OAM, have been quick to bring their insight
and expertise to our often complex issues. I congratulate them on
becoming Directors and thank them for their early contributions.
I would also like to pay tribute to two of Australian cricket’s finest
administrators who passed away during the year - Bob Parish and Jack
Edwards. Each of these gentlemen made a life-long commitment to
the game they loved and their contributions have certainly made a
tangible difference to cricket in Australia.
In thanking all Directors for the time and expertise they individually
volunteer, I particularly thank Creagh O’Connor for his unstinting
efforts and the extra time he has contributed as Deputy Chairman
through the past year.
As my time as Chairman comes to a close, I would also like to thank my
wife Beth who has given me so much support, counsel and
understanding through my tenure, particularly during times when we
have been away so long.
Cricket Australia is fortunate to have Chief Executive Officer James
Sutherland and a team of dedicated professionals managing the
day-to-day operations at Cricket Australia and implementing the
policies of the Board, and I also thank them for their support during
my time as Chairman.
Bob Merriman
CHAIRMAN
Left to right:
James Sutherland.
Australian fans swarmed to
the cricket last summer.
CEO’s Message
Australian cricket has enjoyed another successful 12 months
and we look forward to achieving bigger and better things
though our new strategic framework.
Our men’s Test and one-day international outfits reinforced their
number one ranking in the world, while our women’s team climbed its
own Everest, winning the World Cup tournament in South Africa.
Each of our national teams continue to inspire and reach new heights
in their pursuit of excellence and our congratulations go to each of the
players, their coaches, support staff and the administration behind
each team who, in their own way, continue to be world leaders in their
respective fields.
Whilst we have enjoyed success in 2004-05 and are in the midst of an
era of outstanding on-field performance, our thoughts and planning
are firmly focussed on the future. For Australian cricket to remain at
the top, we must continue to adapt to the dynamic environment in
which we operate; to continually challenge the way we do things and
aggressively seek new and innovative ways to achieve our goals. This is
as much about the performance of our organisation off the cricket field
as it is about winning matches.
If we fail to achieve our objectives, Australian cricket runs the very real
risk of losing its special place in the Australian way of life and
becoming an obsolete part of the Australian psyche.
In addressing this issue, we reviewed our Strategic Plan during the
reporting period and realigned our focus to strengthen our grip on our
vision of being Australia’s favourite sport.
Stemming from this review, one of our new priorities is to maximise
the benefits available from our federal structure. We already have
extremely strong alliances with each of the state and territory
associations and we continue to strive to find new and better ways to
optimise the performance of the federal model.
Other aspects of the review include a determination to aggressively
drive participation in the game, and an upgraded focus on what it
means for cricket to be genuinely customer focussed - for both
consumers and participants.
Two extremely significant contracts were signed during the past 12
months, both of which lay important foundations for the medium-term
future of the game.
The first, with the Nine Network, is a ringing endorsement of Australian
cricket, highlighting the strength and value our brand has in the
marketplace. The new telecast agreement will allow Australian cricket to
proactively move forward and invest funds into both community and
elite cricket as we look to make the game more accessible and popular
than ever before. Nine’s contribution to Australian cricket cannot be
underestimated. The Network has partnered Australian cricket since
1979 and the new contract will run until 31 March 2013, extending Nine’s
relationship with Cricket Australia to 34 years. We are particularly proud
of our relationship with Nine and very grateful for its long-standing
commitment to Australian cricket.
Cricket Australia also signed a new Memorandum of Understanding
with the Australian Cricketers’ Association in a deal which will
recognise and remunerate our players. The agreement seeks to find a
balance between Australian cricket’s investment in grass roots cricket
and the elite commercial end of the game.
The deal ensures our state and international cricketers will receive pay
increases over the next four years and at the same time cricket’s
funding of junior and club programs will be at record levels.
Both these signings are landmarks for the sustained success of our
business; however, as Cricket Australia looks forward, we will continue
to remain focussed and committed to our vision.
Our ability to work cohesively with numerous partners, including
Cricket Victoria, the Melbourne Cricket Club, the International Cricket
Council, the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association, a wide
range of commercial partners and the media, could not have been
illustrated better than when Cricket Australia played a leading role in
staging the World Cricket Tsunami Appeal match at the Melbourne
Cricket Ground in January, which raised more than $14.5 million for
World Vision.
We were completely overwhelmed by the generosity of the public, our
partners who helped deliver the match and the players who made
themselves available for the game. Combined with the dedicated work
behind the scenes by Cricket Australia staff and others, this event
proved that great things can be achieved when people set their minds
on a task and work together tirelessly to achieve it.
And it is with this spirit of teamwork that we look to the future with
optimism. Our current performance indicators - television ratings,
match attendances, financial distributions to members, elite team
success, participation numbers and the like - all highlight that cricket
is in great shape.
But, while this is so now, our pledge is to continue in an unrelenting
pursuit to drive greater interest in our game, so that these figures in
five, 10 or 20 years time indicate that cricket truly upholds its mantle of
Australia’s favourite sport.
I would like to thank our Directors and state and territory associations
for their tireless work in assisting our efforts to deliver on our collective
vision and strategy, and look forward to the future with a great deal of
excitement and confidence.
Long Live Cricket!
James Sutherland
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
[3]
Directors
Bob Merriman AM
Jack Clarke
Dr. Harry Harinath
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
1990. Appointed Chairman in 2001.
1999
2004
Cricket Australia committees
Cricket Australia committees
Cricket Australia committees
Chairman of Cricket Australia’s Industrial
Relations Committee, International
Committee, and Remuneration Committee.
Chairman of Cricket Australia’s Playing
Conditions Committee and member of the
Industrial Relations Committee.
Member of the Women’s Cricket Reference
Group.
Australia’s delegate on the International
Cricket Council’s [ICC] Executive and ICC
Development International Boards, he is also
the President of Cricket Victoria.
Profession
Chairman - Victoria
Director - South Australia
Solicitor
Bruce Collins QC
Profession
Director - New South Wales
Consultant, Company Director
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
Creagh O’Connor
Director - South Australia
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
1998. Appointed Deputy Chairman in 2004.
Cricket Australia committees
Member of the Audit, Industrial Relations,
International, Remuneration and Finance
Review committees.
Profession
Company Director
Allan Border AO
Director - Queensland
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
2002
Cricket Australia committees
Member of the Playing Conditions and Game
Development committees.
Profession
Sports Commentator
2004
Cricket Australia committees
Director - New South Wales
Profession
Medical Practitioner
Tony Harrison
Director - Tasmania
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
2002
Cricket Australia committees
Member of the Audit and Finance Review
committees.
Member of the International and Game
Development committees and Chairman of
the Women’s Cricket Reference Group.
Profession
Profession
Queens Counsel
Walter Edwards
Director - Western Australia
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
1996
Cricket Australia committees
Member of the Industrial Relations and
International committees.
Profession
Civil Engineer
Daryl Foster OAM
Director - Western Australia
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
2004
Cricket Australia committees
Member of the Game Development
Committee.
Profession
Principal, Currie Hall, University of Western
Australia
Managing Director
Hon Ian McLachlan AO
Director - South Australia
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
2004
Cricket Australia committees
Member of the Audit committee. President
of South Australian Cricket Association.
Profession
Wool Grower with pastoral interests in South
Australia and New South Wales.
Damien Mullins SC
Director - Queensland
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
1993
Cricket Australia committees
Member of the Audit, International,
Remuneration, Finance Review and Industrial
Relations committees.
Profession
Senior Counsel
[4]
Left to right:
Bob Merriman AM, Creagh O’Connor, Allan Border AO, Jack Clarke, Bruce Collins QC, Walter Edwards,
Daryl Foster OAM, Dr Harry Harinath, Tony Harrison, Hon. Ian McLachlan AO, Damien Mullins SC, Tony Steele,
Geoff Tamblyn, Mark Taylor AO.
Tony Steele
Director - Victoria
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
2000
Meetings Of Directors 2004-05
Meetings held [H] while a Director and attended [A]
Full
meeting of
Directors
Cricket Australia committees
Member of the Women’s Cricket Reference
Group and Playing Conditions Committee.
Profession
Company Director
Geoff Tamblyn
Director - Victoria
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
1997
Cricket Australia committees
Chairman of Cricket Australia’s Audit, Finance
Review, Game Development and the National
Indigenous Advisory Committees, and also a
member of the Remuneration committee.
Profession
Accountant and Business Advisor
Mark Taylor AO
Director - New South Wales
Appointed to Cricket Australia Board
H
A
RF Merriman AM
9
9
AR Border AO
9
7
JJ Clarke
9
9
BW Collins QC
7
7
WJ Edwards
9
9
DH Foster OAM
7
7
2
Audit
H
A
Game
Industrial
Development Relations
H
2
A
H
International
A
H
A
10 10
4
4
2
H
A
H
A
1
1
Women’s
Cricket
Ref. Group
H
A
1
10 10
2
2
2
H
A
1
1
1
2
2
Finance
Review
1
10 10
2
Playing Remuneration
Conditions
4
4
4
3
BF Freedman OAM
2
GK Harinath
7
7
TT Harrison
9
9
RE Horsell
2
2
W J Jocelyn
2
2
I M McLachlan AO
9
7
2
2
DG Mullins SC
9
9
2
2
10 9
4
4
1
1
1
1
FC O’Connor
9
9
2
2
10 10
4
4
1
1
1
1
RG Paulsen
2
1
2
2
1
1
RA Steele
9
9
GL Tamblyn
9
9
MA Taylor
7
7
1
1
1
1
2
1
2
7
7
3
3
1
1
1
1
1
2004
Cricket Australia committees
Mr Kerryn Smith replaced AR Border for the 15 - 17 April 2005 Directors Meeting and for the teleconference on 19 May 2005.
Member of the Industrial Relations,
International and Playing Conditions
committees.
Profession
Sports Commentator
[5]
Corporate structure
Board of Directors
Members
Cricket Australia is the national governing
body for the game in Australia, responsible
for international and interstate cricket and
national coaching and development
programs. Its membership is made up of six
state associations.
The state cricket associations appoint the
following number of Directors to the Board;
Members
Cricket New South Wales
Queensland Cricket
South Australian Cricket Association
Tasmanian Cricket Association
Cricket Victoria
Western Australian Cricket Association
New South Wales: three Directors
Queensland:
two Directors
South Australia: three Directors
Tasmania:
one Director
Victoria:
three Directors
Western Australia: two Directors
ACT Cricket and NT Cricket are non-member
associations. The state and territory cricket
associations are responsible for cricket
activities and the implementation of Cricket
Australia programs within their regions.
Federal system
Board of Directors
Chairman – Bob Merriman AM
Management
Chief Executive Officer – James Sutherland
Under the new strategic framework for
Australian cricket there is an increased focus
on communication, consultation and
collaboration in order to get the best from
our federal system. The benefits of state and
territory cricket associations working
together with Cricket Australia flow in
numerous ways and enhance the likelihood
of Australian cricket achieving its strategic
objectives.
International
Cricket Australia also plays a role in the
governance of international cricket, as a fullmember of the International Cricket Council,
along with nine other Test playing nations
and three associate representatives.
The following positions are held by Cricket
Australia personnel within the ICC Board and
committee structure:
Left to right:
Cricket Australia staff.
The Australian team during the VB Series.
The picturesque hill at Bellerive Oval.
The WACA scoreboard.
[6]
Executive and Development International
Boards - Bob Merriman AM
Chief Executives Committee James Sutherland
Development Committee - Geoff Tamblyn
The Board maintains a strategic focus and
sets Cricket Australia’s objectives and policies.
It is accountable for the overall performance
of Cricket Australia. Cricket Australia Directors
are not remunerated for their corporate
governance duties as Board members.
Board Committees
During 2004-05, the following Cricket
Australia committees met:
Audit;
Industrial Relations;
International;
Remuneration; and
Finance Review.
In addition, Board members sat on the
following committees which act as advisory
committees to management:
Game Development;
Playing Conditions;
Women’s Cricket Reference Group; and
National Indigenous Cricket Advisory
Committee.
The Chief Executive Officer
Cricket Australia’s Chief Executive Officer
reports to the Board and is responsible for
the overall management of Cricket Australia’s
administration, and the implementation of
Board policies.
Senior Management Team
[as at 30 June 2005]
Chief Executive Officer - James Sutherland
Executive Assistant to the CEO - Tess Lynch
General Manager Finance and
Administration - Kate Banozic
General Manager Legal and Business
Affairs - Dean Kino
General Manager Public Affairs Peter Young
General Manager Game Development Damien Bown
General Manager Cricket Operations Michael Brown
General Manager Cricket Marketing
Services - Mike McKenna
Strategic Projects Manager - Sam Walch
Cricket Australia’s
administrative structure
Cricket Australia is made up of seven
departments.
Programming for international and
domestic cricket, including Australia A;
Executive Department
Playing conditions for international and
interstate cricket;
The department consists primarily of the
Chief Executive Officer and Strategic Projects
Manager and is responsible for implementing
the strategic plan and managing Cricket
Australia’s operations. This includes
administrative support to the Chairman and
other Cricket Australia Directors.
Pre-tour inspections;
Australian Cricketers’ Association
relationship management;
Umpiring;
Coordinating world-class development
programs for players, coaches and umpires;
Cricket Marketing Services
Male and female High Performance events;
and
Overall Role: Build the brand of Australian
Manage Commonwealth Bank Centre of
Excellence.
cricket through research and promotion.
Drive and consolidate revenue raising and
new business activities for Australian cricket.
Legal and Business Affairs
Responsibilities
Overall Role: Manage the provision of legal
Brand development;
Formulating advertising strategies;
Market research;
Event development for international
matches;
Ticketing and promotions;
Acquiring and servicing commercial
partners;
Carrying out a licensing program; and
Media rights.
Cricket Operations
Overall role: Manage Australian teams at
international level, administer the country’s
premier domestic competitions, the Pura Cup,
ING Cup and WNCL and oversee all umpiring.
Management of cricket’s pathway and high
performance and elite talent development.
Responsibilities
Elite level men’s and women’s cricket
operations, including management of the
Australian Test and one-day international
teams;
services to the organisation and assist with
the implementation of various strategic
business initiatives.
Responsibilities
Oversee the provision of legal services to
Cricket Australia;
Negotiate and formalise all commercial
arrangements;
Advise on all commercial and player
arrangements and key codes and policies
implemented by or affecting Cricket
Australia; and
Oversee the development and
management of various business projects.
Finance and Administration
Overall role: Manage Australian cricket’s
finances and administer its internal
operations.
Responsibilities
Financial management of the business
behind cricket;
Human resources management;
Information technology infrastructure and
service;
Office management and administration;
Oversee the implementation of various
strategic initiatives involving the use of
digital technology; and
Travel services.
Public Affairs
Overall role: To win the support of cricket’s
stakeholders via planning and implementation
of the organisation’s strategic
communications programs.
Responsibilities
Issues management;
Media relations;
Strategic communications;
Publication production;
Publicity; and
Corporate hospitality.
Game Development
Overall role: Responsible for overseeing all
cricket development activity from the grass
roots through to the game’s highest level.
The strategic plan has identified that
aggressively growing participation is central
to the long-term success, viability and
relevance of the game of cricket.
Responsibilities
Increasing cricket participation across the
nation;
Fostering club cricket; and
Contemporary education and training
models for coaches, umpires,
administrators and curators, designed to
better service the game.
[7]
What we do
Our vision: Cricket Australia’s favourite sport
In seeking to achieve this vision, Cricket
Australia’s primary function is to administer
the game of cricket in Australia.
Broadly speaking, we are responsible for
international and interstate cricket, national
programs for development, coaching and
umpiring. State and territory associations
are responsible for cricket within their
respective regions and for the delivery of
national programs developed and funded
by Cricket Australia.
Cricket Australia also has an international
role as one of 10 full-member nations of the
International Cricket Council, assisting in the
governance of cricket world wide.
[8]
Our strategy
Our values
Our job is to work in the best interests of the
game, and our strategy is based on five
strategic priorities:
We stand by a set of six values which are at
the core of our everyday work - in our internal
and external roles with our various
stakeholders. Our values define how we work
to deliver our strategy.
1. Reinforce and celebrate cricket’s place in
the Australian community;
2. Thrive at the elite level;
At Cricket Australia, we seek to:
3. Substantially increase participation
in cricket;
Speak up and talk straight;
4. Grow the financial resources available to
invest in the game; and
Strive to be outstanding;
5. Work efficiently in our federal system.
This strategy expands on our previous
strategic plan [2002-2004] From Backyard to
Baggy Green with extra focus on the need to
work efficiently with all state and territory
associations to help deliver our vision to be
Australia’s favourite sport.
Above right:
Richie Benaud at the Sir Donald Bradman Oration.
Right:
Bob Merriman, Chairman Cricket Australia; Ian Healy, President Australian Cricketers’ Association; Faith
Thomas, Australia’s first female Aboriginal to be selected for a national side; Ian Chappell, Channel Nine
Commentator; Vince Copley, Co-chairman of Cricket Australia’s National Indigenous Advisory Committee;
and Len Clarke, a descendant of 1868 team member Johnny Cuzens at the 1868 Indigenous Recognition
presentation.
Cooperate with and understand others;
Be proud to work here;
Put customers first; and
Enjoy our work.
A new strategy for
Australian cricket
Throughout the past 18 months, Cricket
Australia has undertaken a rigorous review
of its strategy, the purpose of which was to
replace Cricket Australia’s previous strategic
plan From Backyard to Baggy Green, which
ran from 2002 to 2004.
The review highlighted that Cricket Australia
must be obsessive about its vision. We must
ensure that every aspect of our day-to-day
work contributes to the fulfilment of
this vision.
Reinforce and celebrate cricket’s place
in the Australian Community
Sir Donald Bradman Oration
One of Australian cricket’s living legends,
Richie Benaud, was the keynote speaker at
this year’s Sir Donald Bradman Oration held
at Government House in Hobart.
Benaud ranked the current Australian cricket
team alongside the 1948 Invincibles and said
that he held Ponting’s captaincy in high
regard after his World Cup win and more
recent Test successes.
His oration also praised Bradman as having an
acute mind and the greatest clarity of thought
he had ever seen. Bradman, he said, had
The Benaud Spirit
of Cricket Awards
The Benaud Spirit of Cricket Awards recognise
and reward state teams that best uphold the
true spirit of the game during the season.
The awards function is part of the build up to
the Pura Cup final each season and takes
place in the host city of the final.
At this year’s event, Spirit of Cricket awards
were presented to Tasmania [Pura Cup and
ING Cup] and New South Wales, Queensland
and South Australia who all tied for the
WNCL Spirit of Cricket award [more details
in the Tributes and Milestones section of
this report].
Spirit of Cricket awards are also presented in
other competitions including the Cricket
Australia Cup and men’s and women’s youth
championships. Each state and territory
association has also introduced spirit of
cricket awards for Premier and Grade cricket.
Umpires decide the awards by assigning
points to each team at the end of a match,
based on the conduct of all members of
the team.
Cricket Australia also awards monthly Spirit
of Cricket Awards to cricket clubs who act in
a way which encapsulates the true spirit in
which the game is meant to be played.
Nominations are received from all around
Australia each month, with the monthly
winner being awarded a cricket bat
autographed by the Australian cricket team.
predicted a role for TV umpiring of things such
as run outs, stumpings and some catches.
The Sir Donald Bradman Oration is an
initiative of Cricket Australia which not only
honours the outstanding contribution and
memory of one of the world’s greatest
players, but also serves to recognise and
celebrate the spirit of cricket and the unique
place that the game holds in the Australian
way of life. Copies of Benaud’s speech notes
are available on www.cricket.com.au.
Cricket Australia’s
Code of Behaviour
The year saw positive steps made in terms of
compliance by contracted players with the
Cricket Australia Code of Behaviour and ICC
Code of Conduct, testimony to the ongoing
success of the commitment by Cricket
Australia and its players to the Spirit of Cricket.
2004-05 Pura Cup and ING Cup
One report for serious dissent of an
umpire’s decision resulted in the player
receiving a 50 per cent match fine.
2004-05 Cricket Australia Cup
Three reports were made during one
Cricket Australia Cup match, all of which
resulted in 25 per cent match fee fines for
use of offensive language.
ICC Code of Conduct breaches
In the financial year, one Australian player
was reported for use of offensive
language. The player received a 25 per
cent match fee fine.
The captain and the Australian team
received a fine for failing to meet
minimum over requirements during a
one-day international in Australia.
Long Live Cricket
campaign
In a move to address Cricket Australia’s desire
for its advertising campaign to connect with
a broader range of Australians, a new
advertising campaign - Long Live Cricket was launched, replacing the highly successful
‘Go Aussie Go’ campaign that ran in Australia
for six years.
The advertising campaign, composed by
George Patterson Partners, highlights how
cricket is an integral part of the Australian
way of life and has the ability to appeal to so
many Australians on so many different levels.
The television advertisements are set on a
typical weekend day in the Australian
summer. Footage for the commercials was
captured from all across Australia, from the
beaches, to the suburbs, in parks, and even in
the outback, demonstrating how cricket can
be played just about anywhere.
The ‘Long Live Cricket’ campaign is connected
to the Spirit of Cricket project by highlighting
how cricket is all about having fun with your
friends, your family, your team-mates and
your opponents.
Indigenous cricket
One of the major cricket initiatives undertaken
this year was the recognition ceremony for
members of Australia’s Indigenous cricket
team that toured England in 1868.
The ceremony took place during the Boxing
Day Test in Melbourne and recognised the
Aboriginal touring team - who came from
the Western Districts in Victoria - as the first
cricketers to represent Australia.
[9]
Thrive at the
elite level
Australian men’s team
Australian women’s team
The Australian men’s team successfully
retained its standing on top of each of the
ICC world cricket rankings for 2004-05, and
won the right to host the Johnnie Walker
Super Series against two Rest of the World
elevens in October 2005.
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars
recorded a historic victory in the women’s
World Cup in April, winning the coveted
trophy for a record fifth time.
Throughout the course of the 2004-05
season, it won the following series:
3 mobile Test Series against Sri Lanka
[Top End Tour];
Videocon Cup [Holland];
Travelex Test Tour of India
[Border/Gavaskar Trophy];
3 mobile Test Series against New Zealand
[Trans-Tasman Trophy];
3 mobile Test Series against Pakistan;
VB ODI Series against Pakistan and
West Indies; and
Travelex ODI and Test Tour of
New Zealand.
Australia also drew the inaugural
Chappell-Hadlee Trophy with New Zealand
and reached the semi-finals of the ICC
Champions Trophy.
[10]
Australia’s dominance in the tournament
was evident as they crushed India in the final,
going through the series undefeated.
Before the World Cup, the women’s team
defeated India 4-3 on the subcontinent and
retained the Rose Bowl Trophy against New
Zealand [winning 3-0].
Australian Team
Management
The men’s Test and one-day international
teams were supported throughout the year
by a team headed by John Buchanan [coach],
Steve Bernard [team manager], Tim Nielsen,
Jamie Siddons, Dene Hills [assistant coach/
performance analyst], Errol Alcott
[physiotherapist], Jock Campbell [national
performance coordinator] and Jonathan Rose
[media manager].
Tim Nielsen was the team’s assistant coach
until the end of the 2004-05 domestic
summer, at which stage he took up a new
position as head coach at the
Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence
[CBCE]. Nielsen was replaced by Jamie
Siddons and Dene Hills, who will alternate in
the assistant coach position and fulfil a
Senior Coach position at the CBCE at other
times of the year.
Lucy Frostick joined the team as massage
therapist for all overseas tours, while Mike
Young was the specialist fielding and
throwing coach for the ICC Champions
Trophy and the VB Series. Kate Turner also
joined the team in India as Yoga and
Massage therapist.
Alex Kountouri [physiotherapist] and Ricky
Langford [performance] stepped in at times
during the year to cover absences by regular
team management members.
The Australian women’s team was coached
by Steve Jenkin, with Barry Neivandt as
assistant coach.
Claire Connolly [team manager], Lisa Ross
[physiotherapist], Stephanie Beltrame [media
manager] and Sally Bailey [physical
conditioning coordinator] also formed part of
the women’s team management.
All of Australia’s other national teams have a
team of support staff to assist them with
their particular tours and matches.
Pre-Tour Inspections
Australian Cricketers’
Association
Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’
Association [ACA] reached a significant
milestone during the year when they signed a
new four-year Memorandum of
Understanding [MOU], the third such
agreement between the two parties.
The new MOU upgrades Australian cricket’s
investment in career and welfare support for
professional cricketers.
Cricket Australia and the ACA also liaise on
numerous important issues and events,
including the program schedules for all
domestic and international cricket in
Australia as well as the management of the
Allan Border Medal gala event.
The safety and security of Australian cricket
teams is of paramount importance to Cricket
Australia.
Before any national side embarks on an
overseas journey, a comprehensive review is
undertaken to ensure that the players’ safety
is upheld throughout the tour.
Sometimes, this will involve a pre-tour party
inspection, where representatives from
Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricketers’
Association and Team Management visit the
destinations to ensure sufficient safety
measures are in place.
Cricket Australia also consults with its
various security contacts overseas to ensure
that the level of security remains at an
appropriate level throughout the duration
of any tour.
Commonwealth Bank
Centre of Excellence
As one of Australian cricket’s most significant
undertakings, the Commonwealth Bank
Centre of Excellence [CBCE], which
incorporates the AIS men’s and women’s
cricket programs, seeks to provide leadingedge training and development initiatives for
Australia’s top players, coaches, umpires,
curators and administrators. It also takes full
advantage of the AIS sports science and
medicine programs.
During the 2004-05 period, the CBCE
hosted its annual intake of AIS residential
scholarship holders, who undertook a
13-week program of intensive training to
assist with their development into first-class
and international ranks.
The Australian men’s team used the CBCE for
its pre-tour camps leading into the Travelex
tours of Zimbabwe and England, while the
women’s national squad held pre-tour
training camps before its defence of the Rose
Bowl and in the build up to the World Cup in
South Africa and Ashes’ tour.
The CBCE also hosted a number of cricket
programs for overseas groups and
individuals, including players from
Bangladesh, Canada, India, Vanuatu and
Zimbabwe.
2004-05 also saw the assembly of a new
coaching panel for the CBCE, comprising
Tim Nielsen [Head Coach] and Senior
Coaches Brian McFadyen, Jamie Siddons,
Dene Hills, Richard McInnes, Mark Sorell
[Head Coach Commonwealth Bank Southern
Stars] and 2005 Scholarship Coach Cathryn
Fitzpatrick.
Trevor Robertson, who has Managed the
facility since its move to Brisbane, is leaving
the role and will be replaced by Belinda Clark
who will assume the post in the latter half
of 2005.
This page, clockwise from top left:
The Australian men’s team celebrate its success in the VB Series.
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars celebrating its World Cup victory in South Africa.
The Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence Scholarship intake.
[11]
ACA Youth Development Award
The second annual ACA Youth Development Awards were presented to
the male and female player of the championship for the Commonwealth
Bank Under-17 Championships - male and female. The objective of the
awards is to provide the winner with an exclusive opportunity to train
with the national team or national squad to further enhance their skills
and experience.
National Cricket Pathway
Identifying the stars of tomorrow is a major priority of Cricket
Australia’s pathway. With the assistance of state and territory
associations, the following cricket tournaments were organised to
assist in identifying Australia’s future stars and give them a stage on
which to pit their skills against other leading players of their
generation from around the country. Cricket Australia thanks the state
and territory associations and the countless number of people who
have assisted in making these programs a success.
Cricket Australia Cup > male
Winner
Victoria
Cricket Australia Cup > female
Host
ACT Cricket
Winner
New South Wales
Player of the Series
Karen Winterton [Vic] and Kate Owens [NSW]
Commonwealth Bank Under-19 championship > male
Host
Cricket Victoria
Winner
New South Wales
Player of the Series
John Hastings [NSW]
Commonwealth Bank Under-17 championship > male
Host
Tasmanian Cricket Association
Winner
New South Wales
Player of the Series
Jonathon Wells [Tas]
Commonwealth Bank Under-19 championship > female
Host
Cricket New South Wales
Winner
New South Wales
Player of the Series
Tammy Norquay [Vic]
Commonwealth Bank Under-17 championship > female
Host
Western Australian Cricket Association
Winner
New South Wales
Player of the Series
Casey Reibelt [Qld] and Annie Maloney [Vic]
Under-15 National championship > female
Host
South Australian Cricket Association
Winner
New South Wales
Player of the Series
Ellyse Perry [NSW]
State Institute Challenge
[12]
Host
NT Cricket
Winner
Victorian Institute of Sport
Player of the Series
Cameron White [Vic]
Jonathan Wells from Tasmania was the under-17 player of the
championship and travelled to England to train with the Australian
cricket team in the lead-up to the first Ashes Test.
Joint winners of the under-17 female award, Casey Reibelt [Qld] and
Annie Maloney [Vic], spent some valuable time training with Australian
Women’s teams, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, during its
training camp held at the Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence
prior to their tour of England and Ireland.
Rexona Australian Youth Cricket
Scholarship
The Rexona Australian Youth Cricket Scholarship is a joint initiative
between Cricket Australia and Unilever that aims to provide financial,
educational and sporting assistance for one of Australia’s leading
junior male players to help cultivate his development - both on and off
the field.
The winner of this year’s award, 20-year-old Sydney-all rounder John
Hastings, was awarded $30,000 over three years to assist him in the
development of his educational and sporting pursuits. $4,000 per year
will be allocated to cricket coaching activities, with a further $4,000 per
year will be allocated to tertiary education expenses or vocational study
whilst $6,000 will be put into an investment account. In addition to the
financial award, John will meet and spend time with Ricky Ponting.
Elite Umpiring
Cricket Australia takes a lot of pride in the performance of its various
umpire panels and has enjoyed a proud history of having some of the
world’s foremost umpires.
Simon Taufel, named the 2004 ICC Umpire of the Year, umpired the
2004 ICC Champions Trophy final and also umpired the historic BCCI
Platinum Jubilee Match at Kolkata between India and Pakistan, while
Queensland’s Peter Parker was appointed by the ICC to umpire in the
ACC Asia Cup.
Parker also received the Cricket Australia Umpire Award for his
outstanding achievement of breaking the Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup
umpiring record and in recognition of his longevity and contribution to
first-class cricket in Australia over the past 18 years.
Cricket Australia continues to have the most umpires on the ICC Elite
Panel of any nation [three], with Simon Taufel, Daryl Harper and Darrell
Hair adjudicating many international Test and one-day international
matches in this capacity.
The umpiring fraternity also took time to celebrate throughout the
course of the year, holding a reunion of Australian Test umpires at the
Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. Twenty one of the 32 living Australian
Test umpires were present, including Australia’s oldest living Test
umpire, Bill Smyth [aged 88].
ICC Elite Panel
ICC International Panel
Darrell Hair
Daryl Harper
Simon Taufel
Steve Davis
Peter Parker
Bob Parry [3rd Umpire]
Top left:
The victorious NSW under-19 team holding the Betty Wilson Shield.
Left:
Simon Taufel.
Substantially
increase participation
National Cricket Census
Cricket Australia’s Australian Cricket Census
showed that cricket participation levels in
Australia continued to rise in 2004-05.
The 2004-05 Census revealed there were
4,124 cricket clubs, 30,757 club and school
cricket teams for a total of 478,326
participants in Australian cricket
competitions and programs [of at least four
games/sessions] last year, an increase of
approximately 7,000 participants from the
2003-04 figure.
Of these participants, 431,179 [or 90.14 per
cent] were males and 47,147 participants [or
9.86 per cent] were females.
In addition to this figure, Cricket Australia through the state and territory associations organised MILO cricket programs for more
than 450,000 Primary and Secondary
students last year.
The Census is an important document for
Cricket Australia, helping it set targets and
monitor successes and trends for
participation levels right throughout
Australia. The National Cricket Census only
measures formal participants who play a
certain amount in organised competitions
and programs.
Participation in Cricket by Program, 2004-05
Club
Participants
School
Participants
Trad.
Australian Capital Territory
4,790
0
828
1,150
633
7,401
New South Wales
86,705
0
34,879
10,990
9,455
142,029
Northern Territory
1,796
438
378
280
541
3,433
30,968
0
27,664
4,746
3,586
66,964
22,140
127
10,365
2,310
2,801
37,743
7,935
892
2,593
766
2,099
14,285
Victoria
97,635
600
39,735
13,940
15,791
167,701
Western Australia
22,764
1,170
966
8,622
5,248
38,770
Total
274,733
3,227
117,408
42,804
40,154
478,326
Metropolitan Regions
139,272
1,451
77,405
17,813
19,203
255,144
Country Regions
135,461
1,776
40,003
24,991
20,951
223,182
Total
274,733
3,227
117,408
42,804
40,154
478,326
South Australia
Tasmania
Trad.
Total
Participants
State/Territory
Queensland
Non-Trad.
Entry Level
Participants
Non-Trad.
[13]
Left:
Justin Langer with three participants at a
MILO Superclinic.
Below:
Some of the action from the Commonwealth
Bank Under-19 Championships.
Community cricket
Club cricket
MILO Kanga and MILO Super 8’s continue to be popular with Primary and Secondary Schools,
with more than 450,000 students participating in cricket clinics, competitions and promotions
conducted by state and territory association development staff in the past year.
Cricket Australia recognises the key role that
clubs play in participation and as such,
invested more than $800,000 in club cricket
in 2004-05.
MILO Have-A-Go also continues to be a successful program, with almost 36,000 children taking
part in the 12 week program, at more than 1,000 centres nationally.
On-ground entertainment is also a major part of the MILO programs, with 6,000 children being
involved in lunch break displays during the Test matches, one-day internationals, the Rose Bowl
Series, ING Cup and Pura Cup fixtures and the WNCL. This provides an amazing experience for
children to participate on the major grounds while also seeing their heroes in action.
Teachers, parents and volunteers remain a critical linchpin to ensure the future success of cricket
at community level. Without the outstanding sacrifice and commitment displayed by these
people, the very existence of cricket in schools, clubs, backyards, caravan parks and beaches
throughout Australia would be sorely compromised.
Cricket Australia’s CricHit program [for 10-13 year old girls] continues to evolve and had more
than 1200 girls participate in the eight-week program. It will be adapted to run as both an afterschool care program and also an in school time program in 2005-06.
CricHit and MILO Have-A-Go are partly funded by the Australian Sports Commission.
Schools cricket
Cricket Australia - through its state and
territory associations - reaches more than
11,500 Government, Independent and
Ecumenical schools across Australia through
various programs and strategies that are
designed to promote cricket and encourage
children to lead a healthy and active lifestyle.
Cricket Australia does this by identifying
non-traditional opportunities to encourage
children to play cricket, develop resources and
strategies to support physical education and
sport and assisting teachers and leaders to
implement cricket activities throughout
schools.
Volunteers
Cricket Australia also provides grants to
School Sport Australia to conduct
representative competitions, such as the
National Primary Schools Cricket Exchange.
Cricket Australia recognises that volunteers are a critical component to the health and wellbeing
of cricket in Australia. Cricket Australia provides funding to state and territory associations for
volunteer programs, which are used for various functions or presentations to recognise the
outstanding contribution made by cricket volunteers in Australia.
State and territory associations also had the opportunity to nominate outstanding volunteers in
their region to attend the 2005 Allan Border Medal as guests of Cricket Australia. Eight
volunteers attended the gala event, effectively recognising the thousands of volunteers who
administer cricket in Australia.
[14]
Cricket Australia also identified an opportunity to recognise volunteers who have completed 50
years of service to a cricket club, presenting 160 volunteers with a commemorative item
including a pin and certificate to recognise their service.
This funding was distributed to men’s grade
or district competitions, women’s grade
cricket and junior girl’s infrastructure.
The third and final phase of the National
Club Cricket Study [undertaken by Deakin
University] was also completed, which
reviewed the role and structure of club
cricket in Australia.
Cricket Australia is reviewing the
recommendations of this report to ensure a
smooth and efficient structure or pathway for
cricketers from the grass roots to the elite
level. Some initiatives have already been acted
upon, such as the National Club Insurance
Program [NCIP], which has provided tangible
benefits to thousands of clubs.
National Club
Insurance Program
2004-05 saw the second year of Cricket
Australia’s National Club Insurance Program
[NCIP] which continued to deliver tangible
insurance and liability savings for club and
community-based cricket, with more than
85 per cent of clubs signed up throughout
Australia.
At a time when public liability insurance for
community groups is increasing, the NCIP is
providing significant savings for cricket clubs
- estimated to be in the order of more than
$3 million per annum.
The NCIP is brokered by JLT Sport and it
is Cricket Australia’s goal to have 95 per cent
of all cricket clubs registered in the 2005-06
program.
Right:
Children enjoying one of the MILO Superclinics.
Below:
Celebrations at this year’s Imparja Cup.
Indigenous cricket
The 2005 Imparja Cup was again held in Alice
Springs in February, attracting 28 teams to
the carnival. This included representative
teams from each state and territory, local
community teams from the Northern
Territory and a women’s competition.
Queensland was successful in retaining the
Imparja Cup, a tournament that continues to
grow and attract more participants and
media coverage each year.
Cricket Australia held a High Performance
Indigenous Cricket Program at the
Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence
[CBCE] in August. Fifteen players were
selected to participate in the week-long
camp which included skills training, match
practice and coaching and advice from the
CBCE’s senior coaches.
Cricket Australia also conducted a series of
visits to Indigenous communities with some
of the game’s highest-profile players such as
Stephen Waugh, Jason Gillespie and Belinda
Clark to help raise awareness of cricket.
The visits took the players to some of the
remotest parts of Australia [including Tiwi
Islands, Katherine and Timber Creek] and
allowed the players and officials on tour to
build a greater understanding of the traditions
and values of Indigenous culture, while also
running some cricket clinics and donating
equipment and resources to aid local
personnel to continue promotion of the game.
Cricket for people
with disabilities
Global Cricket
Development
Cricket Australia provides funding to the
Australian Blind Cricket Council and Deaf
Cricket Australia to support their programs.
Funding provided contributes to the
development of opportunities for visually
and hearing impaired people to participate in
cricket. It also assists representative teams to
participate in international competitions.
Cricket Australia continues to play a leading
role in various global cricket development
programs. The Asian Cricket Council [ACC]
project role is to assist with the development
and growth of the game of cricket in Asia. This
complements a similar relationship Cricket
Australia has fostered with the Bangladesh
Cricket Council to help the development of
cricket in that region.
Coach and Umpire
education
Throughout 2004-05, Cricket Australia
released numerous publications to assist
coaches and umpires. One of the major
initiatives was the introduction of Cricket
Coaches Australia [CCA] - a membership
organisation that provides educational and
practical information for coaches. CCA’s
quarterly newsletter, Overview, provides
coaching tips and articles specifically for
coaches and is sent to a national database of
more than 7,000 member coaches.
The Cricket Australia Umpiring Guide - a
software package supplied on CD - was also
released which has interactive presentations
on all 42 laws of the game and is an
educational resource designed for both new
umpires and experienced umpires alike.
The first Level 3 High Performance coaching
course was also run, specifically targeting
coaches working in the High Performance
field. This course was attended by many firstclass coaches, including Commonwealth
Bank Centre of Excellence coaches Jamie
Siddons, Dene Hills and Brian McFadyen.
Cricket Australia also updated and
standardised the National Coaching
Accreditation Scheme Level 1 [Development]
Coach Course and trained course presenters
to ensure that all coaches who attend
throughout Australia receive a consistent
message, along with standardised resources
and materials.
The Orientation to Coaching Course, an
introductory coach education course for
people new to the game, was also released
along with new support materials and will
form a significant role in building a base of
coaches to support the projected growth of
the game in future years.
Numerous initiatives were undertaken
throughout 2004-05 to support these
commitments. These include:
ACC Administration and Management
course: to provide development and
coaching for 20 of the top administrators
for ACC member countries.
ACC Coach Education course: Cricket
Australia assisted with the Coach Education
course where approximately 20 ACC
accredited coaches participated in a train
the trainers course in Bangkok.
ACC Level 1 and 2 Coach Accreditation
courses: to foster the growth of the
coaching programs in Bangladesh and
Singapore.
Cricket Academies in Nepal and Malaysia:
Planning for the ACC academies in Nepal
and Malaysia was completed. Planning for
the Mulpani site in Kathmandu is also
complete.
Mirpur Stadium in Dhaka: Cricket Australia
has contributed to the planning of the
redevelopment of Mirpur Stadium, the site
that will host the national cricket academy.
Cricket Australia also continued to support the
ICC Development Program in the East AsiaPacific [EAP] region. Some key activities
included:
A grant for the ICC EAP to conduct a
two-week training camp for the top 20
players at the Commonwealth Bank Centre
of Excellence.
Supporting and endorsing the Japan Cricket
Association’s application to be upgraded to
Associate Membership status of the ICC.
Cricket Australia hosted the EAP Advanced
Coaching and Development seminar and
the EAP Regional conference.
EAP staff are hosted at Cricket Australia
offices encouraging the ongoing sharing of
Cricket Australia and ICC development
resources and personnel.
[15]
Grow the financial resources
available to invest in the game
Financial Performance Report
Four Year Budget Cycle
Cricket Australia’s budget cycle is measured over four years due to the
fact that revenue streams experience significant fluctuations from year
to year. These fluctuations stem from the fact that two of Cricket
Australia’s major revenue streams - the sale of international media
rights - and distributions from ICC events vary significantly each year.
Annual budgeted financial results are tallied for the four years,
allowing Cricket Australia to calculate an ‘average’ annual member
distribution. This process provides state associations with greater
certainty for their own budgets. Over the four-year period to 30 June
2005, a total surplus of $7.7 million was achieved with distributions to
state associations totalling $135 million.
2004-05 Financial Results
Cricket Australia recorded an operating surplus for 2004-05 [before
distributions] of $23.5 million. Distributions to state cricket associations
totalled $34.5 million, resulting in a net loss for the period of $11 million.
This net loss is attributable to Cricket Australia’s budget cycle which is
measured over a four-year period.
Revenues
Cricket Australia’s revenue for 2004-05 totalled $72.0 million. The primary
source of income was the sale of media rights to domestic and foreign
media outlets [$36.2 million], with sponsorship the second highest
revenue stream [$19.2 million], followed by Cricket Australia’s share of total
gate receipts [$5.8 million]. Cricket Australia’s return from investments
was also strong [$3.7 million] and above budgeted expectations, due to
higher than anticipated returns.
Expenditure
Cricket Australia’s expenses totalled $48.5 million for the 2004-05 year
[excluding member distributions]. Distributions to state cricket
associations totalled $34.5 million, with an additional $1.2 million
payment made from Cricket Australia reserves following a better than
anticipated financial result for 2003-04.
[16]
Commercial Partners
3 mobile
Now approaching its fifth season with
Cricket Australia, 3 mobile has been
associated with Cricket Australia since 2001
as the naming-rights sponsor of the
Australian Test team when it plays in
Australia and of the Test Series in Australia.
3 mobile leveraged its partnership with
Cricket Australia throughout the year with
initiatives such as player/media functions,
branded cheer stix and prizes for patrons at
match, as well as a celebrity cricket match in
the build up to the Boxing Day Test with
members of the Essendon Football Club
taking on Australia’s Test representatives in
front of more than 10,000 fans. 3 mobile also
provide all Australian contracted players with
a 3 mobile handset, the preferred handset
also used by many Cricket Australia staff and
cricket partners.
Foster’s Australia
Foster’s Australia remains a highly valued
partner of Cricket Australia, with the 2004-05
season representing the fourth year of its
existing five-year agreement.
A partner of cricket since 1996-97, Foster’s
Australia is the major sponsor of the VB
Series and the Australian men’s one-day
international team in Australia. The VB brand
is displayed on the Australian players’ shirt
whenever they play in a one-day
international fixture in Australia.
Throughout the year, Foster’s Australia
continued to leverage its partnership with
Australian cricket via on-pack promotions
and initiatives such as the Backyard Cricket
Heroes and VB Express competitions.
Travelex
Travelex is the International tour partner of
the Australian Cricket team, Australia A team
and under-19 Australian Youth Team.
Travelex was also at the forefront of the
Tsunami World Cricket Appeal match in
January, as the primary sponsor of the event.
In 2005, Travelex provided members of the
Australian men’s and Australian women’s
team with Cash Passport cards to facilitate
access to local currency on international travel.
Adam Gilchrist continued his role as a
non-executive director of Travelex last
season, while Brett Lee also has an individual
sponsorship with the company.
Foster’s Australia also continued its
individual sponsorship endorsement of
Matthew Hayden.
ING
National Foods
Clockwise from top left:
Brad Hogg takes some drills at the season
launch for the Pura Cup and ING Cup.
James Sutherland and Ricky Ponting during a
Travelex branded press conference before one
of Australia’s overseas tours.
Michael Clarke celebrating his century in
Brisbane.
The 3 mobile cheer stix proved a hit with kids
during the year.
Through its Pura brand, National Foods has
been the official sponsor of the Pura Cup,
Australia’s premier four-day competition, for
six seasons, renewing its association with
cricket for a further three years after signing
a new deal during the year.
National Foods also ran a highly successful
joint promotion with Ford throughout the
season, which featured players such as Ricky
Ponting, Darren Lehmann, Damien Martyn
and Matthew Hayden. The competition
received more than half a million entries.
ING continued its long-standing relationship
with Cricket Australia as the official sponsor
of its one-day domestic competition, the ING
Cup, marking the company’s 13th year in
association with the competition.
Western Australia’s Adam Voges hit the ING
sign during the season, earning him $50,000.
Through its Hit the Sign competition, ING has
awarded $905,000 to batsmen for this
accomplishment over the years.
The ING Cup was again taken to a variety of
locations, with matches being played at
Telstra Stadium, the Junction Oval and
Ballarat in Victoria, Newcastle and the
Australian Capital Territory during the
season.
[17]
Qantas
Ford
Ford is the official motor vehicle partner of
Australian cricket, a partnership that has
been in place for three years.
Throughout the season, Ford ran a highly
successful backyard cricket competition,
searching for Australia’s best backyard cricket
pitch. They also had a presence at various
international games, with interactive displays
outside the venues, and in June treated the
men’s playing group to an afternoon at a
driver training centre in Brisbane before the
Travelex Ashes tour.
Commonwealth Bank
The Commonwealth Bank remains one of
Cricket Australia’s longest commercial
partnerships, with the association spanning
18 years.
The Bank’s sponsorship entails Cricket
Australia’s pathway program, which amongst other things - comprises of the
Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence,
the Commonwealth Bank Under-17 and
Under-19 national championships, the
Australian women’s and youth teams, the
Women’s National Cricket League, player
recognition functions and the Cricket Australia
Cup and the State Institute Challenge.
Below
Players enjoy a Gatorade at the drinks break
during the VB Series.
Nestlé
A sponsor of Cricket Australia since 1992,
Nestlé through its MILO brand re-signed
with Cricket Australia to sponsor the MILO
Have-A-Go, MILO Kanga Cricket and MILO
Super 8’s programs.
Nestlé conducted a number of promotions
through the year, including the MILO Man of
the Match promotion with the prize being a
family trip to watch the Sydney Test match.
It also coordinated a community service
television commercial, featuring Adam
Gilchrist, encouraging children to get
involved with cricket.
Qantas joined Cricket Australia as its official
International and Domestic Airline in October
2001.
It is also the official carrier of the state teams
for their domestic flights for Pura Cup and
ING Cup fixtures.
KFC
KFC signed as the official Fast Food
Restaurant of Cricket Australia in 2003. KFC
ran a number of television commercials
throughout the recent summer that featured
Michael Bevan and Mark Waugh, in support
of the company’s win a trip to the Ashes
promotion.
Sanitarium
Sanitarium is the official sponsor of breakfast
products to the Australian team and has
Brett Lee as an ambassador for the Weet-Bix
brand. In 2004-05, Sanitarium released a
limited edition Australian Cricket Collectors
Tin featuring imagery of cricket over the year
Beringer Blass
Gatorade
As the official supplier of sports drinks to
Cricket Australia, Gatorade utilised the taste
buds of some members of the Australian
cricket team during its taste testing session
for Gatorade’s proposed new flavour Lime
Chill. Gatorade also renewed its contract with
Cricket Australia for a further three years
throughout the course of last season.
Beringer Blass became the official wine
supplier to Australian cricket at the start of
the 2000-01 season. Beringer Blass are a
highly visible partner of cricket supplying
Wolf Blass wines at all Cricket Australia
hospitality functions and key events
throughout the season.
Australian Sports Commission
The Australian Sports Commission invests in
some of Australian crickets key coaching and
development programs, including the
Commonwealth Bank Centre of Excellence Australian Institute of Sport programs,
CricHit and the Indigenous Sports Program.
Australia’s women’s cricket team - the
Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars - also
receive support via the Australian Sports
Commission.
[18]
Right:
Crowds flocked to the cricket again during the
Australian summer.
Australian Cricket Official
Suppliers 2004-05
Official Suppliers
Apparel
Albion Hat and Cap Company
Driza-Bone
Flair Menswear
Rembrandt Ties
SM Brands [Fila]
Other
Great Big Events
Kookaburra Sport
Sportal
Stadia Media
Swisse Vitamins
Licencees
Media partners
Game attendances
Cricket Australia was thrilled to announce
that both of its major broadcasting partners Channel Nine and the ABC - renewed their
agreements with Cricket Australia
throughout the course of the year.
Australian fans swarmed to the grounds
throughout the summer, with each series
recording excellent crowds.
Channel Nine and the ABC provide worldclass coverage of cricket in Australia and form
an integral part of the Australian summer of
cricket. Both are long-term partners of
Australian cricket and continue to provide
Australians with outstanding access to
matches.
3 mobile also provided up-to-date reports
and highlights packages of cricket through
its 3 mobile network, while the Southern
Cross radio network gave updates of scores
from the international matches as part of its
programming.
23 Red
Consumer products
Allso Eyewear Company
Cricket Australia’s consumer products
program this year was highlighted by the
launch of a number of new products,
including the Cricket Australia collector teddy
bear, Playstats Wickets card game, Driza-Bone
range of cooler bags, Jackets leather goods,
the launch of the Shane Warne King of Spin
DVD, Australia Post collectable stamp sheet
and the successful overseas tours of India
and New Zealand by Cricket Australia’s
official overseas tour operator Australian
Sports Tours.
Albion Hat and Cap Company
Australian Sports Tours
Australia Post
C.A. Australia
Concept Sports International
Corpeyewear
Custom International
Custom Publishing
Driza-Bone
Electronic Arts
Elite Sports Properties
Getty Images - Allsport
Gray Nicolls
Hot Topic Australia
Hunter Leisure
Innovation Associates
Legends Genuine Memorabilia
Liberation Music
Nine Network Australia
Nova Star Industries
Playstats
Rembrandt Ties
Scholastic Australia
SM Brands [Fila]
System Golf
Unique Sports Marketing
There were also several in-store player
appearances at Rebel Sport outlets and the
release of a new Chappell-Hadlee
merchandise range including T-shirts, polo
shirts, caps, memorabilia and a DVD.
Several new partners also signed with Cricket
Australia, including Driza-Bone, Nova Star
Industries, System Golf, Unique Sports
Marketing and Playstats.
Attendances for the 3 mobile Test series
against Pakistan totalled 276,964 significantly higher than the last time
Pakistan toured in 1999-2000 [104,851], while
114,771 people attended the 3 mobile Test
series against New Zealand.
Crowd figures for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy
and VB Series totalled 352,844, up by 10,247
on last year’s one-day fixtures.
Cricket’s popularity
Cricket has remained one of Australia’s
favourite team sports during the 2004-05
year according to independent research
group Sweeney. Sweeny’s data shows that
cricket and Australian Rules football are tied
on interest levels of 55 per cent, ahead of
soccer [45 per cent], rugby union [44 per cent]
and rugby league [41 per cent].
Cricket remains the number one team sport
in terms of participation [13 per cent],
followed by netball [11 per cent], soccer [11 per
cent], touch football [11 per cent] basketball
[nine per cent] and Australian Rules football
[six per cent].
Under Australian cricket’s newly adopted
strategic framework, the target is to have
interest levels in cricket at more than 57 per
cent and for the Australian men’s team to be
the favourite team in Australian sport.
TV ratings
Cricket continued to rate highly in its
timeslot throughout the summer, with both
the VB one-day international series and 3
mobile Tests proving to be equally popular
amongst the television viewing audience.
Several cricket matches, however, created
almost unprecedented cricket ratings, one
being the World Cricket Tsunami match that
was viewed by approximately 1.6 million
people in Australia alone, in what was one of
the highest rating sport programs for the year.
Australia’s first taste of international Twenty20 cricket also proved particularly successful,
with the match between Australia A and
Pakistan watched by an estimated audience
of more than 1.3 million.
[19]
Financials
CRICKET AUSTRALIA [Company Limited by Guarantee]
Statement of Financial Performance - For the year ended 30 June 2005
Notes
Revenue from operating activities
2005
$
2004
$
68,304,029
81,056,052
Revenue from outside the operating activities
3,668,724
2,800,085
Total Revenue
71,972,753
83,856,137
48,512,793
45,533,369
Expenditure from operating activities
1
Operating profit before distributions
23,459,960
38,322,768
34,515,281
33,820,677
[11,055,321]
4,502,091
Notes
2005
$
2004
$
2
2,767,163
2,007,383
Receivables
3
12,414,551
13,139,176
Inventories
4
42,234
124,681
Investments
5
23,277,806
34,700,432
Other
6
Distributions to state associations
Net profit / [loss]
CRICKET AUSTRALIA [Company Limited by Guarantee]
Statement of Financial Position - As at 30 June 2005
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash
427,058
1,839,485
38,928,812
51,811,157
7
-
124,793
Receivables
8
12,949,511
9,388,326
Property, plant and equipment
9
7,117,717
7,279,194
20,067,228
16,792,313
58,996,040
68,603,470
Total Current Assets
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Intangible assets
Total Non-Current Assets
Total Assets
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Payables
10
4,098,587
4,728,747
Provisions
11
477,485
1,168,813
Other
12
12,735,450
10,640,583
17,311,522
16,538,143
Total Current Liabilities
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Provisions
13
4,046,191
5,283,637
Other
14
17,471,647
14,359,689
21,517,838
19,643,326
Total Liabilities
38,829,360
36,181,469
NET ASSETS
20,166,680
32,422,001
Total Non-Current Liabilities
MEMBERS’ FUNDS
Australian Youth Cricket Foundation Fund
15
8,936,968
8,936,968
General reserves
16
904,590
904,590
Accumulated funds
17
10,325,122
22,580,443
20,166,680
32,422,001
Total Members’ Funds
[20]
CRICKET AUSTRALIA [Company Limited By Guarantee]
STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS - For the year ended 30 June 2005
2005
$
2004
$
67,957,087
84,714,356
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Receipts from spectators, media, sponsors and customers
Payments to suppliers, players and employees
[46,519,230]
[41,677,573]
Payments to members
[33,910,292]
[33,274,348]
[12,472,435]
9,762,435
Interest received
Net cash inflow [outflow] from operating activities
1,665,986
1,700,256
[10,806,449]
11,462,691
[659,137]
[173,719]
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Payments for plant and equipment
Payments for intangible assets
Proceeds from sale of investments
Payments for investments
Repayment of loans by Queensland Cricket
-
[133,586]
152,475,561
128,615,114
[139,050,199]
[139,510,054]
-
50,000
Payment for ACRA restricted investments
[668,507]
[947,203]
Net cash inflow [outflow] from investing activities
12,097,718
[12,099,448]
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Payments to members from accumulated funds
[1,200,000]
-
Net cash inflow [outflow] from financing activities
[1,200,000]
-
91,269
[636,757]
Cash at the beginning of the financial year
298,338
935,095
Cash at the end of the financial year
389,607
298,338
2005
$
2004
$
853
[56,179]
Net increase [decrease] in cash held
CRICKET AUSTRALIA [Company Limited By Guarantee]
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - For the year ended 30 June 2005
1
NET PROFIT
The net profit includes the following specific items:
Expenses
Net foreign exchange [gain]/loss
Movements in employee entitlement provisions:
Annual leave
[47,609]
31,934
8,696
[6,915]
Players’ and Umpires’ Retirement Benefits
[559,118]
[15,454]
Australian Cricketers’ Retirement Account [ACRA]
669,257
818,474
Long service leave
Movement in other provisions:
Depreciation
Buildings
106,952
104,301
Freehold improvements
295,962
370,786
Office equipment
Amortisation of leasehold improvements
Amortisation of website development costs
213,272
94,043
43,869
9,602
37,335
8,793
89,739
138,968
Rental expense relating to operating leases
Minimum lease payments
Net loss on disposal
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
87,457
-
160,559
-
389,610
298,337
2,377,553
1,709,046
2,767,163
2,007,383
2 CURRENT ASSETS - CASH
Cash at bank and on hand
Restricted Cash - ACRA
[21]
CRICKET AUSTRALIA [Company Limited By Guarantee]
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - For the year ended 30 June 2005 [continued]
2005
$
2004
$
9,568,376
10,903,890
3 CURRENT ASSETS - RECEIVABLES
Debtors
Less: Provision for doubtful debts
Hedge receivable
Other debtors
-
2,000
9,568,376
10,901,890
1,523,887
1,003,540
1,322,288
1,233,746
12,414,551
13,139,176
42,234
124,681
8,979,233
536,803
Commercial bills - cost
3,260,045
25,311,276
Managed funds - market value
9,869,064
8,099,221
1,169,464
753,132
23,277,806
34,700,432
343,997
731,780
4 CURRENT ASSETS - INVENTORIES
Uniforms - cost
5 CURRENT ASSETS - INVESTMENTS
Interest bearing deposits - cost
Restricted managed funds - ACRA - market value
Interest bearing deposits and commercial bills have a weighted average interest rate of 5.39 per cent
[2004: 5.43 per cent]. Managed funds reflect market value at balance date.
6 CURRENT ASSETS - OTHER
Accrued income
Prepayments
83,061
1,107,705
427,058
1,839,485
Web development costs
-
133,586
Less accumulated amortisation
-
8,793
-
124,793
7 NON-CURRENT ASSETS - INTANGIBLE ASSETS
In accordance with accounting policy 1[g], the Directors have assessed the recoverability of the web
development costs during the year and written off the asset due to obsolescence.
8 NON-CURRENT ASSETS - RECEIVABLES
Hedge receivable
12,949,511
9,388,326
12,949,511
9,388,326
9 NON-CURRENT ASSETS - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land and buildings
1,000,000
1,000,000
Building - cost
Land - cost
4,711,772
4,711,772
Less accumulated depreciation
528,882
421,930
4,182,890
4,289,842
5,182,890
5,289,842
1,044,091
811,579
Total Land and Buildings
Plant and equipment
Office equipment - cost
Less accumulated depreciation
Leasehold improvements
Less accumulated depreciation
Freehold improvements
Less accumulated depreciation
Total plant and equipment
[22]
341,982
389,752
702,109
421,827
98,278
93,254
53,471
9,602
44,807
83,652
1,932,946
1,932,946
745,035
449,073
1,187,911
1,483,873
1,934,827
1,989,352
7,117,717
7,279,194
CRICKET AUSTRALIA [Company Limited By Guarantee]
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - For the year ended 30 June 2005 [continued]
2005
$
2004
$
4,098,587
4,728,747
Annual leave
424,434
472,043
ACRA entitlements
50,000
116,089
10 CURRENT LIABILITIES - PAYABLES
Trade creditors
11 CURRENT LIABILITIES - PROVISIONS
Players’ and umpires’ retirement benefits scheme
3,051
580,681
477,485
1,168,813
Accrual for player payments
2,650,000
150,000
Revenue received in advance
8,561,563
9,487,043
Deferred gain on hedge transactions
1,523,887
1,003,540
12,735,450
10,640,583
12 CURRENT LIABILITIES - OTHER
13 NON CURRENT LIABILITIES - PROVISIONS
Players’ and Umpires’ Retirement Benefits
ACRA entitlements
Provision for player payments *
Long service leave
850,154
831,642
3,081,435
2,346,089
-
2,000,000
114,602
105,906
4,046,191
5,283,637
4,522,136
4,971,363
* Cricket Australia has entered into an arrangement with the Australian Cricketers’ Association which entitles
professional cricketers to a certain share of Australian Cricket Revenue [ACR] over a four year period to
30 June 2005. To the extent that ACR exceeds an agreed estimate, Cricket Australia is required to pay an
adjustment to players. Cricket Australia periodically reassesses the expected ACR over the four year period
and current forecasts indicate that this estimate will be exceeded. Consequently a provision for player
payments has been recognised at balance date. In the event that actual ACR exceeds current forecasts,
additional payments may be required.
14 NON CURRENT LIABILITIES - OTHER
Revenue received in advance
Deferred gain on hedge transactions
12,949,511
9,388,326
17,471,647
14,359,689
8,936,968
8,936,968
15 AUSTRALIAN YOUTH CRICKET FOUNDATION FUND
Movements:
Balance 1 July
Transfer from/[to] accumulated funds
Balance 30 June
-
-
8,936,968
8,936,968
904,590
904,590
-
-
904,590
904,590
22,580,443
18,078,352
[11,055,321]
4,502,091
16 GENERAL RESERVES
Movements:
Balance 1 July
Transfer from/[to] accumulated funds
Balance 30 June
17 ACCUMULATED FUNDS
Movements:
Balance 1 July
Net profit/[loss] for the financial year
Distributions paid
Balance 30 June
[1,200,000]
-
10,325,122
22,580,443
18 COMMITMENTS FOR EXPENDITURE
Lease Commitments
Commitments relating to leases contracted at reporting date but not recognised as liabilities payable:
Within one year
Later than one year but not later than five years
Later than five years
116,015
48,108
464,060
96,210
438,314
-
1,018,389
144,318
[23]
Work efficiently in our
federal system
As part of Australian cricket’s strategic
review, a fifth “pillar” was introduced
into our strategic framework: Working
efficiently in our federal system.
The objective behind this is about developing
closer strategic and operational alignment
between Cricket Australia and the state and
territory associations. Ultimately this means
taking a collective and more collaborative
approach to delivering on our vision of being
Australia’s favourite sport. Inherent within this
are secondary benefits such as cost savings,
improved purchasing power, shared risk
management and added value of association
for commercial partners. The strategic
framework now explicitly recognises this.
Our System
Australian cricket is administered by one
national body, six state and two territory
associations. Just as importantly, it is run by
thousands of schools, clubs, associations,
parents and volunteers. We also acknowledge
the role of the Australian Cricketers’
Association and the support it provides our
national and state contracted players. We
recognise that each of these groups have
differing roles and responsibilities within the
cricketing family and we want to work
collaboratively to ensure that each of these
partners share our vision of making cricket
Australia’s favourite sport.
Our objective is to make this multifaceted
system work as efficiently and effectively as
possible to achieve the best for Australian
cricket and its most important stakeholder,
the Australian public.
Strategies
We will adopt five major strategies to
increase the efficiency of our federal system:
[24]
Balance collaboration and competition to
realise the potential of our federal system;
Promote operational excellence
in all cricket’s organisations;
Align and leverage the value of cricket’s
brands;
Take a leadership role in world cricket; and
Ensure access to world-class facilities and
venues for cricket’s stakeholders.
Success stories
Already, the fifth pillar is bearing fruit for
Australian cricket. Here are some examples.
Corporate Insurance
Cricket Australia and the state and territory
associations have combined their previously
separate corporate insurance packages. This
has resulted in annual cost savings of more
than $300,000 for public liability alone.
Cricket’s collective bargaining power has not
only allowed each state association to save
considerable money for the running of cricket
in their particular region, but also provided
most parties with increased protection. It is
also expected that further savings can be
generated in Personal Accident and Property
insurance.
National Club Insurance Program
2004-05 was the second year of Cricket
Australia’s National Club Insurance Program
[NCIP]. The NCIP has continued to deliver
tangible insurance and liability savings for
club and community-based cricket, with
more than 85 per cent of clubs now signed
up throughout Australia.
Australian cricket’s target is to have 95 per
cent of clubs signed up by the end of the
2005-06 season.
At a time when the cost of Public
Liability Insurance for community groups
is increasing, the NCIP is providing significant
savings for cricket clubs - estimated at more
than $3 million per annum.
Cricket Australia has committed an
additional $250,000 to this program to
further alleviate the financial burden of
insurance on clubs.
Stadium advertising
In 2002, Cricket Australia and the state
cricket associations entered into an
agreement with Stadia Media to sell
in-ground signage nationally for all
international cricket matches.
This includes boundary and perimeter
signage, tri-vision sightscreens and
scoreboard advertising. Previously, this had
been sold on a local basis.
This initiative has enabled Stadia Media to
offer advertisers national exposure and
enable venue signage to be less ‘cluttered’.
Standardised reporting
Cricket Australia and the state and territory
cricket associations have also agreed on a
common financial reporting template.
This has provided valuable information for
decision making as it gives Australian cricket
a better understanding of where money is
spent and what returns are being generated
from investments.
It is also envisaged that states and territories
will use this information to compare costs
from different areas of the business and
analyse how much funding is required to
achieve the optimum result for that
particular function.
Tributes and Milestones
Allan Border Medallist Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke with the Allan Border Medal.
Michael Clarke completed an astonishing
introduction to international cricket when he
was awarded Australia’s most prestigious
individual prize, the Allan Border Medal in
January at the Crown Palladium Ballroom
before a packed room and a nationwide
television audience.
century - this time in his debut on Australian
soil - making a memorable 141 against New
Zealand in Brisbane. He also featured heavily
in the one-day international circuit, playing
22 matches during the voting period for a
return of 731 runs at an average of 48.73,
including three fifties and two centuries.
Polling 54 votes, Clarke narrowly beat
pre-medal favourite Damien Martyn, who
finished on 51 votes after making six Test
centuries during the voting period. It was not
until the final round of counting before Clarke
nudged ahead of the West Australian, his 75
not out in even time against Pakistan in Perth
proving enough to get him over the line.
Clarke also chipped in with the ball on
occasions, his best return being 5-35 against
Sri Lanka in the second match of the fivematch series at the Rangiri Dambulla
International Stadium in February 2004.
Australian vice-captain Adam Gilchrist
finished third, with 41 votes, in what was
another year where the Australian team
enjoyed high degrees of success in the Test
and one-day international arenas.
1. Michael Clarke
Clarke’s sensational year was highlighted by
some breathtaking cricket including his first
Test series for Australia, where he scored 151 on
debut against India in Bangalore. He finished
the four-Test series in the sub-continent with
400 runs at 57.14, also capturing 6-9 with his
left arm orthodox spin bowling in the fourth
Test at the Wankhede Stadium.
Returning home, Clarke replicated his
sub-continent form producing another Test
Top 5 - Allan Border Medal
Player
Votes
54
2. Damien Martyn
51
3. Adam Gilchrist
41
4. Darren Lehmann
39
5. Jason Gillespie
38
Allan Border Medalists
2000
Glenn McGrath
2001
Stephen Waugh
2002
Matthew Hayden
2003
Adam Gilchrist
2004
Ricky Ponting
2005
Michael Clarke
One-day International Player of the Year Andrew Symonds
Andrew Symonds took home the One-day
International Player of the Year award
following a countback which saw himself,
Michael Clarke and fellow Queenslander
Michael Kasprowicz locked on 15 points at the
conclusion of voting.
Under the rules for this award, Symonds was
awarded the trophy as he received the most
first preference votes during the season with
four [Clarke had three and Kasprowicz two].
Symonds played an instrumental part in
Australia’s one-day outfit, particularly during
the early stages of the voting period on the
Travelex Tour of Sri Lanka where he made
consistent contributions to Australia’s cause
with the bat.
Andrew Symonds in action for Australia.
He also produced some of his best cricket
during the ICC Champions Trophy in England,
where he was awarded the Man of the Match
award following Australia’s game against
New Zealand where he made 71*.
Top 5 - One-day International
Player of the Year
Player
Votes
1. Andrew Symonds
15
2. Michael Clarke
and Michael Kasprowicz
15
15
3. Darren Lehmann
12
4. Jason Gillespie
11
5. Brad Hogg
9
One-day International Player
of the Year
2000
Shane Warne
2001
Glenn McGrath
2002
Ricky Ponting
2003
Adam Gilchrist
2004
Adam Gilchrist
2005
Andrew Symonds
[25]
Test Player of the Year Damien Martyn
Western Australia’s Damien Martyn was duly
recognised for his dominance in the Test
arena when he was awarded the Test Player
of the Year award.
Top 5 - Test Player of the Year
1. Damien Martyn
13
Martyn scored six Test centuries during the
voting period which included Test series
against Sri Lanka [both at home and in Sri
Lanka], India, New Zealand and Pakistan.
2. Justin Langer
10
3. Shane Warne
9
4. Michael Clarke
8
5. Jason Gillespie
8
6. Glenn McGrath
8
He amassed 1373 runs for the year, and
featured in numerous back-to-the-wall
partnerships where Martyn led Australia out
of trouble, without sacrificing his free-flowing
approach at the crease - a trademark of his
game.
Martyn was a clear winner of the award
polling 13 votes, ahead of fellow West
Australian Justin Langer [10 votes] and Shane
Warne [9 votes] who had an exceptional
comeback to international ranks.
Player
Votes
Test Player of the Year
2000
Glenn McGrath
2001
Colin Miller
2002
Matthew Hayden
2003
Ricky Ponting
2004
Ricky Ponting
2005
Damien Martyn
Damien Martyn during his highly successful
Travelex Tour of India.
Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year Mark Cosgrove
Following an outstanding list of previous
winners including Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken
and fellow South Australian Shaun Tait, Mark
Cosgrove won the Bradman Young Cricketer
of the Year award after an impressive start to
his career. Twenty-year-old Cosgrove [25 votes]
won the prestigious award by one vote ahead
of Tasmania’s David Dawson [24 votes].
The Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year
award is open to any player under the age of
24 who had not played more than 10 firstclass matches before the cut off date [28
January 2004]. Players are not allowed to
vote for their state team mates.
Throughout the voting period, Cosgrove
played 19 matches for South Australia [nine
Pura Cup and 10 ING Cup] with a combined
tally of 835 runs at an average of 30.93.
Cosgrove scored his maiden first-class
century [144] in the first innings of South
Australia’s Pura Cup clash against Western
Australia, following up in the second innings
with a valuable 88.
Mark Cosgrove with his award at the Allan
Border Medal function.
[26]
Top 5 - Bradman Young Cricketer
of the Year
Player
Votes
1. Mark Cosgrove [South Australia]
25
2. David Dawson [Tasmania]
24
3. Callum Ferguson [South Australia]
15
4. Craig Philipson [Queensland]
10
5. Travis Birt [Tasmania]
9
Bradman Young Cricketer
of the Year
2000
Brett Lee [New South Wales]
2001
Nathan Bracken [New South Wales]
2002
Shane Watson [Tasmania]
2003
Nathan Hauritz [Queensland]
2004
Shaun Tait [South Australia]
2005
Mark Cosgrove [South Australia]
Andy Bichel celebrates another wicket for
the Bulls.
State Player of the Year Andy Bichel
Queensland workhorse Andy Bichel was a
runaway victor of the State Player of the Year
award following his outstanding
performances in domestic cricket over the
past 12 months.
Bichel [38 votes] won the award ahead of
Michael Bevan [23 votes] and Victorian runmachine Matthew Elliott [21 votes].
From eight Pura Cup and 10 ING Cup matches
in the voting period, Bichel claimed 61
wickets at an average of 25.46.
His standout performance with the ball came
against New South Wales during
Queensland’s Pura Cup fixture against the
Blues in Brisbane. Bichel claimed 7-77 in the
second innings, giving him his sixth 10-wicket
haul in Pura Cup matches.
Bichel was also a consistent contributor for
the Bulls with the bat, averaging 21.90 during
the year.
Top 5 - State Player of the Year
Player
Votes
1. Andy Bichel [Queensland]
38
2. Michael Bevan [New South Wales/
Tasmania]
23
3. Matthew Elliott [Victoria]
21
4. Shaun Tait [South Australia]
14
5. Stuart MacGill [New South Wales]
8
State Player of the Year
2000
Darren Lehmann [South Australia]
2001
Darren Lehmann [South Australia]
2002
Darren Lehmann [South Australia]
2003
Martin Love [Queensland]
2004
Simon Katich [New South Wales]
2005
Andy Bichel [Queensland]
His best return was again against New South
Wales, when he scored 112 against the Blues
during their Pura Cup clash in Sydney. It was
Bichel’s fifth first-class century.
Karen Rolton enjoyed another stellar year for
the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars.
Women’s International Cricketer of the Year
Karen Rolton
South Australian Karen Rolton continued her
domination of this award, claiming the
award for the third time in four years.
The Australian vice-captain’s performances
with the bat during the year were
outstanding. She averaged 97.14 from
13 innings and was also a contributor with
the ball, claiming six wickets during the
voting period.
Highlighting her dominance, Rolton was
unbeaten in six of her innings, including her
top score for the year of 102*, made against
New Zealand in Auckland.
She also amassed six half-centuries including
scores of 60*, 80*, 95*, 82 and 62* in her total
of 680 runs from 13 matches.
Rolton [39 votes] won the award by 11 votes
ahead of last year’s winner, Cathryn Fitzpatrick
[28 votes], all-rounder Lisa Sthalekar [23 votes]
and Lisa Keightley [18 votes].
Top 5 - Women’s International
Cricketer of the Year
Player
Votes
1. Karen Rolton
39
2. Cathryn Fitzpatrick
28
3. Lisa Sthalekar
23
4. Lisa Keightley
18
5. Julie Hayes
13
Women’s International Cricketer
of the Year
2002
Karen Rolton [South Australia]
2003
Karen Rolton [South Australia]
2004
Cathryn Fitzpatrick [Victoria]
2005
Karen Rolton [South Australia]
[27]
Hall of Fame Inductees - Rod Marsh and Clem Hill
As part of the growing tradition of the Allan Border Medal evening, two more of Australia’s finest
cricketers were immortalised into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
Left to right:
Rod Marsh.
Clem Hill.
Australian Cricket Hall of Fame
Inducted 1996
Clem Hill
Rod Marsh
As one of Australia’s most popular players
of his era, Rod Marsh was an equally popular
inductee to the Australian Cricket Hall
of Fame.
Marsh was a passionate player who
epitomised Australia’s ethos of playing the
game hard but fair.
Combining his passion with a tremendous
work-ethic, Marsh emerged as one of
Australia’s greatest ever wicket-keepers
taking 343 catches and 12 stumpings over his
96 Test match career.
He combined his skill behind the stumps
with his attacking middle order stroke play,
becoming the first Australian wicket-keeper
to score a Test century. Marsh accomplished
this feat on one of the biggest stages of the
time - during the Centenary Test against
England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in
1977.
It was the first of his three Test centuries, in
addition to 16 fifties made throughout his
illustrious Test career.
Marsh was equally dynamic in the one-day
international arena, playing 92 matches for a
return of 120 catches and four stumpings. He
also made more than 1200 runs at an average
of 20.08 in the limited-overs format.
Following his playing career, Marsh’s
footprint on Australian cricket continued as
he became the head coach at the
Commonwealth Bank Cricket Academy in
Adelaide during its formative years, passing
on his valuable experience, knowledge and
work-ethic to Australia’s promising young
players - many of whom have emerged to
form the successful outfit that has taken
Australia to the top of world cricket today.
[28]
John Blackham
Victor Trumper
Former Australian Test captain Clem Hill
became the 23rd member of the Australian
Cricket Hall of Fame with his nephew, Geoff
Hill, accepting the award on behalf of the Hill
family at the Allan Border Medal.
Clarrie Grimmett
Bill Ponsford
Sir Donald Bradman
Bill O’Reilly
Between 1896 and 1912, Hill played 49 Tests 41 of which were against the old enemy
England, the remainder against South Africa.
Known for his stylish left-handed batting, Hill
scored 3412 runs at an average of 39.21,
including seven centuries and 19 halfcenturies. His top score was 191.
In Sheffield Shield cricket, Hill amassed 6274
runs at 52.58 for South Australia - a then
record which stood until it was overtaken by
the late Sir Donald Bradman.
During the 1900-01 season, Hill notched his
highest first-class score of 365 not out for
South Australia against New South Wales in
Adelaide. His average for that season was a
Bradman-like 103.33.
Known for primarily scoring through the legside, Hill’s timing and placement - combined
with his unwavering patience - made him
one of Australia’s most attractive and prolific
cricketers.
Fred Spofforth
Keith Miller
Ray Lindwall
Dennis Lillee
Inducted 2000
Warwick Armstrong
Neil Harvey
Allan Border
Inducted 2001
Bill Woodfull
Arthur Morris
Inducted 2002
Stan McCabe
Greg Chappell
Inducted 2003
Lindsay Hassett
Ian Chappell
Inducted 2004
Hugh Trumble
Alan Davidson
Inducted 2005
Clem Hill
Rod Marsh
ING Cup Player of the Year
Queensland all-rounder James Hopes won
the ING Cup Player of the Year award by one
vote ahead of Bulls team-mate Andrew
Symonds.
Hopes had a stellar year in the limited-overs
format, scoring 293 runs in 10 matches at an
average of 32.55, as well as capturing 11
wickets at 32.36.
Pura Cup Player
of the Year
Thirty-four year-old Michael Bevan was
recognised for his record-breaking season in
2004-05 by being named the Pura Cup Player
of the Year.
Bevan won the award with 25 votes, ahead of
New South Wales batsmen Phil Jaques, who
finished with 21.
Bevan’s tally of 1464 runs from nine matches
at an average of 97.60 saw him overtake
Victorian Bushranger Matthew Elliott’s
record for the most runs in a Pura Cup season
[Elliott scored 1381 runs in 2003-04], while his
eight centuries during the year was a new
high for domestic first-class cricket.
His dominance with the bat was evident; the
left-hander scored 312 more runs having
played one less match than the next highest
run-scorer in the competition, SpeedBlitz
Blues batsman Phil Jaques.
After leaving New South Wales at the
end of the 2003-04 season - where his tally
of 8174 Australian domestic first-class runs
is the highest in that state - Bevan has
proved a valuable asset to the Cascade
Tasmanian Tigers.
He was recognised for his outstanding
domestic summer with selection in the
Australian one-day squad that toured New
Zealand in February. However, this selection
meant he was unable to play in the ING Cup
final against Tasmania at the ‘Gabba.
Instead, Hopes made his one-day
international debut for Australia against New
Zealand in Wellington, taking 1-38 in his first
outing.
ING Cup Player of the Year Votes
Top 10 place-getters
Votes Player
State
20
James Hopes
Queensland
19
Andrew Symonds Queensland
17
Marcus North
Western Australia
15
Mathew Elliott
Victoria
14
Brad Haddin
New South Wales
13
Greg Blewett
South Australia
13
Brad Hodge
Victoria
12
Michael Bevan
Tasmania
11
Andy Bichel
Queensland
11
Darren Lehmann South Australia
10
Michael Dighton Tasmania
Commonwealth Bank
WNCL Player of the Year
Australian vice-captain Karen Rolton was a
runaway winner of the Commonwealth Bank
WNCL Player of the Year following her
outstanding season with the Southern
Scorpions, poling 27 votes ahead of secondplaced Belinda Clark [18 votes].
Rolton was also recognised earlier in the year
when she received the Women’s International
Cricketer of the Year award at the Allan
Border Medal presentation.
In her seven matches in the Commonwealth
Bank WNCL this season, Rolton amassed 298
runs at an average of 59.60, with one century
and two fifties.
She also bowled 53 overs, taking 15 wickets at
the impressive average of 8.73.
WNCL Player of the Year Votes
Top 10 place-getters
Votes Player
State
27
Karen Rolton
South Australia
18
Belinda Clark
Victoria
16
Melanie Jones
Victoria
16
Lisa Sthalekar
New South Wales
12
Lauren Ebsary
South Australia
12
Jodie Purves
Queensland
11
Zoe Goss
Western Australia
10
Kate Blackwell
New South Wales
10
Sarah Edwards
Victoria
9
Shelley Nitschke
South Australia
He picked up two Man of the Match awards
for his Pura Cup performances this year,
including for his brilliant knock of 190 against
the Retravision Warriors at Bellerive Oval in
January - his highest score of the year.
Pura Cup Player of the Year Votes
Top 10 place-getters
Votes Player
State
25
Michael Bevan
Tasmania
21
Phil Jaques
New South Wales
17
Andy Bichel
Queensland
15
Stuart MacGill
New South Wales
15
Shaun Tait
South Australia
14
Brad Hodge
Victoria
14
Mike Hussey
Western Australia
12
Jason Arnberger
Victoria
12
Damien Wright
Tasmania
11
Brad Haddin
New South Wales
Top:
Michael Bevan during his record-breaking year for Tasmania.
Bottom [left to right]:
James Hopes was rewarded for his consistent form for Queensland with the ING Cup Player of the Year award.
Karen Rolton in action for the South Australian Scorpions.
[29]
Cricket Australia
Umpire Award
Peter Parker was awarded Australian cricket’s
umpire award following his record-breaking
season, in which he set a new record for
umpires in Pura Cup/Sheffield Shield matches.
Parker officiated in his 68th Pura Cup/
Sheffield Shield match on 10 March 2005, a
new record for Australian umpires. The
previous record of 67 was held by Stephen
Randall for nearly seven years, with his last
match being on 12 March 1998.
Parker debuted as a 27-year-old more than 17
years ago when he umpired Queensland
against Tasmania at the ‘Gabba on 31 October
1986. He is the longest serving first-class
umpire currently on Cricket Australia’s
umpire panels, and has officiated in six Test
matches and 48 one-day internationals.
He also made several notable umpiring
appearances recently, including at the ICC
Under-19 World Cup, the ACC Asia Cup, and in
New Zealand for a one-day international
series.
Shane Warne breaks
world record
International debutants male
Thirteen years after an inauspicious start to
his Test career in 1992, Shane Warne was
celebrating Test scalp number 533, the
greatest number of Test wickets taken by any
bowler in the history of the game.
Test
Warne captured the record-breaking wicket ironically - against India at Chennai, the very
same country that gave the then young
blond leg spinner a savaging in his first
match at the Sydney Cricket Ground in
January 1992, where he returned match
figures of 1-150.
Clarke became Australia’s 389th Test player
when he entered the international scene in a
blaze of glory with his 151 on debut against
India in Bangalore.
However, on 15 October 2004, the tale was
very different as Warne had Irfan Pathan
caught by Matthew Hayden to take his 533rd
Test wicket, one more than long-time rival
and friend, Sri-Lankan spin wizard Muttiah
Muralitharan.
The record took Warne 13 years, 114 Test
matches and a total of 31,887 deliveries to
claim the title; however, as the Australian
team and cricket fans celebrated, it was Warne
who stood on top of the cricketing world.
Michael Clarke, Nathan Hauritz and Shane
Watson made their Test debuts during the
past 12 months.
Queensland’s Nathan Hauritz also made his
Test debut on the Travelex Tour of India, in
the fourth Test at Mumbai, returning match
figures of 4-103.
Shane Watson is Australia’s 391st Test cricketer,
making his debut against Pakistan during the
3 mobile Test series at the Sydney Cricket
Ground, where he contributed to Australia’s
win with 31 runs and bowling figures of 1-32.
One-day international
James Hopes made his one-day international
debut in the fourth one-day international
against the Kiwis during Australia’s Travelex
Tour of New Zealand. Hopes showed plenty
of promise in his opening game, starting his
career with bowling figures of 1-38 from his
10 overs.
International debutants female
One-day international
Economic South Australian spinner, Shelley
Nitschke, made her one-day international
debut against India at Mysore, with figures of
0 for 19 from her first outing.
[30]
Clockwise from top left:
Peter Parker.
Shane Warne with the ball that re-wrote the record books.
Belinda Clark celebrating yet another landmark for Australia.
Michael Bevan accepting the Benaud Spirit of Cricket Award from Richie Benaud.
Shane Watson in full flight during his Test debut.
Kate Blackwell debuted for Australia during
game two of the Indian one-day series at
Mysore. The 22-year-old all-rounder from
New South Wales is a talented prospect for
Australia whose right arm medium pace and
handy lower-order batting will hold her in
good stead in years to come.
Cricket Australia’s
centenary
Belinda Clark reaches
her century
Cricket Australia celebrated its 100th birthday
on 6 May 2005, marking the occasion with
several initiatives, not only to commemorate
the historic landmark, but to also recognise
and pay tribute to those people who have
helped make Cricket Australia what it is today.
One of Australian cricket’s finest role models,
Belinda Clark, celebrated her 100th one-day
international for Australia in the fifth one-day
match against Surat on the Commonwealth
Bank Southern Stars recent tour of India.
A black-tie function for all past and former
Cricket Australia/Australian Cricket Board
Directors was held at the Australian Club in
Melbourne to commemorate the milestone,
as well as a birthday party for current Cricket
Australia staff which was held at Ormond
Hall in Melbourne.
Cricket Australia also recognised the role
played by deceased Test players in the
shaping of cricket in Australia, offering
descendents a commemorative certificate to
acknowledge their role and honour their
memory. Cricket Australia also gave
permission for the Baggy Green cap crest to
be fixed on former players’ headstones.
Clark has been one of the mainstays of the
Southern Stars line-up, having captained the
team in 85 of her first 100 matches. She
made her one-day international debut in
1990-91 and holds the world record for the
highest individual score [men’s and women’s]
in a limited-overs game, scoring 229 not out
against Denmark in India in 1997.
Clark has also played in four World Cup
campaigns, captaining Australia in its most
recent World Cup triumph in South Africa
where Australia went through the
tournament undefeated.
A history of Cricket Australia has also been
commissioned. It will offer a detailed look at
some of the major issues faced by cricket’s
governing body in its first 100 years.
Benaud Spirit of Cricket award winners
Pura Cup / ING Cup
Tasmania
Women’s National
Cricket League
New South Wales,
Queensland, South
Australia [tied]
Cricket Australia Cup
- male
Victoria
Cricket Australia Cup
- female
Queensland
Commonwealth Bank
Northern Territory
Under-19 championships
- male
The Benaud Spirit of Cricket Awards
Now in their second year, the Benaud Spirit of
Cricket Awards were introduced as part of
Cricket Australia’s commitment to recognise
and improve the spirit in which the game is
played at all levels of Australian cricket.
The awards are named in honour of the
Benaud family, Lou, Richie and John, for their
collective contributions to Sydney, New South
Wales and Australian cricket. Richie and John
both represented Australia, and Richie’s
combined media and playing role has
spanned more than 50 years.
A perpetual trophy - which is housed at
Cricket Australia headquarters - is engraved
annually with the names of the winning
men’s and women’s senior interstate teams.
Each winning team receives an individual
trophy, and the captains of the winning sides
receive an individual medal of the same
design.
At the end of each game during the season
[at all levels], the officiating umpires issue
points on a 3,2,1,0,-1 basis on the conduct of
all members of a team, with sides rewarded
for displaying the true spirit, traditions, and
values of cricket. Voting in ING Cup games is
weighted at a ratio of 1:1, while Pura Cup
voting adopts a 3:1 weighting.
Commonwealth Bank
All six teams were
Under-19 championships equal on 15 points
- female
at the conclusion
of the preliminary
rounds.
Commonwealth Bank
Australian
Under-17 championships Capital Territory
- male
Commonwealth Bank
New South Wales
Under-17 championships
- female
Under-15 championships Victoria
- female
[31]
Left:
The Australian team observes a
minute of silence in homage to
Australian cricketing legend
Keith Miller.
Below:
Keith Miller’s state funeral.
Obituaries
Jack Edwards - 1930-2005
Keith Miller - 1919-2004
Cricket Australia mourned the passing of
John “Jack” Edwards who passed away on 22
May 2005, aged 74. A leading figure in cricket
administration, particularly in Victoria
through his roles with the St Kilda Cricket
Club and as a delegate with the Victorian
Cricket Association, Mr Edwards became a
Director of the Australian Cricket Board in
1984 until his retirement in 1997.
Australian cricket farewelled one of its
favourite sons in October 2004 with the
passing of Keith Miller. Miller was inducted
into Australian Cricket’s Hall of Fame in its
inaugural year in 1996 and is widely
acclaimed as Australia’s greatest all-rounder.
With the ability to turn a game with a
dashing innings, a fiery spell of bowling or by
taking a brilliant catch, Miller played 55 Tests
for Australia and was an integral member of
the 1948 Invincibles. He compiled 2958 runs
at 36.97 over his Test career with a highest
score of 147 and took 170 wickets at 22.97
with a best return of 7-60.
He served Cricket Australia as Chairman of its
programming committee and manager of
the successful West Indies tour in 1995 and
the tour to Sharjah in 1994.
Mr Edwards was also President of Cricket
Victoria from 1992-97 and chaired the
organising committee for the championship
of cricket in 1985, which saw the construction
of the light towers at the Melbourne Cricket
Ground.
A highly respected member of the cricket
community who made a significant
contribution to the game at every level, Jack
Edwards is survived by his wife Angela and
their four children.
Miller burst onto the first-class scene by
scoring 181 on debut for Victoria against
Tasmania in 1937-38 and was one of the rare
breed of sportsmen who had the ability to
play sport at the highest level in several
codes, having also been an outstanding
footballer for St Kilda and Victoria.
Miller was farewelled by more than 1,000
mourners at his state funeral in Melbourne,
along with thousands of cricket lovers from
all over the world who admired his skill, his
passion and his ability to play the game as if
it was a game, and not the meaning of life.
Ken Meuleman - 1923-2004
Australian cricket mourned the loss of former
Test batsman Ken Meuleman, who passed
away in September 2004, aged 81.
A veteran of 117 first-class matches for
Victoria and Western Australia, he scored
7,855 runs at an average of 47.60 and played
an active part in coaching following his
playing career.
Meuleman, whose son Robert and grandson
Scott also played for Western Australia,
played one Test match for Australia, in the
inaugural Test against New Zealand at Basin
Reserve, Wellington, in March 1946.
Bob Parish - 1916-2005
Cricket Australia lost one of its finest
administrators during the year when Bob
Parish passed away on 11 May 2005, aged 89.
Widely regarded as an administrator of the
highest integrity, Mr Parish made a
remarkable contribution to Australian cricket,
taking a life-long interest in the game at club,
state and national level.
A member of the Australian Cricket Board
between 1957-1991, he was the Board’s
Chairman between 1975-80, managing
Australian cricket through many issues; in
particular, the Board’s agreement with Kerry
Packer’s World Series Cricket in 1979.
Mr Parish was Manager of the Australian
cricket team to the United Kingdom in 1968
and West Indies in 1965. He was a member of
the Prahran cricket club since 1936, later
becoming captain of its first XI between
1943-49.
He was also Chairman of the Victorian
Cricket Association Executive Committee
between 1963-92, having been a delegate
since 1950.
[32]
Mr Parish was also awarded an Order of the
British Empire in 1975, having already been
made an honorary member of the
Marylebone Cricket Club in 1968.
State Reports
Cricket New South Wales
The 2004-05 season was highly successful for
Cricket New South Wales both on and off the field.
The SpeedBlitz Blues continued in the attacking
mould of the Waugh brothers, Michael Slater and
Michael Bevan who were no longer in the squad,
playing positive cricket in the Pura Cup, making the
final and defeating Queensland by one wicket in a
dramatic finish at the ‘Gabba.
New South Wales [NSW] had three batsmen
amongst the top four Pura Cup run-scorers, with
Phil Jaques and Dominic Thornely both scoring over
1000 runs. Four SpeedBlitz Blues bowlers were also
in the top 10 wicket-takers in the competition.
Stuart MacGill broke Bill O’Reilly’s record for most
wickets in a Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup season for
NSW with 54 and won the Steve Waugh Medal as
the SpeedBlitz Blues Player of the Year.
The NSW Breakers made the final of the
Commonwealth Bank Women’s National Cricket
League but lost to Victoria in Sydney. Six members
of the Breakers were selected in the Australian
squad that won the World Cup in South Africa.
NSW also dominated this year’s junior competitions,
winning every underage national competition in both men’s
and women’s divisions from under 15’s to under 19’s.
Off the field, Cricket NSW signed with the Sydney Cricket
Ground and Sports Ground Trust to play international
matches at the SCG until the end of the 2009-10 season.
New South Wales at a Glance
Pura Cup
First
ING Cup
Sixth
Cricket Australia Cup
Second
Women’s National Cricket League
Second
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [Pura/ING]
Third
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [WNCL]
First [tied]
Spirit of Cricket [Cricket Australia Cup]
Second [tied]
Commonwealth Bank Under-19
First
Commonwealth Bank Under-17
First
Betty Wilson Shield for Under-19 Women
First
Betty Butcher Shield for Under-17 Women
First
Men’s Grade cricket champion
Sydney University
Women’s Grade cricket champion
UTS Balmain
International debutants
Kate Blackwell Southern Stars
NSW celebrate after its nail-biting victory in the Pura Cup final.
[33]
Queensland Cricket
While trophies again proved elusive, the XXXX Gold
Queensland Bulls hosted both domestic finals after
finishing on top of the ING and Pura Cup
competitions at the end of the regular season.
Construction also commenced on the final stage of the
Gabba redevelopment that will lift the capacity of the
ground to approximately 40,000 in time for the 2005-06
season.
Individually, Andrew Symonds won the Australian
One-day Player of the Year at the Allan Border Medal
while Michael Kasprowicz was runner-up.
Queensland at a Glance
Andy Bichel won the State Player of the Year at the
Allan Border Medal and later broke Craig
McDermott’s 15-year record for most first-class
wickets for Queensland in a season [60 wickets].
James Hopes won the ING Cup Player of the Year
with Andrew Symonds runner-up. Hopes later won
the Ian Healy Trophy as the XXXX Gold Bulls Player
of the Year.
Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars wicket-keeper
Julia Price set a record for the most dismissals in a
Women’s National Cricket League season with 16 for
the Konica Minolta Queensland Fire.
Elsewhere, Queensland Country team claimed the
national country championships in Lismore, going
through the competition undefeated. It was the
seventh title claimed by Queensland since the
championships were introduced in 1984-85.
The Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
XI claimed the national Indigenous championships
in Alice Springs for the second season in a row.
Queensland was again undefeated in winning the
Imparja Cup.
Pura Cup
Second
ING Cup
Second
Cricket Australia Cup
Second
Women’s National Cricket League
Fourth
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [Pura/ING]
Fourth [tied]
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [WNCL]
First [tied]
Spirit of Cricket [Cricket Australia Cup]
Sixth
Commonwealth Bank Under-19
Third
Commonwealth Bank Under-17
Eighth
Betty Wilson Shield for Under-19 Women
Fifth
Betty Butcher Shield for Under-17 Women
Fourth
Men’s Grade cricket champion
Western Suburbs
Women’s Grade cricket champion
Wynnum-Manly
International debutants
Andrew Symonds [Test],
Nathan Hauritz [Test],
Shane Watson [Test],
James Hopes [ODI]]
Andy Bichel celebrates a wicket during the Pura Cup final.
South Australian Cricket Association
A strong finish in both the Pura Cup and ING Cup
has given the West End Redbacks plenty of
confidence as they prepare for next season with
what is predominantly a young squad.
Despite finishing the year in fifth position in both
the Pura Cup and ING Cup competitions, there were
some positive signs from the young West End
Redbacks squad who gained valuable experience
throughout the 2004-05 season.
The year again illustrated the quality of depth of the
Redbacks’ bowling stocks, with both Shaun Tait and
Paul Rofe providing an excellent front-line attack.
Tait in particular featured, finishing the year as the
leading wicket-taker in both the Pura Cup and ING
Cup competitions, capturing 65 and 21 wickets
respectively.
Off-spinner Dan Cullen proved the find of the
season and was rewarded for his efforts with a
Cricket Australia contract, as well as being named
ING Best New Talent.
[34]
including Shaun Tait, who was awarded the South Australia’s
Junior Sportsperson of the Year, while at the Allan Border
Medal, Mark Cosgrove was named Bradman Young Cricketer
of the Year and Karen Rolton collected her third
International Women’s Cricketer of the Year Award.
The South Australian Scorpions finished third in the WNCL,
with both Karen Rolton and Shelley Nitschke retaining their
Australian caps.
Adelaide Oval’s press gallery also underwent a renovation
to become a world-class facility.
South Australia at a Glance
Pura Cup
Fifth
ING Cup
Fifth
Cricket Australia Cup
Fourth
Women’s National Cricket League
Third
Benaud Spirit of Cricket Pura/ING]
Second
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [WNCL]
Third
Spirit of Cricket [Cricket Australia Cup]
Fourth
Commonwealth Bank Under-19
Fourth
International player Darren Lehmann returned to
boost the batting line-up for the Redbacks late in
the season, and is looking forward to mentoring the
young squad next year.
Commonwealth Bank Under-17
Fourth
Off the field, many players were recognised
for their contribution to sport,
Darren Lehmann on the front foot
for the West End Redbacks.
Betty Wilson Shield for Under-19 Women
Third
Betty Butcher Shield for Under-17 Women
Third
Men’s Grade cricket champion
Northern Districts Jets
Women’s Grade cricket champion
Flinders University
Women’s Cricket Club
International debutants
Shaun Tait [Australia A]
Shelley Nitschke
[Southern Stars]
Tasmanian Cricket Association
After 27 years in the domestic limited-overs
wilderness, Tasmania reclaimed one-day honours,
defeating Queensland in Brisbane to win the 200405 ING Cup in style.
The season however was a mixed bag for Tasmania
with a disappointing sixth placing in the Pura Cup.
Damien Wright’s 39 wickets and 534 runs saw him gain
Australia A selection for the three one-day matches and the
Twenty-20 match against Pakistan in Adelaide.
The future of Tasmanian cricket is promising, buoyed by the
fact that five of the 11 members of the ING Cup champion
team are under the age of 23.
Tasmania’s young guns were a highlight of the
season with six players making their first-class
debut. David Dawson started his first-class career
with an unbeaten 123 against Western Australia,
scoring in excess of 450 runs from nine games in his
debut season.
Tasmania hosted the Commonwealth Bank Under-17
national championships in January and local rising star
Jonathon Wells was named Player of the Series.
Pura Cup
Sixth
Opener Travis Birt also blasted onto the ING Cup
scene with a stunning 145, creating a new
Tasmanian record for the highest individual innings.
ING Cup
First
Cricket Australia Cup
Fifth
Women’s National Cricket League
n/a
Prize recruit Michael Bevan proved to be the catalyst
in Tasmania’s rise in fortunes. His outstanding
performances in both forms of the game saw him
topple many records, including the record for
centuries in Pura Cup cricket in the one season
[eight], and a new record for the aggregate runs in a
domestic first-class season [1464].
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [Pura/ING]
First
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [WNCL]
n/a
Tasmania at a Glance
Spirit of Cricket [Cricket Australia Cup]
Third
Commonwealth Bank Under-19
Sixth
Commonwealth Bank Under-17
Fifth
Betty Wilson Shield for Under-19 Women
Fourth
Men’s Grade cricket champion
TCA-Clarence
NTCA-Launceston
NWTCA-Wynyard
Adam Griffith and Brett Geeves both had
outstanding seasons with the ball. Griffith’s Pura
Cup season netted 45 wickets from nine games,
including four five-wicket hauls, while Brett Geeves
accumulated 23 wickets in seven ING Cup matches.
Michael Bevan starts the victory celebrations after
Tasmania’s win in the ING Cup final over Queensland.
Cricket Victoria
Following its championship season last year, Victoria
had a slow start to the Pura Cup season and was
never quite able to recapture its form from the
previous summer.
However, with former opening bowler David Saker
back on board as Assistant Coach of the
Bushrangers, Victoria still showed signs that it will
be a force to be reckoned with in domestic cricket
for some time yet.
the best of three final series. It was a fantastic effort by the
Spirit, who won the title despite losing the opening match
of the series.
Belinda Clark was awarded the Victoria Spirit Player of the
Season and was the leading run-scorer in the WNCL.
At Club level, St Kilda completed a hat trick of Premier
Cricket titles, defeating a gallant Melbourne in the final at
the Junction Oval.
Following the departure of Darren Berry, Cameron
White was named captain for both the Pura Cup
team and ING Cup outfits.
Victoria at a Glance
Pura Cup
Fourth
ING Cup
Third
Both he and Brad Hodge were rewarded for their
consistent performances at first-class level, with
each being selected as part of Australia’s historic
tour of India. Hodge also had a dream fulfilled when
named in the squad to tour England for the Ashes.
Cricket Australia Cup
First
Women’s National Cricket League
First
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [Pura/ING]
Sixth
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [WNCL]
Fourth
Spirit of Cricket [Cricket Australia Cup]
First
Michael Lewis continued his fine form of recent
seasons, capturing 38 wickets at 22.05, and was
rewarded with the WM Lawry Medal as Victoria’s Pura
Cup Player of the Season. He was also recognised by
national selectors with a Cricket Australia contract as
one of the country’s top 25 players.
Commonwealth Bank Under-19
Second
Commonwealth Bank Under-17
Second
Betty Wilson Shield for Under-19 Women
Second
The women’s team, Victoria Spirit, won the WNCL
title defeating the New South Wales Breakers 2-1 in
Betty Butcher Shield for Under-17 Women
Second
Men’s Grade cricket champion
St Kilda
Women’s Grade cricket champion
Dandenong Women’s
Cricket Club
Jon Moss drives through the covers during an ING Cup fixture for Victoria.
[35]
Western Australian Cricket Association
Western Australia enjoyed another productive
season without tasting the ultimate success, with
the Retravision Warriors narrowly missing out on a
final’s berth in both the Pura Cup and ING Cup
competitions.
One of the stalwart’s in the Western Australian line-up,
Kade Harvey, retired as WA’s most successful bowler in
domestic limited-overs cricket with 103 wickets.
There were numerous highlights though for the
Warriors, with Michael Hussey scoring double
centuries against Tasmania [210] and Victoria [223*].
In the match against Victoria, Hussey became the
only player in the history of the Sheffield Shield/
Pura Cup competitions to carry his bat while
registering a double ton.
Pura Cup
Third
ING Cup
Fourth
Cricket Australia Cup
Sixth
Women’s National Cricket League
Fifth
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [Pura/ING]
Fifth
Benaud Spirit of Cricket [WNCL]
Fifth
Spirit of Cricket [Cricket Australia Cup]
Fifth
Several other Warriors registered exceptional
centuries, most notably Ryan Campbell and Justin
Langer who each made a century in a session’s play
against Queensland and New South Wales
respectively.
Commonwealth Bank Under-19
Seventh
Commonwealth Bank Under-17
Third
The depth of the Warrior’s batting line-up is
reflected by the fact that no top order batsmen
averaged below 35, while five averaged over 49 and
the team batting average was 38.67 per person.
Young rising star Adam Voges smashed a century
off only 62 balls against New South Wales in the
ING Cup game played at North Sydney Oval,
breaking the previous ‘fastest-100’ record held by
Stuart Law [69 balls against Tasmania in 2003-04].
Western Australia at a Glance
Betty Wilson Shield for Under-19 Women
Sixth
Betty Butcher Shield for Under-17 Women
Fifth
Men’s Grade cricket champion
Melville
Women’s Grade cricket champion
Tuart Hill
Michael Hussey in action for the Retravision Warriors.
ACT Cricket
ACT Cricket’s year was again highlighted by the
Prime Minister’s XI match which was a huge
success, attracting nearly 10,000 fans.
The annual match also featured entertainment
during the innings break, including MILO Have-A-Go
participants from all over Canberra and other
groups such as Blind Cricket, Indigenous children
and some CricHit girls, all of whom demonstrated
their skills in what was a typical carnival-like
atmosphere for the fixture at Manuka Oval.
Two of the Canberra Comets leading players,
Stewart Heaney and Cameron McLeod, each
represented the Prime Minister’s XI, who were
outclassed by Pakistan by five wickets on the day.
ACT Cricket also hosted an ING Cup fixture between
the SpeedBlitz Blues and West End Redbacks in
December. The match marked the return to
Canberra of two former locals, Brad Haddin who
captained the SpeedBlitz Blues and Jack Smith who
represented the Redbacks.
[36]
The inaugural Workplace Cricket Challenge was also
initiated during the year in partnership with the Heart
Foundation and was a resounding success. The event saw 16
local business teams compete in a limited format of the
game, highlighting how cricket can play a role for men and
women of all ages and abilities to lead active and healthy
lifestyles.
ACT Cricket at a Glance
Cricket Australia Cup [men]
Seventh
Spirit of Cricket [Cricket Australia Cup]
Seventh
Commonwealth Bank Under-19
Fifth
Commonwealth Bank Under-17
Sixth
Betty Butcher Shield for Under-17 Women
Sixth
Random Computing Cup
[Men’s two-day Grade champion]
Eastlake
Konica Minolta Cup
[Men’s one-day Grade champion]
Weston Creek
Women’s Grade cricket champion
Eastlake
Christina Matthews Under-15 girls
Fourth
Stewart Heaney during the Prime Minister’s XI match in Canberra.
Northern Territory Cricket
Cricket in the Northern Territory was highlighted by
the 3 mobile Test match, between Australia and Sri
Lanka in Darwin. The Top End Tour remains an
integral vehicle to deliver cricket in the Northern
Territory and the match was well supported by local
crowds who enjoyed what was a tense tussle
between the two nations.
Several staff were also recruited to Northern Territory
Cricket during the year, including NT representative Ian
Redpath as Indigenous Cricket Officer, as well as former
Australian women’s coach and Commonwealth Bank Centre
of Excellence senior coach, John Harmer, to the position of
Head Coach of the Northern Territory Institute of Sport
cricket program.
The NT Chief Minister’s XI participated in a tour
match against Sri Lanka prior to the Test, giving
local Territory players an opportunity to play against
an international Test side, while also teaming with
Australian players Glenn McGrath, Simon Katich and
Justin Langer.
A major strategic target still to be achieved is the
development of a new administrative facility to house
Northern Territory Cricket at the Marrara Cricket Ground in
Darwin. The proposed development would effectively create
a modern ‘home of cricket’ in Darwin, which would give
Northern Territory Cricket the capacity to provide an
acceptable standard of first class cricket facilities in Darwin,
and deliver tangible outcomes on Cricket Australia’s
investment in cricket development and international cricket
in the Northern Territory.
The Imparja Cup, the national Indigenous cricket
carnival, continues to grow in stature, with 24 teams
participating in the 2005 tournament staged in
Alice Springs in February.
The Calder Shield, the intra-Territory championship,
was staged in Alice Springs at Easter and featured
teams from Darwin, Alice Springs, the NT
Indigenous team and a NTIS team. Darwin defeated
Alice Springs in the final game by one wicket to win
the Shield in a tense match.
Northern Territory Cricket signed several important
new sponsorships during the year, including threeyear corporate partnerships with Imparja Television
and Lion Nathan NT.
Northern Territory at a Glance
Commonwealth Bank Under-19
Eighth
Commonwealth Bank Under-17
Seventh
Men’s Grade cricket champion [Darwin]
PINT cricket club
Men’s Grade Spirit of Cricket Award [Darwin]
NTIS ‘A’ Grade team
Darwin and District Ralph Wiese medallist
Dwaine Richards
Women’s competition champion
PINT cricket club
Alice Springs Premiers
Federals cricket club
Katherine & District Premiers
Matilda’s cricket club
Calder Shield Winners
Darwin
Above:
Action from the Imparja Cup.
Left:
The SpeedBlitz Blues celebrate its
Pura Cup victory.
[37]
Tour Summaries
Top End Tour
Australia v Sri Lanka
July 2004
International cricket returned to the Top
End when Australia played Sri Lanka in
a two-Test series in Darwin and Cairns.
Australia easily accounted for the visitors in
the first Test in Darwin, a match that was
particularly significant for Matthew Elliott
who returned to the Test team for the first
time since 1999, replacing captain Ricky
Ponting who missed the game due to a
family bereavement.
The Darwin Test also marked the return of
Australia’s long-time spearhead, Glenn
McGrath, who was back after an extended
period on the sidelines due to an ankle injury.
McGrath could not have scripted a better
return to the national side, claiming 5-37 in
the first innings and taking Man of the
Match honours.
On a difficult batting wicket, Australian
stand-in skipper Adam Gilchrist was the
mainstay of the Australian second innings,
making a valuable 80 runs, before
Queensland paceman Michael Kasprowicz
tore through the Sri Lankan line up in the
second innings, taking 7-39, helping Australia
record a 149 run win in under three days.
The focus then shifted to Bundaberg Rum
Stadium in Cairns where Sri Lanka won the
toss and sent Australia into bat - a decision
that rapidly backfired as Australian openers
Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden each
posted centuries [162 and 117 respectively].
Hayden repeated his first inning’s heroics
with an outstanding 132 in the second
innings, before Australian leg spinner Shane
Warne created history, equalling the then
world record of 527 Test wickets held by Sri
Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.
The crowd at the game and television
viewing audience watched intensely as
Warne strived to get one more wicket to give
himself the world-record outright; however, it
was not to be.
The match finished in a draw with Australia
falling two wickets short of victory.
Glenn McGrath celebrated his comeback to international cricket in style during the Top End Tour.
[38]
Videocon Cup
Australia, India and Pakistan
August 2004
The 2004 Videocon Cup in Holland was
scheduled as a pre-curser to the ICC
Champions Trophy for India, Pakistan
and Australia, but unfortunately, fell
victim to unprecedented rainfall which
washed out many of the games.
Brad Haddin came into the side for the
tournament, as Australian vice-captain Adam
Gilchrist was at home with his wife Mel for
the birth of the couple’s second child.
Australia played in two preliminary matches,
one against India that was washed out after
only 31.4 overs, the other was abandoned
without a ball being bowled.
However, Australia went through to the
final due to a superior run-rate, where it
met Pakistan.
Matthew Hayden was Australia’s top-scoring
batsman in Australia’s total of 192 with a
patient 59 off 114 balls which included four
boundaries. In reply, Pakistan were all out for
175 in 47.1 overs.
Andrew Symonds and Darren Lehmann were
the pick of the bowlers, each picking up two
wickets as Australia won the match by 17
runs with relative comfort.
A typically aggressive Andrew Symonds.
Matthew Hayden seeking shelter as rain
marred much of the Videocon Cup.
ICC Champions Trophy
England, September 2004
As the number one ranked one-day
international outfit, Australia entered
the knock-out series as favourites for
the ICC Champions Trophy, one of the
major international cricket trophies
that has eluded Australia to date.
Australia’s first round game was against
cricketing minnows the United States of
America, who managed only 65 before being
bowled out in 24 overs. Michael Kasprowicz
and Jason Gillespie each took four wickets,
before Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist
steered Australia home for the loss of only
one wicket.
Michael Vaughan won the toss and sent the
Australians into bat, with England’s spinbowling combination of Giles and Vaughan
stifling any Australian onslaught. Australia
completed its 50 overs with a respectable 259
runs on the board, with Damien Martyn the
leading contributor with a well-compiled 65
from 110 balls.
Australia then faced its trans-Tasman rival
New Zealand at The Oval in London, with
Ricky Ponting winning the toss and sending
New Zealand into bat. Glenn McGrath and
Michael Kasprowicz were the pick of the
Australian bowlers, taking three wickets each,
as New Zealand completed its innings at
9-198.
England’s run-chase got off to a shaky start,
with Gillespie capturing the early wicket of
Vikram Solanki; however, any celebration in
the Australian camp was short lived, with
Marcus Trescothick and captain Michael
Vaughan putting on a 141 run partnership for
the second wicket in what was an
instrumental partnership in England’s victory.
Despite an early scare with the premature
departure of Adam Gilchrist and Ricky
Ponting, Australia easily overhauled the New
Zealand total, taking just 37.2 overs to record
an impressive seven-wicket victory.
Brett Lee captured two wickets, while Jason
Gillespie and Andrew Symonds each took one
apiece, as England recorded an impressive
six-wicket victory over the reigning World
Champions.
Australia then moved into the semi-finals
facing a rejuvenated English outfit at
Edgbaston, who were coming off their
second-round demolition of Sri Lanka.
Michael Kasprowicz during
the ICC Champions Trophy.
[39]
Travelex Tour of India
Australia v India
September 2004
The Australian team travelled to India
for the four-Test series without its
skipper Ricky Ponting for the first three
Tests of the series, following a broken
hand injury incurred during the ICC
Champions Trophy semi-final against
England.
Ponting’s absence cleared the way for young
New South Welshman Michael Clarke to
make his Test debut, becoming the 389th
Australian to don the Baggy Green cap.
Clarke wasted no time in stamping his
impact on the series, making a memorable
151 on debut. The Australians dominated the
match and dismissed India for 239 in the final
innings of the match. The result was a
resounding 217 run victory to Australia.
As anticipated, the Indian team fought back
in the second Test at Chennai. Combined
with a stunning first-innings score of 155
from opener Vehrenda Sehwag; Indian
spinner Anil Kumble mesmerised the
Australians taking 13 wickets for the match in
an outstanding display of attacking leg-spin
bowling.
Australia remained competitive in the match
thanks largely to a six-wicket haul from
Shane Warne, a return which saw him take
the Test wicket record in his own right ahead
of Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.
Unfortunately for both teams, rain washed
out the final day’s play, in what promised to
be a critical day in the series.
Australia was back to its best in the third Test
in Nagpur, winning the match and sealing
the series with a 342 run victory. Damien
Martyn, Michael Clarke and Simon Katich all
made solid contributions with the bat, while
Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz and
Shane Warne all shared the honours to give
Australia an unassailable lead in the series.
The final Test was played at Mumbai, in a
low-scoring affair which saw the game finish
inside of three days.
Queensland off-spinner Nathan Hauritz
made his Test debut for Australia; however, it
was another finger spinner for Australia in
Michael Clarke who returned figures of 6-9 in
India’s second innings.
Chasing 107 runs in the second innings for a
3-0 series victory, Australia fell agonisingly
short in the spin-friendly conditions,
eventually being dismissed for 93.
The 2-1 series win was Australia’s first victory
in India since 1969-70 and a credit to the
adaptability, preparation and professionalism
of all those involved with the Australian
team.
Damien Martyn dominated with the bat during the Travelex Tour of India.
Trans-Tasman Trophy
Australia v New Zealand
November 2004
A confident New Zealand outfit arrived
in Brisbane well-prepared for its twoTest campaign against long-time rival
Australia for the Trans-Tasman Trophy.
Such confidence was not misplaced either,
following the first innings of the Test series
in Brisbane where the Kiwi’s posted an
impressive 353, thanks largely to a powerful
126 from middle-order batsman Jacob Oram.
In reply, Australia looked to be in early trouble
before Michael Clarke entered proceedings
and made a dazzling 141, putting him in a rare
category of players who have scored centuries
in their debut matches at home and abroad.
In addition to Clarke’s effort, there were
further heroics in store with the bat, with
Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath each
posting their maiden Test fifties - both
receiving standing ovations from the
appreciative Brisbane crowd.
Australia went on to post 585 before
dismissing the New Zealanders in their second
innings for a disappointing 76, handing
Australia victory by an innings and 156 runs.
[40]
The second Test in Adelaide was highlighted
by Justin Langer’s free-flowing score of 215 in
the first innings of the match. Local favourite
Darren Lehmann fell just short of making a
home-town century, after being bowled for 81
in Australia’s massive first innings score of 575.
New Zealand was never able to get back into
the game and Australia completed the
victory by 213 runs, claiming the TransTasman Trophy with a 2-0 series win.
However, New Zealand did restore some
pride in its ranks following the game, with
opening batsman Mark Richardson
challenging Darren Lehmann to a 100 metre
race to raise money for charity.
Richardson ran out the winner of the race by
a nose, restoring some pride into the Kiwi
camp after what had been a disappointing
campaign for the visitors.
Chappell-Hadlee Trophy
Australia v New Zealand
December 2004
The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy was
inaugurated in December 2004 to
acknowledge and foster the special
relationship and sporting rivalry
that exists between Australia and
New Zealand.
The annual three-match one-day
international tournament is named after two
of the countries prominent cricketing
families and will be hosted by each nation on
a rotational basis.
Game one was held at Melbourne’s Telstra
Dome, where in the build-up to the match,
retired one-day international player Shane
Warne, passed on his number 23 playing shirt
to Michael Clarke.
New Zealand won the toss and sent Australia
in with Adam Gilchrist helping them get off
to a brisk start, top-scoring for the host
nation with 68 in Australia’s total of 246.
After a shaky start, New Zealand continued to
surge forward and in a thrilling run-chase,
managed to scramble over the line with two
balls to spare.
The second match of the series was held at
the Sydney Cricket Ground where Australia
once again found themselves batting first.
Adam Gilchrist continued his good form with
a quick-fire 60 from only 57 balls, including
nine boundaries and one six, again top
scoring for Australia in its total of 261.
In another tight, consuming run chase, New
Zealand fell marginally short of Australia’s
total, with Brad Hogg the main striker for
Australia with three wickets, well supported
by Brett Lee and Jason Gillespie who each
picked up two wickets.
With the series all squared up, game three in
Brisbane was unfortunately washed out
without a ball being bowled, meaning that
Australia and New Zealand shared the
Chappell-Hadlee trophy with one win each.
Jason Gillespie
captures a
New Zealand
scalp during the
Chappell-Hadlee
series.
Cricketing icons Sir Richard Hadlee and
Ian Chappell represent their respective
families at the launch of the inaugural
Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
World Cricket Tsunami
Match Appeal
Asian Cricket Council XI v International
Cricket Council World XI
Melbourne Cricket Ground January 2005
The cricket world united as one on
Monday 10 January 2005 at a capacity
Melbourne Cricket Ground [MCG] to
support those in need following the
devastating Tsunami that struck the
Asia-Pacific region on Boxing Day
several weeks earlier.
Many of the world’s best players including
Shane Warne, Brian Lara, Chris Cairns,
Muttiah Muralitharan, Ricky Ponting, Sourav
Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar took part in a
fund-raising match before a sell out crowd at
the MCG that was watched by millions of
television viewers in more than 100 countries
around the world.
While the enormous goodwill displayed by
the players, cricketing public, behind-thescenes staff, sponsors and suppliers who
gave of their time freely to make the event a
reality was intangible, the $14.5 million that
was raised was certainly a measurable
representation of the generosity of the
cricketing public. The money was donated to
the World Vision Tsunami appeal and will
provide valuable assistance toward the
rebuilding of some of the communities that
were crippled by the disaster.
The 56,000 tickets available to the public
were sold out in three days in an act that
reflected the generosity and charitable spirit
displayed by so many in such a short time
frame to make this match a possibility.
The day featured many attractions, including
the Prime Minister of Australia The Hon. John
Howard tossing the coin before the start of
play, celebrity Kanga cricket matches and two
giant C-130H Hercules planes that flew over
the ground during the innings interval.
Sponsors joined in the spirit of the event,
donating money for every run scored or every
six that was hit, ensuring that the cricket was
highly-entertaining.
Australian and ICC World XI captain Ricky
Ponting starred making 115, with New
Zealand’s Chris Cairns completing a
whirlwind 69 from only 47 balls, a knock that
included six boundaries and two sixes.
However, the cricket numbers and the result
of the game were not important. This event
was all about generosity of the human spirit
and there was plenty on offer.
For all of those who participated, attended or
watched the event on television, it was truly
a remarkable evening.
Bottom row from left to right:
Jason Gillespie impersonates Happy Gilmore as he celebrates his maiden Test 50 in unique style!
Centurions Adam Gilchrist and Michael Clarke flank Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath, both of whom
made their maiden Test fifties during the 3 mobile Test match against New Zealand in Brisbane.
Ricky Ponting and Brian Lara in action during the World Cricket Tsunami Match Appeal.
[41]
3 mobile Test Series
Australia v Pakistan
December-January 2004-05
The opening Test of the series was held
on the fast track at the WACA ground in
Perth, and was highlighted by several
outstanding individual efforts.
The first was a brilliant 191 by local favourite
Justin Langer, whose century was the
foundation for a sizeable first innings lead to
Australia. This lead was extended in the
second innings thanks largely to some
excellent contributions from Langer [97] and
Ponting [98] and a brilliant 100 not out by
West Australian Damien Martyn.
Set 564 for victory, Pakistan were never in the
hunt as Glenn McGrath produced his best
ever return in a single innings at Test level
with a staggering 8-24, enabling Australia to
dismiss the visitors for just 72 in their second
innings, handing Australia an imposing 491
run victory.
The traditional Melbourne Boxing Day Test
hosted the second match of the series, as
Pakistan won the toss with captain Yousuf
Youhana leading from the front with 111, in
Pakistan’s first innings total of 341.
Damien Martyn was again amongst the runs
for Australia, with a well compiled 142, ably
supported by a patient Jason Gillespie who
recorded his second Test fifty.
The final Test of the series at the Sydney
Cricket Ground marked the return of local
hero Stuart MacGill, who made an immediate
impact on his return to Test cricket, taking 587 off 22 overs.
Australia posted a massive first innings score
of 568 in reply, thanks largely to captain Ricky
Ponting, who made a magnificent 207. Adam
Gilchrist also notched up a century, making
an aggressive 113 that included 14 boundaries
and five towering sixes.
Pakistan were bowled out cheaply, only
managing to get 62 runs ahead of the locals
following a fine spin bowling display from
Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill who took
four and three wickets respectively.
Shane Watson, who was making his Test
match debut, took his first wicket and
returned bowling figures of 1-32, before
Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer knocked
off the 62 runs required to win the match,
giving Australia a 3-0 sweep of the series.
Pakistan replied with 163 in its second
innings, again troubled by Glenn McGrath
who was the pick of the Australian bowlers
with figures of 4-35, before Matthew Hayden
and Ricky Ponting made light work of
Australia’s second innings run-chase of 127,
giving Australia an unassailable two-nil lead
in the three-match series.
Justin Langer has been a rock for Australia at the top of the order.
VB Series
Australia, Pakistan & West Indies
January-February 2005
Australia was victorious in the VB Series
against Pakistan and the West Indies,
dropping only one game on its way to a
clinical 2-0 series sweep in the finals
series against Pakistan.
Michael Clarke was Australia’s stand-out
performer with the bat, topping the
aggregate run tables with 411, well in front of
Pakistan duo Inzamam-ul-Haq [364 runs] and
Yousuf Youhana [318] who recorded the
second and third highest run aggregates
respectively.
Brett Lee was recognised with the Man of the
Series award, after capturing 16 scalps at an
average of 21.31. His blistering pace regularly
topped 150 km/h throughout the series.
Fellow New South Welshman Glenn McGrath
was also in stellar form, taking 15 wickets at
11.86. McGrath and Adam Gilchrist celebrated
their 200th one-day internationals for
Australia during the VB Series.
[42]
The Australian team come together to celebrate the fall of a wicket during the second final of the VB Series.
For the visiting teams, it was the captains
who particularly stood out with their
performances.
Pakistan skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq made 364
runs with an excellent strike-rate of 91.45,
while West Indian captain Brian Lara was also
a dominant feature for his side, making 307
runs at an average of 51.16, including a
brilliant 156 against Pakistan at the Adelaide
Oval. His breathtaking innings included 12
boundaries and five sixes, coming off only 138
balls.
However, despite some patches of brilliance
by the visiting teams, it was Australia’s series,
comfortably accounting for the West Indies
and Pakistan.
VB Series results
P
W
L
NR
T
BP1
BP2
Points
NRR
6
4
1
1
-
3
1
27
+1.082
Pakistan
6
3
3
-
-
-
2
17
-0.295
West Indies
6
1
4
1
-
-
2
10
-0.718
Australia
Top 5 Batsmen [Australia Only]
Name
Innings
Runs
Average
Best
Michael Clarke
8
411
68.50
103*
Damien Martyn
6
240
60.00
95*
Ricky Ponting
8
184
26.28
78
Andrew Symonds
6
165
27.50
91
Simon Katich
5
128
25.60
76
Matches
Wickets
Average
Best
Brett Lee
8
16
21.31
4-38
Glenn McGrath
6
15
11.86
5-27
Bradley Hogg
5
10
22.70
5-32
Jason Gillespie
6
8
29.12
3-62
Michael Kasprowicz
4
5
24.80
2-38
Top 5 Bowlers [Australia Only]
Name
Glenn McGrath at his brilliant best during the
VB Series.
Travelex Tour of New Zealand
Australia v New Zealand
February-March 2005
Australia began its tour of New Zealand
by creating its own slice of history
winning the first-ever international
Twenty-20 match, with a comprehensive
performance at Eden Park.
Australia’s win in this match made for a
unique hat-trick in international cricket, with
Australia having won the first ever Test
match, one-day international match and now,
Twenty-20 match.
Queensland’s James Hopes also made his
international cricket debut for Australia in
the fourth one-day international, making an
impressive start to his career with a solid
return of 1-38 from his 10 overs.
The game featured plenty of big hitting, fast
action and highly-entertaining cricket with
the players getting into the spirit of the
occasion, wearing retro outfits and some hair
cuts reminiscent of cricketers from the 1970’s,
the era where one-day cricket began.
Australia continued its winning form in the
Test arena with a 2-0 series win.
Australia continued its dominance of its
trans-Tasman rival, sweeping the five-match
one-day international series 5-0.
Ricky Ponting was the pick of Australia’s even
batting performance throughout the fivegame series, posting his best score of 141 not
out in the final match at Napier. He was well
supported by each of the Australian batsmen,
including Michael Hussey who emerged from
the tour as a ready-made replacement for
Michael Bevan in the middle order.
Australia’s bowlers shared the wickets;
however, it was New South Welshman Brett
Lee who continued his excellent form in the
limited-overs format of the game. Lee broke
the one hundred mile an hour barrier in the
final one-dayer in Napier and collected 10
wickets for the series - the most by any
bowler from each team.
Michael Kasprowicz goes retro during the
Twenty-20 match against New Zealand.
Adam Gilchrist dominated the series with
the bat, registering two centuries and one
fifty on his way to a series-high 343 runs at a
Bradman-like average of 171.50.
Other notable performances with the bat
during the series came from Damien Martyn
who scored 165 in the second Test and Ricky
Ponting who made 105 in the first innings of
the third and final Test in Auckland.
Australia’s bowlers were equally dominant,
particularly the experienced duo of Glenn
McGrath and Shane Warne who took 18 and
17 wickets apiece.
Warne took his 1000th first-class wicket
during the series and Glenn McGrath
finished the series on 499 Test wickets, just
one short of becoming a member of the
exclusive 500-Club.
Adam Gilchrist was named Man of the Series
as the Australian team went on leave
following another highly-successful summer
of cricket.
[43]
Rose Bowl Series
Australia v New Zealand
March 2005
The Rose Bowl series in Perth was the
final preparation for the Australian
women’s cricket team before it
embarked on its historic World Cup
campaign in South Africa.
Australia got off to a flying start in the
annual three-match series at Lilac Hill,
recording an impressive win by 87 runs,
thanks largely to the efforts of captain
Belinda Clark who scored 86 off 114 balls at
the top of the innings.
Game two at the WACA ground was a much
closer affair, with Australia posting 202,
before an impressive 91 from New Zealand’s
Haidee Tiffen took the visitors within a
breath of victory.
New Zealand fell just seven runs short, with
Australia’s bowlers again sharing the
honours with even contributions coming
from each.
The final match became a day-night fixture
at the WACA after the pitch had flooded
overnight.
In tough batting conditions, the bowlers
dominated with New Zealand managing only
114 from its 50 overs, with Emma Liddell the
pick of the Australian bowlers returning 4-17
from nine overs.
In reply, Australia fought hard to chase down
the New Zealander’s modest tally, finally
reaching the target seven wickets down, with
Karen Rolton the dominant batter posting an
aggressive 43 from 60 deliveries, handing
Australia a confidence boosting 3-0 series
victory - its fifth consecutive Rose Bowl series
title.
Belinda Clark picked up the Player of the
Series award, but most importantly, the
Southern Stars gained some excellent match
practice before they headed off to the World
Cup in South Africa.
Women’s World Cup
South Africa
March - April 2005
The Australian women’s cricket team the Commonwealth Bank Southern
Stars - celebrated long and hard after
winning a record fifth World Cup
tournament in South Africa defeating
India in the final at Super Sport Park by
98 runs.
After waiting four long years to erase the
memory of a heart-breaking loss to New
Zealand in the previous World Cup final,
captain Belinda Clark and her entourage
claimed the World Cup in grand style going
through the tournament undefeated.
Vice-captain Karen Rolton scored a brilliant
107 not out, the second highest score by a
female in a World Cup final, while Lisa
Sthalekar also rose to the challenge of the
occasion, with an invaluable 55 off 75
deliveries, helping Australia to its total of 215.
In the field, Australia was insatiable. Four run
outs and a bowling outfit ably led by Cathryn
Fitzpatrick never let the Indian batters gather
momentum. Only four of the Indians
managed to make double figures, before
their team was all out for 117.
Over the course of the tournament, Australia
was well served with the bat by Karen Rolton
[246 runs], Lisa Keightley [198] and Lisa
Sthalekar [165 runs]. With the ball, it was
[44]
Shelley Nitschke who took the most wickets
for Australia [11], while Karen Rolton and
Cathryn Fitzpatrick each claimed 10.
Fittingly, the women’s team received
messages from many well-wishers during
the course of the World Cup, including the
Prime Minister of Australia The Hon. John
Howard and men’s captain Ricky Ponting.
Upon their return to Australia, the team was
greeted for a champagne breakfast by
numerous fans, including Australian vicecaptain Adam Gilchrist, before heading home
to their respective states.
Australia has won the title on four previous
occasions, in 1978, 1982, 1988 and 1997, with
Belinda Clark and Cathryn Fitzpatrick now
having played in four World Cup campaigns.
Pura Cup 2004-05
Final Standings
1. New South Wales
2. Queensland
3. Western Australia
4. Victoria
5. South Australia
6. Tasmania
In one of the most exciting Pura Cup
finals in recent years, New South Wales
overcame an unrelenting Queensland
side to win the Pura Cup by a solitary
wicket under lights at the ‘Gabba.
The Blues appeared to be cruising midway
through their second-innings chase; however,
Queensland struck back taking 5-3 in the
space of 18 balls, before tailenders Stuart
MacGill and Nathan Bracken steered the New
South Welshmen home to a historic victory.
Queensland spearhead Andy Bichel led from
the front for the Bulls all season, breaking
Craig McDermott’s 15-year record for the
most wickets in a season for the state,
finishing on 60 wickets for the year.
Only South Australia’s young fast bowler
Shaun Tait claimed more scalps for the
season, capturing an impressive 65 wickets
from his 10 matches.
On the batting front, few could begrudge
Tasmanian recruit Michael Bevan his Pura
Cup Player of the Year award, following his
record-breaking season which saw him net
1464 runs from only nine matches at an
average of 97.60.
Bevan’s stellar season saw him break
Matthew Elliott’s runs aggregate record for a
season, but was not enough to lift his new
team off the bottom of the table.
Western Australia narrowly missed out on a
final’s appearance after Queensland held the
Retravision Warriors to a draw in the final
round of the season. However, like its
neighbouring South Australia, the Western
Australian squad boasts some of the
countries most talented young players and
both states look to have a bright future in
seasons to come.
Reigning champions Victoria could not
reproduce their exceptional form from the
previous season, finishing fourth on the table
with Brad Hodge and Mick Lewis being the
leading contributors for the Bushrangers
throughout the year.
Top 5 Bowlers
Name
Shaun Tait
Andy Bichel
Stuart MacGill
State
Wickets
Average
Best
SA
65
20.16
7-99
QLD
60
22.10
7-77
NSW
54
24.66
6-85
Joe Dawes
QLD
46
21.93
6-49
Adam Griffith
TAS
45
28.77
7-54
Top 5 Batsmen
Name
Michael Bevan
State
Runs
Average
Best
TAS
1464
97.60
190
Phil Jaques
NSW
1191
66.16
240*
Dominic Thornely
NSW
1006
62.87
261*
Brad Haddin
NSW
902
60.13
154
VIC
891
63.64
204*
Brad Hodge
Clockwise from top left:
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars
following its victory in the Rose Bowl series.
Stuart MacGill is ecstatic after hitting the
winning runs in the Pura Cup final against
Queensland.
Darren Wates bowling during a Pura Cup match
against New South Wales.
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars
celebrate a wicket during the World Cup.
Belinda Clark’s smile says it all as she holds the
coveted World Cup trophy.
[45]
ING Cup 2004-05
Final Standings
1. Tasmania
2. Queensland
3. Victoria
4. Western Australia
5. South Australia
6. New South Wales
Tasmania toppled home-town
favourites Queensland in the ING Cup
final, cruising to a seven-wicket victory
to register its second domestic limitedovers title for the Apple Isle.
Despite dominating the competition during
the home and away season finishing nine
points clear on top of the ladder, Queensland
was unable to convert its second finals
appearance in as many years.
One-day specialist Michael Bevan completed
the game on 47 not out, taking his aggregate
to a season-high 519 runs at an average of
86.50, ably supported by Tasmanian skipper
Daniel Marsh who compiled a timely 67 not
out off 84 balls.
The Queenslanders entered the game
without James Hopes who was touring New
Zealand with the national side and later
went on to win the ING Cup Player of the
Year Award.
There were several notable individual
performances throughout the year, including
New South Welshman Doug Bollinger and
Western Australia’s Kade Harvey who both
bowled hat-tricks during the season,
completing a list of only five players in the
history of Australian domestic limited-overs
cricket who have achieved such a feat.
Western Australia’s Adam Voges hammered a
century off only 62 balls against New South
Wales, breaking the previous ‘fastest-100’
record held by Stuart Law [69 balls against
Tasmania in 2003-04].
During his whirlwind knock, Voges became
the tenth player to hit the ING sign, earning
him $50,000 from ING.
Since the inception of the ‘Hit the Sign’
competition, ING has contributed more than
$900,000 to the award, on top of the prizemoney and sponsorship they have provided
for the game in the 13 years they have been
involved with the domestic one-day
competition.
The ING Cup was again a popular vehicle to
take state cricket to some of Australia’s
regional centres, with Ballarat, Canberra,
Devonport, Launceston and Newcastle all
hosting matches throughout the season.
TOP 5 BATSMEN
Name
Clockwise from top left:
The West End Redbacks celebrate a wicket
during the ING Cup.
The Cascade Tasmanian Tigers team following
their victory in the ING Cup.
Victoria Spirit celebrates after its gripping finals
victory in the WNCL.
Damien Wright starred for Australia A
throughout the season.
Rising star David Hussey hits out for Australia A.
Runs
Average
Best
Michael Bevan
TAS
519
86.50
118
Jimmy Maher
QLD
490
44.54
104
Greg Blewett
SA
472
59.00
125
Marcus North
WA
412
45.77
134*
Matthew Elliott
VIC
393
39.30
77
TOP 5 BOWLERS
Name
Shaun Tait
State
SA
Wickets
Average
Best
21
19.90
4-29
Brett Geeves
TAS
20
20.00
5-45
Mick Lewis
VIC
18
17.83
3-30
NSW
16
23.81
4-37
WA
16
25.37
4-25
Stuart MacGill
Kade Harvey
[46]
State
Commonwealth Bank WNCL 2004-05
Final Standings
1. Victoria
2. New South Wales
3. South Australia
4. Queensland
5. Western Australia
The Commonwealth Bank Women’s
National Cricket League [WNCL] title
was fought out between the two
dominant teams of the year, Victoria
Spirit and the New South Wales
Breakers, in what was a tense and
memorable come-from-behind
championship victory for Victoria.
Having been defeated in the first match of
the best-of-three finals series held at
Bankstown, Victoria fought its way back into
the series largely due to its superior bowling
outfit and fielding efforts.
The Spirit eclipsed New South Wales in the
second final, routing them for only 71, before
wrapping up the title in the third and
deciding match of the series, bowling New
South Wales out for 109 after posting a
modest 159 in the first innings.
It was the Spirit’s 38th title and second in
three years, with Victoria and New South
Wales having contested each of the past four
WNCL championship title series.
However, it was not all one-way traffic for
Victoria and New South Wales throughout
the course of the year, several other
individuals being leading figures in the
competition.
South Australia’s Karen Rolton particularly
shone, topping the competition bowling
aggregate with 12 wickets and being the
third best run-scorer for the year with 200
runs at an average of 50.00, in what was
another fantastic performance from the
Australian all-rounder.
West Australian Zoe Goss also enjoyed a
golden summer, finishing second on the run
scoring aggregate with 205 runs at 34.16.
Victorian and Australian captain Belinda
Clark led the way with the bat however,
stamping her dominance of the competition
with 261 runs at the very healthy average of
65.25 in what was a very satisfying season for
the right-handed opener.
Top 5 Bowlers
Name
Karen Rolton
Cathryn Fitzpatrick
State
Wickets
Average
Best
SA
12
7.75
5-7
VIC
11
13.09
3-21
Sarah Aley
NSW
9
16.33
3-24
Clea Smith
VIC
8
19.00
2-9
NSW
8
19.00
4-32
State
Runs
Average
Best
107*
Lisa Sthalekar
Top 5 Batters
Name
Belinda Clark
VIC
261
65.25
Zoe Goss
WA
205
34.16
71
SA
200
50.00
125
Melanie Jones
VIC
200
40.00
66*
Sarah Edwards
VIC
185
30.83
90
Karen Rolton
Australia A
Australia A played four matches during
2004-05, losing a one-day match to
Pakistan before easily accounting for
them in a 20-over fixture. The team also
played two one-day fixtures against the
West Indies, with the ledger squared at
one win apiece.
Importantly, the Australia A program
unearthed some of Australia’s potential stars
of the future giving them an opportunity to
gain invaluable experience in the
international arena.
against Pakistan in Adelaide. Played under
lights before a near capacity crowd at
Adelaide Oval, it provided Australia with its
first international 20-over match that was
televised live on the Nine network.
Brad Haddin and David Hussey each posted
centuries in Australia A colours, while the
likes of Damien Wright, Shaun Tait and Mick
Lewis all impressed with the ball.
Victorian duo David Hussey [50] and
Cameron White [58 not out] were the
mainstays of the Australian A innings, before
Nathan Bracken, Wright, James Hopes, White
and Tait each shared the bowling honours in
what was a carnival-like atmosphere.
One of the biggest drawcards of the 2004-05
Australia A program was the 20-over match
[47]
Prime Minister’s XI
Australian stalwart Michael Bevan led
an emerging group of Australian
cricketers against Pakistan in the
annual Prime Minister’s XI one-day
fixture at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
The match - played in front of approximately
10,000 fans - continues to be ACT Cricket’s
showcase event of the year as well as an
important stepping stone for Australia’s
emerging players.
The Prime Minister’s XI was sent into bat and
despite solid contributions from Western
Australian pair Luke Ronchi [40] and Chris
Rogers [46], the Prime Minister’s XI was
bowled out for 191 after 46.4 overs.
Pakistan easily reined in the target despite the
best efforts of another West Australian, Ben
Edmondson, who took 3-38 from nine overs.
Queensland’s Barry Weare hits out during the Prime Minister’s XI match against Pakistan.
Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars Tour of Sri Lanka
Australia v India
September 2004
Australia’s under-23 women’s team, the
Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars,
completed a near perfect tour of Sri
Lanka in September 2004, with rain the
only factor intervening in the group’s
unbeaten run.
The Shooting Stars played Sri Lanka in three
one-day fixtures, easily accounting for the
hosts in the first two matches of the series,
before the third match was washed out.
They then took on Sri Lanka A at Moratuwa
International Stadium, again recording an
easy win, before locking horns with Sri Lanka
in the final match of the series, a three-day
fixture held at the Kettarama International
Ground, which they won in convincing style.
Each member of the team made some
valuable contributions during the tour. In
particular, captain Leah Poulton was
consistent with the bat, along with Sarah
Edwards, Kelly Applebee and Kate Blackwell,
while Kirsten Pike, Laura Bates and Edwards
featured with the ball throughout the tour.
The Commonwealth Bank Shooting Stars take in some sights during their tour of Sri Lanka.
Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars Tour of India
Australia v India
December 2004
The Commonwealth Bank Southern
Stars completed a 4-3 series victory over
a highly-competitive Indian outfit during
its one-day series in December 2004.
Australia put early pressure on the hosts;
winning the first two matches with relative
comfort, with Kate Blackwell and Shelley
Nitschke each making their international
debuts during these fixtures.
Australia’s solid form deserted it in the final
two games of the tour, despite some
excellent individual performances by Lisa
Sthalekar [43 in game six] and Cathryn
Fitzpatrick [4-25 in game seven].
India claimed the third match of the series
after overtaking Australia’s modest tally of
147 before the visitors bounced back to win
matches four and five and secure the series.
Lisa Keightley was named Player of the Series
after averaging 27.28 with the bat and taking
eight wickets and the excellent average of
8.37 throughout the series, and also won a
car for her Player of the Match performance
in Vapi.
Lisa Keightley [3-17 and 80 runs] and Karen
Rolton [52 not out] were match winners in
game four with Cathryn Fitzpatrick’s 3-19 in
game five a tour highlight.
The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars during a training session at Mysore in India.
[48]