Recapturing appeal of the indoor game

INDOOR cricket is determined to emerge from the shadow of its outdoor counterpart and continue its resurgence to return to the glory days of two decades ago.

For the first time in around 20 years, a state championships will take place this weekend.

It will feature more than 100 players from under-15 level through to masters at the Cricket Hub in Kingston.

The highlight will be the men’s and women’s open events, which will pit players from the south and north against each other in the high octane, action-packed environment.

Tasmania has not featured in the Australian championships since the early 2000s as facilities became scarce and interest in the sport waned.

However, Tasmanian Indoor Cricket Association president Allan Dickins is hopeful a recent spike in participation is the beginning of a return to the national stage for the popular sport.

“It’s an exciting opportunity to really re-establish indoor cricket on the map in

Tasmania as a sport,” Dickins said.

“Tasmanians love their cricket, we always have, and what we’re trying to do is get back to a place where there are clear pathways for all the talent that there is both in the outdoor and in the indoor game, where they see indoor cricket as an opportunity to represent their state, at national level and even potentially at an international level.

“This is the first weekend of really re-engaging that process and next April we’re looking at then having a more formal state championships, as a lead-up to the national carnivals which come in July next year.

“It’s really exciting for us because there is such an energy around the sport at the moment. We keep using the word resurgence, and that’s what we’re trying to buy into because I think there is.”

Dickins said support from both Cricket Tasmania and Cricket Australia has assisted in raising the profile of the indoor version of the sport.

Former state and Hurricanes spinner Clive Rose, who plays in the midweek roster at Kingston, continues to represent Victoria at the national indoor carnival.

Dual Kookaburra Cup winner and multisport talent Bonnie Davies will captain the south women’s team this weekend.

“It’s really fun, it’s fun pace, different to [outdoor] cricket but also you are doing skills that are going to be really useful for outdoor cricket,” said Davies, who has recently returned from Victoria after spending time training with W-League side Melbourne Victory.

“We’ve got a good group of girls, so looking forward to it.”