.
“You might not like it, but it is the way of business. And if business has imposed its values on IPL, that’s only because it was invited, even entreated, to do so, in order that the maximum sums be extracted from the sale of franchises. Face it: the money changers aren’t in the temple, they were sold the keys to the temple; and since then they have changed the locks.”
– Gideon Haigh
from Sphere of Influence: Writings on Cricket and its Discontents
The Victorian Indigenous Cricket Team had a hit out against a composite side from the Master Blasters Corporate Twenty20 Cricket Competition, playing a Twenty20 match at Harry Trott Oval in Albert Park last Sunday.
The match was held as part of the final training session for the Victorian representatives before they head off to the Imparja Cup to be held from February 7-12 in Alice Springs. The tournament is the premier showcase of indigenous cricket talent in Australia.
The match was also a useful warmup for the The Master Blasters Corporate Twenty20 players who are about to start their 5 week season. Master Blasters organisers Kate East and Jeremy DeZylva started the week night competition for business people unable to to commit to weekend cricket. The competition is now in its second year and involves 10 teams from significant Melbourne corporations.
As well as attracting some decent cricketers, Master Blasters have also worked hard to support community initiatives through its charity partners Sacred Heart Mission and Urban Seed’s Credo Cricket Program. Indian student, Ashish Narula who plays for Urban Seed’s Indian Tigers Indoor Cricket Team joined the Master Blasters and was most impressed with the talent of the Indigenous team.
“They were very fast bowlers. I could barely hit it, let alone off the square!”
After being hit for the biggest six he had ever seen he said,
“I was happy, I finally got a stumping with my topspinner!”
More great photos of the day can be found at the Cricket Victoria Flickr site here
