‘Catch it’ is the theme as Adelaide Strikers unveil their BBL09 indigenous playing shirt for Perth clash
The Adelaide Strikers’ playing shirts have become a work of art for Monday night’s indigenous celebration match against Perth Scorchers in BBL09.
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The Adelaide Strikers have been given greater power to take their catches in their BBL09 home opener against the Perth Scorchers at Adelaide Oval on Monday night
Jason Gillespie’s players will wear their indigenous playing shirt, named ‘Karrampu Manku-nthi’, whose Kaurna word meaning is to “catch something that has been hit or thrown from above’’.
“That’s the game, catching the ball, so we have to do it,’’ said Gillespie, whose team will this season be trying to claim its second Twenty20 title after its breakthrough triumph in BBL07.
“This is a great shirt, the artwork’s absolutely brilliant and I’ve actually put in an order for a couple more of these for myself because they look fantastic.’’
Designed by artist Allan Sumner, the key element of this season’s indigenous shirt is the
centric circles in the middle of the artwork, which represent a cricket ground, with a batsman and bowler facing off at each end.
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The dots on either side represent the cricket ball as it is hit and thrown across the field.
The hands featured on the sleeves illustrate the hands of the players, while the different shades of blue dots acknowledge different communities and places across the country where the
Strikers play cricket.
The indigenous celebration match continues a three-season tradition between the Strikers and Scorchers, where the two teams play for the Jason Gillespie trophy.
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Gillespie is the only recognised indigenous male person to have played Test cricket for Australia.
The Strikers are the current holders of the trophy after a five-wicket win against the Scorchers at Adelaide Oval last season, squaring the ledger at 1-1.
“This is a great initiative and we are again proud to wear a specially-designed shirt for the third year running and represent many different communities while we play our game,’’ Gillespie said.
“It is important that we keep the legacy that we created moving forward and continue to motivate and inspire not only indigenous communities, but everyone to play cricket together.
“To play for a trophy with my name on it, I’m very grateful.”
The Strikers players undertook a cultural awareness program with Ngarrindjeri Elder, artist and politician ‘Uncle Moogy’ at Karen Rolton Oval on Wednesday.
It included Dreamtime stories and a boomerang demonstration, where batsman Jon Wells was the star performer.
Rising Adelaide Crows star Wayne Milera will don a Strikers indigenous shirt and conduct the bat flip on Monday.
andrew.capel@news.com.au