Australia, NSW fires: Cricket bushfire relief charity game

The bushfire devastation which has gripped Australia this summer has left thousands needing support. Cricket can help provide it, if it steps up as it has done so many times before, writes Robert Craddock.

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Cricket, as it did in previous generations, should rise to the challenge of having a specific game to raise money for bushfire relief.

As Australia’s prime, truly national game, cricket should show the way with a designated game like it has in the past.

In 1967, after 62 people were killed in bushfires in Tasmania, cricket responded with a massive fundraising game at the MCG and again, soon after Ash Wednesday fires in South Australia and Victoria in February in 1983, New Zealand won a one-off fundraising match by 14 runs at the SCG.

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Cricket can unite to raise funds for the fire-ravaged regions of Australia. Picture: Getty

Cricket’s generous spirit is already being showcased with the bowlers donating $1000 a wicket in the third Test against the Kiwis and batsmen such as Chris Lynn and Glenn Maxwell donating money for sixes they hit in the Big Bash.

There are also a raft of fundraising initiatives at the third Test and for the one-day series later this summer, but there is still scope for the mega-fundraiser which could unite the nation.

Brisbane Heat’s Chris Lynn is leading the way for cricket’s fundraising efforts so far. Picture: Getty

Former Test fast bowler Rodney Hogg had links to the Tasmanian match and the Ash Wednesday fundraiser – he watched the first as a teenager and the second was played in his era – and he recalls the rousing spirit of both occasions.

“I was 16 at the bushfire match at the MCG in 1967 and I can still remember watching Peter Burge playing,’’ Hogg said.

“The crowd was good and it was a game between the Australian side which had just returned from South Africa and another Australian team Les Favell was about to take to New Zealand.

“The game against New Zealand at the SCG in 1983 was special because it was only a couple of years after the underarm incident yet New Zealand came over at short notice out of the goodness of their hearts to help us out.

“I think it is one of the reasons why we like the Kiwis. These games are good to see and I am sure Cricket Australia will do something big. The fast bowlers have already started kicking in which is great.’’

Rodney Hogg, who recalls previous cricket fundraising matches, sends down a bouncer at David Gower. Picture: Advertiser Library

With the Australian 50-over team about to head to India one option might be a match between the Big Bash international players and an invitation XI.

Or maybe even a mixed match between female stars such as Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry playing with and against the men featuring guest stars such as footballers with cricket backgrounds – Greater Western Sydney captain Stephen Coniglio played cricket for West Australia as a youngster or South Sydney’s Alex Johnston.

Stephen Coniglio (left) has strong ties to cricket.

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said the option of a bushfire game was on the table.

“I’d love to think we could do something along those lines,’’ Roberts told SEN.

“We’ve all got great memories of the role those sorts of events have played in situations of disaster and tragedy in the past.

“I’d love to think we could make the most of those one day internationals in March and we’re very open to other initiatives which could include celebrity matches.

“We have a very crowded cricket calendar as you know. We need to make sure that what we do has maximum impact. If there’s time and space and availability of the right people nothing is off the table in terms of what we would consider.”