Big Bash League’s Sydney Sixers form ‘Barefoot Circle’ at Coffs Harbour

The Sydney Sixers have arrived in Coffs Harbour for their crucial Big Bash League (BBL) cricket match on New Year’s Day – and one of their first actions underlined the sport’s focus to celebrate Indigenous Australia.

The Sydney Sixers have arrived in Coffs Harbour for their crucial Big Bash League (BBL) cricket match on New Year’s Day – and one of their first actions underlined the sport’s focus to celebrate Indigenous Australia.

Before each game at a new venue, Sydney Sixers players take part in a ‘Barefoot Circle’, explained spokesperson Dave Lyall.

The circle is a cricket-centric way for players and teams to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land (in this case the Gumbayggirr people), connect to each other and pay respect to the country (land).

“This is done barefoot as a way to connect to country, but also a moment to reflect that we are all on common ground, we are all human beings, and we need to stand strong with each other, for each other,” Lyall said.

“A player or staff member delivers an Acknowledgement of Country and in doing so helps to educate the group about the Indigenous history of the region.”

Lyall said Cricket NSW is committed to the Reconciliation Action Plan it launched in 2021.

The Indigenous focus for the sport received another fillip this week when Scott Boland debuted for Australia in the Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Boland, at age 32, became just the second Indigenous Test player to don the baggy green.

And he embraced the opportunity, named man of the match as Australia humbled England to secure The Ashes with two Tests to play.

Sydney Sixers star batsman Jordan Silk – described as the best fielder in the country by legend Ricky Ponting – said Saturday’s BBL game against the Melbourne Renegades was crucial.

The Sixers are tied with the Perth Scorchers at the top of the table, and Silk predicted the Coffs wicket would be a good one for batting, so some high scoring was on the cards.

The match is scheduled to get underway at 7.30pm on Saturday.