Southern Spirit women’s cricket side fined for wearing Hawaiian shirts during fundraising game
A furore has erupted in the fledgling sport of women’s cricket on the Central Coast after a new team was hit with what is believed to be a record fine — along with other penalties — while raising money for the McGrath Foundation.
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Central Coast Cricket Association (CCCA) has slapped a women’s team with a record $1000 fine, stripped it of 80 per cent of its competition points and suspended the captain for four games because players wore pink Hawaiian shirts during a McGrath Foundation fundraiser.
The unprecedented penalties came after the newly formed Southern Spirit women’s team raised $5108 with its “Pink Stumps Day” when it played Narara Wyoming at Umina Oval on January 11.
The players were reportedly told not to wear unsanctioned clothing during the match but the Express Advocate has been told the official umpire on the day took no issue with the team wearing unbuttoned pink Hawaiian shirts while fielding.
The players took the shirts off to bowl, bat and wicket keep.
The women’s T20 competition is in just its second season on the Central Coast and it is the first season the Peninsula club fielded a women’s side.
Their captain Sally Oman was suspended for four games, while the club has been left reeling by what many local cricketers believe to be the biggest fine of $1000 ever dished out by CCCA in its history.
The Southern Spirit’s women’s team, which has been sitting in second position for most of the season has also been stripped of 20 competition points — the equivalent of 10 wins or 80 per cent of its points.
CCCA zone administrator Garry Burkinshaw said the association had “no comment” because “the process is still being undertaken”.
The penalties have drawn fire on social media with a number of people blasting it as “a disgrace”.
“The CCA have once again embarrassed themselves, it might take some pretty inventive PR to justify this behaviour,” Gary Blake posted on Facebook.
Another, Wendy Desbrow said: “Absolutely ridiculous. CCCA should be ashamed of themselves”.
Meanwhile, it is understood one Narara Wyoming Cricket Club women’s player was also suspended for one game after she wore a pink wig and a tutu in the field to support the carnival-like atmosphere of the day, having lost someone close to her from cancer.
The club sought approval from CCCA for the women to wear the shirts but it was refused on both occasions.
It is understood the women took it upon themselves to wear the shirts, unbuttoned and over their sanctioned uniforms in the field, having already purchased them.
A source said they thought by not wearing them while batting, bowling or keeping it would not distract the opposition or have any bearing on the outcome.
CCCA issued the club a breach notice, which Southern Spirit have today appealed.
It will go before a hearing on February 5.
Meanwhile the club posted a message on its Facebook page reminding players not to comment.
“A reminder to all members that no public statements — written or verbal are to be given in relation to any matters without approval from the Southern Spirit Cricket Club’s Board as it may be in breach of the club’s and Central Coast Crickets (sic) Media Policy,” the post reads.
The McGrath Foundation supported the fundraiser.
“The Southern Spirit Cricket Association registered to host a Pink Stumps Day to fundraise on behalf of the McGrath Foundation,” a McGrath Foundation spokeswoman said.
“Pink Stumps Day is the McGrath Foundation’s largest community-led fundraising campaign where cricket clubs and teams, and whole communities come together to turn their game pink and raise funds for McGrath Breast Care Nurses.
“We are extremely grateful for the incredible support of all our fundraisers, including the Southern Spirit Cricket Club. It’s only through the generous support of these communities that we can do what we do.”