‘To grow the game I love’: Murrumbidgee Mankadders join Gundagai cricket competition

It started out as a bunch of cricket-mad mates who decided to form their own team, and now the Murrumbidgee Mankadders are the newest members of the Gundagai Cricket Association.

It started out as a bunch of cricket-mad mates who decided to form their own team, and now the Murrumbidgee Mankadders are the newest members of the Gundagai District Cricket Association.

The Mankadders formed in 2021, taking part in the Last Man Stands competition - a form of T20 cricket played with only eight players per side.

After some success in that comp, the group of friends have decided to try their hand at club cricket - and are all set to play in the Gundagai association’s 2022/23 season in the Hogan and Elders Cup 40 over one-day competitions.

“The Murrumbidgee Mankadders have been an idea of mine for three years; my career goal is to teach around the world building cricket clubs, and moving to Wagga from Melbourne I needed a new club,” club founder and president Miq Hargreaves said.

The Mankadders - named after cricket all-rounder Vinoo Mankad - originally wanted to join the Wagga Cricket Association but decided Gundagai was a better fit for what they wanted to achieve.

Murrumbidgee Mankadders Cricket Club. Picture: Supplied

“They have a wonderful set-up that is city focused and we were always keen on playing country cricket,” Mr Hargreaves said.

“We initially looked at playing towns like Culcairn, Henty in the Holbrook & District Cricket Association as I played in a few flags in school for Uranquinty who’ve since ceased, but Gundagai was a better option for us.

“That isn’t a knock on the Wagga Comp, they offer many pathways to professional cricket, just look at Rachel Trenaman and the success their rep side has had in the Regional T20 Championships.

“However it’s that quasi grade cricket mentality that means Wagga Cricket has a huge economy of scale, financially unfeasible for new small upstart clubs.

“Six clubs with five to six teams each plus junior’s and women’s; minimum requirements to join were impossible for the Mankadders.”

Mr Hargreaves said joining the Gundagai Cricket Association was a better option to grow the game in the region, and to provide Tarcutta - where they’re based - with a sporting team that could help develop a sense of community.

“We hope to help them achieve that. By reinvigorating the Tarcutta community’s interest in cricket we can help facilitate cricket for the school students out there and establish a country women’s one-day cricket competition,” he said.

“We share the same values and ethos with the clubs in the Gundagai / Tumut Cricket Competition. Country sporting clubs fold or worse merge year on year, smaller townships are being abandoned by sport for a plethora of reasons.”

The team will need to take an hour round trip to compete at Gundagai, but home games will be a bonus.

“Travel will be a huge factor, we fully anticipate it will have a negative impact on the availability of the current Mankadders squad making the journey,” Mr Hargreaves said.

“The new publicans at the Tarcutta Pub are striving hard to revitalise the Tarcutta Village and cricket on a Saturday will be another event, hopefully as they sit in the beer garden overlooking the mighty Murrumbidgee Mankadders we can secure a few locals too.”

Club president Miq Hargreaves looks forward to playing in the Gundagai comp. Picture: Supplied

Mankadders club secretary, Daniel Kisela, added: “Competitions like the Gundagai one are struggling to attract good numbers, so while we may be based in Wagga, we are excited to join a regional competition as opposed to these competitions having teams amalgamate or fold completely.”

The Wagga Cricket Association operations manager Paul McKelvie said they were very pleased to see another cricket club in Wagga and wished them all the best for the season.

“I think it is great that they want to play cricket and support the local area no matter what competition they play,” Mr McKelvie said.

Gundagai District Cricket Association presidentWill McGrath welcomed their newest member.

“I’m looking forward to it and I hope to bring some fresh ideas for all clubs and the hope they can grow the game of cricket in the Riverina,” he said.