Cricket Australia reveal new Indigenous strip, D’Arcy Short set for T20 call up

Australia’s men’s team will wear Indigenous shirts for this summer’s Twenty20 series against India, but could an Aboriginal star be drafted in to wear it? See the new kit here.

Australia will wear an Indigenous cricket strip for the first time this summer, and one of its few Aboriginal stars is only a Short step away from donning it.

Twenty20 master blaster D’Arcy Short, who hails from the Mitakoodi people of north-western Queensland, could come in as a replacement player for the series if one of Australia’s top order stars is rested or injured.

It would be a fitting moment for only the sixth Indigenous cricketer to represent his country at the highest level, to be able to wear a shirt designed by a descendant of one of the members of the first Australian cricket team to go to England in 1868.

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Mitchell Starc shows off Cricket Australia’s Indigenous cricket strip for the Summer. Picture: Supplied.

However, while Short remains only a possible inclusion should the likes of David Warner or Aaron Finch be rested, Australia’s non-Indigenous stars are proud to follow in the footsteps of the Wallabies who have started playing rugby Tests in Indigenous jerseys.

The 2020/21 Cricket Australia Indigenous T20 shirt is here! Celebrating Indigenous culture and traditions within the design, show your support this summer by securing yours today! #ASICSCricket

Get yours: https://t.co/sxxCzTX4v0 pic.twitter.com/IB0Fwr2veh

— ASICS Australia (@ASICSaustralia) November 11, 2020

“It’s a first for the men’s team and it’s really exciting to have a chance as a group to play in an Indigenous jersey, the players are really excited about it,” said Aussie star Mitchell Starc.

“(Women’s Indigenous star) Ash Gardner spoke really well about education and learning more about culture and it’s a huge part of our country’s history.

“We’re very fortunate to be a part of it and wear our culture on our shirts and it’s something we’ll be really proud of.”

D’Arcy Short could be in line for a T20 international call up this summer if injury strikes. Picture: Getty Images.

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Aunty Fiona Clarke and Cricket Australia’s Indigenous Engagement Specialist Courtney Hagen – Butchulla and Gubbi Gubbi women – co-designed the shirt, which features cricket’s ‘Walkabout Wickets’ symbol.

“This is a great opportunity for cricket to continue sharing stories about the rich contribution First Nations people have made in the sport, starting with the 1868 cricket team as an incredible backbone of all-time sporting history to share and celebrate across the country and globe,” said Hagen.

“Through the design, we wanted to create something that paid tribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cricketers – past, present and future. We’ve incorporated artwork that symbolises strength, guidance and support through a connection to our ancestors, represented through the stars and the resilience of the 1868 team represented strongly.”