International cricket gets cricketing families backing ahead of South African tour in August

Cricketing families have backed the push by Cairns Council to bring intertional cricket back to the region, following the news Australia will host South Africa in August with fixtures planned for Northern Australia. READ how it could all happen here >>>

Young cricketers in Far North Queensland are throwing the support behind the potential of seeing their favourite cricketers back up in the region.

The Palmer family, who play cricket for Atherton, have thrown there support behind Australia hosting South Africa in August this year when the Proteas arrive for their three one day and three T20 tour.

Shannon, Kyell, Indiana and Braxton are mad cricket fans who recently travelled to Brisbane to watch the Heat play against the Hobart Hurricanes at the Gabba.

Indi, who plays junior cricket for Atherton and senior cricket for Cassowary Coast and her younger brother Braxton are excited at the concept of seeing their stars play at Cazalys stadium.

L-R: Kyell, Braxton, Indiana and Shannon Palmer all are associated with the Atherton Cricket Club. Picture: Jake Garland

“I think it will be a really good experience for many to go and watch first class cricketers playing in Cairns,” Indi Palmer said.

“We don’t get it that often so I think it would be really good for Cairns to go and watch.

“We recently went and watched the Brisbane Heat play and it was great to see bowlers bowling at 140km and it would be great to see that in Cairns.

“It will be a good series to watch, especially after seeing Australia defeat India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“So I think it will be really good to see them play South Africa.”

The young pace bowler is excited at the chance to watch her favourite bowler, Mitchell Starc steam in at the quick, bouncy pitch at Cazalys Stadium.

Young Braxton on the other hand, is excited to see his favourite batsman Marnus Labuschgne and Aussie Test captain Pat Cummins.

“It will be very exciting,” Braxton said.

“I like the style he (Marnus) plays, he is a smart cricketer.”

With the potential of hosting a number of games in Cairns, the siblings believe they will be able to convince mum and dad to let them get to all games.

“Yeah, 100 per cent,” Indi said.

South Africa are set to tour in August in Northern Australia with grounds in Darwin, Cairns and Mackay being looked at as well as other potential venues in the area.

‘We’ll fight for it’: Council back push for international cricket

The Cairns Council have backed the push for an international cricket match to be played at Cazalys Stadium.

It comes on the back of Australia set to host South Africa in August with the fixtures being played in northern Australia but no specific grounds named.

Deputy Mayor Brett Olds said it is time we start putting our money where our mouth is.

“The Mayor and I were meant to go down to Brisbane for the Fusion grand final at the Gabba in December to chat to Cricket Australia and Cricket Queensland about bringing elite sport back to Cairns,” Olds said.

“My flight got cancelled so I didn’t make it but Amy and Kev Maher were down there and pitched to them about why we should host any elite cricket matches.

Cairns Regional Council Mayor Amy Eden and Deputy Mayor Brett Olds have continued to push to get elite sport to the region. Picture Emily Barker.

“We are supportive of getting any cricket we can get here, the bigger the better.

“We would love more BBL and WBBL games but to get the Australian team here to Cairns, what wouldn’t we do to get it, it would be huge.

“We want this kind of content and we’ll fight for it. Yes.”

Cairns last hosted the Australian cricket team in September 2022 in the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series of three one day internationals against New Zealand.

Australia won the series 3-0 and it was the first time Australian men’s cricket had been played in the region since the early 2000s.

“I remember I took my daughter and she yelled out to (Glenn) Maxwell and he gave her a cute wave back,” Olds said.

“Those moments are pretty special for her and for families as well because the kids are out, they are active and watching sport.

“But not just any sport, these are professional athletes, kids idols playing in front of them.

“This is the chance to have the top two cricketing nations in the world play in our backyard.

“I remember when I was playing for Barron River, we ran the bar for the four days when England played Queensland here.

“We got to see the likes of Darren Gough who was steaming in, Ian Healy was playing for Queensland, so was Roy Symonds.

“Those are the memories I have watching the greats play and getting to witness them, our kids and cricket lovers now should get the opportunity to do the same.”

Australia's Josh Hazlewood (L) celebrate the wicket of New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell with teammates during the third one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Australia and New Zealand at the Cazalys Stadium in Cairns on September 11, 2022. (Photo by Saeed Khan / AFP)

Minister for Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games said the prospect of the Proteas playing in North Queensland next summer will add to the growing reputation of our regions as world-class sporting destinations.

“South Africa is one of the most powerful cricketing teams in the world and Australia’s opponents in the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord’s in June” Mander said.

“Our climate and outstanding facilities make it the perfect place to host world-class cricket all year round at a number of regional locations.

“We know our local communities embrace the opportunity to see some of the world’s best players firsthand, an experience which also encourages greater participation, particularly among children and young people.

Cairns, July 26, 2003. Australian batsman Darren Lehmann celebrates scoring a century on the 2nd day of play at Cazaly's Sport Ground during the second Australia v Bangladesh Top End Tour test cricket in Cairns. It is the first time a test match has been played in Cairns. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

“Cazalys Stadium in Cairns has a proud history of hosting men’s international matches, including Test Matches against Bangladesh in 2003 and Sri Lanka in 2004, a first-class match against a touring Pakistan side in 2016 and a 3-match ODI series against New Zealand in 2022.

“The recent tour match played between Australia A and India A at Great Barrier Reef Arena, ahead of the Summer’s incredible test series, also showed how successful a major international match in Mackay can be.”

Cazalys Stadium has hosted two international test matches, Australia and Bangladesh in July 2003 and Australia and Sri Lanka in July 2004.

The 2004 test against Sri Lanka was remembered for when Shane Warne equalling Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralitharan at 527 test match wickets.

While a total of five ODIs have been played at Cazalys Stadium, three against New Zealand in 2022 and two against Bangladesh in 2003 – Australia has won them all.

It will be the first time in more than 10 years since South Africa have played an ODI series in Australia, outside of the World Cups.

In November 2014, South Africa played in three T20 matches and five ODIs against Australia.

Originally published as International cricket gets cricketing families backing ahead of South African tour in August