Gold Coast cricket club push for Indigenous middle stumps across league

A Gold Coast cricket club are calling on all Taper Financial Premier League clubs to create an Aboriginal artwork middle stump in a move to encourage more Indigenous kids into the game.

Preston Campbell with Alberton Ormeau's Aboriginal artwork middle stump, designed by himself.

Alberton Ormeau Cricket Club are calling on all Taper Financial Premier League clubs to create an Aboriginal artwork middle stump in a move to encourage more Indigenous kids into the game.

Club community development lead Lisa Wells said she hoped the initiative would encourage more Indigenous children to pick up the game at any club in the league.

“We would love to see these stumps in every cricket club as an Acknowledgment to Country and a sign of reconciliation,” Wells said.

“Not only do these stumps look amazing but they open up conversations and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to become a part of cricket.”

The move started back in August when the stumps were created for the club’s Celebrity Big Bash, and are part of the Middle Stump Initiative, created by Perth and Noongar man Clinton Dann, and the Preston Campbell Foundation.

Preston Campbell with Alberton Ormeau's Aboriginal artwork middle stump, designed by himself.

“When I was talking to Clinton, he said Aboriginal children who come from disadvantaged families might not feel comfortable coming to play a team sport.

“These little efforts can make so much difference in creating a welcoming environment.

“We want them to be used every week, across all clubs, to open up conversations about inclusivity.”

The design was created by Gold Coast Titans legend Preston Campbell, who runs the Preston Campbell foundation that develops programs and opportunities to help Indigenous participants achieve their goals.

The move will flow into the league’s first Indigenous Round on November 27.

Alberton Ormeau Cricket Club's Aboriginal artwork middle stump.

Umpire “controversy” mars Taper Premier League

Alberton Ormeau Cricket Club are at loggerheads with the governing body after a Round 2 “controversy” left them lamenting a narrow loss.

Controversy marred the battle against Burleigh when they went down in a narrow 8-run loss, sparking a complaint to the Gold Coast Cricket Committee.

“The loss against Burleigh was disappointing,” Captain Reece Neyland said.

“It had some controversy with some of the umpiring decisions and close of play.

“But we had the opportunity to win, so we take ownership for that and should have got it done before that.”

With the game finishing at 5:49pm, Neyland said it was completed in “poor visibility” with batting numbers nine, 10 and 11 facing quick bowlers.

Neyland said the club had submitted a dispute to Gold Coast Cricket, which was turned down.

Broadbeach Robina Cats v Alberton Ormeau in the Kookaburra Cup. Pic for Gallery. Pic Mike Batterham

Cricket Gold Coast representative Zane Beattie said the organisation strongly backed the capability of their umpires, particularly in the circumstances in Round 2.

“This is entirely a matter for the officiating umpire to handle,” Beattie said.

“All Cricket Gold Coast umpires are provided with light meters by the association for this exact situation.

“If the umpire had a concern about the light, he would have used his meter to ascertain the reading … if the light falls below 260 lux, play must cease.

“As a board we have to back our umpires to make the right decisions … it would be a dangerous precedent if we were to go against the decisions of the officiating umpire based on the claims of a club.

“In no way would it be fair and equitable to Burleigh to overturn the result, nor is there any clear basis for doing so.”