Victoria hosts 2017 National Cricket Inclusion Championships

The inaugural NCIC, which will feature 15 teams and more than 230 players, will be staged from 17-24 January 2017. It will be the first time in Australian sport that these three divisions will be played as part of one competition.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said:

“This tournament is a very important part of our cricket pathway. With an aspiration of being a sport for all Australians, we are proud of the opportunities that this tournament provides for cricketers of all abilities. We hope this opportunity will inspire more cricketers of all abilities to join a local club or T20 Blast centre and play the sport they love.”

Cricket fans right across Australia will be able to watch the Grand Final of each division via a livestream through cricket.com.au and the NCIC official website.

“The livestreaming of the three Grand Finals on our digital channels will also provide an outstanding opportunity for Australia’s best blind and vision impaired, deaf and hard of hearing, and cricketers with an intellectual disability to showcase their cricketing abilities to a national audience,” said Mr Sutherland.

“An enormous amount of work goes into putting on a tournament of this scale. We are extremely thankful for the support of the Commonwealth Bank, the Victorian Government, Cricket Victoria, the City of Greater Geelong, Karingal, Lords Taverners Australia, and the Geelong Cricket Association (and its clubs) for their financial backing, facilities and resources that ensure this event is a reality. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the work of all those volunteers who have freely given up their time to help bring it all together.”

Australian players Alex Blackwell and Nathan Lyon have been announced as ambassadors for the event.

“Cricket continues to make great strides to being a Sport for all Australians which is something I am very passionate about,” said Blackwell. “I’ve benefited so much from playing cricket and I strongly believe that anyone with a passion for our game deserves the opportunity to not only participate, but also be provided with a pathway from junior participation to national representation.”

“From the first time I was exposed to the skills our national disability teams possess I was inspired to have more involvement in growing the game for people with a disability, said Lyon. “I can’t wait to follow the championships and encourage the local Geelong community to come out and see for themselves the amazing ability of the best players in the nation across all three divisions of competition.”

From 1 July 2017 with the assistance of the Commonwealth Bank, Cricket Australia will fully fund their national disability teams, the first non-Paralympic sport to provide this.

Stuart Tucker, Commonwealth Bank General Manager, Brand, Sponsorships and Marketing Services said:

“We’re delighted to have been able to help support the launch of the inaugural National Cricket Inclusion Championships and look forward to watching some exciting matches over the next week.”

“CommBank has supported Australian cricket for 30 years, and we are particularly focused on strengthening the foundations of cricket for players with disabilities, women, Indigenous Australians, and the local clubs around the country that are the lifeblood of the game,” said Tucker.

“Our new partnership with Cricket Australia will help provide full funding for Australia’s national disability teams, as well as getting them access to the same high performance support that other elite representative cricket teams get.”

Victorian Minister for Sport, Tourism and Major Events the Hon John Eren MP said:

“The NCIC is an Australian first, and the Victorian Government is proud to have provided support to Cricket Victoria and Cricket Australia through the Significant Sporting Events Program to stage this fantastic event in Geelong until 2019.”

“Australia’s best deaf and blind cricketers and cricketers living with an intellectual disability will be vying for national honours. It’s going to be a great spectacle.”

Paul Sheahan, National President, The Lord’s Taverners Australia said:

“The Lord’s Taverners Australia, is proud to be a partner of the National Cricket Inclusion Championships, commencing in Geelong on Tuesday. The Lord’s Taverners is committed to young people a sporting chance and to help them enjoy Australia’s favourite game. The Lord’s Taverners wish all players, officials and volunteers a most successful championship.”

The championships will be launched tonight with a reception provided by Karingal at Geelong’s Eastern Hub. Media are welcome to attend the reception at 6:15pm.

To follow all the action during the 2017 National Cricket Inclusion Championships visit www.ncic.cricket.com.au, or follow @CAPathway on Twitter, using the hashtags #NCIC #asportforall

Livestream Details
The below matches will be available via livestream on the following websites www.ncic.cricket.com.au and www.cricket.com.au

Grand Final
Cricketers with an Intellectual Disability
Friday 20 January 2:30pm (AEDT)

Grand Final
Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Sunday 22 January 12:30pm (AEDT)

Grand Final
Blind and Vision Impaired
Tuesday 24 January 9:00am (AEDT)