Categories: Youth Premier League

Indigenous talent heads to India

Selected by former Test and one-day international representative Ray Bright, a current Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers selectors, along with Mark Hanlon and Marcus Rosas, the squad departs for Mumbai before moving onto Pune.

Abbatangelo’s Victorian teammates John Green and Fletcher Stewart have also won selection following their performances at the 2012 Imparja Cup.

Spanning October 14 to 26, the tour will combine cricket development with India’s unique cultural experiences, including a visit to the nation’s largest slum and local orphanages.

Members of the team will also travel to Delhi to attend the Australian Government’s OzFest, a four-month celebration of contemporary Australian culture in 18 Indian cities.

Team captain, Josh Lalor, a member of the NSW and Perth Scorcher squads, said the squad is excited by the opportunity to develop their cricket and take in the uniqueness of India.

“The tour is a fantastic opportunity for members of the squad to come to a vastly different part of the world to develop our cricket and learn from exposure to new cultures,” Lalor said.

“The guys have shown their potential at the Imparja Cup and this tour gives them a chance to further develop their cricket through the day-to-day life of professional cricket.

“Travelling to India goes beyond what we’ll do on-field; the cultural experiences we’ll encounter will develop the group personally and contribute to our overall development.”

Documentary makers JetZak will accompany the team on tour, producing an hour-long documentary to screen on NITV/SBS.

The 2013 Imparja Cup will be held in Alice Springs from February 11 to 17.

National Indigenous Development Squad

Ben Abbatangelo (Victoria)

Michael Bailey (Western Australia)

Dylan Fuller (Northern Territory)

John Green (Victoria)

Jake Kubinek (Queensland)

Josh Lalor (New South Wales)

Aaron Muir (New South Wales)

Nathan Price (New South Wales)

Darcy Short (Northern Territory)