Imparja Cup

Has anyone seen the squads for this year's Imparja Cup?

I'm wondering if Worrin Williams is playing for Queensland. I'm president of the "Select Worrin Williams in the Bulls team" bandwagon. He has a lot going for him - a young Aboriginal pace bowler who is currently the leading wicket-taker in the Brisbane First Grade competition.

And he has great initials.

From Cricket Australia -

11 February, 2008
Imparja Cup getting underway
In what will be massive week for the Indigenous Community throughout Australia and the Torres Strait Islands, the Imparja Cup National Indigenous Cricket Championship is set to take centre stage in the red centre.

Players, and officials have vowed to celebrate their culture through a fantastic week of cricket and camaraderie across five days of intense competition in four divisions.

The State & Territory division kicks off with two rounds of Twenty20™ cricket with Victoria and the ACT starting proceedings at 8.00am with game one at Larrapinta Reserve. Defending champions NSW start their defence against Tasmania at Traeger Park later in the morning.

The Women’s Division also gets underway today with all games at Flynn Park. Game one pits the CATz against the Bellette Cougars with the strong NSW team to take on the Bush Potatoes in the second game of the day.

All games in the Major Centre’s and Community Divisions commence on Tuesday.

The Imparja Cup is a celebration of cricket for Indigenous Australians and apart from the great cricket that will be on show across the next six days, there will be a major School clinic at Traeger Park this Wednesday morning with guest coaches including ex Australian players Colin Funky Miller, Ashley Mallet and Cathryn Fitzpatrick, a Mayoral reception on Tuesday evening, a traditional welcome and presentation dinner on Friday night with the week culminating with all finals next Saturday.

National Indigenous TV will cover all games at Traeger Park and other community grounds with coverage going to air in on Fox Channel 180 in March 2008.

From Queensland Cricket -

HIGHER PROFILE FOR IMPARJA CUP


Monday 11 February 2008


The biggest ever Imparja Cup opens today with a feast of cricket taking place in Alice Springs.


The premier State/Territory division (featuring eight teams representing all states and territories of Australia) has a busy day ahead with each team playing two Twenty20 matches to open the tournament, New South Wales kicking off their title defence against Tasmania at Traeger Park from 10am.


Queensland, who won three straight titles from 2004-2006, will open their campaign against the Northern Territory, while the hosts will then take on last year’s big improvers, Western Australia, in the marquee match of the day under lights at Traeger Park from 7pm.


The women’s division also starts today with the first appearance of an interstate team in this division, the New South Wales women making an historic first trip to the Imparja Cup will take to the field at Flynn Park tonight.


The tournament will be the biggest ever both in participation and attention - national interest and coverage of the Imparja Cup this year will allow more people around Australia to experience this growing festival of cricket.


In more exciting news the Australian public, for the first time, will be able to see broadcasts of Imparja Cup matches.


National Indigenous Television (NITV) are undertaking a full broadcast of ten matches during the tournament, in addition to interviews and feature segments from around the tournament.


The matches will be screened from March this year on NITV, which is accessible through the Imparja signal in indigenous communities and on channel 180 through the Foxtel/Austar platform nationally.

Be good to see what kind of talent is in the koori ranks. Would love　to see a couple of players get picked up by state teams.

Not to worry. I found a report with the Queensland team. Williams is not playing.

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PAYNE TO LEAD A&TSI XI


Wednesday 23 January 2008


XXXX GOLD Bulls Twenty20 batsman Daniel Payne will captain the Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander XI for the first time next month.


Payne, who made his return to the Bulls ranks earlier this month after a five-year-absence, will skipper the Indigenous representative team in the annual match against the Queensland Academy of Sport on 18 February at Allan Border Field.


The top order batsman and wicket-keeper is captaining Beenleigh/Logan this season in the XXXX GOLD First Grade competition where he is currently the leading runs-scorer.


The A&TSI XI team released today also contains first-time selections in Logan Village batsman Mark Kennedy and Rockhampton teenagers Preston White and Chris Swain.


The 34-year-old Kennedy, a school teacher and a foundation first grade player with Beenleigh/Logan, has been playing in the local Logan competition for the past few years.


Bulls rookie-contracted player Worrin Williams will play for the Indigenous side as will 18-year-old Townsville wicket-keeper/batsman Bradley Stout, who will captain the Queensland Inparja Cup team at the national Indigenous titles next month in Alice Spring.


White, a member of the Australia Post Queensland Under-19 side that played in the national championships last month, and leg-spinner Swain were both members of the State Imparja Cup side that finished second in Alice Springs last year and will again travel to the Northern Territory for the titles this season.


Former Queensland pace bowler Michael Mainhardt and Jack Gibbs will coach the team.


The Imparja Cup squad fulfils a development role in Queensland Cricket’s Indigenous player strategy, with the Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander XI taking on flagship status with its annual match against the Queensland Academy of Sport.


There are seven members of the Imparja Cup team who have also been selected for the Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander XI.


2007-08 Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander XI v Queensland Academy of Sport, 18 February, 2007, Allan Border Field (40 over a side match):


Daniel Payne (c, Beenleigh Logan), Todd Dodson (Cairns), Tim Hardingham (Palmwoods), Aaron Holt (Rockhampton), Mark Kennedy (Logan Village), Martin Rush (Townsville), Brett Smith (Innisfail), Bradley Stout (Townsville), Chris Swain (Rockhampton), Barry Weare (Wests), Worrin Williams (Beenleigh Logan), Preston White (Rockhampton).


Michael Mainhardt (Coach, Brisbane), Jack Gibbs (Coach, Brisbane).


2007-08 Queensland Imparja Cup, Alice Springs, February 11-16, 2008:


Bradley Stout (c) (Wanderers Cricket Club – Townsville), Nigel Beer (Northern Suburbs Cricket Club – Mackay), Andrew Blucher (Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club), Will Davis (Logan Village Cricket Club – Beenleigh), Todd Dodson (Mulgrave Cricket Club - Cairns). Tim Hardingham (Palmwoods Cricket Club – Sunshine Coast), Aaron Holt (Gracemere Cricket Club – Rockhampton), Ben Mainhardt (Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club), Eddie Mills-Grant (Sandgate Redcliffe District Cricket Club), Brett Smith (Innisfail Cricket Club), Michael Strange (Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club), Chris Swain (Gracemere Cricket Club – Rockhampton), Preston White (Frenchville Cricket Club – Rockhampton).


Officials: Michael Mainhardt (Coach, Brisbane), Jack Gibbs (Coach, Brisbane), Bruce Deem (Umpire, Bundaberg).

Great news everyone. Queensland won the tournament.

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QLD CLINCH IMPARJA CUP TITLE!

Saturday 16 February 2008

A magnificent bowling performance by Rockhampton allrounder Preston White has propelled Queensland to the 2008 Imparja Cup title, their fourth national Indigenous title in five years.

White’s haul of 6-16 from eight overs was enough to bowl out first time finalists Tasmania for 79 in reply to Queensland’s total of 171 in the Final at Traeger Park in Alice Springs.

And there was more good news for the Queensland Under-19 representative when he was named in the Imparja Cup Honor Squad for the titles and also the Australian Indigenous Development squad to train at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane later this year.

White and fellow Rockhampton teenager Chris Swain were named in the Honor Squad and Centre of Excellence squad.

First time Norths selection Andrew Blucher will also attend the COE as part of the national development squad while Queensland coach Michael Mainhardt will attend in a coaching role.

After Queensland won the toss and elected to bat, Brett Smith (38), Eddie Mills-Grant (24) and captain Brad Stout (26) all kept the scoreboard ticking over to make 171 from their 40 overs.

Queensland then struck quickly to have Tasmania 5-20, including the scalp of the dangerous Colin Lamont for 17, with the Central Queensland trio of White, Aaron Holt (2-20) and Swain (2-34) ensuring the trophy would return home with them tomorrow.

Meanwhile seven members of the victorious Imparja Cup team will turn out on Monday at Allan Border Field for the Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander XI in their annual clash with the Queensland Academy of Sport.

QAS Invitational XI v Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander XI, Allan Border Field, Monday:

Nick Kruger (c, Valley), Glen Batticciotto (Sandgate-Redcliffe), Cameron Boyce (Toombul), Ben Cutting (Souths), Ben Dunk (Norths) Michael Johnson (Beenleigh/Logan), Nathan Reardon (University of Qld), Craig Rosario (Wynnum-Manly), Andrew Robinson (Gold Coast), Wade Townsend (Norths), Mathew Turich (Souths), Scott Walter (University of Qld).

2007-08 Queensland Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander XI:

Daniel Payne (c, Beenleigh Logan), Todd Dodson (Cairns), Tim Hardingham (Palmwoods), Aaron Holt (Rockhampton), Mark Kennedy (Logan Village), Martin Rush (Townsville), Brett Smith (Innisfail), Bradley Stout (Townsville), Chris Swain (Rockhampton), Barry Weare (Wests), Worrin Williams (Beenleigh Logan), Preston White (Rockhampton).

WA Imparja Cup wrap

19/02/2008


The Western Australian Imparja Cup squad again represented the state in style, narrowly missing out on a place in the final with a win over eventual Champions Queensland proving the highlight of the tournament.

After a slow start in Alice Springs, WA found its rhythm with Matt Abrahamson leading superbly from the front as the squad was unbeaten in its last three rounds. Matt Abrahamson, Keren Ugle, Gavin Farmer and Lewis Upton were chosen in the prestigious Imparja Cup Honour Squad for 2008.

Match 1: Twenty20 Format

South Australia 138 (Vanderbyl-Graham 42, Thomas 37; Norman 2-24, Farmer 1-19) b Western Australia 6-133 (Bennell 35no, D. Ugle 28; Thomas 3-19, Hodgkinson 2-17).

Match 2: Twenty20 Format

Western Australia 8-89 (Upton 15, G. Ugle 15; Redpath 2-5, McLean 2-18) tied with Northern Territory 9-89 (Fry 27, Lowe 15; D. Ugle 3-12, K. Ugle 1-10).


Match 3: Twenty20 Format

Western Australia 7-138 (Abrahamson 54, Upton 35; Hampton 2-10, O’ Callaghan 2-11) b Act 2-102 (O’ Callaghan 39no, Frail 24; D. Ugle 1-8, G. Ugle 1-15).

Match 4: Twenty20 Format

Tasmania 9-142 (Wall 48, Walmsley 32; Farmer 3-33, D. Ugle 2-16) b Western Australia 94 (Abrahamson 19; Wall 2-7, Lovell 2-19)

Match 5: Forty Over Format

Western Australia 1-79 (Abrahamson 49no, D. Ugle 22no; Firebrace 1-25) b Victoria 76 (Atkinson 12no, Firebrace 8; K. Ugle 3-17, D. Ugle 2-12).

Match 6: Forty Over Format

Western Australia 186 (Abrahamson 65, Senge 42; Wright 4-24, Duckett 3-33) b New South Wales 109 (Croft 31, Bradley 21; K. Ugle 4-20, G. Farmer 4-24).

Match 7: Forty Over Format

Western Australia 5-69 (Abrahamson 46no, Rahman 7no; White 2-28, Holt 1-11) b Queensland 67 (Hardingham 24, Mills Grant 9; K. Ugle 4-21, Bennell 3-15).

Highlights of the tournament included:

· WA record: 4 wins, 1 tie and 2 losses, narrowly missing out on the final (one point behind Tasmania).

· Beat eventual winners Queensland by 5 wickets in final qualifying game (dismissing them for 67).

· Imparja Cup Honour Squad: Matt Abrahamson, Keren Ugle, Gavin Farmer and Lewis Upton chosen from Western Australia.

· Imparja Cup Development Squad: Lewis Upton and Dane Ugle selected from WA. They will attend a camp at the Centre of Excellence in Queensland from the 7th – 11th of April.

· Gavin Farmer and Keren Ugle were the leading wicket takers for the tournament (took 12 each). Dane Ugle took 11.

· Matt Abrahamson finished 3rd in the batting aggregate for the tournament. Matt scored 244 runs at 48.80 which was a fantastic achievement.

· Lewis Upton (Wicketkeeper) had 12 dismissals for the tournament and didn’t concede any byes throughout.

What is Vanderbyl-Graham doing playing in the Imparja Cup? He's gotta be a Saffie!

Abrahamson had a good Tournament for the Wozzies, topscoring in five of the games. He might be the 'new' John McGuire.

Watching some of this on the NITV channel. The sozzie captain is even fatter than Cossie.