Local cricket goes global

International sporting competitions are no longer just for the professionals. Now local cricketers were given a chance to compete on a global level in the first-ever Australasian Champions League held on December 5 and 6 in Centennial Parklands.

The League is organised by Last Man Stands, the global twenty20 amateur cricket competition, and includes 16 of its best teams from around Australia and New Zealand.

Two of the qualifying teams, Beehives and the Wallaboks, represented Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Last Man Stands was first established in London in 2005. But, like the growing popularity of twenty20 cricket on the professional stage, this amateur competition has quickly expanded globally to encompass 520 teams throughout Australia, New Zealand, Dubai, England and South Africa.

Last Man Stands Sydney has grown to accommodate more than 600 players in Sydney’s eastern, north and inner western suburbs since it began in January this year.

The growth of the competition is not just testament to the more time-conducive nature of Twenty20 cricket, but also to its strong international brand.

“T20 cricket has become increasingly popular because it combines all those traditional aspects of cricket with short and entertaining games that caters to our busy lifestyles,” Rob Stevenson, Last Man Stands Sydney manager said.

“A real lure of this comp is the unique opportunity for local teams to compete against teams from other states and countries in the international champions leagues.”

In addition to the general running of the tournament, Last Man Stands also provides a global online ranking system so that Sydney players and teams can see how they rate against those from as far away as Johannesburg.

Such competitive prepping has inevitably geared players for the upcoming Champions League. Nine teams flew in from Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, the Gold Coast, Melbourne and Perth, while five teams represented the Sydney leagues.

One wildcard spot was also available to the Sydney team that raised the most money for the McGrath Foundation.

“This event is the first of its kind for amateur cricket. Each year it will be hosted in a different Australasian city. Furthermore, players are also preparing for the World Champions Trophy in Dubai next December,” Stevenson said.

While the Champions League may only feature some of the best amateur teams, Last Man Stands offers a range of leagues to suit all levels and backgrounds. Different leagues and competitions are ongoing throughout the year, both at weekends and on weekday evenings.

– By Katherine Gregory