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Bradley banks on Aboriginal players making their mark

By David Sygall

25 January 2004 - Prime Minister's XI batsman Matthew Bradley believes it is only a matter of time before more Aboriginal cricketers are representing Australia.

Bradley, whose mother is a Wiradjuri woman and comes from central NSW, will represent ATSIC in the Prime Minister's XI game against India at Manuka Oval, Canberra on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old represented Australia at under-19 level, holds the record for the highest innings score for his grade club Sutherland (212 not out) and is thrilled he will get the chance to play India in a team captained by Steve Waugh.

And, while he holds only modest aspirations of furthering his representative career, Bradley believes the future for Aboriginal cricketers is in good hands. "There are more programs set up now to take the game to remote parts of the country, where young Aboriginal kids don't usually get much opportunity to play the game," he said.

"It's a start and I think at some stage in the future there will be a full Aboriginal person playing for Australia."

At it stands, fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who has Aboriginal heritage on his father's side, has has been acknowledged as Australia's first indigenous Test player.

The issue of indigenous involvement in cricket has become significant for Cricket Australia, which has had a formal program since 2001.

It received further publicity when Ian Chappell told the Test cricketers' reunion dinner in July last year the number of Test cricketers "should be added to by 14 because I think we should cast our mind back to the 1868 side - the first Australian side that toured England - the Aboriginal side.

"And, who knows, if they hadn't of been so successful and if they hadn't endured those hardships, it may not have been easy, so easy for those that have followed," he said.

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland recognised that indigenous involvement in cricket lagged behind that in other sports. "We are very aware that there are a lot of indigenous footballers but not cricketers," he said.

"We have a formal indigenous development program which is supported with federal government funds with specific goals - to increase awareness of cricket among indigenous communities and to provide opportunities for participation at all levels including playing, coaching, umpiring or becoming administrators."

Part of the program was the introduction of the annual ATSIC XI v the PM's XI game, which has been played for the past three years.

Bradley said: "I've been picked in the ATSIC side against the PM's XI and did well in those games, scoring 40, 74 not out and 83."

But the right-handed batsman said he was especially looking forward to Wednesday, as he is expecting family from Dubbo to travel to Canberra to watch the game.

"Mum and Dad were born in Sydney," he said. "My dad's got an Irish background and my mum is from the Wiradjuri tribe, which is the same as [league player] David Peachey.

"I'm just a normal person. I'm very proud of my background and I can't wait to play in the team with Steve Waugh."

Source: The Sun-Herald

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