Australia’s Indigenous Jersey

The Australia men’s team is set to wear the indigenous jersey for the T20 series against India in a move aimed at recognising and encouraging the Indigenous Australians’ role in the sport.

Cricket Australia unveilved the jersey design, a collaboration between manufacturer ASICS and two Indigenous women, Aunty Fiona Clarke and Courtney Hagen. The T20 series will kick start on December 4 at Canberra, followed by 2 T20Is at Sydney on December 6th & 8th, 2020.

Following in the lead of the national women’s team who their own Indigenous strip earlier this year, this shirt was designed in collaboration with Aunty Fiona Clarke and Courtney Hagan – two women who have played a vital role in giving Indigenous Australian’s a stronger voice and presence in the game. Apparently the designer Kirrae Whurrong woman Aunty Fiona Clarke is a direct descendent of late cricketer ‘Mosquito’ Couzens (known as Grongarrong), one of the Aboriginal players who toured England in 1868 as part of the first sporting team from Australia to play abroad as cricket.com.au reports. Australia’s women’s team wore a shirt with similar artwork earlier this year, while the Walkabout Wickets logo has been a feature on Test shirts and Indigenous shirts have featured in the WBBL and BBL.

Symbolism of the jersey:

The men’s indigenous design jersey is loaded with symbolism. The stars originating on the design depict the ancestors and those who came before them all, while the connection between families is represented in the form of River and land on the design. The artwork also represents past, present and future Aboriginal cricketers, with the large circle representing Lord’s and the smaller circles signify the team’s various meeting places during that tour (central design portion). The small circles in green at bottom of jersey represent the strength between people continuing on the journey. On the back is the circular depiction of men championing the cause of the community for thousands of years – with 11 men around campfire, apparently showcasing the 1868 cricket team –  first ever Australia team to tour overseas when a group of Aboriginal cricketers played 47 matches in the UK having made a three-month journey.

The women’s team have worn a similar artwork to our one, the Test team have worn the logo on our collars a few times and the WBBL teams have all got it on their guernseys this year so it’s really exciting to have the chance as a men’s team to wear our first Indigenous jersey.
_{– Mitchell Starc}