One of the oldest cricket clubs in Western Australia, the Pinjarra Cricket Club (est 1874), is all set to tour India next month. The club is embarking on an 18 day tour incorporating a series of 9 matches in Chennai and Bangalore.
Country XI representative and Pinjarra life member Mark Hennessy said the tour came about after the club recruited Lucky Narayana from Bangalore, to play and coach with the club in the 07/08 season. “Lucky had a fantastic time with us in Pinjarra, getting a real taste of Aussie culture and Aussie cricket. While Lucky was here we realised it would be fantastic to make a return visit so that we could experience Indian culture and Indian cricket ourselves. What better way to do that than to tour as a side representing Pinjarra.”
As well as utilising the contacts of Narayana in Bangalore, the club has been blessed in securing the assistance of fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee, who visits India frequently as part of his work at the MRF Pace Academy in Chennai. His contacts within Indian cricket have facilitated matches in Chennai, including a visit to the pace academy itself.
The touring party consists of 16 players plus a small crew of supporters and support staff. The list consists of a diverse group of keen cricketers, young and not so young, dominated by current or former Pinjarra players. Captain of the touring party is current Pinjarra player and former AFL Fremantle Docker, Peter Miller. Having enjoyed 6 seasons with the club, Miller says he holidayed in India in 2006 and has seen the Indian’s love of cricket first hand. “There is nothing like it. No-one else’s passion for cricket comes close.”
With Pinjarra being such an historic Aussie country town, and with the touring party consisting of some true blue Aussie characters, several of whom have never left the country, the clash in cultures is sure to provide some interesting moments. “It’s hard to imagine a more Aussie country town than Pinjarra, or a more Aussie group of down to earth blokes. We aren’t a group of wealthy businessman – we are a group of blokes from the country who love our cricket. To be able to represent this proud town and play cricket in India, a place with such a different culture to our own and where cricket is regarded so highly, is just fantastic.”
But the tour is not just about cricket. The touring party has committed to using the opportunity to raise funds for a local school in Bangalore. “Many, many people in India face challenges that we in the wealthy economy of WA just can’t imagine” said Miller. “We believe that raising some funds here to give to a school in Bangalore is a great way of giving something back for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play cricket there.”
