Cricket club connecting community

WHEN the Bendigo Strikers Cricket Club started out it was just a handful of men who had recently immigrated from India and were looking for connection in a new town.

Now, five years on, it’s become an important space allowing people from diverse backgrounds to get involved with the local community through a sport they love.

“This cricket club, it is one of the main venues where the community spirit grows,” said acting secretary Josan George.

“When new people come to Bendigo, they come to the cricket club and they get introduced to different people and that’s where they learn about Bendigo.”

About two years ago, some Strikers players decided they wanted to kick things up a notch and join a league, but Mr George said there were challenges that made the process somewhat intimidating for them.

“One of the main barriers was language proficiency, people were not able to communicate clearly, and they were a bit withdrawn to join a club due to that factor,” he said.

“Most of our guys are not really ready to introduce themselves into a new club with new people.

“So, we thought why don’t we join as a team so we can communicate better and people can start playing cricket in the league level.”

After approaching the California Gully Cricket Club for assistance last year, the Strikers joined them to play in their competition.

With training and equipment provided by their new mates, the team went on to play the season and even secure the premiership.

“It was a really good thing because except for maybe two or three players, all the other players were playing professional cricket for the first time in their life,” Mr George said.

“They got introduced to many people around Bendigo from different teams and we managed to make a lot of friendships.”

Since then, the club has joined the Emu Valley Cricket Association’s league and trains players in their native language. Some 40 people are now members.

“If somebody is coming out as an immigrant from a different country and they don’t have any contacts in Bendigo where they can easily come and see people from different cultural and social backgrounds, they can learn the game of cricket and, more than that, they can get to know about the new community,” Mr George said.

They club has had no luck, however, in securing any kind of funding to support their operation, but Mr George said they are hopeful for their chances in the near future.

This year they’ve been working to spread the word about the club with a new Facebook page, and there’s plans to provide more opportunities away from the pitch like community barbeques or other get togethers post-COVID.

“We would like to give maximum opportunities to multicultural communities in Bendigo,” Mr George said.