Inaugural T20 Indigenous Series to Light Up Cairns

The historic tournament promises to be a thrilling display of cricketing talent and a celebration of Indigenous heritage. The event, which marks a significant milestone in Queensland Cricket's reconciliation action plan, is named after the esteemed first-class player Michael "Ducko" Mainhardt and is proudly supported by Lords Taverners Queensland, who have committed to a three-year partnership.

The T20 Indigenous Series will see an exciting clash between two impressive teams, with players hailing from different regions of Queensland. The North Queensland team comprises players from Central Queensland all the way to the far north of the state and will take on their southern counterparts in a three-game series. The tournament pays tribute to the legacy of Michael "Ducko" Mainhardt, a proud first nations man and a former first-class player for Queensland. The sides will play off for the Michael Mainhardt shield, which showcases the enormous contributions to the sport and his commitment to advancing Indigenous representation in the game.

Queensland Cricket First Nations Lead, Kieren Gibbs spoke highly of Michael’s contribution to indigenous cricket.

“Ducko has been a great mentor and role model to so many indigenous cricketers coming through the pathway, so there was no one better to have their name on the inaugural shield” he said.

The T20 Indigenous Series enjoys the unwavering support of Lords Taverners Queensland, who have pledged a three-year partnership. This continues a long history of the organisation’s support across a range of diversity and inclusion pillars. Their commitment to fostering talent and promoting inclusivity in cricket is a testament to the organisation's dedication to the sport's growth and development.

John Butterworth, Queensland’s Community Operations Manager thanked the Lords Taverners for their ongoing support towards indigenous cricket opportunities.

“Some of the Lords Taverners, such as Nev Paulsen, were pioneering programs like the Eddie Gilbert talent identification programs for many years,’’ he said.

He continued “While there is still a lot of work to do, it’s promising that these programs continue to grow and evolve, so we are highly appreciative of the charity organisation’s support to enable this.”

The first match is scheduled to commence at 11:00 AM, with Queensland Cricket conducting an Eddie Gilbert Indigenous talent identification program between 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM. The second match, played under the lights, promises an electrifying evening from 6:00 PM. The final game will kick off on Sunday morning at 9:00 AM, concluding the series on a high note.

In a move that further highlights the tournament's commitment to reconciliation and inclusivity, Cricket far North has designated the weekend as the annual reconciliation round. This special occasion provides an opportunity for cricket fans to come together and celebrate Indigenous culture and connection with the sport they love. Adding another dimension to the event, the Royal Flying Doctor Service are activating various community activities alongside the Saturday fixtures. These activities offer a chance for the community to engage with the event and support its broader goals of fostering unity, awareness, health, and wellbeing.

The inaugural T20 Indigenous Series stands as a shining example of how Queensland’s Indigenous talent pathway continues to expand, particularly off the back of the Queensland Indigenous Women’s team claiming their first ever National Indigenous Cricket Championship title earlier this year. With an exciting format and the enthusiastic participation of players from North and South Queensland, this series promises to be a remarkable showcase of talent and culture.