Nathan Lyon, Australia’s star off-spinner, has made a generous gesture that blends the spirit of cricket with inclusivity. Lyon has donated three signed cricket bats, featuring autographs from Indian cricket greats Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, to Taverners Australia. These bats, marked with a Braille sticker reading “a sport for all,” are being auctioned to support the National Cricket Inclusion Championships (NCIC).
The NCIC, set to return in January 2025, is Australia’s premier tournament for cricketers with a disability. Hosted at Brisbane’s Marchant Park from January 19 to 24, it will see 22 teams from seven states and territories competing across five divisions, including Blind & Low Vision Mixed, Blind & Low Vision Women’s, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Men, Deaf & Hard of Hearing Women’s, and Cricketers with an Intellectual Disability. For the first time, the event will feature a full week of matches in the Blind & Low Vision Women’s category, following successful exhibition games last year.
Since its inception in 2017, the NCIC has provided a platform for over 300 athletes to showcase their skills at the highest domestic level. Supported by CommBank and Taverners Australia, the Championships are a key part of Cricket Australia’s initiative to foster diversity and inclusion. The tournament aims to nurture talent that could go on to represent Australia on the international stage.
Joel Morrison, General Manager of Events & Operations at Cricket Australia, highlighted the growing impact of the Championships. “This event not only showcases the exceptional talent of our cricketers with a disability but also reinforces our commitment to making cricket a sport for everyone. With the inclusion of a full week of Blind & Low Vision Women’s matches in 2025, the Championships continue to evolve, inspiring new players and audiences alike.”
The auction of these unique bats not only offers fans a piece of cricketing memorabilia but also supports pathways for inclusive cricket in Australia. By combining the spirit of competition with a message of equality, the NCIC exemplifies the unifying power of sport.
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