Vics ready for Imparja Cup

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the week-long competition has evolved into one of the nation’s most cherished sporting carnivals that celebrates Indigenous culture and cricket.

Recording its best performance with a third-place finish at last year’s carnival, the Victorian team, known as Noogal Toengorrt Tani, hopes to return home as national champions.

“We are defiantly going away full of confidence,” Noogal Toengorrt Tani captain Ben Abbatangelo said.

“This is without doubt our best list to date and the depth that we have with both the bat and the ball should hold the team in good stead.”

This year’s carnival will also see Victoria’s first ever cap holder, Barry Firebrace, playing in his 10^th tournament.

“Barry has been a fantastic ambassador for Indigenous cricket,” Abbatangelo said.

“His leadership and loving character is something we are grateful for and we are extremely proud of his efforts.”

For the first time in Victoria’s Imparja Cup history, five females will combine with cricketers from the ACT, Queensland, South Australia and Tasmania to participate in an invitational side.

“We are looking forward to seeing the girls play. History in the making,” Abbatangelo said.

Staged as a Twenty20 tournament this year, Noogal Toengorrt Tani will open its campaign on Monday against Queensland, while the Invitational XI will commence on Wednesday against the Northern Territory.

To see fixtures and results from the 2013 Imparja Cup, click here.

For live scores of the Victorian matches follow @harmonycricket on Twitter and/or ‘like’ Harmony in Cricket on Facebook.

2013 InfoReady Victorian Imparja Cup squad:
(C) Ben Abbatangelo (Northcote CC)
Grant Bell  (Wendouree CC)
Damon Egan (Malvern CC)
Josh Eaton (Essendon CC)
Barry Firebrace (Keon Park CC)
Nathan Gardiner (Whittlesea CC)
John Green (Plenty CC)
Sandy Hodge (Homers CC)
Alex Kerr (North Dandenong CC)
Clayton McCartney (North Dandenong CC)
Adam McDermott (Camberwell CC)
Brenden Miller (North Melbourne CC)
Troy Oakley (Newborough Bulldogs CC)
Fletcher Stewart (ANU CC)
Bohdi Walker (Sale City CC)

Victorian squad members in the Cricket Australia invitational side:
Jacinta Goodger-Chandler (Napoleons-Sebastopol CC
Ebony Cuskelly (Buchan CC)
Kirra Cuskelly (Buchan CC)
Kareena Jacobson-Logan (Melton CC)
Treahna Hamm (Warma CC)