CricConnect Conversation – the first ever Australian Aboriginal Over 50s cricket team to play Australian Over 55s and NZ Over 55s – Matt Lewis, Darrel Smith and Richard Saniga

Cricket Conversations | March 17, 2025

Welcome to this special edition of the CricConnect podcast. Today, we’re diving into a truly historic moment in Australian cricket—one that celebrates culture, legacy, and the power of sport to bring people together.

For the first time ever, an Australian Aboriginal Over 50s cricket team has been selected, marking a significant milestone in both cricket and Indigenous sporting history. This team will compete in Mackay, Queensland, from April 10th to 16th, facing off against New Zealand Over 55s and Australia’s Over 55s, with each team playing twice before a final on April 16th.

This tournament also sees the first-ever Australian Over 55s team take the field, filling the gap between the Over 50s and Over 60s.

Joining me today are three men at the heart of this story. We have Matt Lewis, captain of the Aboriginal team, a player with experience of playing for Australian Over 50s team. His vice-captain, Darrel Smith, who I’ve had the privilege of knowing since our high school days. And leading the Australian Over 55s side is Richard Saniga, another player who has experienced playing for the Australian Over 50s cricket team.

We’ll be talking about what this means—not just for them as players, but for their communities, for Aboriginal representation in sport, and for the broader impact veterans’ cricket can have on mental health and wellbeing.

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