Cricket Legends Leave Their Mark on PNG

Nine former Australian or International Test players including, the World Record holder for Test wickets Mutiah Muralithuran and former England Captain Adam Hollioke descended on Port Moresby to take part in five Days of activity to build and promote Cricket and to support both World Aids Day and the "Don't Drink and Drive" campaign.

Six of the Legends then joined 70 talented PNG national players, emerging talents and young hopefuls in the Weekends 20 over round robin tournament, The Pacific MMI, Motor Vehicles Insurance Ltd Don't Drink and Drive" Bash. The event culminated in a LIVE televised final on Sunday afternoon.

World record holder Muttiah Muralitharen, was in PNG lending his support and considerable profile to all pre-promotion activities including World Aids Day, a Port Moresby Supa Clinic, a Cricket PNG dinner on Wednesday evening and also in Lae on Thursday as well as talent identification clinics and involvement in the BSP schools cricket program in Port Moresby and Lae.

Both National Coaching Director and former Australian player Andy Bichel and Murali represented Cricket PNG at the official World Aids Day event at the John Guise Stadium, achieving good coverage and positioning for the weekend T20 tournament.

All Legends travelled to provinces to assist in school coaching activities supported through the BSP Schools Kricket program. Steve Rixon joined Andy Bichel and Murali in Lae, Greg Campbell, Adam Holioke, and Greg Rowell travelled to Central Province, Greg Ritchie visited Hanuabada and Brad Hogg and Craig McDermott travelled to Milne Bay.

In all more that 7,000 children were exposed to a clinic activity and had the opportunity to meet and be taught skills by the Legends.

The "Don't Drink and Drive" T20 Bash FINAL was spectacular and was watched extensively across the Nation on the EMTV LIVE broadcast. In the lead up to the event both national newspapers and television channels and the two highest rating radio stations provided significant media exposure.

On the back of the success of the 2009 tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) organised for a TV crew to be flown from Melbourne to cover all significant activities and this footage will be seen through the ICC website to promote the rapid development of PNG cricket all over the world.