Cricket PNG to do battle with Australian X1

In the first week of July 2010, Cricket Australia will be sending its Australian Indigenous National Team to play a four match Series (yet to be named) with (2x50 over One Day Internationals and two Twenty/20's), which will be played on turf wickets at Amini Park in Port Moresby.

"The Cricket Australia Australian Indigenous X1 will be an exceptionally strong and experienced X1" said Bill Leane.

"They will be captained by Dan Christian who is lighting up the Sheffield Shield and Ford Ranger Cup at present with the SA Redbacks.

"He will be joined by current State listed players Preston White (Qld Bulls), Josh Lalor (NSW Blues), Worran Williams (Qld Bulls) and an exciting group of young highly skilled and experienced players who are in the Cricket Australia National Indigenous development program and who recently successfully toured England and played 1st class matches for an 8:2 win/loss record".

"An international Series played on home soil is a huge achievement for Cricket in PNG" reminded Bill and we must strongly thank NICAC (National Indigenous Cricket Advisory Committee), Trevor Woodhead (NT Cricket), Vince Copley (Co Chairman of NICAC) and the Management of Cricket Australia (Damien Bown & Neale Price) and ICC EAP for ensuring that this event becomes a reality recognising the cultural and cricket links between PNG and Australia."

"The Australian Indigenous X1 is a formidable opponent and our National Team will be challenged in every facet of the game," said Andy Bichel, PNG National Coaching Director.

"Dan Christian is a super player and he made over 700 runs as Captain on the Tour of England," reminded Andy Bichel.

"He potentially could be going to the World T20 World Cup at the end of April. Preston White is playing in the future Tours competition and Josh Lalor is playing great cricket for the Blues.

"The PNG Barramundi's will field a full strength side with all of our 14 Brian Bell Future Stars players back in PNG after their scholarships end in March, they will return from Australia and New Zealand," said Bichel.

"This means it really will be "game on" for our boys as only the fittest, most in form and hungriest will be selected.

"The Baramundi's will be playing for the opportunity to win our first ever home international series on turf plus creating an opportunity to be selected to represent PNG in our 2011 World Cup qualifying campaign."