The Australian women’s cricket team are having a great season against Pakistan at the moment, but have you ever noticed how little we hear about cricket in the Pacific, despite Australia being part of the region?
Vanuatu dominated this year’s T-20 season, with the women coming second to Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Cup, and the men winning the World Cup East Asia Pacific Qualifier.
Those competitions play Western style, or ‘hardball’ cricket, as it’s known in Vanuatu, but there’s also a traditional form of the game in Vanuatu which is only played by women.
The country’s Women’s Island Cricket Program is funded by the Australian government and promotes health and safety for rural and villager women.
Story published by The Source News
Produced By: Heather Anderson
Featured In Story: Mary Estelle Mahuk – Lead Social Impact & Inclusion Ambassador and Women’s Cricket Officer, Vanuatu Cricket Association, Nasimana Navaika – Professional cricketer, Vanuatu Cricket Association, and Carolyn Narua – Player, Eastern Club Nipigi Namu
First aired on The Wire, Monday 30 January 2023