1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,400 Speaker 1: It's been a while between innings, but Test cricket is 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:06,200 Speaker 1: finally coming back to the top end the Northern Territory 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:10,959 Speaker 1: Government confirming that Australia is going to officially host Bangladesh 4 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: in the men's Test match at Marara in August, with 5 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: two more men's Tea twenty internationals returning in twenty twenty 6 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: seven as well. Now joining us in the studio to 7 00:00:21,720 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 1: tell us more, it's the CEO of NT Cricket, Gavin Dovey. 8 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:25,840 Speaker 1: Good morning to you. 9 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: Gave morning Katie. 10 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,320 Speaker 1: Very exciting news. You're pumped this morning, aren't. 11 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 2: You can tell? I can tell face. Yeah, unbelievable announcement yesterday. 12 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 2: I think you and I were joking it. It does 13 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 2: feel a little bit like the worst kept secret. Ye 14 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 2: be confirmed, but yeah, nonetheless year, great that that's rubber 15 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: stamped and yeah, really grateful the government's got international cricket 16 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 2: here for another two years, so threes in a row. Pumped. 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:53,040 Speaker 1: I mean this is massive news. And when you look 18 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: at at the T twenties that we've had, was it 19 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: the ta twenties that we had last time round? Like 20 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: the volume of people that went along, so the eyes 21 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: that were on the Northern Territory, there is no doubt 22 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,560 Speaker 1: that that international cricket being played in the end is 23 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: a massive thing for us, not just when it comes 24 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: to the sport, but when it comes to tourism and 25 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: everything else. 26 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. Yeah, it's now their second biggest sport 27 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 2: in the world and it's back in the Olympics in 28 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 2: a couple of years as well, which is a testament 29 00:01:19,520 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 2: to it, you know. So, I think looking at Australian's 30 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 2: love of Test cricket recently with the Ashes and seeing 31 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 2: how big the sport is nationally as well as how 32 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 2: big it is globally, it's a wonderful thing that the 33 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: territory has now got threes the in a row of 34 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 2: some T twenties and a Test match and so yeah, 35 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: the attendance is last year incredible, atmosphere and experience amazing. 36 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 2: And then all the economic activity that comes from inter 37 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: state visitors and overseas visitors and all of those type 38 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 2: of outcomes of brewin as well. 39 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 1: So it's more than twenty years since we've had a 40 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,160 Speaker 1: Test cricket match in the Northern Territory, isn't it. 41 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:57,919 Speaker 2: Yeah, two Test matches we're played back in two thousand 42 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 2: and three and two thousand and four. So yeah, it's 43 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: been a long time between innings, as you said at 44 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: the top, and just yeah, wonderful that not only have 45 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 2: we been able to get some white ball and first 46 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 2: ever tea twenties up here, but now we've got the 47 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 2: most esteemed format you know, that has that rich history. 48 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 2: So it'll be a fantastic experience for people in August. 49 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:20,240 Speaker 1: What do you reckon tip to us over the edge 50 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 1: to be able to do this, because it seems like 51 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 1: there's been a real sort of activation I suppose in 52 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: the end when it comes to cricket over the last 53 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: few years. 54 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so. I don't know why there's such 55 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 2: a big gap there between when we were seeing some 56 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 2: international cricket here back in those sort of early two thousands, 57 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:38,000 Speaker 2: but you know that's all in the past now, so 58 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: for us it's about just how do we make sure 59 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: this is a more regular thing and threes in a 60 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 2: rows a really good start and you know those test 61 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: matches back in A three and o four. We're really 62 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: iconic Australian teams. You look at some of the names 63 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: that we're up here playing, you know, the likes of 64 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:55,560 Speaker 2: McGrath and warn and laying our Hayden War. You know, 65 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:00,720 Speaker 2: some really iconic teams, so great that come all we'll 66 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: sort of probably be getting the tail end of this 67 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:07,240 Speaker 2: current iconic scene too, So you know, Paddy Cummins and 68 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: Josh Hayswood, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, you know, trad Head. 69 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 2: You know, I expect there's going to be some incredible 70 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:14,520 Speaker 2: talent on. 71 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: Display from like an operational perspective. Is it quite a 72 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: bit of extra work for you guys to make this 73 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:22,679 Speaker 1: all happen in the Northern Territory and make it happen 74 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: there at Marara? 75 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is. I mean I think we're from day 76 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 2: night that I arrived, it was like right, we just 77 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: got to elevate the role we play an Australian cricket. 78 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 2: You know, we've got to address this gap and make 79 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: sure that every year that the schedules are now it 80 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 2: still certainly you know every year or so that the 81 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 2: Northern territories on the calendar and then same locally here. 82 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 2: We've been trying to make sure that the government understands 83 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: the opportunity with cricket just because of those things we 84 00:03:48,760 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: talked about before, where the scale of it is so 85 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: big that if we can get it right, then we 86 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: think we can really add a lot to the to 87 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 2: the territory. So yeah, touchwood, it's going in the right direction. 88 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 1: And you know, when you think about that, when you 89 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:05,040 Speaker 1: look at that, what sort of economic and community impact 90 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: do you expect that this is going to have in 91 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: the Northern territory as well? And I guess you know 92 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: it's the economic end. It's also that, like I said, 93 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: the community impact, but even that, you know, like from 94 00:04:15,520 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 1: a junior sports perspective too. 95 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:19,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, I think you and I have talked about 96 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 2: it before. You know, you need that top to bottom, 97 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:23,919 Speaker 2: you know, you need local territory and kids being able 98 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 2: to believe that they can do the same thing. And 99 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 2: part of that is getting that proximity to your heroes. 100 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:32,680 Speaker 2: I'm sure they can turn up and feel like they 101 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 2: can sort of touch their heroes and be inspired to 102 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:36,920 Speaker 2: do the same thing. So I think that's a really 103 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 2: important part of it. And we've seen Jake weather Old 104 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: born and Bred Territory and making his test debut was 105 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 2: incredible for that, and Kane Richardson recently retired. You know 106 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 2: another born and Bred Darwin Boys had an incredible cricket career, 107 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 2: So we know the power of that element. But you know, 108 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: across the board, we think when you bring international events 109 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 2: like test matches or T twenty internationals, you get all 110 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: of that other activity. You know, we had thousands of 111 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,840 Speaker 2: people coming from in a state, particularly those Southern States 112 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 2: last year, people traveling from as far as the States 113 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,800 Speaker 2: and the UK, India, you know, so you get that 114 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:18,680 Speaker 2: overseas visitation and then the broadcast elements you can't be 115 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 2: understated because that global audience that just last week. Yeah, 116 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:25,240 Speaker 2: so you know, you can market and promote the territories, 117 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 2: the tourism destination or you know, we saw a lot 118 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: of interest from education institutions like study and tea, so 119 00:05:32,120 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 2: that is a great way to sort of promote coming 120 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 2: here to study. So, you know, we think we've got 121 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 2: something to offer, and you know, I think yesterday's announcements 122 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 2: and validation of that. 123 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:41,720 Speaker 1: Now obviously we've got the test patch, we've got those 124 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: two T twenty games that are going to be played 125 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: here as well. What do you reckon? Does this mean 126 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,600 Speaker 1: that it's just going to be a regular thing for 127 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:49,279 Speaker 1: us forever? 128 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: Now? Yeah, I'd like to think so. Yeah, certainly, feel 129 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: free to tell people that it should be. Yeah, I 130 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,520 Speaker 2: think it's just a great start. I think that the 131 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:00,719 Speaker 2: test case was last year, and I think when people 132 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 2: turned up to that first T twenty on the Sunday 133 00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 2: and saw a sort of full house sign and as 134 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:07,800 Speaker 2: I was just saying to you, when you've got ninety 135 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 2: five percent of the crowd all going for the same team, 136 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: the atmosphere is incredible. So I think everyone saw it 137 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,240 Speaker 2: for themselves last year. So great to know there's a 138 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 2: couple more next year. And I think if we can 139 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 2: keep focusing on making it a great event both for 140 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 2: Northern territorians and travelers as well as for cricket Australia, 141 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 2: then I think there's no reason why we can't continue 142 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: to be on the calendar good stuff. 143 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: Like it's really good, you know, to have these positive 144 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: announcements being made and to see some real positivity in 145 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: the air and that bit of excitement, don't you reckon? 146 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: Yeah absolutely, I mean you talk about all the time 147 00:06:39,640 --> 00:06:42,720 Speaker 2: territories love their sports, yeah, you know. And so in 148 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 2: order to continue to make it a great place to live, 149 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,560 Speaker 2: or sell it as a great place to come and 150 00:06:48,600 --> 00:06:51,679 Speaker 2: consider living or studying whatever, I think you need events 151 00:06:51,760 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 2: like this now to see the great job. I think 152 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,160 Speaker 2: all of the current leaders are the sports are doing 153 00:06:57,160 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: an incredible job. And you know you've got you've got 154 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 2: regular fixtures, you've got a regular NRL fixture, we've got 155 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:05,680 Speaker 2: international cricket now threes in Aris keep saying. So I'm 156 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 2: going to think all these things just add to it 157 00:07:07,120 --> 00:07:09,160 Speaker 2: being such a great place. Yeah. I agree. 158 00:07:09,440 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: It's good to hear well, Gavin Dovey, CEO of NT Cricket. 159 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: Always good to catch up with you mate, Thanks so 160 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: much for joining us this morning. 161 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:16,840 Speaker 2: Thankskatie, thank you.