1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,760 Speaker 1: There is plenty happening when it comes to cricket here 2 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory. And joining me in the studio 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: is NT Cricket CEO Gavin Dovey. Good morning to you 4 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: morning Katie. Oh mate, there's lots happening. And last week, 5 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: of course, we saw the four day match between Australia 6 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,320 Speaker 1: A and Sri Lanka A on the drop in wicket 7 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:23,000 Speaker 1: at TiO Stadium. How did it go? 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:27,480 Speaker 2: It went great? Awesome, great, Katie, so very excited to 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 2: share this morning with your listeners and you that crude 10 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 2: Austrea said that that was a great success, which you 11 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 2: know basically puts us in the mix for a Test 12 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 2: match next year, which I'm really excited about. 13 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:41,639 Speaker 1: Well that was what we wanted, Bright. 14 00:00:41,479 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 2: Yeah, one hundred percent. We've been working up to this 15 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:45,920 Speaker 2: for a couple of years now to show them that 16 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:48,160 Speaker 2: we think o're dropping wicket's good enough to host long 17 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:51,120 Speaker 2: format cricket. So last week we had the four day 18 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,840 Speaker 2: game Australia ver Sri Lanka A and it went really 19 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,120 Speaker 2: well and they're happy with how it performed. They sent 20 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:01,960 Speaker 2: up Lesbondette, who's one of australia great curators, did forty 21 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 2: years at Adelaide Oval, so he knows what he's talking 22 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,639 Speaker 2: about and he came up and they were really pleased 23 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 2: with it. So it doesn't guarantee it's a test, but 24 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 2: it means basically we'll be in the mix when they 25 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 2: consider the venues for next year. 26 00:01:11,480 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: So we're absolutely at this point in time we are 27 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: being considered. 28 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, there'll be two test matches next year, Australia 29 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:20,559 Speaker 2: versus Bangladesh. There'll be in the winter, so there's only 30 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 2: a few venues that will be able to host that content. 31 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,560 Speaker 2: It'd be us in North Queens end now that we're 32 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 2: in the mix, So yeah, we'll work really hard to 33 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 2: make obviously the two T twentis next month a great 34 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 2: success and then off the back of that try and 35 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 2: so if we can secure one of those fin next right. 36 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: So we've got to beat who canceled Towns for well anywhere. 37 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I guess it's Ken's Towns with Makay. I guess 38 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 2: we've other venues and we don't want to see two 39 00:01:43,800 --> 00:01:46,520 Speaker 2: tests goes to North Queens And so yeah, hopefully we 40 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: can do a great job and grab one of those 41 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 2: for next year. 42 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: But by the sound of it, they were really positive 43 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: about the way that this game and everything rolled out 44 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: last week and with that drop in. 45 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 2: Wickesh Yeah, and look at the dropping wicket up here 46 00:01:58,320 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 2: is in two pieces. That's what makes it unusual. There's 47 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 2: a few venues around the country that have drop ins 48 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 2: in two pieces, but mostly T twenty crickets played on those. 49 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: So for us to show that we've got one that's 50 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,399 Speaker 2: good enough to have four days of cricket and five 51 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 2: days next year hopefully, credit to our curators Jake Pavlich 52 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 2: and his team just did a hell of a job. 53 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 2: So ye're really excited. 54 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: So when are we going to know if we end 55 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 1: up with a Test match? 56 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 2: Well, I mean I think hopefully be the back end 57 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:27,839 Speaker 2: of this year. We can do the work with NTI, 58 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 2: Garvin and Cricket Australia and I don't think they're going 59 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:33,160 Speaker 2: to sit on the heels too much, so I think 60 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:34,920 Speaker 2: they'll want to lock next year's schedule in as soon 61 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,119 Speaker 2: as they can. So yeah, I'd be hopeful over the 62 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: back half of the year. 63 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: It'll be a massive coup for US. 64 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: Wood Mash Yeah. I mean this year is the biggest 65 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 2: year that the nt has had in cricket in a 66 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:47,520 Speaker 2: couple of decades. You know, we had the Aussie women's 67 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 2: up here, We've got Australia at the moment obviously, and 68 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 2: then the two T twenties next month, so you know, 69 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 2: we just want to keep building on this and have 70 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,240 Speaker 2: international cricket more consistently played here in the top end. 71 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: Absolutely like sport is thriving across the Northern Territory at 72 00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: the moment. But I think it's really wonderful to see 73 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,040 Speaker 1: the level of high level cricket we're seeing here in 74 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: the NTA. You touched on it just a moment ago. Obviously. 75 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: The first men's T twenty Internationals are on the tenth 76 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:16,680 Speaker 1: of August and the twelfth of August, so it's only 77 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: three weeks away. 78 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, three weeks ago yesterday, and yeah, first T twenties 79 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 2: ever to be played in the NTEP. We're starting the 80 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: Australian summer right here in Darwin and we're really obviously 81 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: excited about that, working hard. Ticket sales are being super strong. 82 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:29,239 Speaker 1: That's good. 83 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 2: You know, I think we've got over six and a 84 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,679 Speaker 2: half thousand already solid for the Sunday it's a ten 85 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 2: thousand capacity for that game, so we're really excited and 86 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,560 Speaker 2: encouraged by those early sales and would encourage everyone if 87 00:03:41,600 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: you can to get down to that game, get onto 88 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 2: the Cricket Australia website as soon as you can and 89 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 2: snap up your tickets. They're only twenty bucks for a ticket. Gee, 90 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 2: that's great and forty three bucks for a family of four, 91 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 2: so and you're not going to get better than that. 92 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:56,160 Speaker 1: That's good. It makes it nice and affordable for people. 93 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 1: There's also the future NT for them on the Friday? 94 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:00,000 Speaker 1: Is that right? 95 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: Oh? That was last That was last year. 96 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: I said that at last Friday's forum. Yeah. 97 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, NT News obviously organized. I think it was the 98 00:04:06,840 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 2: fourth one. Of course, you're done and great to have 99 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:12,320 Speaker 2: so many people in the room that are passionate about 100 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 2: the future of the territory. So shout out to Meltplaine 101 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: and her team at NT news that did a terrific job. 102 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 2: And we got one of the guys up from Cricket 103 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 2: Australia head of broadcast. Yeah, and he opened with effectively 104 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 2: that T twenty that we play in the tenth of 105 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,560 Speaker 2: August will be the most watched sporting event ever to 106 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:30,720 Speaker 2: be held in the territory. 107 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 1: How many eyes are we expecting to see. 108 00:04:33,480 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: Just to give an example, just alone, where that's broadcast 109 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:39,920 Speaker 2: in India has three hundred million subscribers. That's insane, So 110 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 2: you know that's twelve times the size of our country. 111 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: Just alone will be the platform that's broadcast India. So 112 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 2: you know, you reach for a ficture like that's probably 113 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 2: fifteen to twenty million people. 114 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,119 Speaker 1: So from your perspective, is there anything that you're going 115 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,039 Speaker 1: to try and do. I don't know whether it's differently 116 00:04:54,360 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: or to get the Northern Territory really noticed, you know 117 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 1: on that stage as were like tourism wise too, And 118 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: I know that's not Cricket Australia or Cricket NT's job, 119 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: but do you know what I mean? 120 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: It is absolutely I mean, anyone who's been watching the 121 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: current Test series in the West Indies or the tour 122 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 2: in the West Indies it's just finished, but the Ausies 123 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 2: are playing right now actually in a T twenty International. 124 00:05:14,120 --> 00:05:17,600 Speaker 2: Anyone who's watched how the West Indies have broadcast their region. 125 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: We've been talking to Tourism int C. It's actually the 126 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 2: same sort of thing. So you know, it's such a 127 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: destination place. We want to make sure that anyone that's 128 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: tuning in to watch these T twenties, whether somewhere in 129 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 2: Australia or you're overseas, you can see everything that's great 130 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 2: about this part of the country. 131 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:37,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, good stuff. I reckon. It's like that sporting tourism 132 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: is a wonderful thing for us, you know, and obviously 133 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 1: having people come here for these different sporting events, but 134 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:47,200 Speaker 1: also broadcasting the NT really broadly to the rest of 135 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: the world is a great thing to say. Yeah. 136 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 2: Absolutely, And as I said, you know that current tour 137 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: in the West Indies. You know, each of those fixtures, 138 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,960 Speaker 2: whether it was Jamaica or Grenada or Barbados, every time 139 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 2: you tuned in, you found yourself just thinking that that's 140 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 2: where I want to be. Yeah, and we know that 141 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,479 Speaker 2: the territory offers the same sorts of amazing location, so 142 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: we'll absolutely be trying to achieve that. 143 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, good stuff. Hey, before I let you go, I 144 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 1: know the top end T twenty series schedule has been released. 145 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,279 Speaker 1: You've got eleven teams playing thirty six fixtures. That's kicking 146 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:17,920 Speaker 1: off from the fourteenth to the twenty fourth of August. 147 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, just when everyone thought there was not enough cricket 148 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,000 Speaker 2: we've just decided to backload the end of August, so 149 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: off the back of those two T twenty internationals. Yeah, 150 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:30,320 Speaker 2: we've got eleven teams. We've got Nepal national team coming out, 151 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:32,720 Speaker 2: We've got Pakistan, Bangladesh, we've got a team from the 152 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 2: US coming out to the territory to play in this event, 153 00:06:35,440 --> 00:06:38,280 Speaker 2: and then half the Big Bash. So anyone that still 154 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: hasn't quite had enough cricket by the end of those 155 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 2: two T twenty Internationals, we'll be able to sort of 156 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 2: catch plenty of action through the back end. 157 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,839 Speaker 1: Of August, gav Are you seeing as well, like the 158 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: participation rates and for cricket here in the Northern Territory 159 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:54,560 Speaker 1: just blow up because people are really excited by what's 160 00:06:54,600 --> 00:06:55,320 Speaker 1: going on. Yeah. 161 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely, all these things are inter relayed dead. So our 162 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 2: community cricket team's doing a hell of a job getting 163 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 2: out out into schools, into regions and get everyone excited 164 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 2: about playing the game. And we're seeing that loads through 165 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:08,279 Speaker 2: all of our clubs here in Darwin, Boys girls seeing 166 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,680 Speaker 2: his social cricket on Sunday, even to our veterans cricket. 167 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:13,840 Speaker 2: For the first time ever, we've got an over fifties 168 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 2: male and female team heading into state later in the 169 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 2: year to play Veterans Cricket and represent the nt SO. 170 00:07:19,920 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: I think at all age groups we're seeing sort of 171 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 2: fantastic participation which is brilliant. 172 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:27,960 Speaker 1: Oh that's really good to hear well, Gavin Dovey, the 173 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: CEO of nt Cricket, good to catch up with you 174 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: this morning. Thank you, Thanks Katie, thanks so much.