The Hon Rod Kemp was Minister for the Arts and Sport from Friday 23 November 2001 to Tuesday 30 January 2007. This site is available for archival purposes only.

PM’s XI match set for 2 December

The Prime Minister’s XI will meet the West Indian cricket team at Manuka Oval in December on the back of the recent Ashes series loss, the Minister for the Arts and Sport, Senator Rod Kemp said today.

“This annual cricket match in Manuka comes during a resurgence of interest in the game among fans and, I am sure, a renewed determination from our players,” Senator Kemp said at the launch of the event at the Oval.

“It will be the eighth match between the PM’s XI and the West Indies and as has been the case in previous years, both sides will be keen to see the result go their way on 2 December.

“In the past the PM’s XI cricket match has featured some of the world’s best players and it has also been the launching pad for the careers of some of Australia’s up and coming stars.”

This year’s PM’s XI match will be the 10 th in which the Prime Minister, John Howard, has selected the team and the 22 nd played at Manuka since the games were reinstated in the 1983–84 season.

Over the past 20 years, the West Indies have met the PM’s XI seven times. The PM’s teams have won four matches with the West Indies winning just once.

The event comes as Cricket Australia boosts its efforts to increase participation in the game and ensure that cricket is Australia’s favourite sport.

“The Australian Government is happy to support Cricket Australia’s efforts,” Senator Kemp said.

“Early indications suggest that the campaign—coming on the back of an enormously popular Ashes series—will result in a significant increase in junior participation in 2005–06.

Senator Kemp thanked the ACT Cricketing Association for organising the PM’s XI event and the Guinness Peat Group and Canberra Investment Corporation for generous sponsorship.

CANBERRA
14 October 2005
Media contact: Michael Christo, 03 9650 7274 or 0409 040276