D'Arcy Short is a strong advocator for the future of Indigenous cricketers through the First Nations Round. (Image: Hobart Hurricanes/Twitter)
After successful inaugural rounds in the BBL and WBBL, the First Nations Round will return to the BBL, showcasing First Nations culture.
The round acknowledges, pays respect to, and celebrates the hundreds of First Nations and Traditional Custodians of the land and waters where we live, work, and play the great game of cricket.
Clubs will once again have uniforms designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, with unique stories connected to the traditional lands of each team.
This year, the Hobart Hurricanes kit for this round was designed by Sharnie Read.
D’Arcy Short is one of just three First Nations players contracted to a BBL club this season. He spoke to media ahead of their home match against the Sydney Thunder.
“[Wearing the jersey] shows I’m proud of where I come from and showing what we’ve got on and showing First Nations people,” Short said.
“It’s great to see all the colours, all the designs and artwork out there. I would like to do it every round.
“[The response from fans] has been great. Whenever I get asked for a shirt or a signed shirt, it’s always the Indigenous ones.”
“I’d rather keep them for myself. If you can buy them, it’s a great response.”
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Short has been a strong advocate of getting the reach of the game into Indigenous communities.
“It’s just about getting the game to the Indigenous kids, trying to get a cricket ball and bat in their hands instead of footy’s is the tough part. It’s about being able to get the equipment into the communities,” Short said.
Short spoke on the journey to being signed by the Hobart Hurricanes and playing for the team for seven seasons and what it means for future Indigenous cricketers.
“Playing for the national Indigenous side and getting noticed from there to getting picked up and train in the state side and getting picked up by the Hurricanes seven years ago to play the Big Bash, it shows there’s a stepping stone and a dream for young Indigenous cricketers if they wanna play,” he said.
Short expressed his journey of learning about what the artwork means and understanding the designs themselves.
“It’s an honour to learn about why it’s different to others in terms of using lines and not dots, it’s been good for me to learn about another Indigenous culture or tribe,” he said.
In First Nations Round, the Hobart Hurricanes will play host to the Sydney Thunder on Sunday afternoon before travelling to Brisbane to face the Heat.
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