Darwin hosts first international Test match since 2003 with hopes for more events

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Sri Lanka A are all out for 272 at stumps on the first day of Darwin's first international Test match since 2003. The two-match series is a chance for players to make their international debuts, and for the Top End to again be a regular venue for first grade cricket.

Transcript

00:00It's the perfect time for cricket in Darwin, the start of winter elsewhere.

00:07Marara Stadium hosting its first international test match since 2003,

00:13with Australia A taking on Sri Lanka A.

00:16First time the boys have been to an international cricket match,

00:19so I thought we'd bring them down.

00:20Pa's here too.

00:21We're into our cricket as well, so good to introduce them to it.

00:24It's pretty cool to have this up here, see those younger,

00:26all those up-and-coming players, just watch them.

00:28I'm actually just critiquing the captaincy of here a little bit,

00:31and my preference would be they pitched it up about another metre.

00:35Among the modest crowd at Marara were Jay's parents,

00:38who'd flown up from Brisbane for the occasion.

00:41First, first-class cricket.

00:43A day you'd never think would happen.

00:45I mean, you've brought this kid up since he was two, three years old playing cricket.

00:48No-one ever scripts this, so we feel incredibly, incredibly lucky.

00:52Players in the Australia A team are here pressing their case

00:55for selection in Australia's main squads,

00:58but it's Darwin too looking to host more international test matches

01:02on the back of games like this.

01:04Play resumes tomorrow with the second match of the series starting next Sunday.

01:10.

01:17.

01:19.

01:21.

01:23.

01:25.

Category

Transcript

Recommended