China begin building its national cricket teams in Sydney, shepherded Cricket New South Wales & former Kiwi captain Lee Germon | Cricket News

The Chinese Cricket Association has set up a training base for a 50-strong Men’s and Women’s National Cricket Teams in Sydney since the last two months, informed the former Kiwi captain Lee Germon, who is helping the program for Cricket New South Wales.
On their website cricketnsw.com.au, the Cricket New South Wales (NSW) association noted that it had joint forces with Sydney Cricket Club and the Chinese Cricket Association, to kickstart China’s official foray into high performance T20 Cricket. CNSW signed a five-year memorandum of understanding that will see them and Sydney CC provide expertise to Chinese players, coaches and adminrators.
The Chinese teams are camped in Sydney – living and training there over the past two months. The teams in red are reportedly utilising CNSW’s facilities at Cricket Central and Bankstown, along with Sydney Cricket Club’s Drummoyne Oval and Sydney University.
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Interestingly, CNSW have a pre-exing relationship with the Ricky Ponting-coached, Steve Smith-skippered Washington Freedom, last year’s winner of America’s Major League Cricket, who have half of the American national T20I squad in their ranks.
“Spurred on the return of cricket to the Olympic Games program, starting with LA 2028, the three parties have signed a five-year memorandum of understanding that will see CNSW and Sydney CC provide expertise to Chinese players, coaches and adminrators,” the press release said.
Cricket NSW and Sydney CC have provided “a comprehensive high-performance training regime that has included skills and strategy development, strength and conditioning, nutrition advice, cross cultural learning experiences and practice matches,” cricketnsw.com.au, added.
The 50-odd Chinese contingent of players and staff have also enjoyed attending elite level cricket during their stay in Sydney including women’s international matches and the BBL, the release added.Story continues below this ad
Sydney will offer training and competitive opportunities in development in both countries, and one might soon see Chinese cricketers participating in NSW Premier Cricket through the Sydney club.
Lee Germon, who is Cricket NSW CEO said the aim was to help China qualify for the Olympics. Germon was quoted as saying, “We have been delighted to be able to work with Sydney Cricket Club in building this relationship with the Chinese Cricket Association and over the last few months, the Chinese men’s and women’s national teams. Cricket NSW is becoming increasingly well known internationally for our ability to lead and deliver support across the entire high performance system which is something we are very proud of. We are looking forward to continuing to grow this partnership and helping China qualify for the Olympic Games.”
The website quoted a Chinese Cricket Association spokesperson as saying, “The Chinese Cricket Association is proud to be in partnership with Cricket NSW and the Sydney Cricket Club to accelerate the development of cricket in China from the grass roots to the elite level. Our national teams have benefitted greatly from the time spent in Sydney these past few months, and we look forward to exploring opportunities for further development with CNSW and SCC in the future.”

Rod Chapman, Chair of Sydney Cricket Club, addressed the tightrope of knowledge-sharing with international entities, adding that globalising the game was inevitable. “The Sydney Cricket Club is a club without borders. Whilst we have a responsibility to grow the game in Sydney, through our relationships with Cricket NSW and SCG Cricket we also acknowledge cricket’s globalisation and we want to support that. We have the resources and desire to help others grow whilst at the same time offering huge opportunity for our players and members.”
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