The traditional T20 Australia Day weekend clash will be slightly different this year.

The annual event will be contested this Friday and will feature history-making players from across Australia.

The Aboriginal XI will be selected from a combination of players from the historic 1988 Qantas Aboriginal tour of England, as well as local Aboriginal talent.

Eight members of the 1988 squad will be joined by some of the district’s best Aboriginal players throughout the district, those players will be
announced on the matchday.

The Mayor’s XI has been selected and will feature a group of talented young players.

Coats Hire Namoi Super Slog T20 stars Dylan Smith and Clay Hoffman headline the squad.

This year the match will be a 10-a-side competition but the match will remain competitive.

“We will make a good game of it,” said the Aboriginal XI manager Les Knox.

“All of the guys are looking forward to coming here.

“We’ll be out to win, don’t worry about that.

“It is still a normal Australia Day match.”

Narrabri District Cricket Association treasurer Luke Meppem had a major role in selecting the Mayor’s XI and said the match is a way for youthful players to show their talent.

“It’s a good chance for some of the young fellas to show off in front of some Australian cricketers,” he said.

“I tried to pick different people to spread it across all of the clubs.

“I picked as many young guys as I could.

“Because they’re always keen for cricket.

“Everyone said that they are pretty keen to play.”

The match is scheduled for 6pm at Collins Park on Friday evening.

The Courier previously reported Ian Chappell would be in attendance for the traditional match and would remain in Narrabri for the weekend.

Sadly, Chappell was forced to withdraw from his trip as he had prior commitments on radio.

Chappell apologised to the town and Knox for not being able to attend the event.

Former Australian test representatives Len Pascoe and Peter Sleep will be here for the match.

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